JP4209639B2

JP4209639B2 - Work conveying device and plate material processing system

Info

Publication number: JP4209639B2
Application number: JP2002193552A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 祥金子; 忍下地; 朗和田
Original assignee: Amada Co Ltd
Current assignee: Amada Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-02
Filing date: 2002-07-02
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-02
Also published as: JP2004035166A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、搬送されてくるワークを持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるバッファステーションを具備するワーク搬送装置及びこのワーク搬送装置を備えた板材加工システムに係り、特に、上記ワーク搬送装置にワークを供給する加工装置は、たとえば、板材をパンチング加工するパンチングプレスと、上記パンチング加工によって形成されたワークを切り離して分割する分割装置とを備えた装置であって、ワークをパンチング加工しているときには、長い時間上記ワーク搬送装置にワークを供給せず、ワークを切り離しているときには、短い時間のインターバルで上記ワーク搬送装置に、切り離されたワークを供給するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、特開平４−４１０２９号公報に示すような、ワーク切り離し装置を備えたパンチングプレスから搬出されたワークを搬送しワーク積載装置に積載する板材加工システムが知られている。
【０００３】
図８は、上記従来の板材加工システム１００の概略構成を示す平面図である。
【０００４】
従来の板材加工システム１００は、板材をパンチング加工するパンチングプレス１０２と、上記パンチング加工によって形成されたワークを切り離して分割する分割装置１０４とを備えた板材加工装置１０６のワーク搬出側１０６Ａに、上記切り離されて分割されたワークを矢印ＡＲ８１の方向（Ｘ右方向）に搬送するワーク搬送装置１０８を配置し、このワーク搬出装置１０８のワーク搬出側１０８Ａにワーク積載装置１１０を配置し、ワーク搬送装置１０８とワーク積載装置１１０との間に、ワーク搬送装置１０８からワーク積載装置１１０へワークを搬送するワーク搬送整列装置１１６を備えたものである。
【０００５】
ここで、パンチングプレス１０２は、大サイズの板状材（大サイズのワーク）からワーク（小製品）を多数個取りする際、上記各ワークの輪郭加工をたとえば僅かに残して、上記大サイズの板状材とつないでおき、総てのワークの打ち抜き加工（パンチング）を終了させるものである。
【０００６】
なお、上記大サイズの板状材を打ち抜いて得られる上記ワークの数量は１つでもよいし複数でもよい。また、上記ワークの形状の種類は１種類でもよいし、複数種類でもよい。
【０００７】
分割装置１０４は、上記パンチングプレス１０２で打ち抜き加工され、上記パンチングプレス１０２から搬出され、上記ワークをつないでいる状態の上記大サイズの板状材から、輪郭切断用のたとえばＬ刃１１２を用いて、ワークを例えば１枚ずつ切り離すことによって分割するものである。
【０００８】
ワーク搬送装置１０８は、たとえばパイプ状のローラや円筒形状のブラシローラを、ローラの回転軸がＹ方向（ワーク搬送方向と直角な水平方向）に延伸するように、Ｘ方向（ワーク搬送方向であって水平方向）に並べて複数設け、これらの各ローラを図示しない制御モータにより回転駆動することによって、上記分割装置で分割された各ワークを上記分割装置から順次受け取り載置し、上記各ローラに載置した上記各ワークをワーク搬出側１０８Ａに搬送するものである。
【０００９】
また、ワーク搬送装置１０８のワーク搬出側１０８Ａには、ストッパー１１４が設けられており、矢印ＡＲ８１の方向に搬送されてきた各ワークが、このストッパー１１４に突き当たって停止することによって、上記搬送されてきたワークがＸ方向（搬送方向）において位置決めされる。
【００１０】
さらにワーク搬送装置１０８のワーク搬出側１０８Ａには、上記ストッパー１１４に突き当たって、Ｘ方向に位置決めされたワークをＹ方向（ワークの搬送方向と垂直な水平方向）に、さらに位置決め配置自在なＹ方向位置決め手段（図示せず）が設けられている。
【００１１】
ここで、上記Ｙ方向位置決め手段は、Ｙ方向に長く伸びて、ワーク搬送装置１０８の基台に設けられているガイド部材に摺動嵌合し、Ｙ方向に移動自在なワークプッシャを備える。また、上記ワークプッシャは、ストッパー１１４からワーク搬入側１０８Ｂ方向に僅かに離れたところであって、ワーク搬送装置１０８のローラの上面（ワーク搬送面）より僅かに上方に離れたところを移動自在になっている。
【００１２】
そして、上記ワークプッシャは、制御モータが連動連結している送りネジと螺合し、上記Ｘ方向に位置決めされたワークを、上記Ｘ方向の位置を保ったままＹ方向にたとえば押して、Ｙ方向の適宜の位置に位置決め配置可能に構成されている。
【００１３】
ワーク積載装置１１０は、上記ワーク搬送装置１０８で搬送されてきたワークを、上記ワーク搬送整列装置１１６により、ワーク積載装置１１０に設けられているパレット（図示せず）上に、ワークの種類毎に積み重ねて、ワークの種類毎に分離して積載し格納する装置である。
【００１４】
なお、ワーク積載装置１１０のたとえば上下方向（図８の紙面に垂直な鉛直方向）には上記パレットが複数設けられており、１つのパレットにワークが満載されると、他の空のパレットと交換できるようになっている。
【００１５】
上記ワーク搬送装置１０８上でＸ方向およびＹ方向に位置決め配置されたワークは、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６によって、上記ワーク積載装置１１０まで搬送され、ワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上に、ワークの種類毎に分離して、適宜の位置に積載される。
【００１６】
低速積載処理装置の例であるワーク搬送整列装置１１６は、上記ワークを把持自在な把持手段（たとえば、マグネット、真空吸着パッド）を備え、上記把持手段は、Ｘ方向、Ｙ方向、およびＸ、Ｙ方向に垂直な（図８の紙面に垂直な）Ｚ方向（鉛直方向）に移動自在に構成してある。
【００１７】
すなわち、上記ワーク搬送整列装置１１６は、たとえば上記ワーク積載装置１１０の基台にＸ方向に長く設けられたＸ軸ガイド部材に摺動嵌合しているＸ軸キャリッジと、このＸ軸キャリッジのＹ方向に長く設けられたＹ軸ガイド部材に摺動嵌合しているＹ軸キャリッジと、このＹ軸キャリッジに対してＺ方向に摺動自在に設けられているＺ軸キャリッジとを有し、上記把持手段は、上記Ｚ軸キャリッジの下端部側に設けられている。
【００１８】
また、上記各キャリッジは、たとえば各制御モータと連動連結している各ボールネジと螺合することによって、Ｘ方向、Ｙ方向、およびＺ方向で移動位置決め自在に構成されている。
【００１９】
そして、ワーク搬送装置１０８のストッパー１１４に突き当たりさらに上記ワークプッシャによってＸ方向およびＹ方向の位置決めがされたワークを、上記ワーク搬送整列装置１１６の把持手段が把持し、この把持したワークをワーク搬送装置１０８の上面から持ち上げる。
【００２０】
その後、上記把持したワークを、Ｙ方向に移動位置決めすると共にＸ方向に移動して搬送し位置決めした後、ワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上で、上記把持したワークを下方向に下降する。そして、この下降したワークがワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上面またはワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上にすでに載置されているワークに接触した後、上記把持手段が、把持しているワークを開放して、ワークの種類毎にワーク積載装置１１０に積み上げる。
【００２１】
上述の動作を繰り返すことによって、ワーク搬送装置１０８上をたとえば１枚ずつ搬送されストッパー１１４に突き当たって位置決めされたワークを、上記ワーク搬送整列装置１１６が、ワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上にワークの種類毎に順次積み上げる。
【００２２】
なお、上記板材加工装置１０６がパンチング加工する大きな板状材は、板材加工装置１０６に近接して設けられ、複数枚の大きな板状材を格納自在な板状材格納装置（図示せず）から供給される。
【００２３】
上記従来の板材加工システム１００によれば、大サイズの板状材から打ち抜かれた後切り離されたワークの種類毎に、ワーク集積装置１１０に自動的に分離して集積収納することができる。
【００２４】
また、上記従来の板材加工システムにおいて、特開２００１−１９２１１９号公報で示すようなワーク搬送集積装置（図示せず）を用いて板材加工システムを構成することができる。
【００２５】
この板材加工システムでは、上記ワーク搬送整列装置１１６とほぼ同様に構成されているワーク搬送集積装置が設けられている。ただし、ワーク搬送装置上をＸ方向に搬送されてくるワークをワーク搬送集積装置が把持する場合、上記ワーク搬送集積装置のＸ軸キャリッジが、上記ワーク搬送装置上をＸ方向に搬送されてくる上記ワークとほぼ同じ速度で同方向に移動しつつ、上記ワーク搬送集積装置のＺ軸キャリッジをＺ方向に下降させ、上記ワーク搬送集積装置の把持手段を用いて上記ワークを把持し、上記Ｚ軸キャリッジをＺ方向に上昇させるように構成されている。
【００２６】
なお、上記ワーク搬送装置にはワークが搬送されてきたことを検知するセンサーが設けられており、このセンサーがワークを検知したときに、上記ワーク搬送集積装置がワーク把持等の上記動作を開始する。
【００２７】
上記ワーク搬送集積装置によれば、上記ワーク搬送装置からワークを搬出する場合、上記ワーク搬送装置を一旦停止することによって、搬送されているワークの移動を停止する必要がないので、上記ワーク搬送装置上を搬送されてくるワークを、上記ワーク搬送装置から速く搬出することができ、ワーク搬送集積装置の１サイクルの時間を短縮することができる。
【００２８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来の板材加工システム１００に設けられた板材加工装置１０６においては、大きいサイズの板状材を板状材格納装置（図示せず）から受け取り、この受け取った大きいサイズの板状材に上記パンチングプレス１０２が打ち抜き加工をしこの打ち抜き加工が終了するまでの間の時間（以下「パンチング時間」という。）では、切り離したワークを、上記ワーク搬送装置１０８へ供給することがないので、比較的長い時間、板材加工装置１０６からワーク搬送装置１０８へワークが供給されない。
【００２９】
一方、従来の板材加工システム１００に設けられた板材加工装置１０６においては、パンチングプレスが終了した板状材から、たとえば１枚のワークを分割装置１０４が分割し、この分割したワークをワーク搬送装置１０８に供給し、続いて、上記パンチングプレスが終了した板状材から次の１枚のワークを分割するまでの時間（以下「ワーク分割供給時間」という。）は比較的短いので、短い時間のインターバルで、板材加工装置１０６からワーク搬送装置１０８に、たとえば１枚づつワークが供給される。
【００３０】
ところで、板材加工システム１００のワーク搬送整列装置１１６が、ワーク搬送装置１０８で搬送され位置決めされた１枚のワークを、把持して搬送し、ワーク積載装置１１０に整列して積載し、さらに、ワーク搬送装置１０８で搬送され位置決めされた次のワークを把持できる状態になるまでに要する時間（以下「ワーク搬送積載時間」という。）は、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６の動作が多くて複雑なので、上記分割供給時間よりも長くなる場合がある。
【００３１】
そこで、ワーク搬送装置１０８に供給されたワークが、ワーク搬送装置１０８からはけきれなくなる状態を回避するために、上記ワーク分割時間と上記ワーク搬送積載時間とのバランスをとる必要がある。すなわち、ワーク分割時間とこれに続く次のワーク分割時間との間にアイドルタイムを設定し、ワーク分割時間とアイドルタイムとの和を上記ワーク搬送積載時間とほぼ同じ長さにする必要がある。なお、上記アイドルタイムの間は、分割装置１０４が稼動していないことになる。
【００３２】
したがって、上記ワーク搬送積載時間が上記ワーク分割時間以下の長さであるならば、１枚の板状材からＮ枚のワークを得る場合の１枚のワークの加工時間は、「（上記パンチング時間＋Ｎ×上記ワーク分割時間）÷Ｎ」となるが、上記ワーク搬送積載時間が上記ワーク分割時間よりも長いことによる上記アイドルタイムを設けると、１枚の板状材からＮ枚のワークを得る場合の１枚のワークの加工時間は、「（上記パンチング時間＋Ｎ×（上記ワーク分割時間＋上記アイドルタイム））÷Ｎ」となり、ワーク１枚あたりの加工時間が、上記アイドルタイム分だけ延びることになる。
【００３３】
つまり、従来の板材加工システム１００では、上記ワーク搬送積載時間が上記ワーク分割時間よりも長いために、ワークの加工時間が延びる場合があるという問題がある。
【００３４】
また、特開２００１−１９２１１９号公報で示すようなワーク搬送集積装置を使用すれば、ワーク搬送装置がワークを搬送移動している状態でワークを把持するので、上記ワーク搬送積載時間が従来の板材加工システム１００よりも短縮される。しかし、ワーク搬送集積装置の動作が煩雑であるので、上記短縮されたワーク搬送積載時間を、上記ワーク分割時間よりも短くすることは困難である。
【００３５】
さらに、ワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上にワークが満載され、次の他のパレットに交換する場合には、このパレット交換の間の時間、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６が稼動を停止しなければならないので、上記ワーク搬送積載時間が更に延び、上記問題が一層顕著になる。
【００３６】
本発明は、上記問題点に鑑みてなされたものであり、板材をパンチング加工するパンチングプレスと、上記パンチング加工によって形成されたワークを切り離して分割する分割装置とを備えた板材加工装置のワーク搬出側にワーク搬送装置を配置し、このワーク搬送装置のワーク搬出側にワーク積載処理装置を配置した板材加工システムにおいて、ワークの加工時間を短縮することができる板材加工システムおよびこのシステムに使用できるワーク搬送装置を提供することを目的とする。
【００３７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１に記載の本発明は、加工処理装置側で高速に加工処理されたワークを前記加工処理よりも低速に積載処理するワーク積載処理装置側へ搬送するために両装置間に設置され、且つ、前記ワークの搬送方向と直交して回転自在に設けた複数のローラを有するコンベヤと、
前記コンベヤ上を搬送されてくる前記ワークを前記コンベヤ上から持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるためのバッファステーションとを備えたワーク搬送装置において、
前記バッファステーションは、
前記ワークの搬送方向に沿って互に隣接する複数のローラ間に配置された複数のワーク支持部材を１組のワーク載置部材として、当該組を前記コンベヤの上下方向に複数有する複数組のワーク載置部材と、
前記コンベヤの側方で前記ワークの搬送方向と略平行に設置され、且つ、前記複数組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の一端部側を各組ごとに上下方向に間隔を離して支持したワーク載置部材支持体と、
前記ワーク載置部材支持体と一体に前記複数組のワーク載置部材を、前記コンベヤの上方又は下方に向かって移動させる移動手段とを具備し、
前記ワーク載置部材支持体の上方に向かう移動に伴なって、前記複数のローラ上に搬送された前記ワークの裏面側に位置する前記１組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の他端部側を前記複数のローラ間から上方に向かって移動させることで、前記ワークを前記複数のローラ上から持ち上げて前記バッファステーションに一時的に滞在させることを特徴とするワーク搬送装置である。
【００３８】
請求項２に記載の本発明は、加工処理装置側で高速に加工処理されたワークを前記加工処理よりも低速に積載処理するワーク積載処理装置側へ搬送するために両装置間に設置され、且つ、前記ワークの搬送方向と直交して回転自在に設けた複数のローラを有するコンベヤと、
前記コンベヤ上を搬送されてくる前記ワークを前記コンベヤ上から持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるためのバッファステーションとを備えたワーク搬送装置において、
前記バッファステーションは、
前記ワークの搬送方向に沿って互に隣接する複数のローラ間に配置された複数のワーク支持部材を１組のワーク載置部材として、当該組を前記コンベヤの上下方向に複数有する複数組のワーク載置部材と、
前記コンベヤの側方に前記ワークの搬送方向と略平行な軸を介して回転動自在に設置され、且つ、前記複数組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の一端部側を各組ごとに上下方向に間隔を離して前記軸に対して放射状に支持した回転部材と、
前記回転部材と一体に前記複数組のワーク載置部材を、前記軸を中心にして上方又は下方に向かって回転させる回転駆動手段とを具備し、
前記回転部材の上方に向かう回転に伴なって、前記複数のローラ上に搬送された前記ワークの裏面側に位置する前記１組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の他端部側を前記複数のローラ間から上方に向かって移動させることで、前記ワークを前記複数のローラ上から持ち上げて前記バッファステーションに一時的に滞在させることを特徴とするワーク搬送装置である。
【００３９】
請求項３に記載の本発明は、加工処理装置側で高速に加工処理されたワークを前記加工処理よりも低速に積載処理するワーク積載処理装置側へ搬送するために両装置間に設置され、且つ、前記ワークの搬送方向と直交して回転自在に設けた複数のローラを有するコンベヤと、
前記コンベヤ上を搬送されてくる前記ワークを前記コンベヤ上から持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるためのバッファステーションとを備えたワーク搬送装置において、
前記バッファステーションは、
前記ワークの搬送方向に沿って互に隣接する複数のローラ間に配置された複数のワーク支持部材を１組のワーク載置部材として、当該組を前記コンベヤの上下方向に複数有する複数組のワーク載置部材と、
前記コンベヤの側方に前記ワークの搬送方向と略平行なガイド部材を介して上下動自在に設置され、且つ、前記複数組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の一端部側を各組ごとに上下方向に間隔を離して支持したテーブルと、
前記テーブルと一体に前記複数組のワーク載置部材を、前記ガイド部材を介して上方又は下方に向かって移動させる上下動駆動手段とを具備し、
前記テーブルの上方に向かう移動に伴なって、前記複数のローラ上に搬送された前記ワークの裏面側に位置する前記１組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の他端部側を前記複数のローラ間から上方に向かって移動させることで、前記ワークを前記複数のローラ上から持ち上げて前記バッファステーションに一時的に滞在させることを特徴とするワーク搬送装置である。
【００４０】
請求項４に記載の本発明は、板材をパンチング加工するパンチングプレスと、前記パンチング加工によって形成されたワークを切り離して高速に分割処理する分割装置とを備えた板材加工装置と、
前記板材加工装置側で高速に分割処理された前記ワークを前記分割処理よりも低速に積載処理するワーク積載処理装置側へ搬送するために両装置間に設置され、且つ、前記ワークの搬送方向と直交して回転自在に設けた複数のローラを有するコンベヤと、前記コンベヤ上を搬送されてくる前記ワークを前記コンベヤ上から持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるためのバッファステーションとを備えたワーク搬送装置とにより構成した板材加工システムであって、
前記バッファステーションは、
前記ワークの搬送方向に沿って互に隣接する複数のローラ間に配置された複数のワーク支持部材を１組のワーク載置部材として、当該組を前記コンベヤの上下方向に複数有する複数組のワーク載置部材と、
前記コンベヤの側方で前記ワークの搬送方向と略平行に設置され、且つ、前記複数組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の一端部側を各組ごとに上下方向に間隔を離して支持したワーク載置部材支持体と、
前記ワーク載置部材支持体と一体に前記複数組のワーク載置部材を、前記コンベヤの上方又は下方に向かって移動させる移動手段とを具備し、
前記ワーク載置部材支持体の上方に向かう移動に伴なって、前記複数のローラ上に搬送された前記ワークの裏面側に位置する前記１組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の他端部側を前記複数のローラ間から上方に向かって移動させることで、前記ワークを前記複数のローラ上から持ち上げて前記バッファステーションに一時的に滞在させることを特徴とする板材加工システムである。
【００４１】
【発明の実施の形態】
［第１の実施の形態］
図１は、本発明の第１の実施形態である板材加工システム１の概略構成を示す平面図である。
【００４２】
板材加工システム１は、ワーク搬送装置１０８とほぼ同様な構成のワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤ上を搬送されてくる複数のワークのそれぞれを、上記コンベヤから持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるためのバッファステーション５を、ワーク搬送装置３に設けた点が従来の板材加工システム１００とは異なり、その他の点は、板材加工システム１００とほぼ同様に構成されている。
【００４３】
ワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション５とについて説明する。
【００４４】
図２〜図４は、ワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション５との概略構成を示す図であり、図２及び図４は、図１におけるＩＩＡ−ＩＩＢ矢視図であってワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション５との正面図であり、図３は、図２におけるＩＩＩ矢視であってワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション５との平面図である。
【００４５】
なお、図２の正面図では、ワーク搬送装置３のバッファステーション５がワークの滞在（滞留）を始める初期状態を示し、図４の正面図では、ワーク搬送装置３のバッファステーション５がワークを滞在し終えた状態を示す。
【００４６】
ワーク搬送装置３は、上述のように、ワーク搬送装置１０８とほぼ同様に構成されており、上記分割装置１０４で分割されたワークＷ１を、ワーク搬入側３Ｂで、上記分割装置１０４から順次受け取り、ワーク搬送装置３の基台７に対して回転自在に設けられている各ローラ３Ｃに載置し、この載置された上記ワークＷ１を、各ローラ３Ｃを回転することによって、ワーク搬出側３Ａに搬送し、ストッパー１１４と、ワーク搬送装置１０８に設けられているものと同様な上記Ｙ方向位置決め手段（図示せず）とによって、ワークＷ１を、Ｘ方向およびＹ方向の適宜の位置に位置決め自在に構成されている。
【００４７】
バッファステーション５は、上記ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃ上を搬送されてくる各ワークのそれぞれを、上記コンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃから、Ｚ上方向に持ち上げて一時的に滞在させるものである。
【００４８】
ここで、バッファステーション５は、ワーク搬送装置３のワーク搬送方向（図３に示す矢印ＡＲ３１の方向であるＸ下方向）に対して直角な方向に長く伸びた複数のワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉ（図３参照）を、ワーク搬送装置３の上記搬送方向に配置して複数設けて構成されたワーク載置部材１１Ａを具備し、さらに、上記ワーク載置部材１１Ａと同様に構成された複数のワーク載置部材１１Ｂ〜１１Ｌを、上記ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃの上下方向に配置して複数具備する（図２参照）。
【００４９】
さらに、バッファステーション５は、上記ワーク搬送装置３の側方で上記搬送装置３の上記ワーク搬送方向に長く設けられ、上記ワークと上記各ローラ３Ｃとの接触面を通過する平面であるワーク搬送面とほぼ同一高さで上記ワーク搬送装置３のワーク搬送方向と平行な回転軸１３を中心に回転自在な回転部材１５を備える。
【００５０】
この回転部材１５は、上記ワーク搬送装置３のワーク搬送方向に長く設けられ、両端部側のそれぞれが、バッファステーション５の基台１９に固定された各軸受け部材１７Ａ、１７Ｂによって支持され、基台１９に対して回転自在に設けられている。
【００５１】
また、回転部材１５の一端部側（たとえばワーク搬送装置３のワーク搬出側３Ａ側）は、ギヤ２１とギヤ２３と減速機２５とを介して、制御モータ（たとえば、エンコーダ付きサーボモータ）２７に連動連結されている。なお、減速機２５は図示しない連結部材によって基台１９に一体的に固定されている。
【００５２】
また、上記各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌの上記各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉの一端部側は、回転部材１５に一体的に支持され、この支持されている各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉの他端部側は、上記回転部材１５の回転軸１３に対して、回転軸１３から離反する方向に、放射状に延びて設けられている。
【００５３】
そして、バッファステーション５は、制御モータ２７が適宜の角度回転し、これにより回転部材１５が適宜の角度だけ回転することによって、上記ワーク搬送装置３上を搬送されてくる各ワークを、上記各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌのいずれかを用いて上記各ローラ３Ｃ上から持ち上げて、一時的に滞在自在な構成である。
【００５４】
すなわち、たとえば上記ワーク載置部材１１Ａの上記各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉを、上記各ローラ３Ｃの下側から上側方向に、上記搬送装置３のコンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃ間を通過させて移動することによって、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４で分割され、上記搬送装置３の上記コンベヤ上を搬送されてくるワークＷ１を、上記ワーク載置部材１１Ａを用いて上記ローラ３Ｃ上から持ち上げて、一時的に滞在自在な構成である。
【００５５】
なお、回転部材１５の回転に伴って回転する各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌとの干渉を避けるために、ワーク搬送装置３の各ローラ３Ｃのバッファステーション５側の軸受け部材３１Ａ〜３１Ｈは、たとえば柱状に形成され、図３に示すように、上記各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌの各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉが移動して形成する軌跡空間の間に、起立して設けられている。
【００５６】
また、ワーク搬送装置３には、ワーク搬送装置３の各ローラ３Ｃ間の所定の位置で、ワーク搬送装置３のワーク搬送面に対して出入り自在なストッパー１１４Ａが設けられている。なお、ストッパー１１４Ａは、このストッパー１１４Ａに突き当って所定の位置に位置決めされたワークを、バッファステーション５のワーク載置部材１１Ａ等が持ち上げ可能なように、バッファステーション５の各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌの近傍であって、ワーク搬送コンベヤ３のワーク搬出側３Ａ側に設けられている。
【００５７】
また、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌの各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉのそれぞれには、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌのそれぞれに載置されたワークを突き当てることによって、上記各ワークの回転部材１５方向への移動を規制する複数のストッパー２９Ａ〜２９Ｉが設けられている。
【００５８】
次に、バッファステーション５を備えるワーク搬送装置３の動作について説明する。
【００５９】
図２に示す状態では、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４で分割されたワークが順次上記ワーク搬送装置３上を搬送されてくる。
【００６０】
そして、図２に示す状態から、回転部材１５が矢印ＡＲ２１の方向に回転し、ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃ上を搬送され、ストッパー１１４Ａに突き当たって位置決めされたワークＷ１が、ワーク載置部材１１Ａによって、上記各ローラ３Ｃ上から持ち上げられて一時的に格納される（滞在する）。
【００６１】
さらに、回転部材１５を矢印ＡＲ２１の方向に所定の角度ずつ回転させることによって、ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤ上を続いて搬送され、ストッパー１１４Ａで位置決めされたワークが、ワーク載置部材１１Ａの隣に設けられているワーク載置部材１１Ｂによって、上記各ローラ３Ｃ上から持ち上げられて一時的に格納され、以後、ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤの各ローラ３Ｃ上を順次搬送されてくるワークを、ワーク載置部材１１Ｃ〜１１Ｌを用いて順に格納すると、図４に示すように、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌに、各ワークＷ１〜Ｗ１２が滞在する。
【００６２】
そして、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４で分割するワークがなくなると、板材加工装置１０６は、次の板状材を板状材格納装置（図示せず）から受け取って、この受け取った板状材に、パンチングプレス１０２で打ち抜き加工をする。
【００６３】
このパンチングプレス１０２が打ち抜き加工をしている間は、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４はワークをワーク搬送装置３へ搬出しないので、バッファステーション５は、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌに滞在させている各ワークＷ１〜Ｗ１２を、回転部材１５を、図４に示す矢印ＡＲ４１の方向へ所定の角度ずつ回転させることによって、順次ワーク搬送装置３上に搬出する。なお、このとき、ストッパー１１４Ａは、上記ワーク搬送面よりも、図２のＺ下上方に下がった状態にあり、上記順次搬出されてくるワークとは干渉しないようになっている。
【００６４】
そして、バッファステーション５から順次搬出された各ワークＷ１〜Ｗ１２は、各ローラ３Ｃの回転によって搬送され、ワーク搬送装置３のストッパー１１４に突き当たって位置決めされ、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６によって順次搬送されて、ワーク積載装置１１０のパレット上に整列配置される。
【００６５】
そして、滞在している総てのワークＷ１〜Ｗ１２をバッファステーション５が吐き出すと、バッファステーション５は、図２に示す状態に戻り、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４から排出され、ワーク搬送装置３上を順次搬送されてくる次のワークを格納可能な状態になる。
【００６６】
この後、再び、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４から排出され、ワーク搬送装置３上を搬送されてくるワークを、バッファステーション５が、上述のように一時的に格納する。
【００６７】
なお、バッファステーション５には、図４に示すように、ワーク載置部材１１Ａのワークを載置している面がＺ下方向を向くことにより、ワークＷ１がバッファステーション５から落下するのを防止するためのストッパー３３が設けられている。
【００６８】
また、図４に示す状態から、回転部材１５を矢印ＡＲ４２の方向に更に回転させ、ワークＷ１２がワーク載置部材１１Ｌ上で滑って、ワークＷ１２がワーク載置部材１１Ｌの各ストッパー２９Ａ〜２９Ｉに突き当って位置決めされれば、ワークＷ１２は、バッファステーション５からワーク搬送装置３上へ搬出されるときに、図３のＹ方向の位置決めがされている。また、ワークＷ１２が上述のように位置決めされていれば、ワークＷ１２よりも水平面に対して傾いて格納されている他のワーク（たとえばワークＷ１１）も、バッファステーション５からワーク搬送装置３上へ搬出されるときに、図３のＹ方向の位置決めがされている。
【００６９】
そして、上述のようにＹ方向に位置決めされている状態で、各ローラ３Ｃを回転してワークを搬送しストッパ１１４に突き当てれば、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６が、上記ストッパ１１４に突き当たって停止しているワークを把持する場合、すでに図３のＹ方向の位置決めがされているので、ワークのＹ方向に位置決めをする位置決め装置を、ワーク搬送装置３に別途設ける必要がなくなる。
【００７０】
バッファステーション５を具備するワーク搬送装置３によれば、板材加工装置１０６の分割装置１０４がワークを分割して１枚ずつワーク搬送装置３に搬出しているときには、回転部材１５を所定の角度だけ回転することによって、分割装置１０４がワークをワーク搬送装置３に搬出する時間間隔（たとえば１枚のワークを搬出し終えてから次の１枚のワークを搬出し終えるまでの時間間隔）よりも短い時間間隔で、回転部材１５に設けられている各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌのいずれかで、ワーク搬送装置３上を順次搬送されてくるワークを１枚ずつ一時的に格納することができるので、分割装置１０４のアイドル時間（分割装置１０４が稼動していない時間）を少なくすることができる。
【００７１】
また、バッファステーション５を具備するワーク搬送装置３によれば、板材加工装置１０６が、パンチングプレス１２で打ち抜き加工をしているときに、すなわち、分割装置１０４からワーク搬送装置３にワークが供給されていない時間帯に、バッファステーション５に一時的に格納している各ワークＷ１〜Ｗ１２をバッファステーション５がワーク搬送装置３上に順次吐き出して、さらに、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６を用いて、ワーク配置装置１１０に上記吐き出した各ワークを順次整列配置することができる。
【００７２】
したがって、バッファステーション５を備えるワーク搬送装置３を介して、板材加工装置１０６でパンチングされ分割されたワークを搬送してワーク積載装置１１０に整列配置する場合、分割装置１０４の遊び時間を無くすことができ、ワークの加工時間を短縮することができる。
【００７３】
なお、上記動作では、１２個のワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌのすべてにワークが一時的に格納されているが、必ずしもワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｌのすべてに、ワークが格納されている必要はない。すなわち、パンチング加工が終了した１枚の板状材を分割して１２個のワークが得られる場合には上記動作のようになるが、パンチング加工が終了した１枚の板状材を分割して、１２個よりも少ないたとえば９個のワークしか得られない場合には、９つのワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｉのみを用いて、ワークを一時的に格納することになる。
【００７４】
また、パンチング加工が終了した１枚の板状材から１３枚以上のワークが分割される可能性がある場合には、この可能性のある数量に応じて、ワーク載置部材の数量を適宜増やすことが望ましい。
【００７５】
また、ワーク搬送装置３において、ストッパー１１４Ａやストッパー１１４を削除し、各ローラ３Ｃを駆動する制御モータで搬送するワークの移動量を制御し、ワークを、ストッパー１１４Ａやストッパー１１４で停止される位置に停止させるようにしてもよい。
【００７６】
なお、図３では、図面を見やすくするために、ワーク載置部材１１Ｂ〜１１Ｌやストッパー３３の表示を省略してある。
【００７７】
また、板材の加工システム１では、ワーク搬送装置３にワークを供給する装置として、板材加工装置１０６を設けているが、板材加工装置１０６の代わりに、加工を施した複数のワークをワーク搬送装置３へ順次排出するときの各時間間隔が大きく変化する他の高速加工処理装置を設けてもよい。
【００７８】
なお、上記高速加工処理装置では、各時間間隔が、板材加工装置１０６のように、パンチングプレス時の１つの長い時間間隔と、分割時の連続する複数の短い時間間隔とで構成されている必要はない。また、上記各時間間隔は、ワーク搬送整列装置１１６の１サイクルタイム（たとえば、ワーク搬送装置３中のストッパー１１４に位置決めされた１枚のワークをワーク搬送整列装置１１６がワーク積載装置１１０まで搬送するのに要する時間）よりも短い時間間隔と、長い時間間隔とによって構成されているものとする。
【００７９】
［第２の実施の形態］
図５は、本発明の第２の実施形態に係るワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション４１との概略構成を示す正面図である。
【００８０】
バッファステーション４１では、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｊを構成する各支持部材の一端部側が、テーブル４３に一体的に固定され、上記各支持部材の他端部側が上記テーブル４３から離反する方向に水平に延びて設けられ、各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉで構成されている各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｊが、ワーク搬送装置３の各ローラ３Ｃの上下方向（矢印ＡＲ５１で示すＺ鉛直方向）に並べられて設けられている。
【００８１】
また、テーブル４３が、バッファステーション４１の基台５１の上下方向に長く設けられているガイド部材４５に摺動嵌合し、また、テーブル４３は、制御モータ４９に連動連結されている送りネジ４７に螺合し、矢印ＡＲ５１で示す上記上下方向に移動位置決め自在になっている点が、バッファステーション５とは異なる。
【００８２】
そして、テーブル４３が上下動することにより、各ワーク載置部材１１Ａ〜１１Ｊの各ワーク支持部材９Ａ〜９Ｉが、各ローラ３Ｃの間を上下方向に移動して、各ローラ３Ｃ上を搬送されてくるワークを一時的に格納しまたこの格納したワークを各ローラ３Ｃ上に搬出自在になっている。
【００８３】
このように構成されていることによって、バッファステーション４１を具備するワーク搬送装置３は、第１の実施の形態に係るバッファステーション５を具備するワーク搬送装置３とほぼ同様な効果を奏する。
【００８４】
［第３の実施の形態］
図６は、本発明の第３の実施形態に係るワーク搬送装置３とバッファステーション７１との概略構成を示す正面図である。
【００８５】
バッファステーション７１は、ワーク搬送装置３の側方でＺ方向（鉛直方向）に伸びた回転軸７３を中心にインデックス位置決め自在であり、ワーク搬送装置３の上方に水平に設けられたインデックス部材７５を具備し、このインデックス部材７５の外周縁近傍の円周上には、インデックス部材７５に対して上下移動自在な複数のＺ軸キャリッジ７７が設けられ、また、上記各Ｚ軸キャリッジの下端部側には、ワーク搬送装置３のローラ上を搬送されてくるワークを把持自在な把持手段（たとえばマグネット）が設けられている点が、バッファステーション５とは異なる。
【００８６】
そして、インデックス部材７５によって、ワーク搬送装置３のワークの上に位置するＺ軸キャリッジ７７の１つを下降させて、このＺ軸キャリッジ７７に設けられている把持手段７９で上記ワークを把持した後、Ｚ軸キャリッジ７７を上昇させて、インデックス部材７５を、次のワークを把持するためにインデックス位置決めする動作を繰り返すことにより、ワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤ上を搬送されてくるワークを一時的に格納する。
【００８７】
また、上記一時的に格納したワークをワーク搬送装置３のコンベヤ上に適宜搬出する。
【００８８】
バッファステーション７１によれば、第１、第２の実施の形態の効果に加えて、ワーク搬送装置３を搬送されてくるワークを一時的に格納する機構が、ワーク搬送装置３の上部側に設けられているので、上記機構とワーク搬送装置３との干渉を避けるために、ワーク搬送装置３のたとえばローラの軸受けの構成を変更する必要がなくなり、また、ワーク搬送装置３として、たとえばベルトコンベヤを採用することができる。
【００８９】
［第４の実施の形態］
図７は、本発明の第４の実施の形態の係るワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す平面図である。
【００９０】
上記第４の実施の形態は、第１の実施に形態において、ワーク搬送装置３のワークの搬送方向（矢印ＡＲ７１の方向）に２つのバッファステーション５を並べて設けたものである。
【００９１】
このように構成することによって、板材加工システム１に比べて２倍の数のワークを一時的に格納でき、また、ワーク搬送装置３上を搬送されてくるワークが長尺のワーク（３の搬送方向に長いワーク）である場合には、２つのバッファステーション５を同時に使用すれば、上記長尺ワークを一時的に格納することができる。なお、バッファステーション５を３つ以上の複数個設けてもよい。
【００９２】
【発明の効果】
本発明に係るワーク搬送装置及び板材加工システムによると、ワークを高速に加工処理する加工装置側と、ワークを加工処理より低速に積載処理するワーク積載処理装置側との間に、複数のローラを有するコンベヤを設置し、このコンベヤ上を搬送されてくるワークをコンベヤ上から持ち上げてバッファステーションに一時的に滞在させる際に、とくに、バッファステーションは、ワークの搬送方向に沿って互に隣接する複数のローラ間に配置された複数のワーク支持部材を１組のワーク載置部材として、当該組をコンベヤの上下方向に複数有した複数組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の一端部側をコンベヤの側方にワークの搬送方向と略平行に設置したワーク載置部材支持体に支持させて、ワーク載置部材支持体の上方に向かう移動に伴なって、複数のローラ上に搬送されたワークの裏面側に位置する１組のワーク載置部材中の各ワーク支持部材の他端部側を複数のローラ間から上方に向かって移動させることで、ワークをコンベヤの上方に設定したバッファステーションに一時的に滞在させているために、これによりワークをバッファステーションに一時的に退避させる行動や、ワークをコンベヤ上に戻す行動を迅速且つ容易に行なうことができるという効果を奏する。
この際、上記したワーク載置部材支持体として、コンベヤの側方にワークの搬送方向と略平行な軸を介して回転動自在に設置させた回転部材や、又は、コンベヤの側方にワークの搬送方向と略平行なガイド部材を介して上下動自在に設置させたテーブルを適用すれば、ワークを確実にバッファステーションに滞在させることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施形態である板材加工システムの概略構成を示す平面図である。
【図２】ワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す図である。
【図３】ワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す図である。
【図４】ワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す図である。
【図５】本発明の第２の実施形態に係るワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す正面図である。
【図６】本発明の第３の実施形態に係るワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す正面図である。
【図７】本発明の第４の実施の形態に係るワーク搬送装置とバッファステーションとの概略構成を示す平面図である。
【図８】従来の板材加工システム１００の概略構成を示す平面図である。
【符号の説明】
１板材加工システム
３ワーク搬送装置
３Ｃローラ
５、４１、７１バッファステーション
９Ａ〜９Ｉワーク支持部材
１１Ａ〜１１Ｌワーク載置部材
１３回転軸
１５回転部材
１０２パンチングプレス
１０４分割装置
１０６板材加工装置
１１０ワーク積載装置
１１６ワーク搬送整列装置[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a work transfer device including a buffer station that lifts and temporarily stays a work being transferred, and a plate material processing system including the work transfer device, and in particular, supplies the work to the work transfer device. The processing device is, for example, a device that includes a punching press for punching a plate material and a dividing device that separates and divides the workpiece formed by the punching processing, and when the workpiece is punched, it takes a long time. When the workpiece is separated without supplying the workpiece to the workpiece conveying device, the separated workpiece is supplied to the workpiece conveying device at a short time interval.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a plate material processing system that conveys a work unloaded from a punching press equipped with a work separating device and loads the work on a work loading device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-41029.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the conventional plate material processing system 100.
[0004]
The conventional plate material processing system 100 includes a punching press 102 for punching a plate material, and a workpiece unloading side 106A of a plate material processing device 106 provided with a dividing device 104 for separating and dividing the workpiece formed by the punching process. A workpiece transfer device 108 for transferring the separated and divided workpiece in the direction of the arrow AR81 (X right direction) is disposed, and a workpiece loading device 110 is disposed on the workpiece unloading side 108A of the workpiece unloading device 108. A workpiece transfer alignment device 116 that transfers workpieces from the workpiece transfer device 108 to the workpiece load device 110 is provided between the workpiece transfer device 108 and the workpiece load device 110.
[0005]
Here, when the punching press 102 takes a large number of workpieces (small products) from a large-sized plate-shaped material (large-sized workpiece), the contour processing of each workpiece is left slightly, for example, It is connected to a plate-like material, and punching (punching) of all workpieces is completed.
[0006]
The number of the workpieces obtained by punching out the large-sized plate material may be one or plural. Further, the shape of the workpiece may be one type or a plurality of types.
[0007]
The dividing device 104 is punched by the punching press 102, unloaded from the punching press 102, and connected to the workpiece using the L-size blade 112 for cutting the contour from the large-sized plate material. The workpiece is divided by, for example, separating the workpieces one by one.
[0008]
  For example, the workpiece conveying device 108 includes a pipe-shaped roller or a cylindrical brush roller in the X direction (work conveying method) such that the rotation axis of the roller extends in the Y direction (a horizontal direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction).In the directionA plurality of these rollers are arranged in the horizontal direction and are rotated by a control motor (not shown) so that the workpieces divided by the dividing device are sequentially received from the dividing device and placed on the rollers. Each of the mounted workpieces is transferred to the workpiece carry-out side 108A.
[0009]
Further, a stopper 114 is provided on the workpiece unloading side 108A of the workpiece conveying device 108, and each workpiece conveyed in the direction of the arrow AR81 comes into contact with the stopper 114 and stops, thereby being conveyed. The workpiece is positioned in the X direction (conveyance direction).
[0010]
Furthermore, on the workpiece unloading side 108A of the workpiece conveying device 108, the workpiece that is positioned in the X direction by abutting against the stopper 114 is positioned in the Y direction (horizontal direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction), and further in the Y direction. Positioning means (not shown) is provided.
[0011]
Here, the Y-direction positioning means includes a work pusher that extends long in the Y direction, is slidably fitted to a guide member provided on the base of the work transfer device 108, and is movable in the Y direction. In addition, the work pusher is movable slightly away from the stopper 114 in the direction of the work carry-in side 108B and slightly away from the upper surface (work transfer surface) of the roller of the work transfer device 108. ing.
[0012]
Then, the work pusher is screwed with a feed screw to which the control motor is interlocked, and the work positioned in the X direction is pushed in the Y direction, for example, while maintaining the position in the X direction. It is configured to be positioned and arranged at an appropriate position.
[0013]
The workpiece loading device 110 transfers the workpieces conveyed by the workpiece conveyance device 108 on the pallet (not shown) provided in the workpiece loading device 110 by the workpiece conveyance alignment device 116 for each type of workpiece. It is a device that stacks and loads and stores separately for each type of workpiece.
[0014]
A plurality of the pallets are provided, for example, in the vertical direction (vertical direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8) of the workpiece loading device 110. When a workpiece is fully loaded on one pallet, it is replaced with another empty pallet. It can be done.
[0015]
The workpieces positioned and arranged in the X direction and the Y direction on the workpiece conveying device 108 are conveyed to the workpiece loading device 110 by the workpiece conveying and aligning device 116, and on the pallet of the workpiece loading device 110, for each type of workpiece. They are separated and loaded at appropriate positions.
[0016]
A workpiece transfer and alignment device 116, which is an example of a low-speed loading processing device, includes gripping means (for example, a magnet and a vacuum suction pad) that can grip the workpiece, and the gripping means includes the X direction, the Y direction, and X, Y. It is configured to be movable in the Z direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8).
[0017]
That is, the workpiece conveying and aligning device 116 includes, for example, an X-axis carriage that is slidably fitted to an X-axis guide member that is provided long in the X direction on the base of the workpiece loading device 110, and the Y-axis of the X-axis carriage. A Y-axis carriage that is slidably fitted to a Y-axis guide member that is long in the direction, and a Z-axis carriage that is slidable in the Z direction with respect to the Y-axis carriage. The gripping means is provided on the lower end side of the Z-axis carriage.
[0018]
Each carriage is configured to be movable and positionable in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction by, for example, screwing with each ball screw linked to each control motor.
[0019]
Then, the gripping means of the work transport aligning device 116 grips the work that has reached the stopper 114 of the work transport device 108 and has been positioned in the X direction and the Y direction by the work pusher, and the gripped work is gripped by the work transport device. Lift from the top surface of 108.
[0020]
Thereafter, the gripped work is moved and positioned in the Y direction, moved in the X direction, transported and positioned, and then the gripped work is lowered on the pallet of the work stacking device 110. Then, after the lowered work comes into contact with the upper surface of the pallet of the work loader 110 or the work already placed on the pallet of the work loader 110, the gripping means releases the gripped work, Each work type is stacked on the work loader 110.
[0021]
By repeating the above-described operation, for example, the work transport alignment device 116 transfers the work positioned on the pallet of the work stacking device 110 on the pallet of the work stacking device 110. Stack sequentially.
[0022]
The large plate material punched by the plate material processing device 106 is provided in the vicinity of the plate material processing device 106, and a plurality of large plate materials can be stored from a plate material storage device (not shown). Supplied.
[0023]
According to the conventional plate material processing system 100 described above, it is possible to automatically separate and collect and store the workpieces in the workpiece stacking device 110 for each type of workpieces that have been punched out of a large-sized plate-like material and then separated.
[0024]
Further, in the above conventional plate material processing system, a plate material processing system can be configured by using a work conveying and accumulating device (not shown) as disclosed in JP-A-2001-192119.
[0025]
In this plate material processing system, there is provided a work transport stacking apparatus configured in substantially the same manner as the work transport alignment apparatus 116. However, when the work transport stacking apparatus grips a work transported in the X direction on the work transport apparatus, the X-axis carriage of the work transport stack apparatus is transported in the X direction on the work transport apparatus. While moving in the same direction as the workpiece at the same speed, the Z-axis carriage of the workpiece transfer stacking apparatus is lowered in the Z direction, the gripping means of the workpiece transfer stacking apparatus is used to hold the workpiece, and the Z-axis carriage Is raised in the Z direction.
[0026]
The workpiece transfer device is provided with a sensor for detecting that the workpiece has been transferred. When the sensor detects the workpiece, the workpiece transfer stacking device starts the operation such as gripping the workpiece. .
[0027]
According to the work transporting and accumulating apparatus, when the work is transported from the work transporting apparatus, it is not necessary to stop the movement of the work being transported by temporarily stopping the work transporting apparatus. The workpiece conveyed above can be quickly unloaded from the workpiece conveying device, and the time for one cycle of the workpiece conveying and accumulating device can be shortened.
[0028]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the plate material processing apparatus 106 provided in the conventional plate material processing system 100, a large-sized plate-shaped material is received from a plate-shaped material storage device (not shown), and the punching press is applied to the received large-sized plate-shaped material. In the time from when the punching process 102 is performed until the punching process is completed (hereinafter referred to as “punching time”), the separated workpiece is not supplied to the workpiece transfer device 108, and thus a relatively long time. The workpiece is not supplied from the plate material processing apparatus 106 to the workpiece conveying apparatus 108.
[0029]
On the other hand, in the plate material processing apparatus 106 provided in the conventional plate material processing system 100, for example, the dividing device 104 divides one workpiece from the plate-like material for which the punching press has been completed, and the divided workpiece is transferred to the workpiece conveying device. 108, and the time until the next piece of work is divided from the plate-like material after the punching press is completed (hereinafter referred to as “work divided supply time”) is relatively short. At intervals, for example, workpieces are supplied from the plate material processing device 106 to the workpiece transfer device 108 one by one.
[0030]
By the way, the workpiece conveying and aligning device 116 of the plate material processing system 100 grasps and conveys one workpiece conveyed and positioned by the workpiece conveying device 108, aligns and loads the workpiece on the workpiece loading device 110, and further loads the workpiece. The time required to reach a state where the next workpiece transferred and positioned by the transfer device 108 can be gripped (hereinafter referred to as “work transfer loading time”) is complicated because the operation of the workpiece transfer alignment device 116 is complicated and complicated. It may be longer than the supply time.
[0031]
Therefore, in order to avoid a state in which the workpiece supplied to the workpiece transfer device 108 cannot be removed from the workpiece transfer device 108, it is necessary to balance the workpiece division time and the workpiece transfer loading time. That is, it is necessary to set an idle time between the workpiece division time and the next workpiece division time, and to make the sum of the workpiece division time and the idle time substantially the same as the above-described workpiece conveyance loading time. Note that the dividing device 104 is not operating during the idle time.
[0032]
Therefore, if the workpiece transfer and loading time is equal to or shorter than the workpiece dividing time, the processing time for one workpiece when N workpieces are obtained from one plate-like material is “(the punching time + N × the workpiece division time) ÷ N ”, but when the idle time is provided because the workpiece transfer and loading time is longer than the workpiece division time, N workpieces are obtained from one plate-like material. The machining time of one workpiece is “(the punching time + N × (the workpiece dividing time + the idle time)) / N”, and the machining time per workpiece is increased by the idle time. Become.
[0033]
That is, in the conventional plate material processing system 100, there is a problem that the processing time of the workpiece may be extended because the workpiece transfer and loading time is longer than the workpiece division time.
[0034]
Further, if a work transporting and accumulating apparatus as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-192119 is used, since the work transporting apparatus grips the work while transporting the work, the work transporting and stacking time is the conventional plate material. The processing system 100 is shortened. However, since the operation of the work transfer stacking apparatus is complicated, it is difficult to make the shortened work transfer stacking time shorter than the work dividing time.
[0035]
Furthermore, when the workpiece is fully loaded on the pallet of the workpiece loading device 110 and the workpiece is to be replaced with another pallet, the workpiece conveyance and alignment device 116 must stop operating during this pallet replacement time. The work transfer and loading time is further extended, and the above problem becomes more remarkable.
[0036]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a work carrying-out of a plate material processing apparatus provided with a punching press for punching a plate material and a dividing device for separating and dividing the work formed by the punching processing. In a plate material processing system in which a workpiece transfer device is arranged on the side, and a workpiece loading processing device is arranged on the workpiece carry-out side of the workpiece transfer device, a plate material processing system capable of shortening the workpiece processing time and a work usable in this system An object is to provide a transport device.
[0037]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The present invention described in claim 1AdditionProcessing equipment sideA workpiece processed at high speed withLow speedWork to be loaded onTransport to the load processing equipment sideAnd a conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided between the two devices and rotatably provided perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpiece,
  The aboveIs transported over NbeyaSaidWarBeforeConveyorUpBuffer station for lifting and temporarily stayingWhenWithIn a workpiece transfer device
  The buffer station is
  A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
  It is installed on the side of the conveyor and substantially parallel to the workpiece conveyance direction, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is spaced apart in the vertical direction for each group. A supported workpiece mounting member support;
  A moving means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the workpiece placement member support, upward or downward of the conveyor;
  Along with the upward movement of the workpiece placement member support, each workpiece support member in the set of workpiece placement members positioned on the back side of the workpiece conveyed onto the plurality of rollers. The workpiece is lifted from above the plurality of rollers and moved to temporarily stay in the buffer station by moving the end side upward between the plurality of rollers.This is a workpiece transfer device.
[0038]
  The present invention described in claim 2Installed between both devices to transport the workpiece processed at high speed on the processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side which loads and processes at a lower speed than the processing processing, and is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the workpiece. A conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided rotatably,
  In a work transfer device comprising a buffer station for lifting the work transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there,
  The buffer station is
  A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
  It is installed on the side of the conveyor so as to be rotatable through an axis substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the workpiece, and one end side of each workpiece supporting member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is arranged for each group. A rotating member that is radially supported with respect to the axis and spaced apart in the vertical direction;
  Rotation driving means for rotating the plurality of sets of workpiece mounting members integrally with the rotating member upward or downward about the axis;
  With the rotation toward the upper side of the rotating member, the other end side of each work supporting member in the one set of work placing members located on the back side of the work conveyed on the plurality of rollers. By moving upward between the plurality of rollers, the workpiece is moved to the plurality of rollers.Lift from above the rollerTo the buffer stationStay temporarilyIt is characterized by lettingThis is a workpiece transfer device.
[0039]
  The present invention according to claim 3 provides:Installed between both devices to transport the workpiece processed at high speed on the processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side which loads and processes at a lower speed than the processing processing, and is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the workpiece. A conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided rotatably,
  In a work transfer device comprising a buffer station for lifting the work transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there,
  The buffer station is
  A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
  It is installed on the side of the conveyor so as to be movable up and down via a guide member that is substantially parallel to the conveying direction of the workpiece, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is set in each group. A table that is supported at a distance in the vertical direction
  Vertical movement drive means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the table upward or downward via the guide members;
  Along with the movement toward the upper side of the table, the other end side of each work supporting member in the one set of work placing members located on the back side of the work conveyed on the plurality of rollers is By moving upward from between a plurality of rollers, the workpiece is moved to the plurality of rollers.Lift from above the rollerTo the buffer stationStay temporarilyIt is characterized by lettingThis is a workpiece transfer device.
[0040]
  The present invention according to claim 4 is a punching press for punching a plate material;in frontSeparate the workpiece formed by punchingFastSplitprocessingPlate processing apparatus provided with a dividing deviceWhen,
  It is installed between both devices for conveying the workpiece divided at high speed on the plate material processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side for loading processing at a lower speed than the division processing, and the conveyance direction of the workpiece A workpiece transfer device comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided to be orthogonally rotatable; and a buffer station for lifting the workpiece transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there. A plate material processing system configured by:
  The buffer station is
  A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
  It is installed on the side of the conveyor and substantially parallel to the workpiece conveyance direction, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is spaced apart in the vertical direction for each group. A supported workpiece mounting member support;
  A moving means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the workpiece placement member support, upward or downward of the conveyor;
  Along with the upward movement of the workpiece placement member support, each workpiece support member in the set of workpiece placement members positioned on the back side of the workpiece conveyed onto the plurality of rollers. By moving the end side upward from between the plurality of rollers, the workpiece is moved from above the plurality of rollers.LiftTo the buffer stationStay temporarilyIt is characterized by lettingIt is a plate material processing system.
[0041]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a plate material processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0042]
The plate material processing system 1 includes a buffer station 5 for temporarily lifting each of a plurality of workpieces conveyed on the conveyor of the workpiece conveyance device 3 having a configuration substantially similar to that of the workpiece conveyance device 108. Is different from the conventional plate material processing system 100 in that the workpiece conveying device 3 is provided, and the other points are configured in substantially the same manner as the plate material processing system 100.
[0043]
The workpiece transfer device 3 and the buffer station 5 will be described.
[0044]
2 to 4 are diagrams showing schematic configurations of the work transfer device 3 and the buffer station 5, and FIGS. 2 and 4 are views taken along the line IIA-IIB in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the station 5 and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the workpiece transfer device 3 and the buffer station 5 as viewed in the direction of arrow III in FIG.
[0045]
2 shows an initial state in which the buffer station 5 of the work transfer device 3 starts staying (stagnation) of the work, and in the front view of FIG. 4, the buffer station 5 of the work transfer device 3 stays at the work. The state after finishing.
[0046]
  As described above, the workpiece transfer device 3 is configured in substantially the same manner as the workpiece transfer device 108. The workpiece W1 divided by the dividing device 104 is transferred to the workpiece loading side 3B.UpSequentially received from the dividing device 104 and placed on each roller 3C provided rotatably with respect to the base 7 of the workpiece conveying device 3, and the placed workpiece W1 rotates each roller 3C. Thus, the workpiece W1 is conveyed to the workpiece unloading side 3A, and the workpiece W1 is moved in the X direction and the Y direction by the stopper 114 and the Y-direction positioning means (not shown) similar to that provided in the workpiece conveyance device 108. It is configured to be freely positioned at any appropriate position.
[0047]
The buffer station 5 temporarily raises each workpiece conveyed on each roller 3C of the conveyor of the workpiece conveying device 3 from the respective rollers 3C of the conveyor in the Z upward direction so as to stay temporarily. .
[0048]
Here, the buffer station 5 includes a plurality of workpiece support members 9A to 9I (longer in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveyance direction of the workpiece conveyance device 3 (the X downward direction indicated by the arrow AR31 shown in FIG. 3)). 3) is provided with a plurality of workpiece placement members 11A arranged in the conveyance direction of the workpiece conveyance device 3, and a plurality of workpieces configured in the same manner as the workpiece placement member 11A. A plurality of mounting members 11B to 11L are provided in the up-down direction of each roller 3C of the conveyor of the workpiece transfer device 3 (see FIG. 2).
[0049]
Furthermore, the buffer station 5 is provided long in the workpiece conveyance direction of the conveyance device 3 on the side of the workpiece conveyance device 3, and is a workpiece conveyance surface that is a plane passing through the contact surface between the workpiece and each roller 3C. And a rotating member 15 that is rotatable about a rotating shaft 13 that is substantially the same height as that of the workpiece conveying device 3 and is parallel to the workpiece conveying direction.
[0050]
The rotating member 15 is provided long in the workpiece conveying direction of the workpiece conveying device 3, and both ends are supported by bearing members 17 A and 17 B fixed to the base 19 of the buffer station 5. 19 is rotatably provided.
[0051]
Also, one end side of the rotating member 15 (for example, the workpiece unloading side 3A side of the workpiece conveying device 3) is connected to a control motor (for example, a servo motor with an encoder) 27 via the gear 21, the gear 23, and the speed reducer 25. Linked together. The speed reducer 25 is integrally fixed to the base 19 by a connecting member (not shown).
[0052]
Moreover, the one end part side of each said workpiece | work supporting member 9A-9I of each said workpiece | work mounting member 11A-11L is integrally supported by the rotation member 15, and other than this supported workpiece | work supporting member 9A-9I. The end portion side is provided to extend radially with respect to the rotation shaft 13 of the rotation member 15 in a direction away from the rotation shaft 13.
[0053]
Then, the buffer station 5 rotates the control motor 27 by an appropriate angle, whereby the rotating member 15 rotates by an appropriate angle, so that each work transferred on the work transfer device 3 is transferred to each work piece. It is configured to be able to stay temporarily by lifting from above each roller 3C using any of the mounting members 11A to 11L.
[0054]
That is, for example, the workpiece support members 9A to 9I of the workpiece placement member 11A are moved from the lower side to the upper side of the rollers 3C so as to pass between the rollers 3C of the conveyor of the conveyor 3. The workpiece W1 divided by the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106 and conveyed on the conveyor of the conveying device 3 is lifted from the roller 3C using the workpiece placing member 11A, and temporarily It is a structure that can stay freely.
[0055]
In order to avoid interference with the workpiece mounting members 11A to 11L rotating with the rotation of the rotating member 15, the bearing members 31A to 31H on the buffer station 5 side of the rollers 3C of the workpiece transfer device 3 are, for example, As shown in FIG. 3, it is formed in a columnar shape and is provided upright between trajectory spaces formed by movement of the workpiece support members 9A to 9I of the workpiece mounting members 11A to 11L.
[0056]
In addition, the work transfer device 3 is provided with a stopper 114A that can freely enter and leave the work transfer surface of the work transfer device 3 at a predetermined position between the rollers 3C of the work transfer device 3. It should be noted that the stopper 114A is configured so that the workpiece placement member 11A of the buffer station 5 can be lifted so that the workpiece placement member 11A of the buffer station 5 can lift the workpiece positioned at a predetermined position by striking the stopper 114A. It is in the vicinity of ˜11L, and is provided on the workpiece carry-out conveyor 3 on the workpiece unloading side 3A side.
[0057]
Further, the workpieces placed on the workpiece placement members 11A to 11L are brought into contact with the workpiece support members 9A to 9I of the workpiece placement members 11A to 11L, thereby rotating the workpieces. A plurality of stoppers 29A to 29I for restricting movement in the direction of the member 15 are provided.
[0058]
Next, the operation of the work transfer device 3 including the buffer station 5 will be described.
[0059]
In the state shown in FIG. 2, the workpieces divided by the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106 are sequentially conveyed on the workpiece conveying device 3.
[0060]
Then, from the state shown in FIG. 2, the rotating member 15 rotates in the direction of the arrow AR21, and the workpiece W1 conveyed on each roller 3C of the conveyor of the workpiece conveying device 3 and positioned against the stopper 114A is placed on the workpiece. The mounting member 11A lifts the roller 3C and temporarily stores it (stays).
[0061]
Further, by rotating the rotation member 15 by a predetermined angle in the direction of the arrow AR21, the workpiece that is subsequently conveyed on the conveyor of the workpiece conveyance device 3 and positioned by the stopper 114A is adjacent to the workpiece placement member 11A. The workpieces placed on the rollers 3C are temporarily stored by being lifted from the rollers 3C by the workpiece placing member 11B provided, and thereafter the workpieces sequentially conveyed on the rollers 3C of the conveyor of the workpiece conveying device 3 are placed on the workpieces. If it stores in order using mounting member 11C-11L, as shown in FIG. 4, each workpiece | work W1-W12 will stay in each workpiece | work mounting member 11A-11L.
[0062]
When there is no more work to be divided by the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106, the plate material processing device 106 receives the next plate material from a plate material storage device (not shown) and receives the received plate material. Further, punching is performed with a punching press 102.
[0063]
While the punching press 102 is punching, the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106 does not carry out the workpiece to the workpiece conveying device 3, so that the buffer station 5 stays on the workpiece mounting members 11A to 11L. The workpieces W1 to W12 are sequentially carried out onto the workpiece transfer device 3 by rotating the rotating member 15 by a predetermined angle in the direction of arrow AR41 shown in FIG. At this time, the stopper 114A is in a state of being lowered below Z in FIG. 2 from the workpiece conveyance surface, and does not interfere with the workpieces that are sequentially carried out.
[0064]
The workpieces W1 to W12 sequentially carried out from the buffer station 5 are conveyed by the rotation of the rollers 3C, are abutted against the stoppers 114 of the workpiece conveyance device 3, are positioned, and are sequentially conveyed by the workpiece conveyance alignment device 116. They are arranged and arranged on the pallet of the workpiece loading device 110.
[0065]
And if the buffer station 5 spits out all the workpiece | work W1-W12 which has stayed, the buffer station 5 will return to the state shown in FIG. 2, and it will be discharged | emitted from the division | segmentation apparatus 104 of the board | plate material processing apparatus 106, and the workpiece conveyance apparatus 3 It becomes possible to store the next workpiece that is sequentially transported up.
[0066]
After that, the buffer station 5 temporarily stores the work discharged again from the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106 and transported on the work transport device 3 as described above.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 4, the buffer station 5 prevents the workpiece W1 from dropping from the buffer station 5 when the surface of the workpiece placement member 11A on which the workpiece is placed faces downward in the Z direction. A stopper 33 is provided.
[0068]
Further, from the state shown in FIG. 4, the rotating member 15 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow AR42, the work W12 slides on the work placing member 11L, and the work W12 is moved to the stoppers 29A to 29I of the work placing member 11L. If the workpiece W12 is positioned by abutting, the workpiece W12 is positioned in the Y direction in FIG. 3 when being unloaded from the buffer station 5 onto the workpiece transfer device 3. Further, if the workpiece W12 is positioned as described above, another workpiece (for example, the workpiece W11) stored with an inclination with respect to the horizontal plane with respect to the workpiece W12 is also carried out from the buffer station 5 onto the workpiece conveyance device 3. 3 is positioned in the Y direction in FIG.
[0069]
When the rollers 3C are rotated to convey the workpiece and abut against the stopper 114 while being positioned in the Y direction as described above, the workpiece conveyance alignment device 116 abuts against the stopper 114 and stops. 3 is already positioned in the Y direction in FIG. 3, it is not necessary to separately provide a positioning device for positioning the workpiece in the Y direction in the workpiece transfer device 3.
[0070]
According to the work transfer device 3 having the buffer station 5, when the dividing device 104 of the plate material processing device 106 divides the work and carries it out one by one to the work transfer device 3, the rotating member 15 is moved by a predetermined angle. By rotating, it is shorter than the time interval (for example, the time interval from when one workpiece is completely unloaded to when the next workpiece is unloaded) when the dividing device 104 unloads the workpiece to the workpiece transfer device 3. Since the workpieces sequentially conveyed on the workpiece conveyance device 3 can be temporarily stored one by one by any one of the workpiece placement members 11A to 11L provided on the rotating member 15 at time intervals. The idle time of the dividing device 104 (time when the dividing device 104 is not operating) can be reduced.
[0071]
Further, according to the work transfer device 3 including the buffer station 5, when the plate material processing device 106 performs punching with the punching press 12, that is, the work is supplied from the dividing device 104 to the work transfer device 3. During the time period when the work is not performed, the work W1 to W12 temporarily stored in the buffer station 5 is sequentially discharged onto the work transfer device 3 by the buffer station 5, and further, the work is arranged using the work transfer alignment device 116. The discharged workpieces can be sequentially arranged on the apparatus 110.
[0072]
Therefore, when the work punched and divided by the plate material processing apparatus 106 is conveyed and arranged on the work stacking apparatus 110 via the work conveyance apparatus 3 including the buffer station 5, the play time of the division apparatus 104 can be eliminated. It is possible to shorten the work machining time.
[0073]
In the above operation, the workpieces are temporarily stored in all of the twelve workpiece placement members 11A to 11L. However, the workpieces need not necessarily be stored in all of the workpiece placement members 11A to 11L. Absent. That is, when 12 pieces of workpieces are obtained by dividing one plate-like material after punching processing, the above operation is performed, but one plate-like material after punching processing is divided. When only 9 workpieces, for example, fewer than 12, can be obtained, the workpieces are temporarily stored using only the 9 workpiece mounting members 11A to 11I.
[0074]
Further, when there is a possibility that 13 or more workpieces may be divided from one plate-like material that has been punched, the number of workpiece placement members is appropriately increased in accordance with this possible quantity. It is desirable.
[0075]
Further, in the workpiece transfer device 3, the stopper 114A and the stopper 114 are deleted, the movement amount of the workpiece transferred by the control motor that drives each roller 3C is controlled, and the workpiece is brought to a position where the workpiece is stopped by the stopper 114A or the stopper 114. You may make it stop.
[0076]
In FIG. 3, the work placement members 11 </ b> B to 11 </ b> L and the stopper 33 are not shown in order to make the drawing easy to see.
[0077]
In the plate material processing system 1, the plate material processing device 106 is provided as a device for supplying a work to the work conveyance device 3. However, instead of the plate material processing device 106, a plurality of processed workpieces are processed by the work conveyance device. Another high-speed processing apparatus may be provided in which each time interval when discharging sequentially to 3 changes greatly.
[0078]
  In the high-speed processing apparatus, each time interval needs to be composed of one long time interval at the time of punching press and a plurality of continuous short time intervals at the time of division as in the plate material processing device 106. There is no. Each time interval is equal to one cycle time (for example,In the work transfer device 3It is assumed that a time interval shorter than a time required for the work transport alignment device 116 to transport the work positioned on the stopper 114 to the work stacking device 110) and a long time interval are included.
[0079]
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the workpiece transfer device 3 and the buffer station 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0080]
In the buffer station 41, one end portions of the support members constituting the workpiece placement members 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> J are integrally fixed to the table 43, and the other end portions of the support members are separated from the table 43. The workpiece placement members 11A to 11J that are provided to extend horizontally and are configured by the workpiece support members 9A to 9I are arranged in the vertical direction (Z vertical direction indicated by the arrow AR51) of each roller 3C of the workpiece conveyance device 3. It is provided side by side.
[0081]
The table 43 is slidably fitted to a guide member 45 provided long in the vertical direction of the base 51 of the buffer station 41, and the table 43 is connected to a control motor 49 in conjunction with a feed screw 47. Is different from the buffer station 5 in that it can be moved and positioned in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow AR51.
[0082]
When the table 43 moves up and down, the workpiece support members 9A to 9I of the workpiece placement members 11A to 11J move in the vertical direction between the rollers 3C and are conveyed on the rollers 3C. The coming workpiece is temporarily stored, and the stored workpiece can be unloaded onto each roller 3C.
[0083]
By being configured in this way, the work transfer device 3 including the buffer station 41 has substantially the same effect as the work transfer device 3 including the buffer station 5 according to the first embodiment.
[0084]
[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the workpiece transfer device 3 and the buffer station 71 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0085]
The buffer station 71 is capable of index positioning around a rotating shaft 73 extending in the Z direction (vertical direction) on the side of the work transfer device 3, and an index member 75 provided horizontally above the work transfer device 3. A plurality of Z-axis carriages 77 that are movable up and down with respect to the index member 75 are provided on the circumference in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the index member 75, and on the lower end side of each Z-axis carriage. Is different from the buffer station 5 in that gripping means (for example, a magnet) capable of gripping a workpiece conveyed on the roller of the workpiece conveyance device 3 is provided.
[0086]
Then, after the index member 75 lowers one of the Z-axis carriages 77 positioned on the workpiece of the workpiece conveyance device 3 and grips the workpiece with the gripping means 79 provided on the Z-axis carriage 77. , The Z-axis carriage 77 is raised and the index member 75 is repeatedly index-positioned to hold the next workpiece, thereby temporarily storing the workpiece conveyed on the conveyor of the workpiece conveyance device 3. To do.
[0087]
Further, the temporarily stored workpiece is appropriately carried out onto the conveyor of the workpiece transfer device 3.
[0088]
According to the buffer station 71, in addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments, a mechanism for temporarily storing the workpiece conveyed by the workpiece conveyance device 3 is provided on the upper side of the workpiece conveyance device 3. Therefore, in order to avoid interference between the mechanism and the work transfer device 3, it is not necessary to change the configuration of, for example, a roller bearing of the work transfer device 3. As the work transfer device 3, for example, a belt conveyor is used. Can be adopted.
[0089]
[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the workpiece transfer apparatus and the buffer station according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0090]
In the fourth embodiment, in the first embodiment, two buffer stations 5 are provided side by side in the workpiece conveyance direction (direction of arrow AR71) of the workpiece conveyance device 3.
[0091]
With this configuration, twice the number of workpieces can be temporarily stored compared to the plate material processing system 1, and the workpiece conveyed on the workpiece conveyance device 3 is a long workpiece (conveyance of 3). In the case of a work that is long in the direction), if the two buffer stations 5 are used simultaneously, the long work can be temporarily stored. Note that three or more buffer stations 5 may be provided.
[0092]
【The invention's effect】
  In the present inventionAccording to the workpiece transfer device and the plate material processing system, a conveyor having a plurality of rollers is provided between a processing device side that processes a workpiece at a high speed and a workpiece loading processing device side that loads the workpiece at a lower speed than the processing processing. When installing and lifting the workpieces transported on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying in the buffer station, the buffer station is particularly located between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece transport direction. A plurality of work support members arranged in a single set of work placement members, and one end side of each work support member in a plurality of sets of work placement members having a plurality of sets in the vertical direction of the conveyor is connected to the conveyor. Along with the movement toward the upper side of the workpiece mounting member support, it is supported by the workpiece mounting member support installed on the side substantially parallel to the workpiece conveyance direction. By moving the other end side of each work support member in the set of work placement members located on the back side of the work conveyed onto the plurality of rollers upward from between the plurality of rollers, Since the work is temporarily stayed in the buffer station set above the conveyor, the action of temporarily retracting the work to the buffer station and the action of returning the work onto the conveyor can be quickly and easily performed. CanThere is an effect that.
  At this time, as the workpiece mounting member support described above, a rotating member installed on the side of the conveyor so as to be rotatable through an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction of the workpiece, or the workpiece on the side of the conveyor. By applying a table that can be moved up and down via a guide member that is substantially parallel to the transport direction, the work can be reliably kept at the buffer station.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a plate material processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a work transfer device and a buffer station.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a workpiece transfer device and a buffer station.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a work transfer device and a buffer station.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a work transfer device and a buffer station according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a work transfer device and a buffer station according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a workpiece transfer apparatus and a buffer station according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional plate material processing system 100. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Plate processing system
3 Work transfer device
3C Roller
5, 41, 71 Buffer station
9A-9I Work support member
11A to 11L Workpiece mounting member
13 Rotating shaft
15 Rotating member
102 punching press
104 Splitting device
106 Sheet material processing equipment
110 Work loader
116 Workpiece transfer alignment device

Claims

Is installed between the two devices to carry the machining apparatus is processed at a high speed side workpiece to the work loading processing apparatus for stacking processing slower than the processing, and, perpendicular to the transport direction of the workpiece And a conveyor having a plurality of rollers rotatably provided;
In the work conveying apparatus having a buffer station for temporarily stay lifted before SL on the conveyor the word click conveyed on the co Nbeya,
The buffer station is
A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
It is installed on the side of the conveyor and substantially parallel to the workpiece conveyance direction, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is spaced apart in the vertical direction for each group. A supported workpiece mounting member support;
A moving means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the workpiece placement member support, upward or downward of the conveyor;
Along with the upward movement of the workpiece placement member support, each workpiece support member in the set of workpiece placement members positioned on the back side of the workpiece conveyed onto the plurality of rollers. by moving the end portion side from among the plurality of rollers upward, the work conveying apparatus according to claim Rukoto temporarily stay the workpiece to said buffer station lifted from the said plurality of rollers.

Installed between both devices to transport the workpiece processed at high speed on the processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side which loads and processes at a lower speed than the processing processing, and is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the workpiece. A conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided rotatably,
In a work transfer device comprising a buffer station for lifting the work transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there,
The buffer station is
A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
It is installed on the side of the conveyor so as to be rotatable through an axis substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the workpiece, and one end side of each workpiece supporting member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is arranged for each group. A rotating member that is radially supported with respect to the axis and spaced apart in the vertical direction;
Rotation driving means for rotating the plurality of sets of workpiece mounting members integrally with the rotating member upward or downward about the axis;
With the rotation toward the upper side of the rotating member, the other end side of each work supporting member in the one set of work placing members located on the back side of the work conveyed on the plurality of rollers. wherein the plurality of rollers between the by moving upward, the work conveying apparatus according to claim Rukoto temporarily stay the workpiece to said buffer station lifted from the said plurality of rollers.

Installed between both devices to transport the workpiece processed at high speed on the processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side which loads and processes at a lower speed than the processing processing, and is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the workpiece. A conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided rotatably,
In a work transfer device comprising a buffer station for lifting the work transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there,
The buffer station is
A plurality of workpiece support members a pair of workpiece mounting member disposed between a plurality of rollers adjacent each other along the conveying direction of the workpiece, a plurality of sets of workpieces of a plurality have a corresponding set in the vertical direction of the conveyor A mounting member;
It is installed on the side of the conveyor so as to be movable up and down via a guide member that is substantially parallel to the conveying direction of the workpiece, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is set in each group. A table that is supported at a distance in the vertical direction
Vertical movement drive means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the table upward or downward via the guide members;
Along with the movement toward the upper side of the table, the other end side of each work supporting member in the one set of work placing members located on the back side of the work conveyed on the plurality of rollers is by moving upwardly from between the plurality of rollers, the workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim Rukoto temporarily stay the workpiece to said buffer station lifted from the said plurality of rollers.

A punching press for punching a plate material, and the plate material processing apparatus provided with a dividing device for dividing process faster detach the workpiece formed by the prior SL punching,
It is installed between both devices for conveying the workpiece divided at high speed on the plate material processing device side to the workpiece loading processing device side for loading processing at a lower speed than the division processing, and the conveyance direction of the workpiece A workpiece transfer device comprising: a conveyor having a plurality of rollers provided to be orthogonally rotatable; and a buffer station for lifting the workpiece transferred on the conveyor from the conveyor and temporarily staying there. A plate material processing system configured by:
The buffer station is
A plurality of sets of workpieces having a plurality of workpiece support members arranged between a plurality of rollers adjacent to each other along the workpiece conveyance direction as a set of workpiece placement members, in the vertical direction of the conveyor. A mounting member;
It is installed on the side of the conveyor and substantially parallel to the workpiece conveyance direction, and one end side of each workpiece support member in the plurality of workpiece mounting members is spaced apart in the vertical direction for each group. A supported workpiece mounting member support;
A moving means for moving the plurality of sets of workpiece placement members integrally with the workpiece placement member support, upward or downward of the conveyor;
Along with the upward movement of the workpiece placement member support, each workpiece support member in the set of workpiece placement members positioned on the back side of the workpiece conveyed onto the plurality of rollers. The plate material processing system according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is lifted from above the plurality of rollers and temporarily stayed in the buffer station by moving the end side upward between the plurality of rollers .