JPH01241338A - Method and device for transferring blank stock - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To feed a blank at the position and attitude designated at a press machine side by executing the attitude adjustment prior to executing a transfer feeding stage after completion of an intermediate transfer stage. CONSTITUTION:A blank stock W is subjected to pitch transfer on the final idle stage 50 just as making on the straight line of the state convenient for the structure of an intermediate carrying means 70 itself in spite of the attitude of the blank stock W required by a transfer feeding means by the intermediate transport means 70. Now, an attitude adjusting stage is executed prior to a transfer feed stage by an attitude adjusting device 10. The blank stock W actuates the motor 42 of a driving means 41. The movable body 12 constituting an X external force adding means 11 is moved in an X direction accompanied by the rotation of a screw 16. The left end of the blank stock W is moved in the X direction by being interposed by each claw 17 and each clamp 13 and stopped with the actuation of a limit switch 15. Now, the attitude of the blank stock W is automatically adjusted to what is required by the transfer feed means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring blanks for feeding to a blank numbering press machine.

[Prior Art] In order to increase production efficiency in press machines, it is essential to supply blanks quickly and smoothly.

For this reason, a method has been adopted in which a blank material supplied directly from a blanking press or via a day stack feeder is automatically transferred to a press machine by intermediate conveyance means.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a blank material transfer device using a day stack feeder and an intermediate conveyance means generally has the following configuration.

In FIG. 8, which is schematically shown to explain the basic principle, the day stack feeder 60 stores a large number of blank materials W punched out by a blanking press, and is connected to the blanking press at a predetermined position. a magazine 61 movable between the two, and a three-barrel vacuum cup 63 (see FIG. 7 showing the vacuum cup 72 of the intermediate conveying means 70) driven by a cylinder 64 that takes out blanks W from the magazine 61. , a separation device (not shown), a two-piece detection device, etc., and the vacuum cup 63 includes:
The blank material W taken out one by one from the magazine 61 is transferred to the intermediate conveyance means 70 at a predetermined position on the feed center FC.
66 is a lifter.

The intermediate conveying means 70 includes a clamping means 78 which holds the blank material W held at the predetermined position, and which receives the blank material onto the receiving center LC of the kite bar 71 forming a stand, and which transports the blank material W from the receiving center LC to both idle stages. A triple vacuum cup 72 that pitch-transfers the blank W to the center LAC of the final idle stage 50 via the centers AC, AC, and a clamping means 78. It includes a slide R side (not shown) housed in a cover 76 for causing the vacuum cup 72 to perform a predetermined operation, an elevating mechanism, a cylinder device, a motor, and the like.

Further, 1 is a transfer press, and has a transfer feed means 80 formed including a feed bar 81 with fingers 82, and the transfer feed means 80 has advance return, lift down and clamp functions on the feed bar 81 - The blank material W placed on the final idle stage 50 is transferred to the first stage center C1 while performing an unflung operation.

In addition, 5U is the upper mold attached to the slide 4,
5D is a lower mold set on the bolster 6.

Therefore, by making the day stack feeder 60 and the intermediate conveying means 70 work together based on a predetermined program, the blanks W stored in the magazine 61 are taken out one by one and transferred to each center PC.

They are pitch-transferred in the order of AC, AC, and LAC and placed on the final idle stage 50. Subsequently, by the operation of the transfer feed means 80, the blank material W is pitch-transferred from the final idle stage 40 to the first stage (C1) in the transfer cell 1 and to each subsequent stage.

[5@Problems that Ming attempts to solve] However, the above-mentioned conventional transfer device had the following problems.

That is, the blank material W is transferred at a pitch specified on the transfer press 1 side, but its shape is diverse. In order to transfer the blank material smoothly and reliably by the intermediate transfer means 70, it is necessary to adjust the position of each cup 72A, 72B, 72C (see FIG. 7) of the vacuum cup 72 according to the shape of the blank material. , center AC - center AC - final idle stage As shown in FIG. The position of the two cups 72A was changed from the position shown by the two-dot chain line to the position shown by the solid line.

Therefore, the position adjustment work not only requires a long time and labor, but also results in a reduction in press production efficiency.

This problem can be solved even more when the transfer pitch is changed in the transfer press IIFI, and when a pitch-variable intermediate conveying means is used, which is configured so that the transfer pitch can be changed in order to adapt to the change, the inconvenience of the layer is increased. At the same time, in the worst case, the shape of the blank material to be pressed is limited by the configuration of the blank material transfer device, resulting in a problem of the subject falling over.

Furthermore, on the press m machine side, in addition to the transfer pitch to each aligned mold, the attitude of the supplied blank material is also determined from the viewpoint of the press processing mode and the feeding attitude of the transfer feed means 80. May be specified. However, depending on the conventional intermediate conveying means 70, it is difficult to configure the blank material to be supplied in a specified posture, and even if the vacuum cup 72 is horizontally rotated by 90 degrees, it is an economical burden. It was thick, oval, complicated, and large, and could not satisfy the specified appearance of the press machine.

Furthermore, depending on the specified configuration, the structure of the day stack feeder 60 may become complicated and large, or it may be possible to directly replace the plankingsless, which is known to be smaller and cost-reduced compared to the day stack feeder 60. However, there is a problem in that it is not possible to adopt a transfer device that transfers the transfer to an intermediate transfer means.

The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a method and apparatus for transferring a blank material that can supply a blank material in a position and posture specified by a press machine. It is in.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention focuses on the fact that the above-mentioned conventional problems are caused by the wide variety of types of transfer devices and forms of blank materials, and takes this diversity as a premise. It is designed to allow the posture and position of the blank material to be adjusted before handing it over to the press machine.

In other words, the invention described in item 1 includes an intermediate conveyance process for conveying a blank material received from the outside to the final idle stage, and a transfer feed process for conveying the blank material placed on the final idle stage to the first stage of the press machine. In the method for transferring a blank material having a process, prior to implementation of the transfer feed process, the blank material on the final idle stage is regulated in the intermediate conveyance process by directly or indirectly applying a forced external force to the blank material on the final idle stage. The object is achieved by providing an attitude adjustment process for adjusting the attitude of the blank material to the attitude specified in the transfer feed process.

The invention described in item 2 also provides an intermediate conveying means for conveying the blank material received from the outside to the final idle stage, and a transfer feed for conveying the blank material placed on the final idle stage to the first stage of the press machine. an external force applying means that engages with the blank placed on the final idle stage to apply a forced external force to the blank; and a drive for operating the external force applying means. and a blank material attitude adjusting device configured to adjust the attitude of the blank material regulated by the intermediate conveyance means to the attitude specified by the transfer feed means on the final idle stage. and achieve the above objectives.

[Function] In the invention described in item 1 having the above configuration, when the attitude adjustment process is performed after the completion of the intermediate conveyance process and before the transfer feed process, the blank material on the final idle stage is subjected to forced external force. Posture is changed. Therefore, the attitude of the blank material regulated in the intermediate conveyance process can be adjusted to the attitude specified in the transfer feed process.

Further, in the invention described in item 2, when the drive means is operated after the blank is placed on the final idle, the external force applying means is activated, and the transfer feed means applies an external force to the blank while changing its posture. automatically adjusts to the specified posture. Therefore, the blank material can be fed smoothly without making any special structural changes or adjustments to the intermediate conveyance means and/or transfer feed means.

[Example code] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The blank transfer device in the knee of this embodiment C is formed of a day stack feeder 60, an intermediate conveyance means 70, and a transfer feed means 80, and has a posture adjustment device 10 provided near the final idle stage 50. There is.

In addition, the transfer device is a transfer press 1 (
The intermediate conveyance means 70 is housed within the cover.

Note that the day stack feeder 60 in this embodiment,
The intermediate conveyance means 70 and the transfer feed means 80 are
It is the same as the conventional structure shown in FIG. 8 mentioned above.

However, various forms of these means 60, 70, 80 are known, and there is no need to specifically limit them in the present invention, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Now, the posture adjustment device 10 which is a characteristic technical matter of the present invention
is disposed between the intermediate conveyance means 70 that carries out the intermediate conveyance process and the transfer feed means 80 that carries out the transfer feed process, and is used to transfer the blank material W on the final idle stage 50 before carrying out the transfer feed process. This is for carrying out an attitude adjustment process in which the attitude of the blank material W, which has been regulated in the intermediate conveyance process, is adjusted to the attitude designated in the transfer feed process by directly or indirectly applying a forced external force. Its configuration is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the posture adjustment device 10 is roughly divided into an X external force applying means 11 that applies a horizontal external force in the X direction;
A Y external force applying means 21 that applies a horizontal external force in the Y direction, a Z applying means 31 that applies a vertical external force, and each of these means 11
, 21.31.

First, the X external force applying means 11 solves the disadvantage and inconvenience of positioning the blank material W on the final idle stage center LAC by changing the position of the vacuum cup 72 of the intermediate conveying means 70 shown in FIG. So, Figure 5 (
As shown in C), the attitude of the blank material W is adjusted on the final idle stage.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the final idle stage 50 is connected to the intermediate conveyance means 70 by three flat-plate-shaped chutes provided separately from the guide bar 71 (71A, 71B, 71C). 51 (51A, 51B,
51C>. A magnet 53 is attached to the top surface of each chute.

Here, the X external force applying means 11 is connected to the chute 51 (51A
, 51B, 51C)
．． 52, a screw 16 rotatably installed between the two;
It is formed of a movable body 12 that is moved in the X direction by this screw 16, and a cylinder 14 that moves up and down a clamp 13 incorporated in this movable body 12, which is a pair of cylinders that are spaced apart in the Y direction. 17 is a claw provided integrally with the movable body 12, and 15 is a limit switch.

Therefore, the motor 42 forming part of the drive means 41
, 42, the movable body 12 moves in the X direction by the rotation of the screw 16, and is stopped by the operation of the limit switch 15. That is, the movable body 12, the claw 17,
The final idle stage 50 is achieved by the cooperation of the clamp 13.
A horizontal external force in the X direction can be applied to the blank material W on (51A, 51B, 51C). In this embodiment, the blank material W located at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5(C) (offset from the center LAC) can be moved onto the final idle stage center LAC. That is, the limit switch 15 is set so that the posture of the blank and the material W can be adjusted to a predetermined position.

Next, the Y external force applying means 21 applies an external force to move the blank material W in the Y direction perpendicular to the Move the blank material W
The structure is such that the posture of the body can be adjusted.

That is, the Y external force applying means 21 includes a pair of screws 22.22 that are screwed into pole nut bushes 23.23 mounted on the chute 51A, and ball bushes 25, 2 mounted on the upright portions of the chute 51C and the base 32.
A pair of bins 24.24 guided through 5.25.25
It is formed from. Note that 26 is a proximity switch.

Therefore, the motor 44 forming part of the drive means 41
, 45 are rotated synchronously, the final idle stage 50
(51A, 51B, 51C) can be moved in the Y direction as a whole, so it is possible to adjust the posture in the Y direction by applying an external force in the Y direction to the blank material W placed thereon. On the other hand, if the rotation amounts of the motor 44 and the motor 45 are varied, the ball nut bushing 23.23.25.25. By this action, the final idle stage 50 can be tilted or moved in the Y direction while being tilted. This is equivalent to rotating the blank W on the final idle stage 50 in a horizontal plane.

Therefore, when the X external force applying means 11 and the Y external force applying means 21 are operated, no matter what the posture of the blank material W conveyed by the intermediate conveying means 70 and placed on the final idle stage 50 is, , the blank material W can be moved in both the X direction and the Y direction in the horizontal plane, and further in any vector direction formed by the X direction component and the Y direction component (however, preferably around 30 degrees), and The orientation can be adjusted to a specified position using the transfer feed means 80 located at the position.

In addition, the Z external force applying means 31 applies the final idle stage 5
The final idle stage 50 is made up of a base 32 that supports the 0 in a slidable manner in the Y direction, and legs 33, 33 hanging down on both sides of the base 32, and allows the entire final idle stage 50 to be moved in the vertical direction (two directions). This applies an external force to the blank W. Moreover, each pair of lift cylinders 46,
46, piston rod 47.47 forms a part of the driving means 41 and drives the Z external force applying means 31. The base end of the lift cylinder 46 is rotatably supported by a base 49, and the tip of the piston rod 47 is connected to the leg 3.
It is rotatably supported by 3. In addition, each lift cylinder 46
A stroke adjustment screw 48 is provided for each.

Therefore, by setting the adjustment screw 48, if the left and right strokes are the same, the final idle stage 50 can be moved in the X direction without maintaining it horizontally. If the stroke of the lift cylinder 46 on the right side in the figure is made smaller, the configuration is such that the final idle stage 50 can be tilted downward to the right.

Next, the effect will be explained.

(Intermediate conveyance process) The intermediate conveyance means 70 transfer feed means 80 (
Regardless of the attitude of the blank material W required by the press machine), the means 70 itself may be in a state convenient for its configuration, for example, in FIG.
), vacuum cups 72A, 72B, 72
Assume that the blank material W is conveyed onto the final idle stage 50 while C is kept on a straight line in the initial state. I
& The blank material W on the final idle stage 50 is the same (C
) As shown by the solid line, the final idle stage center LA
It is closer to the front than C. The transfer feed means 80 (finger 82) does not match the desired attitude (indicated by a two-dot chain).

(Attitude Adjustment Process) Here, the attitude adjustment device 10 performs an attitude adjustment process prior to the transfer feed process. Figure 5 (C
), in order to adjust the blank material W shown by the solid line to the attitude shown by the two-dot chain line, the motor 4 of the drive means 41 is operated.
Start 2,42.

The movable body 12.12 constituting the X external force applying means 11 moves to the right side (X direction) in the figure as the screw 16.16 rotates.
Move to. The left end of the blank W moves in the X direction while being held between the winter melon 17 and each clamp 13, and stops when the limit switch 15.15 is activated.

At this point, the attitude of the blank material W has been automatically adjusted to the one desired by the transfer feed means 80 (finger 82).

In addition, when adjusting the attitude of the blank material W by also moving it in the Y direction, it is sufficient to start the motors 44 and 45 to operate the Y external force applying means 21. When the blank material W is to be tilted in a horizontal plane, the motor Just change the amount of rotation of 44 and 45.
Further, in order to move the blank material W in two directions and change its posture, the lift cylinders 46, 46, which are the driving means 41, may be activated.

These two external force applying means 31 are the left and right lift cylinders 46
．． By making the 46 strokes different,
It is also possible to change the posture of the blank W by tilting it.

(Transfer feed process) Since the blank material W on the final idle stage 50 is automatically adjusted to the posture specified by the transfer feed means 80 (press machine 1), it can be quickly and accurately transferred from the final idle stage center LAC to the press R machine. transfer feed to the first stage C1 of 1.

According to this embodiment, the attitude adjustment device 10 that carries out the attitude adjustment process of the blank material W is provided between the intermediate conveyance means 70 that carries out the intermediate conveyance process and the transfer feed means 80 that carries out the transfer feed process. is provided, and the posture of the blank material can be automatically adjusted to the posture specified in the transfer feed process on the final idle stage 50, so that the intermediate conveyance means 70 and the transfer feed means 80 can be adjusted under their own conditions. It can be manufactured based on.

Therefore, the degree of freedom in design of both means 70 and 80 is expanded, and costs can be reduced and structures simplified.
There is no need for complicated work such as changing the position of the vacuum cup depending on the type of transfer press, and this also means that there is no need to modify the intermediate conveying means 70 even if the transfer pitch is changed on the transfer press side. do.

Furthermore, the degree of freedom in configuring the press working line is expanded, and the overall size can be reduced, and production efficiency can be improved while reducing costs. That is, it is possible to easily configure a system in which the blank material W can be delivered directly from the blanking press to the intermediate conveyance means 70 regardless of the form of the blank material W, and the day stack feeder 60 is omitted.

The posture adjustment device 10 also includes an X external force applying means 11, a Y external force applying means 21, a Z external force applying means 31, and a driving means 4.
1, and since they have a simple structure with an organic relationship, they can be easily introduced into the intermediate conveyance means 70 and the transfer feed means 80 without any particular modification. , X, Y, and Z as well as rotation, inclination, etc., the attitude of the blank material W can be adjusted freely, quickly, and easily.

Furthermore, since the driving means 41 is composed of simple and easy-to-control parts such as a motor and a lift cylinder, if a controller is attached to the drive means 41, for example, the setting of a digital switch or volume can be changed.
This system is highly usable in that it can easily implement a system that can change the posture of the blank material W with a so-called one-touch operation.

In the above embodiment, each external force applying means 11, 21.
31 was supposed to apply an external force indirectly to the blank material W via the final idle stage 50, but it can also be implemented as a structure in which an external force is directly applied to the blank material W.

However, the structure of the above embodiment has the effect of making it extremely easy to carry out various posture adjustments.

Further, although the posture adjustment device 10 has been formed to include the X external force applying means 11, the Y external force applying means 21, and the Z external force applying means 31, the present invention can be applied to any one of the means alone or in any combination. Applicable.

This is because it is desirable to keep the amount to a necessary minimum in view of the form of the blank material W, the configuration of the intermediate conveying means 70, etc.

Further, each means 11, 21, 31 is not limited to the scope disclosed above. For example, in order to increase the amount of rotation of the blank material W in the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the table 56 may be rotatably mounted on the base 32 via an air bearing 57 or the like, and rotated by a motor 58.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention has an intermediate conveyance process (
between the means) and the transfer feed process (means),
Since a posture adjustment step (means) for adjusting the posture of the blank material is provided, the blank material can be supplied at a position and posture designated by the press machine, which is an excellent effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of essential parts showing an embodiment of the blank material transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a modified example of the posture adjustment device. Figure 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a press machine incorporating this transfer device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the procedure for transferring a blank material, and FIGS. 6 to 8 show a conventional transfer device. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the procedure for transferring a blank material, 7
The figure is a front view of a vacuum cup forming the intermediate conveying means, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the overall configuration. 1... Press machine 10... Posture adjustment device 11... X external force applying means 21... Y external force applying means 31... Z external force applying means 41... Drive means 50... Final idle stage 2nd gA rh. Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A blank material system having an intermediate conveyance process in which a blank material received from the outside is conveyed to the final idle stage, and a transfer feed process in which the blank material placed on the final idle stage is conveyed to the first stage of a press machine. In the transfer method, prior to implementation of the transfer feed step, the posture of the blank material regulated in the intermediate transfer step is changed by applying a forced external force directly or indirectly to the blank material on the final idle stage. A method for transferring a blank material, characterized in that a posture adjustment step is provided to adjust the posture to a specified one in a feeding step. (2) A blank material having an intermediate conveyance means for conveying the blank material received from the outside to the final idle stage and a transfer feed means for conveying the blank material placed on the final idle stage to the first stage of the press machine. The transfer device includes an external force applying means that engages with the blank placed on the final idle stage to apply a forced external force to the blank, and a driving means for operating the external force applying means, and the intermediate A blank material transfer device comprising a blank material posture adjustment device configured to adjust the posture of the blank material regulated by the conveyance means to the posture specified by the transfer feed means on the final idle stage.