JP6771807B1 - Work transfer equipment and machine tools - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work transfer device and a machine tool capable of driving at a high speed and accurately placing an workpiece at a predetermined position. A machine tool 10 includes a work table 26 on which a workpiece W is placed, a bed 14 that supports the work table 26, a processing head 16, a column 18 that supports the processing head 16, and a processing head. The X-axis direction moving mechanism 22 for reciprocating the 16 with respect to the column 18 in the X-axis direction, and a work transfer device 30 are provided. The work transfer device 30 includes a connecting portion 50, a movable portion 46 that is detachably connected to the processing head 16 via the connecting portion 50, a base 44 that supports the movable portion 46, and a work provided on the movable portion 46. It has a holding portion, and the base 44 is fixed to at least one of the bed 14 and the column 18. When the connecting portion 50 is in the connected state, the movable portion 46 is moved in the X-axis direction as the machining head 16 moves. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a work transfer device driven by receiving power from a processing head and a machine tool including the work transfer device.

Conventionally, there is a machine tool provided with a work transfer device that is driven by receiving power from a processing head. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a machine tool configured to move a work by moving a support arm accompanying the movement of a spindle device as a machining head. In this machine tool, a clamp arm for gripping a work is provided at one end of a support arm, a connected member is provided at the other end of the support arm, and the support arm, the clamp arm, and the connected member are provided. The work transfer device is configured by. When the work is transported, the connected member of the work transport device is connected to the connecting member provided on the spindle device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-20713

However, in the machine tool described in Patent Document 1, the entire work transfer device including the support arm, the clamp arm, and the connected member is supported in a cantilever state by the connecting member, so that the weight of the work transfer device is increased. There is a problem that it is difficult to drive the work transfer device at high speed because the support arm is liable to bend or vibrate due to the weight of the work or the work. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately place the work at a predetermined position on the work table.

The present invention has been made to deal with the above problems, and an object of the present invention is a work that can be driven at a high speed and can accurately place a work piece at a predetermined position on a work table. An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device and a machine tool including the work transfer device.

In order to achieve the above object, the features of the work transfer device according to the present invention are that the work table on which the workpiece is placed, the bed supporting the work table, and the machining tool for processing the workpiece are rotated. A machining head having a main shaft that can be driven and held, a column that supports the machining head, and a vertical direction of the machining head are defined as the Z-axis direction, and one direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction is defined as the X-axis direction. , Used in a machine tool provided with an X-axis direction moving mechanism for reciprocating the machining head in the X-axis direction when the direction orthogonal to both the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction is the Y-axis direction. The work transfer device is provided with a base portion fixed to at least one of the bed and the column, a movable portion provided on the base portion so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction, and a movable portion provided on the movable portion. It is provided with a work holding portion for holding the workpiece so as to be detachable, and a connecting portion for detachably connecting the movable portion and the machining head.

The machine tool bed is constructed with high strength to support the work table, and the machine tool column is constructed with high strength to support the machining head. According to the above configuration, since the base is fixed to at least one of the high-strength bed and the column, the base can be stably fixed. Therefore, the operation of the movable portion provided on the base portion can be stabilized, and the movable portion can be driven at high speed. In addition, bending and vibration of the base and movable parts can be suppressed, and the workpiece can be accurately placed at a predetermined position on the work table.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the base is fixed to both the bed and the column.

According to this configuration, since the base is fixed to both the bed and the column, the base can be fixed more stably as compared with the case where it is fixed to only one of them, and the operation of the movable part can be performed. Can be made more stable.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the base portion has a support portion that supports the movable portion so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction, and a support portion that supports the movable portion in the X-axis direction at intervals in the Z-axis direction. It has two struts provided so as to extend, the lower end of each of the two struts is connected to the bed, and the portion of the two struts above the lower end of each is said. It is connected to the support part.

According to this configuration, the support portion and the movable portion can be stably supported by the two columns provided so as to extend in the Z-axis direction with a distance in the X-axis direction. In addition, maintenance and inspection of the work table and the like can be easily performed through the space secured between the two columns.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the base portion has two fixing arms provided so as to extend in the Y-axis direction at intervals in the X-axis direction, and the two fixing arms are provided. One end of each of the arms is connected to the column or support, and the other end is connected to the column.

According to this configuration, the support portion and the movable portion can be supported more stably by the two fixed arms provided so as to extend in the Y-axis direction with a distance in the X-axis direction. In addition, maintenance and inspection of the machining head can be easily performed through the space secured between the two fixed arms.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the movable portion includes a first movable portion connected to the processing head via the connecting portion and a second movable portion provided with the work holding portion. A first rack extending in the X-axis direction on the base portion, a second rack extending in the X-axis direction on the second movable portion, and the first movable portion provided on the first movable portion. It has a first pinion meshed with the first rack and a second pinion provided in the first movable portion, meshed with the second rack, and rotated with the rotation of the first pinion. The second rack and the second pinion are pushed by the second pinion in which the second rack rotates when the first movable portion is moved in the X-axis direction to and the first movable portion. It is configured to be moved in the same direction.

According to this configuration, when the force moving in the X-axis direction of the machining head is transmitted to the first movable portion via the connecting portion, the first movable portion and the second movable portion are moved in the same direction as the machining head. To. At this time, since the second rack and the second movable portion are pushed by the rotating second pinion and further moved in the same direction as the first movable portion, the moving distances of the second rack and the second movable portion are first movable. It can be longer than the moving distance of the part.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the connecting portion is provided on one of the processing head and the movable portion and a connecting piece provided on the other of the processing head and the movable portion. A receiving portion that receives a piece so as to surround it from both sides in the X-axis direction, and a connected state in which one of the connecting piece and the receiving portion is moved in the Y-axis direction and the connecting piece is received by the receiving portion. The connecting piece has a connecting operation unit for switching from a connection disconnecting state pulled out from the receiving unit.

According to this configuration, it is possible to easily switch between the connected state and the disconnected state by simply moving one of the connecting piece and the receiving unit in the Y-axis direction with the connecting operation unit.

Another feature of the work transfer device according to the present invention is that the connecting portion is provided on the rod-shaped connecting piece provided in the first movable portion and the processing head, and one end portion of the connecting piece is attached to the X. A first receiving portion that receives the connecting piece from both sides in the axial direction, a second receiving portion that is provided at the base portion and receives the other end of the connecting piece so as to surround the other end portion in the X-axis direction, and the connecting piece. Moving in the Y-axis direction, one end of the connecting piece is received by the first receiving portion, and one end of the connecting piece is pulled out from the first receiving portion and said. The other end of the connecting piece is provided with a connecting operation unit that switches between the disconnected state received by the second receiving unit.

According to this configuration, the connection state and the connection release state can be easily switched by simply moving the connection piece in the Y-axis direction by the connection operation unit. Further, in the disconnected state, the other end of the connecting piece is received by the second receiving portion provided on the base portion, so that when the workpiece is processed, the first movable portion and the second movable portion with respect to the base portion are received. Movement in the X-axis direction can be suppressed.

In order to achieve the above object, the feature of the machine tool according to the present invention is to include any of the above work transfer devices.

According to this configuration, the effect of each of the above-mentioned work transfer devices can be obtained as it is.

Another feature of the machine tool according to the present invention is that when the region in which the machining head can be moved is defined as the machining head moving region and the region in which the work holding portion is movable is defined as the work holding portion moving region, the machining head moves. A Y-axis direction moving mechanism for reciprocating the work table in the Y-axis direction between a first position located below the region and a second position located below the work holding portion moving region is provided.

According to this configuration, the work table can be reciprocated between the first position and the second position, so that the workpiece transported by the work transfer device is placed on the work table at the second position. be able to. In addition, the work piece after processing can be carried out from the work table at the second position by the work transfer device.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the machine tool which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control system for controlling the operation of the machine tool shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the work transfer apparatus from the machine tool shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the work transfer apparatus of the machine tool shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the main part of the machine tool (connected state) shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the main part of the work transfer apparatus shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the operation of the work transfer apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation of the connecting part shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the work transfer device and the machine tool according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a machine tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the operation of the machine tool 10. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the work transfer device 30 is removed from the machine tool 10. It should be noted that the figures referred to in the present specification are schematically shown by exaggerating some of the components in order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention.

(Structure of machine tool 10)
The machine tool 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a machine device that cuts a workpiece W while moving a machining tool 12 by computer control (NC control), and includes a bed 14 that is the basis of the entire machine tool 10. ing. The bed 14 is formed in a trapezoidal shape by combining a casting material or a steel plate material made of a metal such as iron so as to secure high strength.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the machine tool 10 includes a machining head 16, a column 18, a Z-axis direction moving mechanism 20, an X-axis direction moving mechanism 22, a tool magazine 24, a work table 26, and a Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28. It includes a work transfer device 30 and a control device 32. Each of these components is supported by a bed 14.

The machining head 16 includes a spindle 34 that holds the machining tool 12 so that it can be rotationally driven, a spindle drive motor 36 for rotationally driving the spindle 34, and a machining head cover 16a made of a metal plate that covers the spindle 34 and the spindle drive motor 36. have. The machining tool 12 is a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece W, and specifically, a cutting tool such as a drill or an end mill. The machining tool 12 only needs to be able to perform machining on the workpiece W, and is a laser beam that emits laser light to cut, weld, spray, build up, or perform various surface treatments on the workpiece W. It may be composed of an emission nozzle or the like.

The column 18 is a columnar member that supports the processing head 16, and is formed by combining a casting material or a steel plate material made of a metal such as iron so as to secure high strength. The skeleton portion of the column 18 of the present embodiment is formed in a gate shape (not shown) standing up from the upper surface of the bed 14.

As shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the vertical direction of the machining head 16 (the vertical direction of the machine tool 10) is the Z-axis direction, and one direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction (the horizontal direction of the machine tool 10) is defined as the Z-axis direction. When the X-axis direction is set and the direction orthogonal to both the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction (the front-back direction of the machine tool 10) is the Y-axis direction, the column 18 sets the machining head 16 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction. It is configured to support in a state where it can move back and forth in each direction.

The Z-axis direction moving mechanism 20 is a mechanism for reciprocating the spindle 34 and the spindle drive motor 36 of the machining head 16 with respect to the column 18 in the Z-axis direction, and generates a driving force. The Z-axis drive motor 38 (FIG. 2). A screw feed mechanism (not shown) and a linear guide (not shown) are provided. That is, the processed head cover 16a is invariant in the Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction moving mechanism 22 is a mechanism for reciprocating the machining head 16 with respect to the column 18 in the X-axis direction, and has an X-axis drive motor 40 (FIG. 2) for generating a driving force and a screw feed mechanism (not shown). ) And a linear guide (not shown). Each of the Z-axis direction moving mechanism 20 and the X-axis direction moving mechanism 22 is arranged between the column 18 and the processing head 16.

The tool magazine 24 is a mechanical device that holds a plurality of types of machining tools 12 prepared according to the type of machining for the workpiece W and provides the machining tools 12 to the spindle 34. The tool magazine 24 is located inside the column 18 behind the work table 26.

The work table 26 is a plate-shaped member on which the workpiece W is placed, and is made of a casting material made of a metal such as iron. The work table 26 is provided with a chuck device (not shown) for fixing the workpiece W. The work table 26 is attached to a Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28 provided on the upper surface of the bed 14. That is, the work table 26 is supported on the upper surface of the bed 14 via the Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28.

The Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28 is a mechanism for reciprocating the work table 26 with respect to the bed 14 in the Y-axis direction, and has a Y-axis drive motor 42 (FIG. 2) for generating a driving force and a screw feed mechanism (not shown). ) And a linear guide (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the region in which the machining head 16 can be moved is defined as the machining head moving region S1, and the region in which the work holding portions 48a and 48b of the work transfer device 30 (FIG. 4) described later can be moved is the work holding portion moving. When the area S2 is set, the Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28 is a work table between the first position P1 located below the machining head moving area S1 and the second position P2 located below the work holding portion moving area S2. The 26 is configured to reciprocate in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a work transfer device 30 of the machine tool 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a main part of the machine tool 10 (connected state). FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a main part of the work transfer device 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, the work transfer device 30 has a base portion 44, a movable portion 46, two work holding portions 48a and 48b, and a connecting portion 50. When the position separated from the second position P2 on one side in the X-axis direction is defined as the third position P3, and the position separated from the second position P2 on the other side in the X-axis direction is defined as the fourth position P4. The work transfer device 30 conveys the workpiece W between the second position P2 and the third position P3, and conveys the workpiece W between the second position P2 and the fourth position P4. Is configured to allow That is, in the transport path for transporting the workpiece W, the above-mentioned second position P2 serves as a "relay point" for transferring the workpiece W between the work holding portions 48a and 48b and the work table 26. The third position P3 is the "start point (or end point)", and the fourth position P4 is the "end point (or start point)". Further, the first position P1 is a "machining point" for cutting the workpiece W.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 44 is a member that is fixed to both the bed 14 and the column 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the base portion 44 includes a support portion 52 that supports the movable portion 46 so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction, and two columns provided extending in the Z-axis direction at intervals in the X-axis direction. It has 54a and 54b and two fixed arms 56a and 56b provided so as to extend in the Y-axis direction at intervals in the X-axis direction.

The support portion 52 is formed in an angle shape or an ikele shape by a bar material and a plate material made of a metal such as iron. A first rack 70 that meshes with the first pinion 74 of the movable portion 46, which will be described later, is provided on the bar 52a that constitutes the lower portion of the support portion 52 so as to extend in the X-axis direction, and constitutes the upper portion of the support portion 52. The bar 52b is provided with a second receiving portion 88 of the connecting portion 50, which will be described later.

Each of the two columns 54a and 54b is formed of a metal such as iron in a rod shape having a quadrangular cross section. The lower end of one support 54a is connected to the bed 14 (FIG. 1) using a bolt 60, and the portion above the lower end of one support 54a is one end of the support 52 in the X-axis direction. It is connected to the part by welding. The lower end of the other strut 54b is connected to the bed 14 (FIG. 1) using a bolt 60, and the portion above the lower end of the other strut 54b is the other end of the support portion 52 in the X-axis direction. It is connected to the part by welding.

Each of the two fixing arms 56a and 56b is formed of a metal such as iron in a rod shape having a quadrangular cross section. One end (front end) of one fixing arm 56a is connected to one strut 54a using a bolt 62, and the other end (rear end) of one fixing arm 56a is a column 18 (FIG. It is connected to 1) using a bolt 64. One end (front end) of the other fixing arm 56b is connected to the other strut 54b using a bolt 62, and the other end (rear end) of the other fixing arm 56b is a column 18 (FIG. It is connected to 1) using a bolt 64.

The movable portion 46 shown in FIG. 4 is a portion provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction with respect to the base portion 44. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the movable portion 46 includes a first movable portion 66, a second movable portion 68, a first rack 70, a second rack 72, a first pinion 74, and a second pinion. It has 76 and.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first movable portion 66 is a plate-shaped member made of a metal such as iron, and the central portion of the first movable portion 66 in the X-axis direction is a rotation shaft 78a extending in the Y-axis direction. A bearing portion 78 is provided to support the above. A connecting portion 50 is provided in a portion of the first movable portion 66 above the bearing portion 78. Further, the first pinion 74 and the second pinion 76 are respectively arranged on the front side and the rear side of the first movable portion 66 in the Y-axis direction, and as shown in FIG. It is attached to one end (front end) of 78a, and the second pinion 76 is attached to the other end (rear end) of the rotating shaft 78a. Therefore, when the first pinion 74 is rotated, the rotational force is transmitted to the second pinion 76 via the rotation shaft 78a, and the second pinion 76 is rotated in the same direction as the first pinion 74.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second movable portion 68 is a plate-shaped member made of a metal such as iron, and the central portion of the second movable portion 68 in the Z-axis direction is a second that meshes with the second pinion 76. The rack 72 is provided so as to extend in the X-axis direction. Two work holding portions 48a and 48b are provided at both ends of the second movable portion 68 in the X-axis direction. Further, in a portion of the second movable portion 68 above the second rack 72, a first opening 80 for inserting the connecting portion 50 so as to be relatively movable in the X-axis direction is formed so as to extend in the X-axis direction. There is. Further, in a portion of the second movable portion 68 below the second rack 72, a second opening 82 that receives the second pinion 76 so as to be relatively movable in the X-axis direction is formed so as to extend in the X-axis direction. There is.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the operation of the work transfer device 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the movable portion 46 of the present embodiment is configured such that the first rack 70 meshes with the first pinion 74 from below, and the second rack 72 with respect to the second pinion 76. It is configured to mesh from above. Further, the first pinion 74 and the second pinion 76 are attached to the same rotating shaft 78a so as to be rotated in the same direction. As a result, when the first movable portion 66 is moved in the X-axis direction, the second rack 72 and the second pinion 76 are pushed by the second pinion in the same direction as the first movable portion 66. It is configured to be moved to.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the force moving in the X-axis direction of the processing head 16 (FIG. 1) is transmitted to the first movable portion 66 via the connecting portion 50, the first movable portion 66 and the second movable portion 68 Is moved in the same direction as the machining head 16 (FIG. 1). At this time, the first pinion 74 is rotated by receiving a frictional force from the first rack 70, and the second pinion 76 is rotated in the same direction as the first pinion 74. As a result, the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 are pushed by the rotating second pinion 76 and further moved in the same direction as the first movable portion 66. Therefore, the moving distance L2 of the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 is longer than the moving distance L1 of the first movable portion 66. In the present embodiment, the moving distance L2 of the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 is set to be twice the moving distance L1 of the first movable portion 66. The moving distance of the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 pushed by the second pinion 76 can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the diameter of the first pinion 74 to the diameter of the second pinion 76.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, a third position P3 which is a “start point (or end point)” of the transfer path is defined on one side of the work transfer device 30 in the X-axis direction, and the work transfer device 30 A fourth position P4, which is the "end point (or start point)" of the transport path, is defined on the other side in the X-axis direction. Further, a second position P2 serving as a "relay point" is defined between the third position P3 and the fourth position P4. Therefore, the moving distance L2 of the second movable portion 68 shown in FIG. 7 reciprocates one work holding portion 48a between the second position P2 and the third position P3, and moves the other work holding portion 48b. It is defined so that it can be reciprocated between the second position P2 and the fourth position P4.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the connecting portion 50. As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 50 is a mechanical device that detachably connects the movable portion 46 and the processing head 16, and connects the rod-shaped connecting piece 84 and the one end portion 84a of the connecting piece 84 in the X-axis direction. It has a first receiving portion 86 that accepts the connecting piece 84 from both sides thereof, and a second receiving portion 88 that accepts the other end portion 84b of the connecting piece 84 so as to surround the other end portion 84b in the X-axis direction. The first receiving portion 86 is formed in a tubular shape (or a hole shape) having a central axis extending in the Y-axis direction, and is provided on the machining head cover 16a of the machining head 16. The second receiving portion 88 is formed in a tubular shape (or a hole shape) having a central axis extending in the Y-axis direction, and is provided on the base portion 44 of the work transfer device 30. The first receiving portion 86 may have a shape that surrounds one end portion 84a of the connecting piece 84 from both sides in the X-axis direction, and the second receiving portion 88 surrounds the other end portion 84b of the connecting piece 84 in the X-axis direction. Since the shape may be surrounded from both sides of the above, these may be provided with openings (not shown) that are open in the Z-axis direction.

Further, the connecting portion 50 moves the connecting piece 84 in the Y-axis direction, and one end portion 84a of the connecting piece 84 is received by the first receiving portion 86 in a “connected state” (state shown in FIG. 5). A "disconnected state" in which one end 84a of the connecting piece 84 is pulled out from the first receiving portion 86 and the other end 84b of the connecting piece 84 is received by the second receiving portion 88 (state shown in FIG. 8). It has a connection operation unit 90 for switching between.

The connecting operation unit 90 of the present embodiment is a direct-acting air cylinder provided in the first movable unit 66, and is configured to reciprocate the connecting piece 84 incorporated in the air cylinder by air pressure. The connection operation unit 90 has a switching valve (not shown) for switching the air flow path configured inside the connection operation unit 90. The control device 32 (FIG. 2), which will be described later, controls the operation of the switching valve (not shown) so as to be in the “connected state” (FIG. 5) when the workpiece W is conveyed by the workpiece transfer device 30, and performs processing. The operation of the switching valve (not shown) is controlled so as to be in the “disconnected state” (FIG. 8) when the workpiece W is machined with the tool 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the two work holding portions 48a and 48b is a mechanical device that holds the workpiece W (FIG. 1) in a detachable manner, and grips the workpiece W (FIG. 1). It has a portion 92 and an actuator 94 that moves the grip portion 92 in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, an electric chuck is used as the grip portion 92, and a direct acting electric actuator is used as the actuator 94.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 32 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and the control device 32 includes a spindle drive motor 36, a Z-axis drive motor 38, and an X-axis drive motor 40. , Y-axis drive motor 42, tool magazine 24, two work holding parts 48a and 48b, connection operation part 90 (switching valve) and operation panel 96 are electrically connected.

The control device 32 comprehensively controls the overall operation of the machine tool 10 and controls each of the above-mentioned devices so as to perform cutting or the like on the workpiece W. A machining program or the like is stored in the above ROM. The operation panel 96 is provided with operation buttons for an operator to input various processing conditions and the like.

(Operation of machine tool 10)
The machine tool 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used by being installed on the floor surface of a factory or the like. In the machining line for stepwise machining the workpiece W (FIG. 1), a plurality of machine tools 10 that share each of the plurality of processes are installed along the machining line. When the workpiece W is processed in one process, the machine tool 10 is installed independently.

When the machining program is executed by operating the operation buttons of the operation panel 96 shown in FIG. 2, the control device 32 first moves the work table 26 (FIG. 1) to the second position P2 (FIG. 3) on the Y axis. It controls the operation of the drive motor 42. Further, the control device 32 controls the operation of the connecting operation unit 90 so that the connecting unit 50 is in the “connected state” (FIG. 5). As a result, the connecting piece 84 is inserted into the first receiving portion 86, and the work transfer device 30 is connected to the processing head 16.

Next, the control device 32 operates the X-axis drive motor 40 to displace the machining head 16 toward the third position P3 (FIG. 4) in the X-axis direction, thereby shifting the work holding portion 48a to the third position P3 (FIG. 4). 4) Position it on top. As a result, the work holding portion 48b is located on the second position P2 (FIG. 4). Next, the control device 32 controls each operation of the work holding portions 48a and 48b to lower the grip portion 92 to grip each workpiece W on the third position P3 and the second position P2, and then. The grip portion 92 is raised.

Next, the control device 32 operates the X-axis drive motor 40 to displace the machining head 16 toward the fourth position P4 (FIG. 4) in the X-axis direction, thereby moving the work holding portion 48a onto the second position P2. To position. As a result, the work holding portion 48b is located on the fourth position P4. Next, the control device 32 controls each operation of the work holding portions 48a and 48b to lower the grip portion 92 and holds the workpiece W on the second position P2 and the fourth position P4, respectively. After arranging each of them and releasing the grip, the grip portion 92 is raised.

Next, the control device 32 operates the X-axis drive motor 40 to displace the machining head 16 toward the third position P3 in the X-axis direction, so that the movable portion 46 is at the center position of the movable range in the X-axis direction. Return to the origin position. Then, the control device 32 controls the operation of the connecting operation unit 90 so that the connecting unit 50 is in the “unconnected state” (FIG. 8). As a result, the connecting piece 84 is separated from the inside of the first receiving portion 86, and the work transfer device 30 is not connected to the processing head 16. Further, the control device 32 operates the Y-axis drive motor 42 so as to move the work table 26 on which the workpiece W is placed from the second position P2 (FIG. 4) to the first position P1 (FIG. 4). Control.

Next, the control device 32 operates the spindle drive motor 36, the Z-axis drive motor 38, the X-axis drive motor 40, and the Y-axis drive motor 42 so that the workpiece W is cut by the machining tool 12. To control. When the type of machining changes, the control device 32 controls the operation of the tool magazine 24 so as to replace the machining tool 12 held by the spindle 34.

When the cutting process is completed, the control device 32 moves the work table 26 on which the workpiece W is placed from the first position P1 (FIG. 4) to the second position P2 (FIG. 4) by the Y-axis drive motor. Controls the operation of 42. Further, the operation of the connecting operation unit 90 is controlled so that the connecting unit 50 is in the “connected state” (FIG. 5), and the workpiece W placed on the work table 26 at the second position P2 (FIG. 4) is placed. The operation of the X-axis drive motor 40 and the work holding portion 48b is controlled so as to transport the X-axis drive motor 40 to the fourth position P4 (FIG. 4).

(Effect of work transfer device 30)
According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved by the above configuration. That is, since the base 44 of the work transfer device 30 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to both the bed 14 and the column 18 configured with high strength, the base 44 can be stably fixed. Therefore, the operation of the movable portion 46 provided on the base portion 44 can be stabilized, and the movable portion 46 can be driven at high speed. Further, the bending and vibration of the base portion 44 and the movable portion 46 can be suppressed, and the workpiece W can be accurately placed at a predetermined position on the work table 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 44 has two columns 54a and 54b, and the lower ends of the two columns 54a and 54b are connected to the bed 14, so that the support 52 and the movable portion 46 can be stably supported. Further, maintenance and inspection of the work table 26 and the like can be easily performed through the space secured between the two columns 54a and 54b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 44 has two fixed arms 56a, 56b, one end of each of the two fixed arms 56a, 56b is connected to the columns 54a, 54b, and the other end. Since the portion is connected to the column 18, the support portion 52 and the movable portion 46 can be stably supported. Further, maintenance and inspection of the processing head 16 can be easily performed through the space secured between the two fixed arms 56a and 56b.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the work transfer device 30, when the force moving in the X-axis direction of the machining head 16 (FIG. 1) is transmitted to the first movable portion 66 via the connecting portion 50, the first movable portion The 66 and the second movable portion 68 are moved in the same direction as the machining head 16. At this time, since the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 are pushed by the rotating second pinion 76 and further moved in the same direction as the first movable portion 66, the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 The moving distance L2 can be made longer than the moving distance L1 of the first movable portion 66.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, in the connecting portion 50, the connecting piece 84 is in the “connected state” in which it is received by the first receiving portion 86, and the connecting piece 84 is pulled out from the first receiving portion 86 in the “disconnected state”. Since the "state" is switched, the "connection state" and the "disconnection state" can be easily switched by simply moving the connection piece 84 in the Y-axis direction with the connection operation unit 90.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the “disconnected state” of the connecting portion 50, the other end portion 84b of the connecting piece 84 is received by the second receiving portion 88 provided on the base portion 44, so that the workpiece W is cut. At that time, the movement of the first movable portion 66 and the second movable portion 68 with respect to the base portion 44 in the X-axis direction can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the work table 26 can be reciprocated between the first position P1 and the second position P2 by the Y-axis direction moving mechanism 28, the work to be processed that has been conveyed by the work transfer device 30. The object W can be placed on the work table 26 at the second position P2. Further, the work piece W after processing can be carried out from the work table 26 by the work transfer device 30 at the second position P2.

(Modification example)
The implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made as long as the object of the present invention is not deviated. That is, in the above embodiment, the base 44 of the work transfer device 30 is fixed to both the bed 14 and the column 18, but the base 44 may be fixed to only one of the bed 14 and the column 18. .. Even in this case, since the bed 14 and the column 18 are configured with high strength, the base 44 can be stably fixed.

When the base 44 is fixed only to the bed 14, the two fixing arms 56a and 56b may be omitted. When the base 44 is fixed only to the column 18, the two columns 54a and 54b may be simply placed on the floor surface of a factory or the like, or may be fixed to the floor surface of a factory or the like with bolts or the like.

The method of connecting the columns 54a and 54b to the bed 14 and the support portion 52 is not limited to the above embodiment, and a connection method using bolts, welding, rivets, or the like may be appropriately selected and used.

The method of connecting the fixing arms 56a and 56b to the columns 54a and 54b and the column 18 is not limited to the above embodiment, and a connection method using bolts, welding, rivets or the like may be appropriately selected and used. Further, one end (front end) of the fixed arms 56a and 56b may be connected to the support 52.

In the above embodiment, the second pinion 76 of the work transfer device 30 is configured to be rotated in the same direction as the first pinion 74, but the second pinion 76 is the first pinion 76 by means of another gear or the like. It may be configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the pinion 74. Even in this case, by changing the orientation of the first rack 70 or the second rack 72, the second pinion 76 pushes the second rack 72 and the second movable portion 68 in the same direction as the movement direction of the first movable portion 66. Can be done.

In the above embodiment, the connecting portion 50 has the second receiving portion 88, but when a mechanism for suppressing the movement of the movable portion 46 is provided separately from the connecting portion 50, the second receiving portion 88 may be used. It may be omitted. In this case, the connecting piece 84 and the connecting operating portion 90 may be provided on the processing head 16, and the first receiving portion 86 may be provided on the first movable portion 66. Further, in this case, the connecting unit 50 may be configured so that the connecting operation unit 90 moves the first receiving unit 86 in the Y-axis direction. Further, the second receiving portion 88 can be omitted even when it is not necessary to suppress the movement of the movable portion 46.

In the above embodiment, an air cylinder is used as the connecting operation unit 90 of the connecting unit 50, but an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnet, or the like may be used instead.

In the above embodiment, the movable portion 46 has the first movable portion 66 and the second movable portion 68, but the second movable portion 68 may be omitted. For example, the distances from the second position P2 to the third position P3 and the fourth position P4 shown in FIG. 4 are substantially the same as or shorter than the moving distance L1 (FIG. 7) of the first movable portion 66. In this case, the second movable portion 68 can be omitted by providing the work holding portions 48a and 48b in the first movable portion 66. In this case, the connecting piece 84 of the connecting portion 50 is provided together with the connecting operating portion 90 in the movable portion 46 (the first movable portion 66 of the above embodiment) in which the second movable portion 68 is omitted. When the second receiving portion 88 is omitted, the connecting piece 84 and the connecting operating portion 90 may be provided on the processing head 16, and the first receiving portion 86 may be provided on the movable portion 46.

In the above embodiment, the second movable portion 68 is provided with two work holding portions 48a and 48b, but the number of work holding portions is not particularly limited, and only one may be provided. When the number of work holding portions is one, either one of the third position P3 and the fourth position P4 shown in FIG. 4 is the "start point" and the "end point".

In the above embodiment, the electric chuck is used as the grip portion 92 of the work holding portions 48a and 48b, but instead of this, a chuck driven by air pressure or hydraulic pressure may be used. Further, although electric actuators are used as actuators for the work holding portions 48a and 48b, actuators driven by air pressure or hydraulic pressure may be used instead.

In the above embodiment, the machining head 16 is configured such that the spindle 34 and the spindle drive motor 36 reciprocate in the Z-axis direction with respect to the column 18, and the machining head cover 16a is configured to be immutable in the Z-axis direction. However, the processing head 16 can also be configured to reciprocate in the Z-axis direction with respect to the column 18 including the processing head cover 16.

In the above embodiment, the machine tool 10 is configured to include the tool magazine 24. However, the machine tool 10 can be configured by omitting the tool magazine 24 when it is not necessary to automatically replace the machining tool 12.

In the above embodiment, the machine tool 10 is configured to cut a metal workpiece W. However, the machine tool 10 may machine a workpiece W other than metal, for example, a workpiece W made of wood, ceramic material or resin material. Further, the machine tool 10 may perform machining other than cutting, for example, grinding, electric discharge machining, welding, thermal spraying, overlay machining or surface treatment.

10 ... Machine tools, 12 ... Machining tools, 14 ... Beds, 16 ... Machining heads, 18 ... Columns,
22 ... X-axis direction movement mechanism, 26 ... Work table, 30 ... Work transfer device, 44 ... Base,
46 ... Movable part, 48a, 48b ... Work holding part, 50 ... Connecting part.

Claims (9)

A work table on which the work piece is placed and
A bed supporting the work table and
A machining head having a spindle that holds a machining tool for machining the workpiece so that it can be rotationally driven,
A column that supports the processing head and
The vertical direction of the processing head is the Z-axis direction, one direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction is the X-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction is the Y-axis. A work transfer device used in a machine tool provided with an X-axis direction moving mechanism for reciprocating the machining head in the X-axis direction when the direction is set.
With a base fixed to at least one of the bed and the column,
A movable portion provided on the base portion so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction,
A work holding portion provided on the movable portion and holding the workpiece so as to be detachable,
A work transfer device including a connecting portion that detachably connects the movable portion and the processing head. The work transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the base is fixed to both the bed and the column. The base is
A support portion that supports the movable portion so as to be reciprocally movable in the X-axis direction,
It has two columns extending in the Z-axis direction with an interval in the X-axis direction.
The first or second aspect of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower end of each of the two columns is connected to the bed, and the portion of the two columns above the lower end of each of the columns is connected to the support. Work transfer device. The base has two fixed arms that are spaced apart in the X-axis direction and extend in the Y-axis direction.
The work transfer device according to claim 3, wherein one end of each of the two fixed arms is connected to the column or the support, and the other end is connected to the column. The movable part is
A first movable portion connected to the processing head via the connecting portion,
A second movable portion provided with the work holding portion and
A first rack provided on the base portion extending in the X-axis direction, and
A second rack extending in the X-axis direction on the second movable portion, and
A first pinion provided on the first movable portion and meshed with the first rack,
It has a second pinion provided on the first movable portion, meshed with the second rack, and rotated with the rotation of the first pinion.
In the second rack and the second pinion, when the first movable portion is moved in the X-axis direction, the second rack is pushed by the second pinion and moves in the same direction as the first movable portion. The work transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is configured to be moved. The connecting part
A connecting piece provided on one of the processing head and the movable portion,
A receiving portion provided on the other side of the processing head and the movable portion and receiving the connecting piece so as to surround the connecting piece from both sides in the X-axis direction.
One of the connecting piece and the receiving portion is moved in the Y-axis direction, and the connecting state in which the connecting piece is received by the receiving portion and the unconnected state in which the connecting piece is pulled out from the receiving portion are obtained. The work transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a connecting operation unit for switching. The connecting part
A rod-shaped connecting piece provided on the first movable portion and
A first receiving portion provided on the processing head and receiving one end of the connecting piece so as to surround it from both sides in the X-axis direction.
A second receiving portion provided on the base portion and receiving the other end portion of the connecting piece so as to surround the other end portion in the X-axis direction from both sides.
By moving the connecting piece in the Y-axis direction, one end of the connecting piece is received by the first receiving portion and one end of the connecting piece is pulled out from the first receiving portion. The work transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the other end of the connecting piece has a connecting operation unit for switching from a connection disconnecting state received by the second receiving unit. A machine tool comprising the work transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. When the region where the machining head can move is defined as the machining head moving region and the region where the work holding portion can move is defined as the work holding portion moving region,
A Y-axis direction moving mechanism for reciprocating the work table in the Y-axis direction between a first position located below the machining head moving region and a second position located below the work holding portion moving region. The machine tool according to claim 8.

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