JP5048532B2 - Abutment module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an abutment module, and more particularly to an abutment module for an automated machining and transport system. The contact module has a contact member disposed on the main body that moves the target object in a predetermined direction on the moving surface, and the contact member is moved by the adjusting member to a contact position located on the moving surface. It is possible to shift between the release position located below the surface.

  A contact module of this kind is disclosed in European Patent 0484648. The abutment member disclosed herein can be moved by the pneumatic operation piston so as to bring the workpiece close and close. In order to operate with compressed air, the housing is provided with an air connection, whereby the compressed air is controlled and supplied. Further, a damping means is provided for the contact member so that the movement of the contacting workpiece is attenuated.

  Generally, in an automatic processing and conveying system that employs an abutment module, the abutment object is strongly operated against the abutment member, being operated constantly. Since the object exerts a force on the contact member, friction occurs while the contact member is lowered. The force to be generated by the adjusting member for lowering the abutting member is great.

One of the objects of the present invention is to enable the contact member to move downward with a small force in the contact module described above.

  The object is to move the abutting member downward with less force by providing an abutment module having the features of the independent claim 1. Further developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

  The contact module of the present invention has the following characteristics. That is, the abutment module comprises guide means having at least one guide track. The contact member is reliably guided on the guide track between the contact position and the release position at the first fulcrum. The contact member is pivotally connected to the adjustment element at a second fulcrum away from the first fulcrum, and when the contact member moves downward from the contact position to the release position, the rotation of the contact member is This occurs so that the contact member moves away from the object as the object in the moving direction.

  In the case of the above-described prior art, the downward movement of the contact member occurs in a truly vertical direction. In this case, the force to be supplied by the adjusting member is increased. Accordingly, when the contact member is moved downward, pressure is applied to the contact object, which causes a large friction. On the other hand, in the present invention, the contact member is moved downward while moving downward in the object moving direction, and the contact object is moved in the object moving direction even while the contact member is moved downward. Moved. Accordingly, the abutting member is retracted when it moves a predetermined distance in the object moving direction, and as a result, the friction between the colliding object and the abutting member is reduced during the downward movement. When performing continuous processing and conveyance, the force generated by the object colliding with the contact member causes the contact member to rotate in the object moving direction.

  In a further development of the invention, the guide track extends at least partly obliquely with respect to the direction of movement of the object. Accordingly, it is possible to move downward at an angle with respect to the contact member at the first fulcrum. On the contrary, the guide tracks can be arranged in the vertical direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the moving surface. In this case, the abutment member is pivotally connected to the adjustment member at the second fulcrum, so that the first member rotates about the first fulcrum when vertical downward movement occurs.

  In a further development of the invention, the abutment member has a shape adapted to abut for the abutment object at its top. The shape may be such that a predetermined curve is drawn while the abutting member moves between the abutting position and the releasing position, particularly a curve on the moving surface in the object moving direction. The contact between the contact object and the contact member is conveniently linear, but may be sheet-shaped.

  In particular, the guide means is preferably a slide guide. At least one guide slide is disposed on the main body, and at least one guide member formed on the contact member is reliably guided to the guide slide at the first fulcrum. The guide slide may be formed as a guide groove, and the guide member may be formed as a guide pin.

  In particular, in a preferred embodiment, damping means connected to the abutment member is provided. The attenuation means attenuates the movement of the contact member from a predetermined pre-contact position before the contact position in the object moving direction to the contact position. In this regard, during the downward movement from the contact position to the release position, due to the shape of the guide track, the contact member is at the level of the pre-contact position below the moving surface in the object movement direction, at least with respect to the first fulcrum. You can move to a position. As a result, the abutting member sets back during the downward movement, and during the next ascending movement, the abutting member can approach the pre-abutting position and can be prepared for the arrival of the next object.

  In a further development of the invention, the adjusting member is connected to the abutting member by force transmitting means, so that the driving force generated by the adjusting member can be transmitted as a large force, which force is transmitted to the abutting member. Can be given. Therefore, an adjustment member that generates a relatively small driving force can be used, thereby reducing the overall shape. This means that the overall height depending on the size of the adjusting member can be made relatively small.

In particular, it is preferable that the force transmission means is constituted by a lever transmission means.
As lever transmitting means, the lever means is suitable to be connected with the abutting member. The lever means has a first lever, one of which is pivotally connected to the adjustment member, is linearly slidable, and the other is connected to a second lever formed on the adjustment member, One of the levers is rotatable around a fixed rotation shaft formed on the main unit, and the other is supported by the contact member like a joint.

In principle, other transmission means besides the lever transmission system can be used, for example gear wheels.
In a further development of the invention, the adjustment member comprises drive means for producing a linear drive movement oriented parallel to the moving surface. Such movement is converted by the converting means into movement of the contact member that occurs between the contact position and the release position of the contact member.

  In the case of the above-described prior art, the driving motion occurs in a vertical direction, that is, a method orthogonal to the moving direction. Thus, the stroke of the drive element extends in the vertical direction and has a significant influence on the overall height of the drive module. On the other hand, in the case of a linear drive that moves parallel to the moving surface of the present invention, the influence on the overall height is very small.

  Preferably, the drive element is arranged to slide linearly on a drive socket provided in the main unit parallel to the moving surface. In particular, it is preferred that the adjustment member has a longitudinal axis arranged in the drive socket substantially parallel to the moving surface.

Further advantages and advantageous forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 7 show a first embodiment of an abutment module 11 according to the present invention. Hereinafter, an abutment module having no attenuating means will be described. It is also possible to use it.

  The abutment module 11 is preferably used in the automatic processing / conveying means 70 for separating the object 14 such as a workpiece moving in the object moving direction 13 on the moving surface 18. In the following classification of the object 14, for example, processing such as machining or direction change may be performed individually.

  The abutment module 11 includes a main body unit 15 made of, for example, a rectangular block, and the abutment member 16 is displaced outside the moving surface 18 of the object 14 by using an adjustment member 17 in the main body unit 15. The contact member 16 is disposed so as to return to the inside of the main unit 15. Further, the attenuating means 12 described above is present, and the attenuating means 12 causes the abutting member 16 to move from the pre-abutting position 19 located before the object moving direction 13 to the abutting position 20 in the attenuation mode. Can do.

  The main body unit 15 can include an abutting member conveyance unit 21, and the abutting member 16 is accommodated in the abutting member conveyance unit 21 by the method described below. The contact member transport unit 21 is configured separately. However, in principle, an integrated body unit 15 is possible.

  As more specifically illustrated in FIG. 4, an electromagnetic linear drive unit including an electromagnetic drive unit is provided as the adjustment member 17. The electromagnetic drive unit includes an electromagnet 23 that can be excited electrically, and more specifically, the electromagnet 23 includes a U-shaped yoke. In the electromagnet 23, the drive element 24 which consists of an armature slides linearly. When the electromagnet is energized, the armature is drawn toward the yoke, resulting in a drive action that can be used to drive other components. This drive operation occurs parallel to the moving surface 18 of the object 14 and is transmitted to the contact member 16 by the conversion means in the manner described in detail below. As a result, the contact member 16 is displaced between the contact position 20 and the release position 25 located below the moving surface (see FIG. 6). The drive element 24 designed as an armature is further guided linearly in a drive socket 26 provided in the main body unit 15, specifically, in the adjustment member transport unit 22. Furthermore, the electromagnet 23 is basically arranged such that its longitudinal axis is parallel to the moving surface 18 in the drive socket 26. The linear drive movement parallel to the moving surface 18 provides the advantage that the stroke of the drive element 24 is produced in the horizontal direction and consequently does not affect the overall height of the abutment module 11. Furthermore, the electromagnet 23 has a relatively small influence on the overall height due to the electromagnet 23 being in a horizontal posture.

  By using a relatively small adjustment member 17 connected to the conversion means consisting of the force transmission means, the overall height and even the overall dimensions of the abutment module 11 can be further reduced. As a result, the force transmission means provides a greater force, so it is considered sufficient to move the drive member even if the drive force generated by the adjustment member 17 is relatively small.

  As a force transmission means, a lever transmission portion having a lever means 27 provided between the armature of the electromagnet 23 and the contact member 16 is provided. The lever means 27 comprises a first lever 28, which rotates on the one hand about the first rotating shaft 29 on the armature and on the other hand on the second rotating shaft 30 the second lever 28. The lever 31 is connected.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the first lever 28 rotates about the first rotation shaft 29 while being connected to the second lever 31 on the second rotation shaft 30. In the armature, a slot-like opening 32 for receiving the end of the first lever 28 is provided, while a through-hole 33 through which the pin 34 is inserted is provided in the end of the first lever 28. . On the other hand, the pin 34 constitutes the first rotating shaft 29 by being connected to the armature in a rotatable manner. The rotary bearing at the opposite end of the first lever 28 may be similar to this. On the one hand, the second lever 31 is pivotally connected to a fixed third rotating shaft 35 formed on the main body unit 15, and at the other second fulcrum 36, a fourth rotating shaft. The contact member 16 is pivotally connected via the contact member 37.

  The second lever 31 includes a damping cylinder 38 of the damping means 12. The second lever 31 includes a cylinder space 40, in which the damping piston 39 can reciprocate while being in sealing contact with the wall of the cylinder space 40 through the piston sealing means 41. It is. The damping piston 39 is connected to the piston rod 42 by attachment means such as a screw connecting portion 43, for example. Of course, the damping piston 39 and the piston rod 42 can be integrally connected.

  The piston rod 42 is connected to the contact member 16 at the end away from the damping piston 39 as described above. This connection constitutes an adjustment element for the abutment member 16. The cylinder space 40 faces the outside of the main unit 15, but is closed by a cover 44. Choke means 45 is provided in the cover 44. The choke means 45 constitutes a flow resistance for discharging air through a flow path (not shown) while the damping piston 39 operates. Further adjustment means 46 are provided for fine adjustment of the damping action. The adjusting means 46 is, for example, a movable adjusting screw attached to the flow path cover 47. The adjusting means 46 can selectively narrow or widen the cross section of the exhaust outlet for exhausting air, so that the choke effect can be increased or decreased. The damping action is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the choke effect. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the adjusting screw is rotated in the “+” direction, the damping action is increased, whereas when the adjusting screw is rotated in the “−” direction, the damping action is increased. May decrease.

  As described above, the contact member 16 is rotatably connected to the piston rod 42 at the second fulcrum 36. In addition, for this rotatable connection, guide means 48 comprising at least one guide track 49 is provided. The contact member 16 is reliably guided on the at least one guide track 49 between the contact position 20 and the release position 25 at the first fulcrum 50.

  As shown in more detail in FIG. 7, the guide means 48 comprises a slide guide comprising two guide slides. The two guide slides are provided on the main body unit as guide grooves (guide tracks) 51, and the contact member 16 is reliably guided in the guide grooves 51 (by the guide pins 52). The guide pin 52 is rotatable in the guide groove 51. Each of the guide grooves 51 includes a distal end portion 53 that extends generally vertically, that is, perpendicularly to the moving surface 18 (see FIG. 6). Even while the contact member 16 moves from the pre-contact position 19 to the contact position 20, the rotation of the contact member 16 occurs around the fourth rotation axis 37 at the second fulcrum 36. 53 is required. By providing the distal end portion 53, the piston rod 42 designed as the adjustment element is reliably guided in the cylinder space 40 by the damping piston 39 at a certain level, so that the contact member 16 has the distal end portion. It is pushed downward along a predetermined distance along 53. An arcuate portion connected to the guide portion 54 that extends obliquely downward in the direction opposite to the object moving direction 13 is provided adjacent to the tip portion 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the operation procedure of the contact module is as follows. That is, the workpiece coming from the left side, more specifically, the object 14 such as a machine part first reaches the pre-contact position 19 of the contact member 16. The advantage of this embodiment is that, at the pre-contact position 19, there is a self-braking effect of the contact member 16 that prevents the contact member 16 from being pushed downward without the adjustment member 17 being operated. is there. Due to the collision of the object 14, the damping piston 39 is pushed into the cylinder space 40, and damping braking occurs until the object 14 stops. The attenuating piston 39 contacts the back wall of the cover 44, and thus the abutting member 16 rotates around the fourth rotation axis 37 in the object movement direction 13 until all the air is expelled from the cylinder space 40. It is impossible for the damping piston 39 to move further in the object movement direction 13, and as a result, the contact position 20 is set. As specifically shown in FIG. 10A, the rear end side of the contact member 16 is arranged at a contact position 19 with a distance a from the adjustment member transport unit 22 of the main unit 15. When the object 14 continues to move in the object movement direction 13, the adjustment member 17 is started so that the armature is drawn toward the yoke (in the first embodiment, the electromagnet is excited). ). At that time, the first lever 28 is rotated around the first rotation axis 29 that linearly slides simultaneously. Since the first lever 28 cannot be extended, the damping cylinder 38 is drawn downward and simultaneously rotates around the fixed third rotation shaft 35. By the rotation of the damping cylinder 38, the contact member 16 is further rotated around the fourth rotation axis 37 in the object moving direction 13. By the rotation of the contact member 16, even when the contact member 16 moves downward, when the contact member 16 still exists on the moving surface 18, the collided object 14 can be further moved in the object moving direction. The following advantages are brought about. The collided or abutted object 14 placed on the continuously operating transport means 70 rotates the abutment member 16 in the object movement direction 13 (by a collision that applies pressure to the abutment member 16). It can even be possible.

  Simultaneously with the rotation of the damping cylinder 38, the guide pin 52 can move diagonally downward in the guide portion 54 of the guide groove 51, opposite to the object movement direction 13. The individual features of each guide 54 may make it possible to ensure that the piston rod 42 is withdrawn from the damping cylinder 38 as the abutment member 16 moves downward. The bottom end portion of each guide portion 54 finally defines the release position 25 of the contact member 16 (see FIG. 6). In the release position 25, the contact member 16 is completely below the moving surface 18, so that the colliding object 14 can be transported past the contact module 11. The abutting member 16 is automatically moved to the pre-abutting position 19 shown in FIG. 9 while the abutting member 16 moves upward to stop or separate the succeeding object 14 from the succeeding object 14. To return, the piston rod 42 is placed in its extended position.

  FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the abutment module 11 according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, a fluid-powered linear drive unit is used instead of the electromagnetic linear drive unit. Preferably, a pneumatic linear drive unit is employed. In this case, the drive element 24 is provided as a drive piston, which moves linearly in the drive socket 26. The drive piston is also rotatably coupled to the first lever 28 in the manner described above. In order to drive the drive piston for the purpose of moving the contact member 16 downward, the side surface of the piston facing the first lever 28 is subjected to the action of compressed air supplied through the supply flow path 57. Therefore, the drive piston is shifted in the object movement direction 13. The drive socket 26 is closed by a cover 58 so that a piston chamber is formed for the drive piston to enter. The return movement of the piston returning to the position shown in FIG. 8 is caused by controlling the piston on the compressed air side.

  FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of an abutment module according to the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that an electromagnetic rotary linear drive unit formed as a lead screw drive unit is used. The lead screw drive unit includes a drive element 24. The driving element 24 is formed as a nut that can be driven to rotate, and is supported on the lead screw motor 59 by bearing means so as to move parallel to the moving surface 18 simultaneously with the rotation driving. There is a rider 61 on the lead screw 60, and the rider 61 is also moved by a linear displacement of the lead screw nut 62. The first lever 28 is also coupled to the rider 61 in a rotatable manner in this embodiment.

It is a perspective view of 1st Embodiment of the contact module which concerns on this invention. It is a side view of the contact module in FIG. It is a rear part front view of the contact module in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is the rear part front view which is looking at the direction opposite to the object moving direction of an object. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the contact module in FIG. 3 cut along a cutting line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is a rear view of the contact module in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a rear view in which a contact member exists in a retracted position. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which cut | disconnected the contact module in FIG. 5 by the cutting line VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the contact module in FIG. 2 cut along a cutting line VII-VII in FIG. 2. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the contact module of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows 3rd Embodiment of the contact module of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram when the contact module of the present invention is employed in an automatic conveyance device, and three continuous stages A to C are released when the contacted member is moved downward and the contacted object is released. Shows the flow.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Contact module, 12 ... Damping means, 13 ... Object moving direction, 14 ... Object, 15 ... Main body unit, 16 ... Contact member, 17 ... Adjustment member, 18 ... Moving surface, 19 ... Position before contact, 20 Abutting position, 21 abutting member conveying portion, 22 adjusting member conveying portion, 23 electromagnet, 24 driving element, 25 releasing position, 26 driving socket, 27 lever means, 28 first lever, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 29 ... 1st rotating shaft, 30 ... 2nd rotating shaft, 31 ... 2nd lever, 32 ... Opening part, 33 ... Through-hole, 34 ... Pin, 35 ... 3rd rotating shaft, 36 ... 2nd fulcrum, 37 ... 1st Four rotating shafts 38 ... Damping cylinder 39 ... Damping piston 40 ... Cylinder space 41 ... Piston sealing means 42 ... Piston rod 43 ... Connecting part 44 ... Cover 45 ... Choke means 46 ... Adjustment means 47 ... Flow path cover, 48 ... Guide means DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 49 ... Guide track, 50 ... 1st fulcrum, 51 ... Guide groove, 52 ... Guide pin, 53 ... Tip part, 54 ... Guide part, 57 ... Supply flow path, 58 ... Cover, 59 ... Lead screw motor, 60 ... Lead Screw 61, lidar 62, lead screw nut 70, conveying means

Claims (12)

A contact module for automatic processing and transport system,
An abutting member disposed on the main body unit for an object moving on the moving surface in the object moving direction is provided, and the corresponding contacting member includes a contact position located on the moving surface and a release position located below the moving surface And at least one guide track extending obliquely downwardly in a direction opposite to the object movement direction at least partially with respect to the moving surface. a guide means, the abutment member has a second fulcrum away from the first fulcrum and the first fulcrum, the contact member is at the first pivot point, the upper the guide track, the person is guided between the contact position and the release position, the abutment member, the regulating rotatable lower than the moving surface a separate regulatory elements and the adjustment member is rotatably supported to the main unit elements, pivotally connected at a second pivot point Is, when the adjustment element is rotated downward, the contact member is configured to rotate about said second pivot point, at the first pivot point, is guided on the guide track downwards obliquely, the abutting member Is a contact module that moves to the release position . During the contact member has a shape adapted to abut for the contact object on its top, its shape, the abutment member moves between said release position and said contact position The contact module according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined curve is drawn. The guide means is a slide guide, and at least one slide guide is disposed in the main body unit, and at least one guide member formed on the contact member is guided to the slide guide at the first fulcrum. The contact module according to claim 1. Wherein comprising a damping means connected to the contact member, said damping means for damping movement of the contact member from a pre-determined contact position of the front before the abutting position in the object moving direction to said contact position, The contact module according to claim 1. During from said contact position of the downward movement to the release position, the shape of the guide track, said abutment member, said abutment front position under the moving surface of the object moving direction with respect to at least the first supporting point The abutment module according to claim 4 , wherein the abutment module can be moved to a position of a level.   Force transmitting means for connecting the adjusting member to the abutting member is provided, whereby the driving force generated by the adjusting member can be converted into a larger force, and the force is applied to the abutting member. The contact module according to claim 1. The contact module according to claim 6 , wherein the force transmission means is constituted by a lever transmission means. As the lever transmitting means, lever means is provided, the lever means has a first lever, and one of the first levers is pivotally connected to the adjusting member and is linearly slidable. The other lever is pivotally connected to the second lever, and one of the second levers is rotatable around a fixed rotation shaft formed in the main body unit, and the other is the contact member. The abutment module of claim 7 , wherein the abutment module is pivotally connected to the abutment. The contact module according to claim 8 , wherein the second lever is constituted by a damping cylinder of the damping means. The control member includes a driving means for causing movement of the linear drive oriented parallel to the moving surface, during such movement, the said release position and the abutting position of the abutting member by the conversion means The abutment module according to claim 9 , which is converted into upward and downward movement occurring at The contact module according to claim 10 , wherein the adjustment member is arranged to slide linearly on a drive socket provided on the main unit parallel to the moving surface. The contact module according to claim 11 , wherein the adjustment member is disposed in the drive socket with a longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the moving surface.

Images