JPH028578Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] A. Purpose of the invention (1) Industrial application field This invention is a method of moving a workpiece to a plurality of processing stations set at intervals along the transport direction of the workpiece. A lower mold and an upper mold are respectively provided for plastic working, and in order to sequentially transport the workpiece between the respective processing stations, a plurality of substantially horizontal handling arms are arranged in the transport direction, perpendicular to the transport direction. The present invention relates to a transfer device in a plastic processing machine, which is disposed so as to be movable back and forth along a plastic processing machine, and the handling arm is provided with a support rod having a holding means at its tip for holding a workpiece.

(2) Prior Art Conventionally, in such a conveyance device, a support rod is protruded and fixed from a handling arm back and forth along the conveyance direction, and a suction cup is provided at the tip of the support rod.

(3) Problems that the invention aims to solve By the way, in order to stably hold the workpiece, it is desirable to hold the workpiece over a relatively wide range, and to do so, the amount of protrusion of the support rod from the handling arm must be increased. It is required that on the other hand,
During plastic processing, the handling arm is on standby between each processing station, and at this time, in order to prevent the tip of the support rod from coming into contact with the upper and lower molds,
It is necessary to provide empty space between the tip of the support rod and the upper and lower molds of each processing station. Therefore, the distance between each processing station has to be relatively large, leading to an increase in the size of the plastic processing machine, and the longer transport distance of the workpiece, which reduces the transport time, that is, the overall plastic processing time. was increasing.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and makes it possible to reduce the distance between each processing station by making the support rod rotatable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyance device for a plastic processing machine that reduces the size of the plastic processing machine and shortens the overall processing time.

B. Structure of the invention (1) Means for solving the problems According to the invention, the base end of the support rod is rotatable around the vertical axis and fixed to a rotation shaft supported by the handling arm. A pinion fixed to the rotating shaft is engaged with a rack shaft that is movable along the length of the handling arm and is biased outward and has a cam follower at the outer end, and is engaged with a pinion that is movable along the longitudinal direction of the handling arm and has a cam follower at the outer end. On the side, the support rod can come into contact with a cam follower as the handling arm moves back and forth in the transport direction, and the support rod can be placed in a stored state with its holding means close to the handling arm and in a state where it is perpendicular to the handling arm. A cam is provided for rotation between the extended positions.

(2) Function When the upper and lower dies are performing plastic working on the workpiece at each processing station, the handling arm is in a standby state between each processing station, and at this time the support rod is attached to the cam and cam follower. It is in storage due to work. Further, when the handling arm holds the workpiece and transports it, the rotating shaft is in a protruding state, and the workpiece is held over a relatively wide range.

(3) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, a press machine 1 as a plastic processing machine has a plurality of processing stations, for example, 1st to 5th
Processing stations S ₁ to S ₅ are set at equal intervals, and each processing station S ₁ to _{S 5} has lower molds 3 ₁ to 3 ₅ and upper molds 4 ₁ for working together to press workpiece W. ~ ₄₅ are arranged respectively. That is, the lower molds 3 ₁ to 3 ₅ are fixed to the bolsters 6 of the base 5 at equal intervals along the conveyance direction 2, and the lower molds 3 1 to 3 5 are fixed to the holder 8 fixed to the lifting table ₇ . Upper dies 4 ₁ to 4 ₅ are supported corresponding to 3 ₅ , respectively. A conveying device 9 is attached to this press machine 1, and lower molds 3 ₁ to 3 ₅ and upper molds 4 ₁ to 4 ₅ are moved by lowering the lifting table 7.
After the press working, the conveyance device 9 is activated and the workpiece W is conveyed along the conveyance direction 2. That is, the workpiece W is transported from the carry-in station Si at the rear end along the conveyance direction 2 to the carry-out station So at the front end along the conveyance direction 2 via the first to fifth processing stations S ₁ to S ₅ of the press machine 1 . They are sequentially transported by the transport device 9 each time the press is operated.

The conveyance device 9 includes a pair of guide rails 10, 10 arranged parallel to the conveyance direction 2 on both sides of the carry-in station Si, the first to fifth processing stations _S1 to _S5 , and the carry-out station So, and both guide rails 10. , 10, for example, six sets of arm carts 11, and a pair of arm carts 11,1.
The handling arm 12 is fixedly installed over the entire length of the vehicle.

Each of the arm carts 11 and handling arm 1
2, etc., are all basically the same regarding the loading station Si, the first to fifth processing stations _S1 to _S5 , and the loading station So,
Hereinafter, the configuration will mainly be explained only around the fifth processing station _S5 .

In FIGS. 2 and 3, both guide rails 10, 10 are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other along the conveying direction 2. In FIG. Guide rods 13 extending downward are fixed to the lower surface of each guide rail 10, 10 at positions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, and each guide rod 13 is supported by a support 14 so as to be movable up and down. .
That is, both guide rails 10, 10 are supported by the support column 14 so as to be movable up and down.

Arm carts 11, 11, which form a pair before and after each of the first to fifth processing stations _S1 to _S5 , are connected to the guide rail 1.
0, 10 so as to be able to run back and forth along the conveyance direction 2, and the same guide rail 10
Each upper arm carriage 11 is interconnected by a connecting bar 15. Therefore, each arm truck 11
run in conjunction.

Each arm truck 11 on the guide rails 10, 10
The running drive means 18 for driving the drive carts 19, 19 that can run on the guide rails 10, 10 at the front end side along the conveyance direction 2, and the drive mechanism 20 that drives the drive carts 19, 19. Equipped with.

Each drive truck 19, 19 has a guide rail 10,
Arm cart 1 near drive cart 19, 19 on top of 10
1 and 11 via connection bars 16 and 16. Further, the drive mechanism 20 includes both drive carts 19, 19.
A drive source 21 such as a motor fixedly arranged on the floor between the two, horizontal drive shafts 22, 22 extending from the drive source 21 to both sides, and those drive shafts 22,
It consists of swing arms 23, 23 whose base ends are fixed to the ends of 22, and whose distal ends extend upward and are connected to respective drive carts 19, 19.

A guide groove 2 extending vertically is provided on the side of the drive cart 19.
4 is provided, and an engagement pin 25 protruding from the tip of the swing arm 23 engages with the guide groove 24. As a result, when the swing arm 23 swings back and forth along the transport direction 2, the drive carriage 19 runs back and forth along the transport direction 2, and each arm carriage 11 runs on the guide rail 10 accordingly.

Each handling arm 12 has a pair of support rods 26 on the front side along the conveying direction 2, which are spaced apart from each other in a central part along the longitudinal direction.
a, 26a and a pair of support rods 26b, 26b on the rear side along the conveyance direction 2 are rotatably supported, and a holder for holding the workpiece W is provided at the tip of each support rod 26a, 26b. Suction cup as a means 27
are provided respectively.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the base ends of the front side support rods 26a, 26a along the conveyance direction 2 are respectively connected to rotation shafts 28 having vertical axes and rotatably supported on the handling arm 12. The rear support rods 26b, 2 are fixed and extend along the conveyance direction 2.
The base end of 6b is fixed to a rotation shaft 29 having a vertical axis and rotatably supported by the handling arm 12.

Pinions 30 and 31 are fixed to the ends of rotation shafts 28 and 29 that protrude upward from the handling arm 12.

On the other hand, the handling arm 12 is guided by a guide member 32, and the handling arm 12 is guided by a guide member 32.
A pair of rack shafts 33, 33 movable along the longitudinal direction of the rack shaft 2 are arranged in a straight line with an interval between them, and the pinion 30 is located at a portion near the inner end of the rack shafts 33, 33. , 31 are respectively engraved on both sides. Therefore, when both the rack shafts 33, 33 move toward each other, the front support rod 26a and the rear support rod 26b along the conveyance direction 2
rotates the suction cups 27 in a direction closer to the handling arm 12. Also, both rack shafts 33,
33 move away from each other, the support rods 26a, 26b rotate in a direction in which the suction cups 27 move away from the handling arm 12, and become substantially orthogonal to the handling arm 12.

Passages 36, 36 opening into the suction cups 27 are provided in the support rods 26a, 26b, and these passages 36, 36 are constantly communicated with a passage pipe 37 disposed within the handling arm 12. The suction cup 27 is connected to the passage pipe 37 and the passages 36, 36.
By controlling the air pressure in the space between the workpieces W, the workpiece W is held and the held state is released.

In FIG. 6, a roller 38 is supported at the outer end of each rack shaft 33 as a cam follower.
In addition, the arm truck 11 of the handling arm 12
A receiving plate 39 through which the rack shaft 33 movably passes is fixedly attached to the closer portion, and a receiving flange 40 is attached to the rack shaft 33 closer to the outer end than the receiving plate 39.
will be permanently installed. A coiled spring 41 surrounding the rack shaft 33 is interposed between the receiving plate 39 and the receiving collar 40. As a result, each rack shaft 33 is spring-biased outward. Moreover, handling arm 1
2 is provided with a stopper 42 that can come into contact with the receiving collar 40, and this stopper 42 allows the rack shaft 3
The outward movement of 3 is restricted.

Loading station Si, each processing station S ₁ ~
Corresponding between S ₅ and unloading station So,
The guide rails 10, 10 have a cam surface 4 facing inward.
3 cams 44 are each supported via a support plate 45. The rollers 38 at the outer ends of the rack shafts 33 can come into contact with the cam surfaces 43 of these cams 44, respectively.

The cam surface 43 is a first inclined surface 4 that is inclined inward in order from the rear side to the front side along the conveyance direction 2 and toward the front side along the conveyance direction 2.
6, a parallel surface 47 parallel to the conveyance direction 2, and a second inclined surface 48 that is inclined outward as it goes toward the front side along the conveyance direction 2.

The cam 44 is connected at right angles to the upper end of a support plate 45, and the middle portion of the support plate 45 is rotatably supported by a bracket 49 projecting outward from the guide rail 10. That is, the intermediate portion of the support plate 45 is supported by the bracket 49 by a horizontal support shaft 50 parallel to the conveying direction 2. Further, a cylinder 51 that extends horizontally and perpendicular to the support shaft 50 is supported at the lower part of the guide rail 10, and a piston rod 52 of this cylinder 51 is connected to the lower end of the support plate 45.

Therefore, as the cylinder 51 expands and contracts, the support plate 45 and the cam 44 swing about the support shaft 50, and when the cylinder 51 is extended, the cam surface 43 is in a position where the roller 38 can come into contact with the cylinder 51. When the cam surface 43 is retracted, the cam surface 43 is retracted to a position where the roller 38 cannot come into contact with it.

A mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the guide rod 13, that is, the guide rail 10 is provided in each support column 14.
A driving force from a driving source 53 fixedly placed on the floor is transmitted to the mechanism via a driving shaft 54, and the mechanisms within each support column 14 operate in conjunction with each other.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. During press processing using the lower molds _{3 1 to} 3 ₅ and the upper molds 4 ₁ to 4 ₅ at the processing stations S 1 to _S 5 , each arm cart 11 is moved to the loading station Si. The roller 38 is on standby between the processing stations S ₁ to S ₅ and the unloading station So, and the roller 38 is in contact with the parallel surface 47 of the cam surface 43 of the cam 44 . For this reason, the rack shafts 33 on the handling arm 12 are pushed toward each other against the spring force, and at this time, the support rods 26a, 26b move their suction cups 27 closer to the handling arm 12. It is in a stored state.

When the press working at each of the processing stations S ₁ to _{S 5} is completed, the drive mechanism 20 in the travel drive means 18 causes the drive cart 19 to start moving backward along the conveyance direction 2, and each arm cart 11 starts to move backward in the transport direction 2. The station Si and each of the processing stations S ₁ to _{S 5} are retreated to approximately the center. This arm trolley 1
1, the roller 38 rolls from the parallel surface 47 of the cam surface 43 to the first inclined surface 46, and further comes out of contact with the cam surface 43.
Therefore, each rack shaft 33 moves in a direction away from each other due to the spring force of the spring 41, and each support rod 2
6a and 26b rotate their suction cups 27 in a direction to move them away from the handling arm 12. As a result, when each arm truck 11 reaches approximately the center of the carry-in station Si and each processing station S ₁ to S ₅ , each support rod 26 a, 26 b is in a protruding state approximately orthogonal to the handling arm 12 . Therefore, when each arm truck 11 is lowered to a predetermined position, when each guide rail 10 is lowered by the operation of the drive source 53, the workpieces W at the loading station Si and each processing station _S1 to _S5 are moved over a relatively wide range. It is stably held by the suction cup 27.

Next, the cylinder 51 is operated to retract, and the drive source 53 causes the guide rail 10 to rise, and the drive mechanism 20 causes the drive cart 19 to travel forward in the transport direction 2.
At this time, due to the contraction operation of the cylinder 51, the support plate 45 rotates in a direction to move the cam surface 43 of the cam 44 away from the roller 38. Therefore, even if the arm truck 11 moves forward along the conveyance direction 2 together with the drive truck 19, the roller 38 will not move forward on the cam surface 43.
The rack shafts 33 remain separated from each other, and the support rods 26a, 26b maintain their protruding state.

Each arm cart 11 is connected to each processing station S ₁ ~
When reaching approximately the center of _S5 and the unloading station So, the guide rails 10, 10 are lowered by the action of the drive source 53, and each workpiece W is separated from the suction cup 27 and moved to each processing station _S1 to _S5 and the unloading station. Placed on So.

After each workpiece W is placed, the guide rails 10, 10 are raised by the action of the drive source 53, the cylinder 51 is extended, and the cam 44 is moved to the cam surface 43.
is rotated back to a position where it can come into contact with the roller 38. Thereafter, by causing the drive mechanism 20 to cause the drive carriage 19 to travel rearward in the transport direction 2, each arm carriage 11 also moves rearward.

This backward movement of the arm truck 11 moves the roller 38 from the second inclined surface 48 of the cam surface 43 to the parallel surface 4.
7, both rack shafts 33 on the handling arm 12 rotate in a direction toward each other against the spring force of the spring 41, and each support rod 26a, 26b holds the suction cup 27 at the tip of the handling arm. Rotate in the direction to bring it closer to 12. As a result, the arm cart 11 is moved to the loading station Si and each processing station.
When the support rods 26a and 26b are retracted to the standby position between _S1 to _S5 and the unloading station So, the support rods 26a and 26b are in a stored state with the suction cups 27 close to the handling arm 12. Therefore, the support rods 26a, 2
The space occupied by 6b also becomes smaller.

This completes the transport of the work W by one operation of the transport device, but by alternately operating the press machine 1 and the transport device 9, the work W is sequentially transported and pressed. .

According to this conveyance device 9, the guide rail 10,
10 is raised and lowered by the action of the drive source 21, and each arm truck 12 runs on the guide rails 10, 10 by the travel drive means 18, so that the drive sources 21, 53 can share vertical movement and horizontal movement. , the power of the drive sources 21 and 53 can be made relatively small, thereby making it possible to downsize the device. Moreover, since the support rods 26a, 26a rotate between the stored state and the protruded state, the length of the support rods 26a, 26b can be made relatively large to stably hold the workpiece W over a relatively wide range. At the same time, the support rods 26a and 26b can be attached to the handling arm 12 during standby.
By bringing the processing stations close to each other, it is possible to reduce the distance between each processing station S ₁ to S ₅ .

C. Effects of the invention As described above, according to the invention, the base end of the support rod is rotatable around the vertical axis and fixed to the rotation shaft supported by the handling arm. A rack shaft that is movable along the longitudinal direction of the handling arm, is biased outward, and has a cam follower at the outer end is engaged with the pinion. The support rod can be brought into contact with the cam follower as the arm moves back and forth in the transport direction, and the support rod can be rotated between a stored state in which the holding means is close to the handling arm and a protruded state perpendicular to the handling arm. Since a cam is provided to move the handling arm, even if the length of the support rod is made relatively large to stably hold the workpiece over a relatively wide range, the support rod will not move when the handling arm is in the standby position. The space occupied by the processing station can be reduced by storing the processing stations, and the distance between the processing stations can be made relatively small, and the transportation time and the overall processing time can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic overall side view, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main part of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the main part of Fig. 1. 3 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line -- of FIG. _DESCRIPTION OF _SYMBOLS 1...Press machine as a plastic processing machine, 2...Conveyance direction, _31-35 ...Lower die, _41-45 ...Upper die,
9...Transfer device, 12...Handling arm,
27... Suction cup as holding means, 28, 29...
Rotating shaft, 30, 31... pinion, 33... rack shaft, 38... cam follower, 44... cam.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A lower die and an upper die for cooperatively plastically working the workpiece are respectively disposed at a plurality of processing stations set at intervals along the conveyance direction of the workpiece, and a plurality of processing stations are provided at intervals between each of the processing stations. In order to sequentially transport the workpieces, a plurality of substantially horizontal handling arms facing the transport direction are provided so as to be movable back and forth along the transport direction. In a transfer device for a plastic processing machine, which is provided with a support rod having a holding means at its tip, the base end of the support rod is rotatable about a vertical axis and fixed to a rotation shaft supported by a handling arm. A pinion fixed to the rotation shaft is engaged with a rack shaft which is movable along the longitudinal direction of the handling arm, is biased outward, and has a cam follower at its outer end, and is engaged with the pinion of the processing station. On the side, the support rod can come into contact with a cam follower as the handling arm moves back and forth in the transport direction, and the support rod can be placed in a stored state with its holding means close to the handling arm and in a state where it is perpendicular to the handling arm. 1. A conveyance device for a plastic processing machine, characterized in that a cam is disposed for rotating between protruding states.