JPH01162721A - High-frequency plug hardening device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent damage of a hardening device by non-standard articles by measuring the height of the parts to be carried to the hardening device, automatically removing the non-standard articles and stopping the device when the removal treatments exceed a specific number of times at the time of subjecting the metallic parts to a high-frequency plug hardening treatment. CONSTITUTION:The parts 11 to be treated such as mechanical parts which are improved in hardness by the high-frequency plug hardening are hooked by a pawl 10 for transfer-in to the transfer-in means 9 of the hardening device 1 and are moved to the transfer-in position by advancing and lowering of the pawl 10. A cylinder 6 is then actuated to lower a linear scale 5 and the height X of the article 11 is detected by a detecting head 7. The article 11 is decided to be the standard article or the non-standard article according to whether said articles satisfies the relation h-a<=X<=h+a (a is an error range) with a standard set height (h) or has the relation h-a>X or X>h+a therewith. The non-standard article is drawn out by a pawl 2 having a cylinder 3 for advancing and retreating and a cylinder 4 for vertical movement and is recovered into a bucket 8. The operation of the device is immediately stopped when the non-standard articles continue >=3 times. The damage of the device such as plug by the non-standard articles is thus prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a high-frequency plug hardening apparatus equipped with a control mechanism for carrying in a workpiece.

(Prior Art) Ring-shaped parts such as differential gears are subjected to high-frequency plug hardening treatment in order to improve the hardness of the ring. The high-frequency plug hardening process is usually performed by performing treatments such as high-frequency induction heating, plug hardening, annealing, etc. while the workpiece is being transported. These treatments are carried out using, for example, an induction plug hardening apparatus 1 as shown in FIG.
is done using. In this apparatus, the workpiece is first set at the carry-in position, then transported to the high-frequency induction heating furnace 12 for high-frequency heating, and then transported to the plug hardening device 13, where the plug is heated. Plug quenching is performed by inserting the plug and cooling it with a cooling liquid, and then the plug is further transported to an annealing furnace 14 for annealing.

The workpieces to be processed are automatically carried in by the worker carrying the workpieces stacked in each loft one by one by a carry-in means to a predetermined carry-in position. Moreover, the conveyance of the processed items to each process after being carried in is also performed automatically.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, there are cases in which a different workpiece from the one to be processed is mistakenly mixed into the loft of the workpieces being transported to the high-frequency plug hardening equipment. be. It is also possible that the loft itself has been delivered by mistake, and all of the items in the loft to be processed are different from those to be processed.

In induction plug hardening, a plug manufactured to suit the dimensions, material, etc. of the product to be treated is used, and the dimensions of the plug are extremely precise. In addition, the distance the plug moves up and down, the temperature of the high-frequency heating furnace and annealing furnace, etc.
Precise settings are made to suit the product being processed. Therefore, if an item to be processed that is different from the item to be processed is brought into the high-frequency heating apparatus, excessive force is applied to the plug, causing serious damage to the apparatus, such as cracking of the plug.

In particular, if the loft itself is brought into the loft by mistake, damage to the equipment will become more serious because several to more than 10 different valences of workpieces will be processed in succession.

The present invention solves these problems, and even if a workpiece is carried in by mistake, the workpiece can be removed from the loading position and, in some cases, the machine can be stopped, so that the equipment can be maintained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-frequency plug hardening apparatus equipped with a control mechanism for carrying in a workpiece to prevent damage.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the high-frequency plug hardening/hardening apparatus of the present invention includes: a setting means for setting the height of the workpiece according to the standard; and a workpiece. a detection means for detecting the height of the workpiece carried in at the carry-in position; a comparison means for comparing and determining the set height and the detected height; The present invention is characterized in that it is equipped with a processing object carry-in control mechanism consisting of a removal means for removing the processing object from the object.

More preferably, the above-mentioned processing object delivery control mechanism includes, in addition to the above-mentioned setting means, detection means, comparison means, and removal means, a counting means for counting the number of times the non-standard processing material has been carried in consecutively. and, if the number of times is less than 3 times, the device continues to operate, and if the number of times is 3 times or more, the device includes an operation control means that stops the operation of the device.

As the detection means, for example, a magnetic scale (linear scale) can be used, which consists of a detection head, a scale, and a detector and detects the height based on the amount of movement of the detection head. In this means, when the workpiece is carried in, the detection head descends to the position of the workpiece, the height is detected based on the amount of movement, and the value is output to the height comparison and determination means.

In the comparison means, for example, the measured height χ and the set height h are compared, and between the two values, h-α≦X≦
If the relationship h0α (α is the error range) holds, it is determined that the correct workpiece has been brought in, and a signal to continue processing is output, and the relationship h−α>X or χ>h+α holds. If true, it is determined that a processed item different from the processed item to be processed (hereinafter referred to as a non-standard processed item) has been brought in, and a signal is output to remove the processed item, and
A signal is output that adds 1 to the value of a counter, for example, a means for counting the number of times non-standard workpieces have been continuously brought in.

As the removal means, for example, a pull-out claw movable in the conveyance direction of the workpiece, the opposite direction, and the vertical direction can be used. As means for moving the pull-out claw, for example, a cylinder for moving back and forth (moving in the conveying direction of the workpiece and the opposite direction) and a cylinder for moving up and down can be used.

In this means, the pull-out claw is advanced by a cylinder,
Then, by lowering it down, it hooks the workpiece, and by moving it backwards, the workpiece is placed on the processing line (
It can be removed from the processing line by being pulled out in a direction opposite to the general feeding direction.

As the counting means, a commonly used counter can be used. In the counter, when the comparison means determines that the carried-in workpiece is incorrect, the value of the counter becomes 1. If the next product to be processed is also out of specification, 1 is added and the counter value becomes 2, but if the next product to be processed is correct, the counter is reset and the value becomes 0. becomes.

Thereby, the number of consecutively brought in non-standard workpieces can be automatically counted at all times.

In the operation control means, the value n of the counter is n<3.
When , that is, 0 times, 1 time, and 2 times, a signal is output to continue the operation of the high-frequency plug hardening equipment.
When n≧3, that is, when the number of times is three, a signal is output to stop the operation of the device. The reason for determining whether to continue or stop operation is based on the formula n<3 and n≧3 is as follows. Usually, the processing steps of high-frequency plug hardening equipment are high-frequency induction heating, plug hardening, and annealing.
When a non-standard workpiece is brought in for the first or second time, that is, when the count value n is 1 or 2, the specified workpiece brought in at the previous stage remains in the processing line. There is. Therefore, if the apparatus is stopped at that stage, the processing of the specified products will be interrupted and the products will become defective. Furthermore, at this stage, there is a possibility that one or two erroneous items to be processed may have been mixed in by chance, and in that case, there will be no problem if only the items to be processed are taken out. However, when three consecutive processed items are out of specification, that is, when the count (direct n is 3
When this occurs, there is a high possibility that the loft itself was transported by mistake, and in that case, it is better to stop the equipment and replace the loft. Furthermore, at this point, the first two incorrect products have already been pulled out, and there are no products in the high-frequency heating furnace and plug hardening equipment, so even if the equipment is stopped at this point, the defective products will still be removed. I don't have to worry about taking it out.

In the high-frequency plug hardening apparatus of the present invention, preferably, when an incorrect workpiece is detected and/or when the operation of the apparatus is stopped, a means for sounding a buzzer for a certain period of time and/or a means for turning on an indicator lamp are preferably provided. Provide means to do so.

(Function) The high-frequency plug hardening apparatus of the present invention determines whether or not the imported workpiece meets the relevant standard based on the height of the workpiece, and when a non-standard workpiece is brought in. Since the machine is equipped with a workpiece loading control mechanism that removes the workpiece from the loading position, the equipment will not be damaged by non-standard workpieces. In addition, by providing a counting means and operation control means to stop the equipment when non-standard workpieces are carried in three times in a row, the equipment Since the operation continues, products to be processed of the relevant standard that are already on the processing line will not become defective.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples.

Embodiment 1: FIG. 2 is a diagram of an induction plug hardening apparatus 1 equipped with a control mechanism for loading the workpiece into the induction plug hardening apparatus, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the workpiece. 3 is a view of the carefully made W1 as viewed in the direction of conveyance of the workpiece.

The control mechanism of this embodiment includes a circuit (not shown) for setting the height of the workpiece to be processed, a linear scale 5 for detecting the height of the workpiece carried in, and a set A circuit (not shown) for comparing the height with the detected height and determining whether the carried-in workpiece is correct;
A pull-out claw 2 for pulling out the processed items determined to be incorrect from the processing line, cylinders 3 and 4 for moving the drawn-out claw 2 back and forth and up and down, and the incorrect processed items are continuously brought in. a counter (not shown) for counting the number of times the device is operated; if the number is less than three, the device continues to operate; if the number is three or more,
It consists of a circuit (not shown) for stopping the operation of the device. Of these, the linear scale 5, the pull-out claw 2, and the cylinders 3 and 4 are installed near the carrying means 9 provided at the carrying-in position of the workpiece.

Further, the article to be processed is carried in by the carrying means 9 from a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the article to be processed.

Usage Example 1: The operating state of the control mechanism in the above-mentioned apparatus when three erroneous objects to be processed are successively brought in is shown below. In addition, in this apparatus, the height h of the workpiece to be processed is
It is stored in advance in the height setting means.

First, the carry-in claw 10 of the carry-in means 9 advances, then descends to hook the first workpiece 11, and then retreats and pulls it to a predetermined position, thereby carrying it into the carry-in position. Next, the linear scale 5 is lowered by the cylinder 6, and the height of the workpiece 11 is detected by the detection head 7. The data X of the detected height is sent to the height determination circuit, and here, there is a gap between the detected height X and the preset height h - a is the error range), or h-a>x or x>h+a
By determining whether the following relationship holds true, it is determined whether the imported workpiece is correct or non-standard. (
Figure 1 a). If the product to be processed is out of specification, the linear scale 5 is raised and a signal indicating that the product to be processed is out of specification is output to the removal means, buzzer, lamp lighting means, and counter (not shown).

In the removing means, first, the pull-out claw 2 is advanced by the pull-out claw rear cylinder 3, lowered by the pull-out claw upper and lower cylinders 4, and then retreated, thereby pulling out the workpiece 11 in the opposite direction to the transport direction. Collect in packet 8.

Thereafter, the pull-out claw 2 rises and returns to its original position. (
In the buzzer sounding means and lamp lighting means (b) in FIG. 1, the buzzer sounds for a certain period of time and the lamp lights for a certain period of time.

At the counter, the value becomes 1 and a signal to continue operation is output.

Subsequently, the second item to be processed is carried in. Since this product to be processed is also non-standard, the same processing as the first time is performed except that 2 is recorded on the counter.

Subsequently, the third item to be processed is carried in in the same manner as above.

Since this product to be processed is also non-standard, the same processing as the second time is performed. However, in this case, the value of the counter becomes 3, so a signal to stop the operation of the device is output, and the operation is stopped (C in FIG. 1).

At this point, the buzzer sounds again and the indicator lamp lights up.

Usage Example 2: The operating state of the control device in the above-mentioned apparatus will be shown below when two non-standard workpieces are successively brought in, and then a correct workpiece is brought in.

The operating conditions when non-standard workpieces were brought in for the first two times were the same as in Use Example 1. However, since the correct workpiece is brought in the third time, the counter is reset (d in FIG. 1) and the value becomes 0. At the same time, a signal to continue operating the device is output, and normal operation continues.

(Effects of the Invention) In the induction plug hardening apparatus of the present invention, if a non-standard workpiece is brought in by mistake, it is removed. Parts are not damaged and the durability of the device is improved. In addition, the operation of the equipment will be stopped for the first time after three incorrect deliveries have been made, and if non-standard workpieces have been delivered once or twice, operation will not be stopped. There is no need to interrupt the processing of products already on the processing line and make them defective. This increases work efficiency and significantly reduces production costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a control mechanism for loading the workpiece into the high-frequency plug hardening device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the loading position of the high-frequency plug hardening device according to the embodiment. 3 is a view of the vicinity of the loading position of the high-frequency plug hardening apparatus shown in FIG. 2, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the workpiece. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional high-frequency plug hardening device. 1... High-frequency plug hardening device 2... Pull-out claw 3
．． 4.6...Cylinder 5...Linear scale 11...Workpiece

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A setting means for setting the height of the workpiece according to the standard, a detection means for detecting the height of the workpiece carried in at the carry-in position of the workpiece, and a set height and a detected height. A high-frequency plug hardening apparatus comprising: a comparison means for comparing and determining the height of the non-standard workpiece; and a removal means for removing the non-standard workpiece from the carry-in position. (2) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means includes a detection head, a scale, and a detector, and includes a magnetic scale that detects the height based on the amount of movement of the detection head. (3) The high-frequency plug hardening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removing means includes a pull-out claw that is movable in the transport direction of the workpiece, in the opposite direction, and in the vertical direction. (4) A setting means for setting the height of the workpiece according to the standard, a detection means for detecting the height of the workpiece carried in at the carry-in position of the workpiece, and a set height and a detected height. a comparison means for comparing and determining the height of the non-standard workpiece; a removal means for removing the non-standard workpiece from the carry-in position; a counting means for counting the number of times the non-standard workpiece has been carried in consecutively; If the number of times is less than 3, the device continues to operate, and if the number of times is 3 or more, the device is stopped operating. High frequency plug hardening equipment.