JPH0440836Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial application field> The invention is applicable to various conveyance devices such as hobbing machines, shapers, shaving machines, lathes, assembly machines, etc., and conveyance of other liquid and powder materials. Regarding the chain type autoloader used.

<Prior Art> As a typical example of a conventional chain type autoloader, there is a hobbing machine autoloader as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. In this device, a workpiece 6 on a locator 9 is clamped by a clamper 3 rotatably attached to a support arm 4 that moves up and down on the front surface of a counter column 5, and a hob 2 that is attached to a hob head 1 and rotated up and down by a motor (not shown). The gears are machined by The counter column 5 needs to have high rigidity in order to maintain its processing accuracy, and therefore requires a considerable amount of space.The magazines 7 are installed at every corresponding pit of the chain 8, and the parts other than the locator 9 are placed on the rail 11. Workpiece 6 is being moved. Note that 10 in the figure is a work table.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> Conventional chain-type loaders like this have the following problems: 1) It takes time to load and unload the workpiece 6 because it is located inside the machine or at the rear of the machine; 2) If there are different types of workpieces, an expensive magazine 7 is not required. Not only does it have to be replaced in large numbers, but also as in item 1, replacement is difficult and time consuming. 3. If a boss is protruding like the workpiece 6 shown in Figure 8, transport itself is difficult. 4. The locator 9 is also replaced depending on the workpiece. However, due to the magazine 7, rail 11, etc., it is very difficult to replace, and there are many problems with setup changes and maintenance operability.

The present invention solves these conventional problems by creating a chain-type autoloader that allows workpieces to be easily replaced at the same location, supports different types of workpieces, facilitates setup changes, and facilitates maintenance of the machine and loader. It is intended for the purpose of providing.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The gist of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and achieve the intended purpose by using a pair of sprockets each having a substantially horizontal axis. Two sets of endless chain mechanisms are arranged parallel to each other and the axes of each sprocket are shifted from each other, and a large number of pallet support shafts are rotatably supported on one side of both endless chain mechanisms. The apparatus includes pallets supported by respective pallet support shafts, and a posture holding link connecting the pallet support shafts and the other side of the endless chain mechanisms, and rotates both endless chain mechanisms at the same speed. Accordingly, there is provided a chain type autoloader in which the pallet is rotated while maintaining a constant posture.

<Function> In this chain-type autoloader, when the chains of both endless chain mechanisms are rotated at the same speed, the posture holding link is moved while always maintaining a constant posture, thereby adjusting the circumferential direction of the pallet support shaft. The angle is always constant, and the pallet is rotated while maintaining a constant posture. Also, each pallet is pivoted along a plane parallel to the vertical plane around which one of the endless chains pivots.

<Example> Next, an example of implementation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a hobbing machine using a chain-type autoloader A according to the present invention, in which a clamper 3 is rotatably supported by a support arm 4 that moves up and down the front surface of a counter column 5, as in the conventional case.
A workpiece 6a is clamped by this clamper 3, and a gear is machined using a hob (not shown). A manipulator 15 is provided on the side surface of the counter column 5, grips the workpiece 6a transported by the autoloader A, turns it, places it on the locator 9, and places the workpiece 6b on the locator 9 again after processing is completed. , and return it to autoloader A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the autoloader A has first and second endless chain mechanisms 21 and 22 that have the same shape. The first endless chain mechanism 21 has frames 23 and 24 arranged parallel to each other.
A pair of sprockets 28 and 29 are rotatably supported by sprocket shafts 26 and 27 that are suspended horizontally between the two sprockets, and an endless chain 30 that runs around both sprockets.
The second endless chain mechanism 22 consists of sprockets 33, 34 rotatably supported by sprocket shafts 31, 32 horizontally disposed between frames 24, 25, and an endless chain running around both sprockets. 35, both sprocket shafts 31, 3 of this second endless chain mechanism 22
2 is supported at a position horizontally offset from both sprocket shafts 26, 27 of the first endless chain mechanism 21. The first and second endless chain mechanisms 21, 22 have the same number of links, and the sprockets 28, 29 and 33, 34 have the same number of teeth.

Both endless chain mechanisms 21 and 22 are intermittently moved by a fixed length in the same direction by an index motor 36, and the first endless chain mechanism 21 is moved from the index motor 36 to gears 37 and , sprocket shaft 32, gear 3
The sprocket 29 is rotated via 9 and 40,
The second endless chain mechanism 22 is connected from the index motor 36 to the gear 37, intermediate gear 41, and gear 4.
2, the sprocket 34 is rotated.

Each of the endless chains 30 and 35 has outer links 43 and 44 formed in a triangular shape, and a pallet support shaft 45 is rotatably supported between the outer links 43 of the endless chain 30, and a pallet 46 for placing a workpiece is attached to the tip of the shaft. is fixed. Pallet 46 supports workpieces 6a, 6b by means of replaceable pins 50.

On the other hand, one end of a posture maintaining link 47 is fixed to the rear end of the pallet support shaft 45 with a bolt 48. The other end of the posture maintaining link 47 extends substantially horizontally and is pivotally connected to the top of the outer links 43 and 44 of the other endless chain 35 via a pin 49.

In the autoloader A configured in this way, the pallet support shaft 45 is moved by the index motor 36.
Both endless chains 30 and 35 are operated so that the pitch is intermittently transferred,
Since the relative heights of the tops between the outer links 43 and 44 corresponding to the front and back of the endless chains 30 and 35 are always the same, the posture maintaining link 47 is always moved in the same direction, and is regulated by this. The pallet 46 is always maintained horizontally through the pallet support shaft 45 and is intermittently rotated on the vertical plane in front of the frame 23.

<Effects of the invention> The autoloader of the invention is configured as described above,
By utilizing the misalignment of the sprocket axes of the two sets of endless chain mechanisms to maintain the posture of the pallet horizontally, and by allowing each endless chain to rotate within a substantially vertical plane, the front of the machine Workpiece replacement and other setup changes and maintenance operations become possible, significantly improving work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the use of the autoloader according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of the autoloader according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a partially sectional plan view, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the drive shaft portion, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional autoloader, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the central portion of the same as seen from the arrow direction in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the pallet portion seen from the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locator on which the bossed workpiece is placed. In the drawing, A is an autoloader, 21 is an endless chain mechanism in the second position, 22 is a second endless chain mechanism, 23, 24, 25 are frames, 26, 27,
31, 32 are sprocket shafts, 28, 29, 3
3 and 34 are sprockets, 30 and 35 are endless chains, 36 is an index motor, 45 is a pallet support shaft, 46 is a pallet, and 47 is a posture holding link.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Two sets of endless chain mechanisms, each of which is wound around a pair of sprockets having approximately horizontal axes, are arranged parallel to each other and whose axes are shifted from each other, and are rotatable to one side of both of the endless chain mechanisms. A pallet support shaft supported by a large number of pallet support shafts, a pallet supported by each of the pallet support shafts, and a posture holding link connecting the pallet support shaft and the other side of the endless chain mechanism, A chain type autoloader characterized in that the pallet is rotated while maintaining a constant posture by rotating both endless chain mechanisms at the same speed.