JP6492530B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport apparatus that is used in a processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on an article and transports the article on a transport path.

  As shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, the conveying device carries in and out a workpiece with respect to a machine tool to be processed, and is used for conveying a workpiece between machine tools. For example, in order to prevent the workpieces from interfering with each other, the carry-in side unit of such a transfer device can be used as an upstream in the transfer direction after the unload-side unit carries the processed workpiece out of the machine tool. The workpiece before processing is carried in from the side.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-106460 JP 2001-162481 A

  In order to reduce the cycle time required for processing, a transfer device used in a processing apparatus such as a machine tool is required to reduce the time required for transfer processing for an object such as a workpiece.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus capable of shortening the time required for transport processing while securing a transport area in which an article can be moved. And

(Claim 1) A transport apparatus according to the present invention is used in a processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transport path, and transports the article on the transport path. The transport device carries in the article before processing from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and presses the article before processing against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit that moves the processed article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path; and a carry-out unit that carries the processed article placed at the carry-out standby position out of the processing apparatus. , With . The carry-in unit and the carry-out unit are provided outside the machine of the processing apparatus, and a locking member that locks the article and applies an external force in the conveyance direction to the article, and moves the locking member in the conveyance direction. Each having a driving device. The driving device, when the processor is processing, Ru is retracted the locking member out of the apparatus of the processing apparatus.
(Claim 5) A transport apparatus according to the present invention is used in a processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transport path, and transports the article on the transport path. The transport device carries in the article before processing from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and presses the article before processing against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit that moves the processed article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path; and a carry-out unit that carries the processed article placed at the carry-out standby position out of the processing apparatus. . The transport path is provided with a rotary table that constitutes the transport path and is rotatable around a vertical central axis in a state where the article is placed.
(Claim 7) A transport apparatus according to the present invention is used in a processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transport path, and transports the article on the transport path. The transport device carries in the article before processing from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and presses the article before processing against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit that moves the processed article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path; and a carry-out unit that carries the processed article placed at the carry-out standby position out of the processing apparatus. . The transport device is used in a production line configured by arranging the first processing device and the second processing device, which are the processing devices, side by side in the transport direction of the article. A first carry-in unit for carrying the article from the outside of one processing device to the specified position in the first processing device; and the first processing device from the unloading standby position in the first processing device, the unloading unit. A first unloading unit for unloading the processed article to the outside of the machine, and a second unloading unit for unloading the article from the second processing apparatus to the specified position in the second processing apparatus. A carry-in unit. The first carry-out unit and the second carry-in unit are arranged at positions overlapping in the carrying direction, and are arranged at positions where respective carrying regions that allow the article to move in the carrying direction are continuous in the carrying direction. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the transport area in which the article can be conveyed by the carry-in unit includes the amount of movement of the article after processing pushed out by carrying in the article before processing. Thereby, the conveyance area | region which can move an article | item in a conveying apparatus can be ensured suitably. Moreover, since the article after processing begins to be carried out by carrying in the article before processing, the time required for the conveyance processing can be shortened.

It is a top view of the conveying apparatus in an embodiment. It is a front view of the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view of the carry-out unit in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a locking member in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the carrying-in unit and carrying-out unit seen from the V direction of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a conveying apparatus and the conveyance state of a workpiece | work. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the following conveying apparatus of FIG. 6, and the conveyance state of a workpiece | work. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the following conveying apparatus of FIG. 7, and the conveyance state of a workpiece | work. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the following conveying apparatus of FIG. 8, and the conveyance state of a workpiece | work.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying a conveyance device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The conveyance device is a device that conveys an article on a conveyance path, and is used in a processing apparatus that performs a process on the article. In the embodiment, the processing apparatus is a machine tool, and exemplifies a mode in which a processing process is performed on a workpiece (article) as a predetermined processing process. Moreover, a conveyance apparatus is used for the production line comprised by a some machine tool.

<Embodiment>
(1. Whole structure of the production line 10 and the conveying apparatus 30)
The overall configuration of the production line 10 and the conveyance device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the production line 10 includes three machine tools 11 to 13 and a conveyance device 30. The machine tools 11 to 13 are the same kind of machine tools, and clamp a workpiece W (corresponding to the “article” of the present invention) placed at a specified position Pp on the conveyance path 70 to perform cutting or the like. It is a processing apparatus which performs a processing process. The three machine tools 11 to 13 are installed side by side in the transport direction at a predetermined interval, and constitute the production line 10.

  Here, let the machine tool installed in the most upstream side of the production line 10 among the three machine tools 11-13 be the 1st machine tool 11 (equivalent to "the 1st processing apparatus" of this invention). The first machine tool 11 has a column 22 movably in the X-axis direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) with respect to the bed 21. A saddle 23 is provided on the front surface of the column 22 so as to be movable with respect to the column 22 in the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction in FIG. 1). On the front surface of the saddle 23, a rotary tool 25 is held by a rotary spindle 24 that can move in the Z-axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) with respect to the saddle.

  The first machine tool 11 raises and lowers the workpiece W placed at the specified position Pp on the conveyance path 70 by the lifter 26. The lifter 26 moves the workpiece W before processing to the lower side of the conveyance path 70 and places it on the clamp position on the upper surface of the tilt device 27. The first machine tool 11 positions and fixes the workpiece W by a clamp device (not shown). The first machine tool 11 performs processing by moving the rotary tool 25 relative to the workpiece W by operations of the column 22, the saddle 2, the tilt device 27, and the like. The lifter 26 moves the workpiece W after being unclamped with respect to the tilt device 27 upward and returns it to the specified position Pp on the conveyance path 70.

  Further, of the three machine tools 11 to 13, two machine tools that are sequentially installed on the downstream side of the production line 10 with respect to the first machine tool 11 are replaced with the second machine tool 12 (the “second processing” of the present invention. And a third machine tool 13. Similarly to the first machine tool 11, the second machine tool 12 and the third machine tool 13 move the workpiece W placed at the specified position Pp on the transport path 70 up and down with respect to the transport path 70 by the respective lifters 26. Let The second machine tool 12 and the third machine tool 13 perform processing on the workpiece W positioned and fixed to each tilt device 27.

  Here, the above-mentioned “specified position” corresponds to a position on the conveyance path where the workpiece W can be transferred to and from the conveyance device 30 so that each machine tool performs processing in the machine tool. That is, when the machine tool moves the workpiece W on the conveyance path to the clamp position by the pallet changer instead of the lifter 26, for example, the “specified position” on the conveyance path is the pallet changer and the conveyance device 30 delivering the workpiece W. Corresponds to possible positions. Further, when the workpiece W is clamped at the specified position on the conveyance path and the machining process is executed, the “specified position” on the conveyance path corresponds to the clamp position of the workpiece W.

  The transfer device 30 includes a plurality of carry-in units Nm, a plurality of carry-out units Nx, a plurality of in-machine transfer tables 71 to 73, a plurality of out-of-machine transfer tables 75 to 77, and a rotary table 80. The plurality of carry-in units Nm are a first carry-in unit Nm1, a second carry-in unit Nm2, and a third carry-in unit Nm3 in order from the upstream side of the production line 10. The plurality of carry-out units Nx are referred to as a first carry-out unit Nx1, a second carry-out unit Nx2, and a third carry-out unit Nx3 in order from the upstream side of the production line 10.

  The first carry-in unit Nm1 carries the workpiece W into the first machine tool 11. The first carry-out unit Nx1 carries out the workpiece W processed by the first machine tool 11. The second carry-in unit Nm2 carries the workpiece W into the second machine tool 12. The second unloading unit Nx2 unloads the workpiece W processed by the second machine tool 12. The third carry-in unit Nm3 carries the workpiece W into the third machine tool 13. The third carry-out unit Nx3 carries out the workpiece W processed by the third machine tool 13. Detailed configurations of the carry-in units Nm1 to Nm3 and the carry-out units Nx1 to Nx3 will be described later.

  The plurality of in-machine transfer stands 71 to 73 are provided in the corresponding first machine tool 11, second machine tool 12, and third machine tool 13, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of out-of-machine transfer stands 75 to 77 are provided on the upstream side or the downstream side of the first machine tool 11, the second machine tool 12, and the third machine tool 13, respectively. The rotary table 80 is disposed between the second machine tool 12 and the third machine tool 13.

  The plurality of in-machine transfer tables 71 to 73, the plurality of out-of-machine transfer tables 75 to 77, and the rotary table 80 each have a work transfer surface on the upper surface and constitute a part of the transfer path 70. A slide guide or a rolling guide (not shown) is provided on the work conveyance surface. Thereby, the conveyance path 70 enables manual conveyance of the workpiece | work W in each workpiece conveyance surface.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary table 80 includes a rolling guide 81, a drawing mechanism 82, and a rotating mechanism 83. The rolling guide 81 is composed of a plurality of roller members arranged side by side in the transport direction. The drawing mechanism 82 is a mechanism that allows the rolling guide 81 to move in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance path 70 with respect to the main body of the rotary table 80. The rotation mechanism 83 is a mechanism that allows the rolling guide 81 to rotate around a vertical central axis with respect to the main body of the rotary table 80.

  With such a configuration, the rotary table 80 moves the workpiece W laterally from the conveyance path 70 in a state where the workpiece W is placed on the rolling guide 81, and moves the workpiece W to the vertical central axis at that position. Can be rotated around. Thereby, the work W processed by the first machine tool 11 and the second machine tool 12 installed on the upstream side of the rotary table 80 is visually recognized from the side of the conveyance path 70 over the entire circumference of the work W. It becomes possible. Further, the direction of the work W guided by the rolling guide 81 is changed by the rotation of the rotation mechanism 83, and the work W can be easily taken out of the conveyance path 70.

(2. Detailed configuration of carry-in units Nm1 to Nm3 and carry-out units Nx1 to Nx3)
In the present embodiment, the carry-in units Nm1 to Nm3 and the carry-out units Nx1 to Nx3 are the same type of transport unit. Here, the configuration of the first carry-out unit Nx1 will be described.

(2-1. About the first carry-out unit Nx1)
The first carry-out unit Nx1 moves the workpiece W placed on the conveyance path 70 along the conveyance direction. The first carry-out unit Nx1 includes an anti-back mechanism 40 and a driving device 50 as shown in FIG. The anti-back mechanism 40 allows the workpiece W to move toward the carry-out side (left side in FIG. 3) in the transport direction, and restricts the movement of the workpiece W toward the carry-in side (right side in FIG. 3). The drive device 50 is provided outside the first machine tool 11 and moves a locking member 42 of the anti-back mechanism 40 described later in the transport direction.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the anti-back mechanism 40 includes a main body portion 41, a locking member 42, a stopper member 43, and an adjustment mechanism 44. The main body 41 is fixed to the driving device 50 and moves in the transport direction by the operation of the driving device 50. The locking member 42 is disposed above the conveyance path 70 and is locked to the workpiece W at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the conveyance path 70 to apply an external force in the conveyance direction to the workpiece W. The locking member 42 is supported so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis perpendicular to the conveyance direction with respect to the main body 41.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking member 42 has a base end portion 42a, a claw portion 42b, and a connecting portion 42c. The base end portion 42 a is an end portion of the locking member 42 on the driving device 50 side, and is a portion that is indirectly supported by the driving device 50 via the main body portion 41. The claw portion 42b is a portion that is disposed closer to the center side in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5) of the conveyance path 70 than the base end portion 42a, and is engaged with the workpiece W.

  The connecting part 42c is a part that connects the base end part 42a and the claw part 42b. With such a configuration, the locking member 42 exhibits a bent shape as a whole from the upper end side to the lower end side. That is, the locking member 42 is configured to be able to apply an external force in the conveyance direction to the workpiece W on the center side in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 with respect to the base end portion 42 a supported by the main body portion 41.

  The stopper member 43 rotates in the counter-transport direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) of the locking member 42 in the initial state where the locking member 42 faces downward (the state of the locking member 42 shown by the solid line in FIG. 4). To regulate. According to such a configuration, when the anti-back mechanism 40 moves to the carry-in side with respect to the workpiece W, the locking member 42 is rotated (the locking member 42 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4). Become. Therefore, the locking member 42 is not locked to the workpiece W, and the anti-back mechanism 40 allows relative movement in the loading direction with respect to the workpiece W.

  On the other hand, when the anti-back mechanism 40 moves to the carry-out side with respect to the workpiece W, the locking member 42 is in a state in which the rotation is restricted by the stopper member 43. Therefore, the locking member 42 is locked at a predetermined locking position on the workpiece W, and the anti-back mechanism 40 restricts relative movement in the carry-out direction with respect to the workpiece W. Therefore, when the anti-back mechanism 40 is moved in the carry-out direction, the workpiece W is moved in the carry-out direction by receiving an external force from the locking member 42 along with the movement.

  The adjustment mechanism 44 is a mechanism that enables adjustment of the position in the conveyance direction of the locking member 42 with respect to the drive device 50. In the present embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 44 can connect a fixing member fixed to the driving device 50 in the main body 41 and a support member that rotatably supports the locking member 42 in a predetermined conveyance direction range. . With such a configuration, the connection position of the support member with respect to the fixing member in the main body portion 41 can be adjusted. As a result of the adjustment, a transport region Rx in which the first unloading unit Nx1 can move the workpiece W in the transport direction is set in the transport path 70.

  The drive device 50 moves the anti-back mechanism 40 along the transport direction. In the present embodiment, the driving device 50 moves the anti-back mechanism 40 in the transport direction using a double speed mechanism. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the drive device 50 includes a frame 51, a cylinder member 52, a cylinder rod 53, a first movable body 54, an endless belt 55, and a second movable body 56. Have

  The frame 51 is fixed so as not to move relative to the first machine tool 11. The cylinder member 52 is provided on the frame 51 and moves the cylinder rod 53 in the transport direction by, for example, supplied hydraulic pressure. The first movable body 54 is provided integrally with the cylinder rod 53 and is configured to be movable in the transport direction with respect to the frame 51 as the cylinder rod 53 moves. The endless belt 55 is suspended by two pulleys provided on the first movable body 54, and a part of the outer peripheral surface (shaded portion in FIG. 3) is fixed to the frame 51.

  The second movable body 56 is fixed to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 55. Further, the main body 41 of the anti-back mechanism 40 is connected to the lower part of the second movable body 56. According to such a configuration, when the cylinder rod 53 moves in the carry-out direction by the operation of the cylinder member 52, the first movable body 54 first moves in the carry-out direction with respect to the frame 51. Then, the endless belt 55 moves in the carry-out direction as a whole. At this time, since a part of the endless belt 55 (the hatched portion in FIG. 3) is fixed to the frame 51, the endless belt 55 rotates based on the fixed part according to the moving distance of the first movable body 54.

  The second movable body 56 fixed to the endless belt 55 moves in the carry-out direction with respect to the first movable body 54 by the rotation of the endless belt 55. That is, the second movable body 56 is relative to the first movable body 54 in one direction (unloading direction) relative to the first movable body 54 in accordance with the movement distance of the first movable body 54 in one direction (unloading direction). Moving. Therefore, the moving distance of the second movable body 56 relative to the frame 51 is twice the moving distance of the first movable body 54 relative to the frame 51. Similarly, when the first movable body 54 moves to the other side (in the carry-in direction) of the conveyance direction, the movement distance of the second movable body 56 is twice the movement distance of the first movable body 54.

  The drive device 50 using the double speed mechanism configured as described above has the second movable body 56 at twice the moving distance with respect to the stroke of the cylinder member 52 and twice the speed with respect to the operation of the cylinder rod 53. Can be moved. The drive device 50 operates the cylinder member 52 in accordance with a command from the control device 62 of the transport device 30. Accordingly, the driving device 50 moves the locking member 42 of the anti-back mechanism 40 that moves integrally with the second movable body 56 to a predetermined position in the transport direction.

(2-2. About the first carry-in unit Nm1)
Here, as described above, the first carry-in unit Nm1 of the transfer device 30 is the same type of transfer unit as the first carry-out unit Nx1. The first carry-in unit Nm1 is arranged on the other side (the upper side in FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 70, whereas the first carry-out unit Nx1 is arranged on the one side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 70. The The drive device 50 of the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the drive device 50 of the first carry-out unit Nx1 provide the anti-back mechanism 40 including the locking member 42 when the first machine tool 11 is processing the first machine tool. 11 is evacuated outside the machine.

  The first carry-in unit Nm1 transports the workpiece W before processing from the outside of the first machine tool 11 to the specified position Pp in the machine of the first machine tool 11. The first carry-in unit Nm1 carries out the workpiece W after the machining process on the conveyance path 70 by pressing the workpiece W before the machining process against the workpiece W after the machining process placed at the specified position Pp in the carrying-in operation. Move to the standby position Px. The first unloading unit Nx1 unloads the processed workpiece W placed at the unloading standby position Px to the outside of the first machine tool 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 30 includes a detection unit 61 and a control device 62. The detection unit 61 detects whether or not the processed workpiece W has been moved to the unloading standby position Px. The control device 62 operates the first unloading unit Nx1 based on the detection result by the detecting unit 61, and unloads the workpiece W placed at the unloading standby position Px outside the first machine tool 11.

  In the present embodiment, the first carry-in unit Nm1 pushes the work W into the machine of the first machine tool 11 and carries it in with the work W locked on the work member 42. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the first unloading unit Nx1 scrapes and unloads the workpiece W outside the first machine tool 11 with the locking member 42 of the workpiece W locked. That is, the locking members 42 of the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 that are the same type of transfer units are configured to be applicable to both pushing and scraping of the workpiece W.

  Further, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 are transport regions Rm, Rx in which the workpiece W can be moved in the transport direction depending on the fixed position of the drive device 50 and the transport direction position of the locking member 42 with respect to the drive device 50. Are set respectively. Specifically, the transport region Rm of the first carry-in unit Nm1 is in a region (a region from the carry-in standby position Pm to the specified position Pp) according to the movable range of the anti-back mechanism 40 by the driving device 50 before the processing process. This corresponds to an area obtained by adding a movement area (area from the specified position Pp to the unloading standby position Px) of the work W after the processing by pressing the work W. The transport area Rx of the first unloading unit Nx1 is an area from the unloading standby position Px on the transport path 70 to the unloading standby position Pm for the second machine tool 12.

  The movement amount of the workpiece W corresponding to the region from the specified position Pp to the unloading standby position Px corresponds to the length of the workpiece W in the conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “work length Lc”). The first carry-in unit Nm1 moves the processed workpiece W from the specified position Pp to the unloading standby position Px in a state where the front surface of the workpiece W before the processing is in contact with the rear surface of the workpiece W after the processing. Let That is, in the present embodiment, the workpiece length Lc is determined from the front contact portion that contacts the rear surface portion of the downstream workpiece W in the front surface portion of the workpiece W to the upstream workpiece W in the rear surface portion of the workpiece W. This corresponds to the length in the transport direction up to the rear contact portion that contacts the front contact portion.

  Further, when the workpiece W after the processing is moved to the unloading standby position Px by the first carry-in unit Nm1, the front surface portion of the workpiece W before the processing processing directly contacts the back surface portion of the workpiece W after the processing processing. In the aspect which does, when a front surface part or a back surface part is a processed surface, there exists a possibility that a damage | wound may arise on a processed surface with the said contact. In view of this, it is preferable to provide means on the front surface or back surface of the workpiece W that can prevent the occurrence of scratches due to contact.

(2-3. Relationship between first carry-out unit Nx1 and second carry-in unit Nm2)
As described above, the transfer device 30 includes the second carry-in unit Nm2 that is the same type of transfer unit as the first carry-in unit Nm1. The second carry-in unit Nm2 carries the workpiece W from the outside of the second machine tool 12 to the specified position Pp in the second machine tool 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 are arranged at positions overlapping in the carrying direction.

  The second carry-in unit Nm2 sets the transfer area Rm so that the work W conveyed to the carry-in standby position Pm for the second machine tool 12 by the first carry-out unit Nx1 can be carried to the specified position Pp in the machine of the second machine tool 12. Is set. As shown in FIG. 1, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 are respectively arranged at positions where the respective conveyance regions Rx, Rm are continuous in the conveyance direction.

  In such a configuration, the second carry-in unit Nm2 is used when the workpiece W after the processing in the upstream first machine tool 11 is transported to the carry-in standby position Pm on the transport path 70 by the first carry-out unit Nx1. The locking member 42 is positioned at the upstream end of the transport region Rm. The second carry-in unit Nm2 allows the anti-back mechanism 40 to move the work W downstream in the carrying direction, and when the work W is carried to the carry-in standby position Pm with respect to the second machine tool 12, the back surface portion of the work W Thus, the locking member 42 can be locked. That is, the second carry-in unit Nm2 is brought into a state where the work W can be carried into the second machine tool 12 on the downstream side by the conveyance of the first carry-out unit Nx1.

  At this time, in the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2, as shown in FIG. 5, the respective locking members 42 are arranged apart from each other on the one side and the other side in the width direction of the transport path 70. . Thus, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 can be locked to the workpiece W at positions where the claw portions 42b of the respective locking members 42 are different in the width direction of the transport path 70. More specifically, the distance Dt in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 where the claw portions 42b of the respective locking members 42 are separated from each other is shorter than the distance Dr in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 where the base end parts 42a are separated from each other. Is set to be As a result, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 prevent the interference of the respective locking members 42, and the respective locking members 42 are located closer to the center of gravity of the workpiece W in the width direction of the transport path 70. Is configured to be locked.

(3. Transport processing by the transport device 30)
Next, the conveyance process of the workpiece | work W by the conveying apparatus 30 in the production line 10 is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 show the positional relationship between the conveyance path 70 and the workpiece W when the production line 10 is viewed from above in the upper part of each figure, and when the production line 10 is viewed from the front in the lower part of each figure. The positional relationship between the workpiece W and the transfer device 30 is shown in correspondence with the upper stage.
Here, the conveyance apparatus 30 shall convey the same kind of workpiece | work W in order, and let it be the 1st workpiece | work A and the 2nd workpiece | work B in order from the downstream of the production line 10. FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the first workpiece A and the second workpiece B are, for example, cylinder blocks of an engine, and four bores are formed at a predetermined pitch in the transport direction (left and right direction in FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first workpiece A is a workpiece W that has been processed by the first machine tool 11 and is placed at a specified position Pp on the conveyance path 70. The second workpiece B is a workpiece W that has not been processed by the first machine tool 11 and is in a state of being placed at the loading standby position Pm on the conveyance path 70.

  The first carry-in unit Nm1 positions the locking member 42 at the upstream end of the transport region Rm so that the locking member 42 can be locked to the back surface of the second workpiece B. Next, when the anti-back mechanism 40 is moved in the transport direction by the operation of the driving device 50 of the first carry-in unit Nm1, the locking member 42 is locked to the back surface portion of the second work B and the external force in the transport direction is applied. Give. When the second work B is moved to the pushing start position Ps on the conveyance path 70, the front surface portion of the second work B comes into contact with the back surface portion of the first work A as shown in FIG.

  Further, the first carry-in unit Nm1 pushes the second work B into the machine of the first machine tool 11 and carries it in a state where the locking member 42 is locked to the back surface of the second work B. When the second workpiece B is carried into the specified position Pp of the first machine tool 11, the first workpiece A is moved to the unloading standby position Px in the first machine tool 11 by the carrying-in operation as shown in FIG. . At this time, the first carry-out unit Nx1 positions the locking member 42 at the upstream end of the transfer region Rx, and the first work A is downstream in the transfer direction with respect to the anti-back mechanism 40 of the first carry-out unit Nx1. Movement to the side is allowed.

  When the first workpiece A moves to the unloading standby position Px, a part of the first workpiece A on the front side in the transport direction is exposed to the outside of the first machine tool 11. Then, the locking member 42 of the first carry-out unit Nx1 is inserted into the bore formed in the first work A and can be locked to the inner wall of the bore. Moreover, the conveyance apparatus 30 detects that the 1st workpiece | work A was moved to the unloading standby position Px by the detection part 61. FIG. The control device 62 of the transport device 30 operates the first carry-out unit Nx1 based on the detection result. As a result, the first unloading unit Nx1 scrapes and unloads the first workpiece A from the machine of the first machine tool 11 with the locking member 42 locked to the first workpiece A.

  In the first carry-out unit Nx1, the first workpiece A moves to the carry-in standby position Pm for the second machine tool 12 on the conveyance path 70, as shown in FIG. At this time, the second carry-in unit Nm2 positions the locking member 42 at the upstream end of the transport region Rm. Accordingly, the second carry-in unit Nm2 is configured so that the first work A after the processing in the first machine tool 11 is carried out to the carry-in standby position Pm on the conveyance path 70 by the first carry-out unit Nx1. A can be brought into the second machine tool 12.

  The first machine tool 11 loaded with the second workpiece B before the processing is lowered by the lifter 26 from the conveyance path 70 and places the second workpiece B on the upper surface of the tilt device 27. Then, the first machine tool 11 moves to the processing of the second workpiece B after positioning and fixing the second workpiece B to the tilt device 27. At this time, the first machine tool 11 closes an unillustrated shutter device provided at each boundary between the in-machine transport table 71 and the out-of-machine transport tables 75 and 76 adjacent to the in-machine transport table 71 in the transport direction. .

  Each of the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 has an anti-back mechanism in which each driving device 50 is provided outside the first machine tool 11 and includes a locking member 42 when the first machine tool 11 is processed. 40 is retracted outside the first machine tool 11. Accordingly, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 are disconnected from the inside of the machine where the processing is performed by the shutter device of the first machine tool 11.

(4. Effects of the configuration of the embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the first carry-in unit Nm1 carries the second work B from the outside of the first machine tool 11 to the specified position Pp, and the first work A placed at the specified position Pp in the carry-in operation. By pressing the second workpiece B against the first workpiece A, the first workpiece A is moved to the unloading standby position Px on the conveyance path 70.

  According to such a configuration, the first work A after the processing process pushed out as the second work B before the processing process is carried in the transport region Rm in which the work W can be transported by the first transporting unit Nm1. The amount of movement (the distance from the specified position Pp to the unloading standby position Px, which corresponds to the workpiece length Lc of the workpiece W) is included. Thereby, the conveyance area | region Rm which can move the workpiece | work W in the conveying apparatus 30 is ensured suitably.

  In addition, since the first workpiece A after the processing starts to be unloaded by the carry-in of the second workpiece B before the processing, the time required for the transport processing is shortened. In the present embodiment, the first carry-in unit Nm1 conveys the second work B before the processing without waiting for the processed first work A to be carried out of the first machine tool 11. As a result, the operation of carrying the first machine tool 11 into the machine is started. Therefore, the conveying device 30 operates the first carry-out unit Nx1 even during the carry-in operation by the first carry-in unit Nm1, and for example, moves the work W processed before the first work A to the downstream side. Can be transported. Thus, the conveying apparatus 30 can carry in the 2nd workpiece | work B before a process by the 1st carrying-in unit Nm1 irrespective of the state of the carrying-out operation by the 1st carrying-out unit Nx1. Therefore, the time required for the conveyance process by the conveyance device 30 is shortened.

Further, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 are configured so that the locking member 42 is placed outside the first machine tool 11 when the first machine tool 11 is processing by the control of the driving device 50. Evacuate.
According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent chips and the like generated in the machine accompanying the processing process from adhering to the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1, thereby improving the maintainability of the transfer device 30. Further, in the configuration in which the first machine tool 11 includes the shutter device as in the present embodiment, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 are retracted outside the first machine tool 11, so that the first machine tool 11 is transported to the shutter device. There is no need to provide a dedicated shutter device provided with a mechanism for preventing interference with the device. Therefore, the first machine tool 11 can apply a general-purpose shutter device.

Further, the first carry-in unit Nm1 pushes the work W into the machine of the first machine tool 11 and carries it in a state in which the lock member 42 is locked to the work W. Further, the first unloading unit Nx1 scrapes and unloads the workpiece W from the inside of the first machine tool 11 in a state where the locking member 42 is locked to the workpiece W.
According to such a configuration, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 can push the workpiece W by the locking member 42 and scrape the workpiece W. The locking member 42 can be a member corresponding to both pushing and scraping in the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1.

The first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 have an adjustment mechanism 44 that can adjust the conveyance direction position of the locking member 42 with respect to the drive device 50.
In the present embodiment, the transport region Rm of the first carry-in unit Nm1 includes the amount of movement that the first work A is pushed out and moved by pressing the second work B. Since the movement amount corresponds to the workpiece length Lc, for example, when another type of workpiece having a different workpiece length Lc is to be conveyed, it is necessary to appropriately change the conveyance region Rm. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the first carry-out unit Nx1 each have the adjustment mechanism 44, thereby enabling conveyance corresponding to various works W having different work lengths Lc. .

Further, the transport device 30 operates the first carry-out unit Nx1 based on the detection result by the detection unit 61 to carry out the work W placed at the carry-out standby position Px outside the first machine tool 11. A device 62 is provided.
According to such a configuration, the conveyance device 30 can acquire information regarding whether or not the first workpiece A after the processing has been moved to the unloading standby position Px by the detection unit 61. Moreover, the conveyance apparatus 30 controls the operation | movement of the 1st carrying-out unit Nx1 by the control apparatus 62, The 1st machine tool 11 is made into the 1st machine tool 11 with the suitable timing for the 1st workpiece | work A after the process moved to the carrying-out waiting position Px. Can be taken out of the machine. This improves the efficiency of the transport operation.

The conveyance path 70 is provided with a turntable 80 that constitutes the conveyance path 70 and is rotatable around a vertical central axis in a state where the workpiece W is placed.
In the production line 10, for example, a quality check may be performed on the workpiece W processed by the first machine tool 11 and the second machine tool 12. However, when the conveyance path is configured by a device having a driving mechanism such as a belt conveyor, it is not easy to provide a mechanism that rotates around a vertical central axis on the belt conveyor. Therefore, in the quality check, it is necessary for the operator to move to a position where the quality check target part of the workpiece W can be visually recognized. Also, the quality check may not be easy depending on the positional relationship between the machine tool and the conveying device.

  On the other hand, by configuring a part of the conveyance path 70 with the rotary table 80, the rotary table 80 on which the workpiece W is placed can be rotated around the central axis, so that the workability of the quality check is improved. In addition, when the workpiece W is taken out of the conveyance path 70, the conveyance direction can be changed by the rotary table 80, so that the workpiece W can be easily transferred from the conveyance path 70 to the conveyance carriage.

Further, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the first carry-in unit Nm1 are arranged at positions overlapping in the transfer direction, and the transfer regions Rx and Rm that allow the workpiece W to move in the transfer direction are respectively located at positions where they are continuous in the transfer direction. Be placed.
According to such a configuration, the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 are arranged in parallel in the transport direction between the adjacent first machine tool 11 and second machine tool 12. Thereby, the conveyance direction width | variety required for arrangement | positioning of both units Nx and Nm can be shortened compared with the structure which arrange | positions each unit Nx and Nm in series in a conveyance direction. Therefore, the distance between machine tools is shortened by reducing the size of the entire conveying device 30.

Further, the second carry-in unit Nm2 moves the first work A after being processed in the first machine tool 11 on the upstream side to the carry-in standby position Pm by the first carry-in unit Nm1, so that the first work A is The second machine tool 12 on the downstream side can be loaded.
According to such a configuration, the second carry-in unit Nm2 operates in cooperation with the first carry-in unit Nm1, and can reliably transfer the workpiece W from the adjacent first machine tool 11 to the second machine tool 12. Thereby, the efficiency of the carrying operation of the carrying device 30 is improved.

In addition, the locking member 42 of the first carry-in unit Nm1 and the locking member 42 of the second carry-in unit Nm2 are such that the claw portion 42b that locks the workpiece W has a width direction center side of the conveyance path 70 relative to the base end portion 42a. Placed in.
According to such a configuration, the distance Dt in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 where the claw portions 42b of the respective locking members 42 are separated from each other is the distance Dr in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 where the base end portions 42a are separated from each other. Is also set to be shorter (Dt <Dr). Thereby, both the two locking members 42 can apply an external force to the workpiece W in the vicinity of the center in the width direction of the conveyance path 70, and the moment generated in the workpiece W can be reduced. Thereby, the operational stability of the transport device 30 is improved.

<Modification of Embodiment>
As described above, the transfer region Rm of each of the carry-in units Nm1 to Nm3 includes the movement amount of the workpiece W after the processing by pressing the workpiece W before the processing. At this time, in the embodiment, since the workpieces W are in direct contact with each other, the movement amount of the workpiece W corresponds to the workpiece length Lc. Here, the articles to be transported by the transport device 30 include those in which the work W is assembled with other members such as a jig and a transport tray in addition to the work W alone exemplified in the embodiment. . When such an article is to be transported, the workpieces W are in indirect contact with each other, and the articles including the other members are in contact with each other between the centers in the transport direction of each article. The distance corresponds to the above movement amount.

  Further, in the embodiment, the processing device is the machine tool 11 to 13, and the article to be transported by the transport device 30 is the work W. On the other hand, as processing devices, various processing devices, assembly devices, heat treatment devices, surface treatment devices, etc. are included, in which case articles to be transported are workpieces, assembly bodies, various parts, Elements are assumed. Even in such an aspect, the same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

<Appendix>
The conveying device 30 is used in a processing device (machine tool 11) that performs a predetermined process on an article (work W) placed at a specified position Pp on the conveying path 70, and conveys the article on the conveying path 70. To do. The unprocessed article is carried from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position Pp, and the processed article is pressed against the processed article placed at the specified position Pp in the loading operation. A carry-in unit (Nm1) that moves to a carry-out standby position Px on the conveyance path 70, and a carry-out unit (Nx1) that carries the processed articles placed at the carry-out stand-by position Px out of the processing apparatus. .

The carry-in unit (Nm1) and the carry-out unit (Nx1) include a locking member 42 that locks the article (work W) and applies an external force in the conveying direction to the article, and a processing device (machine tools 11, 12, 13). And a driving device 50 that moves the locking member 42 in the transport direction. The drive device 50 retracts the locking member 42 outside the processing device when the processing device is processing.
The carry-in unit (Nm1) pushes the article into the machine of the processing apparatus (machine tools 11, 12, 13) while the article (work W) is engaged with the locking member 42 to carry it in. The unloading unit (Nx1) scrapes and unloads the article (work W) from the inside of the processing apparatus (machine tool 11) in a state where the locking member 42 is locked to the article.
At least one of the carry-in units (Nm1 to Nm3) and the carry-out units (Nx1 to Nx3) has an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the conveyance direction position of the locking member 42 with respect to the drive device 50.

The transport device 30 operates the detection unit 61 that detects whether or not the processed article (work W) has been moved to the unloading standby position Px, and operates the unloading units (Nx1 to Nx3) based on the detection result by the detection unit 61. And a control device 62 for unloading the article (work W) placed at the unloading standby position Px out of the processing device (machine tools 11, 12, 13).
The conveyance path 70 is provided with a rotary table 80 that constitutes the conveyance path 70 and is rotatable around a vertical central axis in a state where an article (work W) is placed.

  The conveying device 30 is a production device configured by installing a first processing device (machine tool 11) and a second processing device (machine tool 12), which are processing device machines, side by side in the conveying direction of an article (workpiece W). Used for line 10. The conveying device 30 is a carry-in unit, and is an article (work W from the outside of the first processing device (machine tool 11, 12, 13) to the specified position Pp in the first processing device (machine tool 11, 12, 13). ), A first unloading unit Nx1 for unloading processed articles from the unloading standby position Px in the first processing apparatus (machine tool 11) to the outside of the first processing apparatus, A second carry-in unit Nm2 for carrying articles from the outside of the second processing device (machine tool 12) to the specified position Pp in the second processing device, and the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 The conveyance regions Rx and Rm that are arranged at positions overlapping in the direction and that allow the article (work W) to move in the conveyance direction are arranged at positions that are continuous in the conveyance direction. .

The second carrying-in unit Nm2 is a loading standby position on the conveyance path 70 for the article (work W) processed in the first processing device (machine tool 11) by the first carry-out unit Nx1 with respect to the second processing device (machine tool 12). By being carried out to Pm, the article can be brought into the second processing apparatus.
The first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 are arranged above the conveyance path 70, and are locked to an article (work W) at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the conveyance path 70, and the external force in the conveyance direction is applied to the article. And a driving device 50 that supports the locking member 42 and moves the locking member 42 in the transport direction. The locking members 42 of the first carry-out unit Nx1 and the second carry-in unit Nm2 are disposed on one side and the other side in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 so as to be separated from each other and are supported by the drive device 50. A claw portion 42b that is disposed closer to the center in the width direction of the conveyance path 70 than the base end portion 42a and engages with the article, and a connecting portion 42c that connects the base end portion 42a and the claw portion 42b.

  10: Production line 11: First machine tool 12: Second machine tool 30: Transfer device Nm1-Nm3: Loading unit Nx1-Nx3: Unloading unit 42: Locking member 42a: Base end 42b: claw part, 42c: connecting part, 44: adjustment mechanism, 50: drive device, 61: detection part, 62: control device, 70: conveying path, 80: rotary table, W, A, B: work (article) , Pp: specified position, Px: unloading standby position, Pm: loading standby position

Claims (10)

A transfer device that is used in a processing device that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transfer path, and that transfers the article on the transfer path;
The unprocessed article is loaded from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and the unprocessed article is pressed against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit for moving the subsequent article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path;
An unloading unit for unloading the processed article placed at the unloading standby position to the outside of the processing apparatus;
Equipped with a,
The carry-in unit and the carry-out unit are
A locking member that locks the article and applies an external force in the conveying direction to the article;
A driving device provided outside the processing device and moving the locking member in the transport direction;
The drive device is a transport device that retracts the locking member out of the processing device when the processing device is processing . The carry-in unit pushes and loads the article into the machine of the processing apparatus in a state where the locking member is locked to the article.
The transport apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the carry-out unit is configured to scrape and carry out the article from the inside of the processing apparatus in a state where the engagement member is engaged with the article. At least one has an adjustable adjusting mechanism in the conveying direction the position of the locking member relative to the drive device, the transport device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the loading unit and the unloading unit. Wherein the transport path constitutes the conveying path, and a rotatable turntable is provided around a vertical central axis in a state in which the article is placed, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 Transport device. A transfer device that is used in a processing device that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transfer path, and that transfers the article on the transfer path;
The unprocessed article is loaded from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and the unprocessed article is pressed against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit for moving the subsequent article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path;
An unloading unit for unloading the processed article placed at the unloading standby position to the outside of the processing apparatus;
Equipped with a,
The transport apparatus, wherein the transport path is provided with a rotary table that constitutes the transport path and is rotatable around a vertical central axis in a state where the article is placed . The transfer device
The first processing device and the second processing device, which are the processing devices, are used in a production line configured by being installed side by side in the conveyance direction of the article,
A first carry-in unit that is the carry-in unit and carries the article from the outside of the first processing apparatus to the specified position in the first processing apparatus;
A first unloading unit that unloads the article after processing from the unloading standby position in the first processing apparatus to the outside of the first processing apparatus;
A second carry-in unit that is the carry-in unit and carries the article from the outside of the second processing apparatus to the specified position in the second processing apparatus,
The first carry-out unit and the second carry-in unit are arranged at positions overlapping in the carrying direction, and are arranged at positions where respective carrying regions that allow the article to move in the carrying direction are continuous in the carrying direction. The conveying apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5 . A transfer device that is used in a processing device that performs a predetermined process on an article placed at a specified position on a transfer path, and that transfers the article on the transfer path;
The unprocessed article is loaded from the outside of the processing apparatus to the specified position, and the unprocessed article is pressed against the processed article placed at the specified position in the loading operation. A carry-in unit for moving the subsequent article to a carry-out standby position on the conveyance path;
An unloading unit for unloading the processed article placed at the unloading standby position to the outside of the processing apparatus;
Equipped with a,
The transfer device
The first processing device and the second processing device, which are the processing devices, are used in a production line configured by being installed side by side in the conveyance direction of the article,
A first carry-in unit that is the carry-in unit and carries the article from the outside of the first processing apparatus to the specified position in the first processing apparatus;
A first unloading unit that unloads the article after processing from the unloading standby position in the first processing apparatus to the outside of the first processing apparatus;
A second carry-in unit that is the carry-in unit and carries the article from the outside of the second processing apparatus to the specified position in the second processing apparatus,
The first carry-out unit and the second carry-in unit are arranged at positions overlapping in the carrying direction, and are arranged at positions where respective carrying regions that allow the article to move in the carrying direction are continuous in the carrying direction. , conveyance equipment. The second carry-in unit is configured to remove the article after being processed in the first processing apparatus by the first carry-out unit to a carry-in standby position on the conveyance path with respect to the second processing apparatus. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the transport apparatus is in a state where it can be carried into the second processing apparatus. The first carry-out unit and the second carry-in unit are
A locking member that is disposed above the conveyance path and that locks the article at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the conveyance path and applies an external force in the conveyance direction to the article;
A driving device for supporting the locking member and moving the locking member in the transport direction,
Each locking member of the first carry-out unit and the second carry-in unit is
Arranged on one side and the other side in the width direction of the transport path, separated from each other,
A base end portion supported by the driving device, a claw portion disposed on the center side in the width direction of the transport path from the base end portion, and engaged with the article, and the base end portion and the claw portion are coupled to each other. The conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claims 6-8 which has a connection part, respectively. The transfer device
A detection unit for detecting whether or not the processed article has been moved to the unloading standby position;
A control device that operates the carry-out unit based on a detection result by the detection unit, and carries the article placed at the carry-out standby position out of the processing device;
The transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , further comprising:

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