JPH027009Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a transfer machine capable of machining a workpiece having six machining surfaces: top and bottom, left and right, and front and back in a single line.

Conventionally, a transfer machine is known from JP-A No. 55-31530 in which different surfaces of the workpiece can be machined by rotating the workpiece horizontally on a transfer machine. It cannot be done.

By the way, when machining a workpiece that has six machining surfaces, machining one surface increases the number of machining stations and increases the line length. It is necessary to machine the workpiece on six sides with a machining station, and when placing the machine tool at the top and bottom of the machining station to machine both the top and bottom of the workpiece, the machine tool should be installed vertically. Since it is necessary to make a special one, which increases the equipment cost, it is desirable to be able to process both the upper and lower surfaces with machine tools placed on both sides of the processing station. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a transfer machine.

Recently, it has become desirable to be able to process not only a single workpiece in a lot, but also a multi-model random production system in which multiple types of workpieces are randomly flowed on the same line. A second object of the present invention is to be able to handle random production formats without expanding the line or converting machine tools.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a transfer machine that processes a workpiece having six processing surfaces: top and bottom, left and right, and front and back. Stations are arranged in three stages, front and rear, and a first processing station 4-1 in front of which the workpiece is erected so that both its upper and lower surfaces face to the side.
Between the attitude changing station 5-1, the first machining station 4-1, and the second machining station 4-2, a second machine is used to horizontally lay down the work so that both left and right sides or both front and rear sides of the workpiece face sideways. Posture conversion station 5-2 and second processing station 4-
2 and the subsequent third processing station 4-3, there is provided a third attitude changing station 5-3 for horizontally turning the workpiece by 90 degrees so that both the front and rear surfaces or both the left and right sides of the workpiece face sideways. A pair of first machine tools 7-1, 7-1 are placed on both sides of the processing station 4-1 for processing both the top and bottom surfaces of the workpiece, and a pair of first machine tools 7-1 and 7-1 are placed on both sides of the second processing station 4-2 for processing both the left and right sides or both the front and back sides of the workpiece. A pair of second machine tools 7-2, 7
-2, and a pair of third machine tools 7-3, 7-3 that process both front and rear surfaces or left and right surfaces of the workpiece are arranged on both sides of the third processing station 4-3, and these first to third machining tools A plurality of gearing heads 8 are selectively operated for each of the machines 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3.
In addition, a front sensor 11-1 for identifying the type of workpiece is provided upstream of the first machining station 4-1, and each of the first, second, and third machining stations 4-1 ,4
-2, 4-3, first, second, and third rear sensors 13-1, 13-2, which identify the type of workpiece, respectively;
13-3, the gearing head 8 of the first machine tool 7-1 is selected in advance according to the workpiece to be carried into the first processing station 4-1 according to the signal from the front sensor 11-1, and the workpiece is carried in. Rear sensor 13-1 provided in the rear first processing station 4-1
a control means 12-1 for the first processing station 4-1 which confirms the correspondence between the work carried into the first processing station and a preselected gearing head 8 based on a signal from the first processing station 4-1, and applies a machining operation to the gearing head 8; , former processing station 4-1,
The second and third processing stations 4-2 and 4-3 are controlled by the signals output from the respective post-sensors 13-1 and 13-2 provided at the second and third processing stations 4-2 after the previous work is carried out.
The gearing heads 8 of the second and third machine tools 7-2 and 7-3 are selected in advance in accordance with the workpiece to be carried in this time, and after the workpiece has been carried in, the gearing heads 8 of the second and third machine tools 4-2 and 4 are selected in advance. -3 each rear sensor 13 installed in
-2, 13-3, the workpieces carried into the second and third processing stations 4-2 and 4-3 and the second and third machine tools 7-2 and 7-3 are Second and third machining stations 4-2 and 4-3 which confirm the correspondence with each selected gearing head 8 and apply machining operations to each gearing head 8.
Control means 12-2 and 12-3 were provided.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to attached drawings.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates a transfer line connecting a loading station 2 at the front end that attaches workpiece a to pallet b and an unloading station 3 at the rear end that removes workpiece a from pallet b.
3 on the transfer line 1 at equal intervals in front and back
First to third processing stations 4-1, 4-
2, 4-3, and each of these loading stations 2 and processing stations 4-1, 4-2, and 4.
The first, second, and third attitude changing stations 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 are arranged in the arrangement gaps of -3, respectively, and the loading station 2
The pallet b with the attached pallet b is moved to the loading station 2, the first attitude changing station 5-1, and the first processing by the operation of the transfer bar 6, which is equipped with an engaging claw 6a that engages with an engaging hole (not shown) of the pallet b. The workpiece is intermittently transported one step at a time in the order of station 4-1, second attitude changing station 5-2, third processing station 4-2, third attitude changing station 5-3, and third processing station 4-3. 1. Pallet b is erected at the posture change station 5-1, and the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece a are machined by the first machine tools 7-1 and 7-1 provided on both sides at the first processing station 4-1. Second
At the posture changing station 5-2, the pallet b is turned horizontally and rotated by 90 degrees, and at the third processing station 4-2, the second machine tools 7-2 and 7-2 provided on both sides of the pallet are used to move the workpiece a forward and backward, for example. After machining both end faces, the pallet b is then horizontally rotated by 90 degrees at the third attitude changing station 5-3, and the third machine tools 7-3 and 7-3 on both sides are moved to the third machining station 4-3. Work a by
Processing is now possible on both the left and right sides of the .

Workpiece a at the first processing station 4-1
The processing of the lower surface of is carried out through a through hole (not shown) formed in pallet b so as to face the lower surface,
The attitude change at the second attitude change station 5-2 is performed using a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 17618/1983 filed by the applicant of the present application. This attitude changing device has a pallet support stand rotatably supported by an operating arm provided on the side of the second attitude changing station 5-2 so as to be able to rise and fall freely, and the pallet is carried into the station 5-2 in an upright attitude. When the operating arm is tilted horizontally with the pallet b being held on the pallet support base, the pallet support base is rotated 90 degrees by a cam installed on the machine base, and in this state, the pallet on the pallet support base is rotated by 90 degrees. b onto the station 5-2 by an extrusion cylinder. In addition, the second posture change station 5-
2, it is not necessary to rotate pallet b by 90 degrees, but in this case, the third attitude change station 5
The orientation of pallet b is changed to the first position due to the attitude change at -3.
In the figure, the pallet b is returned to the loading station 2 in the same orientation as the pallet existing in the second processing station 4-2 via a pallet return line 23 (described later), and from the station 2, for example, The pallet b sent out vertically is returned to the station 2 horizontally. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second attitude changing station 5-2 rotates the pallet b by 90 degrees counterclockwise, for example, to change it to the third attitude. Conversion station 5
-2, rotate pallet b 90° clockwise,
The pallet b is returned to the loading station 2 in the same direction as when it was sent out.

Each of the machine tools 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3 is a machine tool of an exchangeable gearing head type having four gearing heads 8 that are selectively operated. The structure of the one shown is Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 55-77403.
This is not particularly different from that known in the above publication, and each gearing head 8 is connected to an annular support rail 10 by rotation of an index table 9 on the upper surface that is pin-engaged therewith.
This selection operation moves a predetermined gearing head 8 to an inner selection position, and then the gearing head 8 is moved forward to perform a machining operation.

In the illustrated example, AB2 type workpieces a are randomly flowed through the transfer line 1, and each machining station 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 performs drilling and tapping on both sides of the workpieces a.
Each machine tool 7-1, 7-2,
As four gigantic heads 8 prepared for 7-3,
Two types of drill heads corresponding to each workpiece a
DA, DB and tapping heads TA, TB are prepared.

In addition, a first front sensor 11-1 for identifying the type of workpiece a is provided at an identification station 4-s upstream of the first processing station 4-1, and each of the first, second, and third processing stations 4-1 , 4-2, 4-3 are provided with first, second, and third rear sensors 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 for identifying the type of workpiece a,
Based on the signals from these sensors, DA and DB corresponding to the workpiece a to be carried in at each processing station 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 during the workpiece transportation.
In addition to selecting one of the gearing heads 8 in advance, each processing station 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
The correspondence between the workpiece a carried in and the selected gearing head 8 is confirmed.

To explain this in more detail, the type of workpiece a is distinguished, for example, by the combination of the presence or absence of four identification pins provided in recesses (not shown) in pallet b, and a contact detector or optical detector is used to detect the presence or absence of these pins. etc. 4
Each of the sensors 11-1, 13-
1, 13-2, and 13-3 were constructed.

Note that the sensor may of course be configured with a reader that reads the shape of the workpiece a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a first machine tool for each first machine tool 7-1 provided in the first processing station 4-
The control means 12-1 includes a first front sensor 11-1 and a first front sensor 11-1.
The signal of the rear sensor 13-1, the first rear sensor 13-1 and the second rear sensor 13-2 are sent to the second control means 12-2 for each second machine tool 7-2 provided in the third processing station 4-2. signal, 3rd processing station 4
-3, the signals from the second rear sensor 13-2 and the third rear sensor 13-3 are respectively input to the third control means 12-3 for each third machine tool 7-3, and 1, based on the signal from the first front sensor 11-1, the gearing head 8 of the first machine tool 7-1 is selected in advance to correspond to the workpiece a to be carried into the first processing station 4-1 this time, and The second control means 12-2 uses the first rear sensor 13-1 as the front sensor 11-2 to control the gearing head 8 of the second machine tool 7-2 to the second processing station 4-2 based on the signal. In addition, the third control means 12-3 changes the second rear sensor 13-2 to the front sensor 11-3 and controls the gearing head 8 of the third machine tool 7-3 based on its signal.
are selected in accordance with the workpiece a to be carried into the third processing station 4-3 this time, and after the workpiece is transported, the respective control means 12-1, 12-
2, 12-3 to each rear sensor 13-1, 13-
Based on the signals from 2 and 13-3, the correspondence between the workpiece a actually carried in and the gearing head 8 selected in advance is confirmed, and then each gearing head 8 is given a machining operation.

The rear sensors 13-1, 13-2, 13-3 check the front sensors 11-1, 11-.
This is for a fail-safe in the event that the control means 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 mistakenly reads the type of workpiece a due to noise or the like entering the signals of signals 2 and 11-3.

By the way, each of the second and third processing stations 4
-2, 4-3 front sensor 11-2, 11-3
are the second and third attitude changing stations 5-2, 5- immediately before the respective processing stations 4-2, 4-3.
However, since this increases the number of sensors, in this embodiment, the second and third sensors may be provided as described above.
Front sensor 1 for processing stations 4-2 and 4-3
1-2, 11-3 are the rear sensors 13-1, 13-2 for the first and second processing stations 4-1, 4-2.
I made it to be used for both purposes. In this case, the second and third control means 12-2, 12-3 control the respective post-sensors 13-1, 1 after transporting the workpiece two times before, as will be described in detail later.
The gearing head 8 is selected based on the signal output from the head 3-2.

In addition, each control means 12 includes either a first and second identification circuit 14, 15, or both identification circuits 14, 15, which input identification signals from the front and rear sensors 11, 13, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. A selection command circuit 16 that reads the signal of the transmission head and generates a command signal, a transmission head selection circuit 17 that selects the transmission head 8 in response to this command signal, a verification circuit 18 that determines whether the selection of the transmission head 8 is appropriate, and the verification circuit 1.
A gearing head operation control circuit 19 is provided which starts the machining operation of the gearing head 8 in response to a confirmation signal from the gearing head 8, and operates as follows. That is, upon completion of machining workpiece a, the selection command circuit 16 is sent from the control circuit 19.
The selection command circuit 18 receives the processing completion signal given to the first
The identification circuit 14 reads the type of workpiece a to be carried in next and generates a command signal, and the gearing head selection circuit 17 selects the gearing head 8 corresponding to this workpiece a, and then when the workpiece a is carried in, , the selection command circuit 16 reads the type of the workpiece a actually brought in from the second identification circuit 15 which inputs the identification signal of the rear sensor 13, and the confirmation circuit 18 reads the type of the workpiece a that has been selected in advance by the selection operation described above. Correspondence with the selected gearing head 8 is confirmed, and if the gearing head 8 is appropriately selected, the gearing head operation control circuit 19 starts machining operation of the gearing head 8, and if it is inappropriate, the gearing head 8 is selected again. Machining operation starts.

Incidentally, the gearing head 8 that is selected in advance when carrying in the workpiece a is the drill head DA and DB.
After drilling is completed, the selection command circuit 16 sends TA,
A selection command signal for the tapping head of the TB is generated, whereby the tapping head is selected and the tapping process is performed using the selected tapping head, and when the tapping process is completed, a process completion signal is generated from the ganging head operation control circuit 19. This is input to the selection command circuit 16 and the above operation is repeated.

In the drawing, 20 indicates the first to third machine tools 7-1, 7
-2, 7-3 outside the transport path 22 of the transport trolley 21
shows the stockyard for the gearing head installed through the
When the type of gear is changed, the gearing head 8 can be quickly converted. Transport trolley 21
is operated manually, but it can also be configured automatically to automate the conversion of the gearing head 8. In addition, in the illustration, the stock yard is 20.
are not provided separately for each machine tool 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, but are connected in a horizontal row, and the gearing head 8 provided in the stockyard 20 can be replaced with any machine tool. did. Reference numeral 23 indicates a pallet return line for returning the pallet b from which the workpiece a has been removed at the unloading station 3 to the loading station 2;
A lift-up section 24 and a lift-down section 25 are arranged side by side on both the stations 3 and 2.
and an upper return conveyor 26 connecting both 24 and 25, and the machine tool 7-
The space above the arrangement parts 1, 7-2, and 7-3 can be used effectively.

Next, the overall operation of the present invention will be explained based on FIG.

The drawing shows a type A workpiece a in the identification station 4-s, a type B workpiece a in the first processing station 4-1, a first attitude conversion station 5-1, a second processing station 4-2, and a second attitude conversion station. A workpiece a of type A is carried into the station 5-2, a workpiece a of type B is carried into the third processing station 4-3, and the first and third machine tools 7-1 and 7-3 respectively 1st 3rd processing station 4-1, 4-3
The DB gearing head 8 corresponding to the B type workpiece a above is selected, and the DA gearing head 8 corresponding to the A type workpiece a on the second machining station 4-2 is selected in the second machine tool 7-2. Drilling by these gearing heads 8 is started at the same time at each processing station 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, and after the drilling is completed, the first and third machine tools 7-1, 7-3 start drilling. The ganging head 8 of the TB and the ganging head 8 of the TA in the second machine tool 7-2 are selected, and the tapping process is performed accordingly.

During this machining operation, the posture of the workpiece a is changed at the second and third posture changing stations 5-2 and 5-3, and each of the processing stations 4-1 and 4-
When the completion of machining at steps 2 and 4-3 and the completion of attitude change at each attitude change station 5-1, 5-2, and 5-3 are confirmed, the transfer bar 6 is actuated to transfer 1 to each workpiece a. A step conveyance is given;
A type A workpiece a is carried into the first processing station 4-1 from the identification station 4-s, and
Front sensor 11- provided for identification station 4-s
It is read that the workpiece a carried in by the identification signal 1 is of type A, and the corresponding DA is
The selection operation of the gearing head 8 is carried out in parallel with the carrying-in operation of the workpiece a.

Also, second and third processing stations 4-2, 4-3
No. 23 posture change station 5-2, 5- respectively.
Work a of type A is carried in from 3.

In this case, the workpiece a is transferred from the first processing station 4-1 to the second processing station 4-2 in two steps via the second attitude changing station 5-2, so that From the signal output from the rear sensor 13-1 after the previous transport, it is read that the type of workpiece a to be carried into the second processing station 4-2 this time is type A, and thereby the gearing head 8 of the DA Selective action is given.

In the third processing station 4-3, the type of the workpiece a to be carried in is read as type A in the same manner, and the selection operation of the gearing head 8 of the DA is applied in parallel with the carrying-in operation of the workpiece a. be able to do so.

And each processing station 4-1, 4-2,
After carrying the workpiece a into 4-3, the rear sensor 13- on each processing station 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
1, 13-2, and 13-3, and after confirming the correspondence with the selected gearing head 8, machining is started again as described above, and the above operations are repeated.

Above, we have explained the operation when machining a workpiece in a two-model, 12-process random production mode using the illustrated apparatus, but in addition to this, for example, there are also two-model, 12-process lot production, one-model, 24-process lot production, and four-model, 6-process lot production. Workpieces can be processed in various production formats such as random production and lot production.

In this way, according to the present invention, the workpiece is conveyed to three machining stations on the transfer line while changing its posture, and two surfaces are machined at each machining station, so six machining surfaces of the workpiece are processed. Efficient processing is possible with a single, relatively short transfer line, and the first processing station, which processes both the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece, is loaded with the workpiece in an upright position with both the upper and lower surfaces facing to the sides. The machine tools placed on both sides of the station can process both the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece, and there is no need to use special vertical machine tools for the upper and lower surfaces above and below the processing station, thereby reducing equipment costs.

In addition, each machine tool is configured with an exchangeable gearing head machine tool, and the gearing head can be selected according to the type of workpiece to process the workpiece, so it is possible to freely handle random production of multiple models. In addition, the type of workpiece is identified by a front sensor at the front position of each processing station, and the gearing head corresponding to the workpiece carried into each processing station is selected in advance, which improves efficiency. In order to confirm the correspondence between the workpiece actually carried in and the gearing head selected in advance by the sensor, even if the wrong gearing head is selected due to noise in the signal from the previous sensor, the gearing head will be reselected. This prevents erroneous processing.
In addition, in order to serve as a front sensor for each of the second and third processing stations, the second and third processing stations are installed between these processing stations in order to serve as a rear sensor for each of the first and second processing stations, which are the processing stations in the preceding stage. Considering that each posture change station (3) is interposed, the type of workpiece to be carried into the subsequent processing station this time is determined based on the signal output from the rear sensor of the previous processing station after the previous transport. Since this is done, there is no need to separately provide a front sensor in the posture changing station immediately before the processing station at the subsequent stage, and this has the effect of reducing the number of sensors used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one example of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the overall control of the device of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the control device of each machine tool. be. 1...transfer line, 4-1, 4-2,
4-3... Station first, second, third processing station, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3... First,
Second and third attitude change stations, 7-1, 7-
2, 7-3...first, second, third machine tools, 8...
...Giant head, 11-1...Front sensor, 12
-1, 12-2, 12-3...first, second, third
Control means, 13-1, 13-2, 13-3...first, second, third rear sensors.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A transfer machine that processes a workpiece that has six processing surfaces: top and bottom, left and right, and front and back.
Transfer line 1 that transports workpieces intermittently
Above, a first attitude changing station 5-1 in which processing stations are arranged in three stages, front and rear, and stands up the workpiece in front of the first processing station 4-1 in the previous stage so that both the upper and lower surfaces thereof face to the side; 1st
Between the processing station 4-1 and the subsequent second processing station 4-2, there is a second processing station where the workpiece is laid down horizontally so that both left and right sides or front and back sides of the workpiece face sideways.
Between the posture changing station 5-2, the second processing station 4-2, and the third processing station 4-3 following it, the workpiece is horizontally rotated by 90 degrees so that both its front and rear surfaces or both left and right sides thereof face sideways. A third attitude changing station 5-3 is provided, and a pair of first machine tools 7-1, 7-1 for processing both upper and lower surfaces of a workpiece are provided on both sides of the first processing station 4-1, and a third processing station 4-1. A pair of second machine tools 7-2, 7-2 for machining both left and right sides or front and rear sides of a workpiece, and a third machining station 4-3 on both sides of -2.
A pair of third machine tools 7-3, 7-3 for machining both front and rear surfaces or left and right surfaces of a workpiece are arranged on both sides of the workpiece, and these first to third machine tools 7-1, 7-
2 and 7-3 are constituted by a machine tool with exchangeable gearing heads each having a plurality of gearing heads 8 that are selectively operated, and the first processing station 4
-1 front sensor 1 that identifies the type of workpiece
1-1, and first, second, and third rear sensors 13-1 for identifying the type of workpiece at the first, second, and third processing stations 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3, respectively. ，
13-2, 13-3 are provided, and the front sensor 11-1
In response to the signal from
-1 gearing head 8 is selected in advance and installed in the first machining station 4-1 after the work is carried in. A signal from the sensor 13-1 indicates that the workpiece carried into the first machining station and the gearing head 8 selected in advance are connected to each other. Check the compatibility and set the corresponding gigang head 8.
The first processing station 4-1 provides machining operation to
control means 12-1, and each rear sensor 13-1 provided in the preceding processing station 4-1, 4-2,
The second and third processing stations 4-
In steps 2 and 4-3, the gearing heads 8 of the second and third machine tools 7-2 and 7-3 are selected in advance in accordance with the workpiece to be carried in this time, and after the workpiece is carried in, each of the second and third processing stations is The work carried into the second and third machining stations 4-2 and 4-3 and the second and third machining stations 4-2 and 4-3 are separated by signals from the rear sensors 13-2 and 13-3 provided in the machining stations 4-2 and 4-3, respectively. Each machine tool 7-
2, 7-3 each preselected ganging head 8
the second and third machining stations 4 which confirm the correspondence with each other and apply machining operations to the respective gearing heads 8;
-2, 4-3 control means 12-2, 12-3
A transfer machine characterized by being provided with.