JPH02274451A - Pallet exchange system of machine tool and connector used therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid dragging movement of a flexible cable by loading a movable portion of a connector connected to a control device through a flexible cable on a machining table and loasing a fixed portion of the connector on a pallet. CONSTITUTION:When a pallet P where an unmachined work is set is carried in on a machining table MT by a pallet transfer loader and positioned and fixed by a clamp mechanism 44, a connector fixed portion 20 on the pallet P is positioned with respect to a connector movable portion 10 on the machining table MT. The movable portion 10 connected to a control device through a flexible cable CT1 is connected to the fixed portion 20 through an oscillating lever 14 by the elongation of a cylinder 15 to give and receive a control signal, a detection signal or a power supply through flexible cables CT1, and AC1. Thus, the dragging movement of the flexible cables is avoided to prevent breakage of the flexible cables.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention provides a pallet exchange system for a machine tool that can operate without trouble even when an attachment such as an automatic indexing table is mounted on the pallet. This invention relates to a connector device used therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Automatic machine tools such as conventional machining centers are usually combined with a pallet changer to perform automatic, unmanned operation for long periods of time to improve operating efficiency and productivity. At this time, the workpiece is loaded onto a pallet and carried in and out of the processing table of the machine tool, but if the processing content requires an indexing function, the workpiece is automatically indexed. Must be loaded onto pallets via advanced attachments such as platforms.

Such attachments generally have a drive section and a detection section, and input control signals from the outside to realize a predetermined indexing angle, etc. at a predetermined time during processing. Be sure to install an input/output cable between the machine tool control device and
However, conventionally, this input/output cable is
The reality is that flexible cables long enough to reach within the range of pallet movement are used, and the floor is used for so-called rolling wiring.

The problem to be solved by the invention is that when using such conventional technology, each time the pallet is moved, the input/output cable attached to the attachment on the pallet is also dragged and moved accordingly. , there is a risk of early cable breakage, and the range of movement of the pallet is limited by the length of the cables, which requires extra floor space and tends to leave the work site untidy. It was inevitable.

Therefore, in view of the actual state of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to connect an attachment on a pallet and a control device through an automatically detachable connector.
By separating the connector, the pallet can be moved independently of the attachment's input/output cable, and is a pallet exchange system for machine tools that can eliminate all problems caused by pulling flexible cables at once. and to provide a connector device for use therewith.

Means for Solving the Problems The configuration of the first invention according to this application to achieve the above object includes a pallet table juxtaposed to a machining table of a machine tool, and pallets mutually disposed between the machining table and the pallet table. A pallet transfer device, a movable part of the connector mounted on the processing table and connected to the control device of the machine tool via a flexible cable, a fixed part of the connector mounted on the pallet and connected to the attachment of the pallet, The gist thereof is to include a drive unit attached to the movable part and for attaching and detaching the movable part to and from the fixed part.

Note that the fixed part and the movable part of the connector may include electrical and fluid connector blocks.

The configuration of the second invention includes a fixed part, a movable part that pairs with the fixed part, and a drive unit that attaches and detaches the movable part to the fixed part, and the drive unit includes a guide rail that guides the movable part;
The gist thereof is to include a cylinder that drives the movable part via a swing lever, and in this case as well, the fixed part and the movable part may have electrical and fluid connector blocks.

Furthermore, the movable part may include a movable cover that covers the fixed part when the movable part is connected to the fixed part, and the fixed part may further include a front cover that opens when the movable part approaches.

With this configuration, when the pallet is on the pallet table and a workpiece is attached to or detached from the attachment on the pallet, the attachment cable terminates at the fixed part of the connector on the pallet. The pallet at this time can be moved independently of the m-control device. Once the pallet loaded with workpieces is loaded onto the processing table, the movable part on the processing table is driven via the drive unit and connected to the fixed part on the pallet, completing the connection between the attachment and the control device. Therefore, processing using a machine tool and accompanying drive control of attachments can be performed thereafter.

When processing is completed, the movable part is separated from the fixed part by the drive unit, the pallet is transferred from the processing table to the pallet table by the pallet transfer device, and the same procedure is repeated thereafter. Note that the control device and the movable part on the processing table are connected via a flexible cable with a length that can cover the movement range of the processing table, but this cable is limited to a narrow range of movement of the processing table. If you use a connector with two types of connector blocks, one for electricity and one for fluid, for the fixed part and the movable part, the drive source for the attachment will be electrical drive only. However, it is also possible to apply a fluid pressure driven type.

According to the configuration of the second invention, the movable part can be automatically attached and detached from the fixed part by driving the movable part through the cylinder, so it can be effectively used in the first invention, and the swing lever , since the stroke of the cylinder is converted, the space required in front of the fixing part can be shortened.

When having connector blocks for electricity and fluid, it can be applied in the same form as described above, and if a movable cover and a front cover are provided, the connectors can be connected and separated, respectively. It is possible to effectively prevent problems caused by cutting debris, cutting fluid, etc. entering the connector block.

It works as described above.

Example Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A pallet exchange system for a machine tool consists of a pallet table FT arranged in parallel with a machining table MT of a machine tool, a movable part 10 of a connector mounted on the machining table MT, and a fixed part 20, 20 of a connector mounted on each pallet P.・・・
The main components are (Fig. 1).

The machine tool is, for example, a machining center of any type, and the machining table MT is a pallet table P.
It is assumed that the range in which the pallet P can be transferred is moved at at least two different locations between the pallet T and the pallet T (solid line and two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). Pallet table P
T is a pedestal having the same height as the processing table MT and capable of loading at least two pallets PSP side by side.

The pallet P is transferred between the processing table MT and the pallet table PT using a pallet transfer device 40 (FIG. 2). The pallet transfer device 40 is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-221944, and the entire pallet clamping mechanism 44 is mounted on the processing table MT.

The pallet transfer device 40 includes a pair of chain sprockets 41 and 41, and an endless drive chain 4 that is hooked onto the chain sprockets 41 and 41.
2 and a locking pin 43 protruding from a part of the drive chain 42
It will be equipped with. However, one chain sprocket 41 is disposed so as to largely protrude in the direction of the pallet table PT.

A locking portion P2 having an engagement groove P2a on the lower surface is formed at the front end of the pallet P, and the locking pin 43 can be slidably engaged with the engagement groove P2a. . The pallet transfer device 40 also includes a pallet clamp mechanism 44.
Accordingly, the pallet P carried into a predetermined position on the processing table MT can be mechanically positioned and fixed.

Now, assuming that the pallet (P) on the processing table MT is in a state in which the locking pin 43 located at the farthest position from the pallet table PT is engaged with the engagement groove P2a at its predetermined position (the second Figure A), pallet clamp mechanism 4
．． 4, drive the drive chain 42 in one direction in the direction of the arrow in the same figure, and move the locking pin 43 to the position closest to the pallet table PT, thereby moving the pallet P from the processing table MT onto the pallet table PT. (Figure B).

Therefore, when the processing table MT is moved in the two directions indicated by the arrows in the figure, the locking pin 43 can engage with the engagement groove P2a of another pallet P on the pallet table FT (C in the figure). Then, by driving the drive chain 42 in the three directions indicated by the arrows, the pallet P can be transferred onto the processing table MT (D in the figure). However, when the pallets P on the pallet table PT move the processing table MT, the locking pin 43 is moved to the position closest to the pallet table PT with respect to the engagement groove P2aSP2a. shall be arranged in an orderly manner so that they can be engaged in sequence.

In this way, the pallet P carried to a predetermined position on the processing table MT by the pallet transfer device 40 is
It is fixed by a pallet clamp mechanism 44.

A predetermined attachment AC such as an automatic indexing table and a connector fixing part 20 are mounted on each pallet P (Fig. 1), and workpieces (not shown) are carried on the pallet table P.
It is assumed that the attachment AC is attached to and detached from the attachment AC on the T.

Further, the attachment AC and the fixed part 20 are connected via a short attached cable ACI.

The movable part 10 of the connector is mounted on the processing table MT, and is connected to the control device CT of the machine tool via a flexible cable CTI having a length that can cover the movement range of the processing table MT.

The movable part 10 includes electrical connector blocks 11a and ll.
a and a fluid connector block llb are arranged in a line on the movable member 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Further, the fixed part 20 is paired with the movable part 10, and includes an electrical connector block 21as21a and a fluid connector block 21b. Here, it is assumed that the mutually corresponding connector blocks lla, 21a, llb, and 21b can each complete the connection and be separated in one action. In addition, a fluid connector block llb,
Reference numeral 21b is a so-called one-touch connector, and when the two are connected, they communicate with each other, and when they are separated, the two can be automatically closed.

The movable part] 0 can be attached to and removed from the fixed part 20 via a drive unit whose main members are a pair of guide rails 13, 13, a swing lever 14, and a cylinder 15.

Slide units 12a, 12a that slidably engage guide rails 13.13 are fixed to both sides of the movable member 12, and the movable member 12 is also provided with a connecting portion 12b that projects rearward. . The swing lever 14 is connected to the fixed shaft 1
4a, one end of which is connected to the connecting portion 1.2b via a connecting piece 14b, and the other end connected to the rod of the cylinder 15. However, both ends of the connecting piece 14b and the connecting part between the swing lever 14 and the cylinder 15 are connected with a locking pin, and the base of the cylinder 15 is swingably attached to the fixed member 15a. It is being

Each connector block lla, llb has a control device CT.
The flexible cable CTI connected to
In particular, the flexible cable CTI for the fluid connector block llb is guided over the fixed pipe material 16 so that its radius of curvature is not too small.

A movable cover 17 with an open front is attached to the movable member 12 via brackets 12c, 12c, and a pair of cam members 17a, 17 are attached to the front inner surface of the movable cover 17.
a is fixed. Further, a fixed cover 18 is provided to cover the entire movable part 10 including the movable cover 17.

Connector block 21 a s 21 a of fixed part 20
521b is attached to the front of the bracket 22,
Cable AC connecting to attachment AC, respectively
t is connected. In addition, the connector block 21 a
, 21a, and 21b are housed in a case 23. Connector block 21a.

Hinge 24a, 24a...
A front cover 24 is provided which opens upward through. At both ends of the front cover 24, brackets 24c,
A cam roller 24b124b is provided protrudingly through 24C, and the cam rollers 24b, 24b are connected to the cam member 1 on the movable part 10 side.
7as 17a.

Now, the pallet P loaded with unprocessed workpieces is carried onto the processing table MT by the pallet transfer device 40,
When positioning and fixing using the pallet clamp mechanism 44, the relative dimensions of each part are determined so that the fixed part 20 on the pallet P accurately faces the movable part 10 on the processing table MT (Fig. 3). solid line). Therefore, if the cylinder 15 is extended in this state, the movable part 10 moves forward while being guided by the guide rails 13. can be connected (double-dashed line in the same figure).

At this time, as the movable part 10 moves forward, the movable cover 17
Since the cam members 17a and 17a push the corresponding cam rollers 24b and 24b, the front cover 24 on the fixed part 20 side first opens upward, and then,
Corresponding connector blocks lla, 21a, llb, 2
1b connection is made. In addition, since the movable cover 17 moves forward to above the fixed part 20 when the connection between the movable part 10 and the fixed part 20 is completed, the fixed part 20 can be sufficiently protected even during processing of the workpiece. I can do it.

In this way, when the connection between the movable part 10 and the fixed part 20 is completed, the control device CT and the attachment AC on the pallet P are connected to the flexible cable CT1, the movable part 1
0, the fixed part 20 is connected via the attached cable AC1, and from then on, the control device CT starts machining the workpiece on the attachment AC and, if necessary, performs predetermined drive control on the attachment AC. can be executed.

When machining of the workpiece is completed, by shortening the cylinder 15 and retracting the movable part 10, the movable part 10 is moved to the fixed part 2.
Can be separated from 0. At this time, since the movable cover 17 also retreats together with the movable part 10, the front cover 24 on the fixed part 20 side automatically closes downward. Thereafter, by the above-mentioned procedure, the pallet P is transferred to the pallet table PT.
A new pallet P loaded with unprocessed workpieces is carried onto the processing table MT, and the same procedure is repeated thereafter.

In the above explanation, the fluid connector block llb
, 21b may be for hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure.

In addition, the connector blocks 11a, llb, 21 to be used
It goes without saying that the numbers and types of a and 21b can be any combination other than those shown in the example.

Furthermore, if another movable part having the same configuration as the movable part 10 on the processing table MT or a dummy device having the same shape is placed at a predetermined position on the pallet table FT, the pallet P can be moved to the pallet table PT. If the fixing part 20 on the pallet P is inadvertently soiled while being carried out,
It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as cutting debris etc. entering into this.

Furthermore, the pallet table PT may be arranged on both sides of the processing table MT, and on the pallet table PT,
It goes without saying that any number of pallets P1P, . . ., one or more, may be loaded. Moreover, the pallet transfer device 40 can also be mounted on the pallet table PT.

As described in detail, according to the first invention, the movable part of the connector is mounted on the processing table and the fixed part of the connector is mounted on the pallet, so that the control device of the machine tool and the pallet can be connected to each other. The connection with the upper attachment can only be made via the connector when the pallet is delivered to the processing table; in other cases, by separating the connector, the pallet can be completely connected to the control device. Since the connection can be severed, there is no need to move the pallet while dragging the flexible cable as in the past, which has the excellent effect of eliminating all problems caused by this.

Moreover, according to the second invention, it is possible to realize a connector device that is optimal for implementing the first invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 4 show embodiments, where Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of the overall configuration, Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the pallet transfer device, and Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the pallet transfer device.
The figure is an explanatory central vertical cross-sectional view of the connector device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. 3. P...Pallet) MT...Processing table PT.
... Pallet table CT ... Control device CTI.
...Flexible cable AC...Attachment 10...Movable part 11a, llb...Connector block 13...Guide rail 14...Swing lever 15...Cylinder 17...Moving cover 20... ·Fixed part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A pallet table juxtaposed to a machining table of a machine tool, a pallet transfer device for mutually transferring pallets between the machining table and the pallet table, and a flexible a movable part of the connector connected to the control device of the machine tool via a cable; a fixed part of the connector mounted on a pallet and connected to an attachment on the pallet; A pallet exchange system for machine tools, which is equipped with a drive unit that can be attached to and detached from the machine tool. 2) The pallet exchange system for a machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part and the movable part of the connector include an electrical connector block and a fluid connector block. 3) Consisting of a fixed part, a movable part that pairs with the fixed part, and a drive unit that attaches and detaches the movable part to the fixed part, the drive unit includes a guide rail that guides the movable part,
A connector device for a pallet exchange system of a machine tool, comprising a cylinder that drives the movable part via a swing lever. 4) The connector device for a pallet exchange system of a machine tool according to claim 3, wherein the fixed part and the movable part have an electrical connector block and a fluid connector block. 5) The machine tool according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the movable part includes a moving cover that covers the fixed part when the movable part is connected to the fixed part. Connector device for pallet exchange system. 6) The connector device for a pallet exchange system of a machine tool according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the fixed part includes a front cover that opens when the movable part approaches.