JPH0632277Y2 - Independent automatic carrier - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] This invention lays out a plurality of NC machine tool groups for performing drilling, boring, milling, tapping, etc. on a workpiece in-line, and for each process The present invention relates to an independent automatic carrier for FMS equipment provided with an independent carrier for NC machine tools.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in an FMS facility in which such NC machine tools are laid out in-line (series), a workpiece, which is a workpiece processed by the machining station of each NC machine tool, is
In order to automatically convey to the processing station of the next process, if you try to perform the whole line with one set of conveying device,
Since the machining cycle time differs for each NC machine tool,
There is a problem that the work cannot be conveyed to the processing station of the next process at the same timing, and a station in which the conveying device moves in an empty state occurs, resulting in a decrease in the operating rate of the entire line.

Therefore, conventionally, by providing an intermediate position (storage) of about 2 to 3 workpieces between each process, the length of the machining cycle time which differs for each process can be set independently for each NC machine tool. This problem has been solved by providing a type automatic carrier, for example, an FM as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
There are S facilities.

In this FMS equipment, each NC machine tool 1A, 1B, 1C, etc. that performs different machining is provided with an independent automatic carrier device 10A, 10B, 10C, ... corresponding thereto. The control device 2 is independently controlled in a centralized manner, and these constitute an in-line NC machine tool group.

For example, an independent type automatic carrier 10B of this inline NC machine tool group includes a skid rail 3 for sliding a work W placed on the upper part thereof and the work W as shown in FIG.
A belt 4 provided with an engaging claw 4a that abuts on one end of the outer peripheral portion with a required pitch is driven by the rotation of the rollers 5a and 5b in the same direction, and a chain with the skid rail 3 separated from the pitch feed chain conveyor 6. The automatic conveyance device 7 conveys the work W arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor 6 in the direction of arrow E.

The automatic transfer device 7 includes a pedestal 8 that connects the NC machine tools.
The support member 11 is mounted on the mount 9 on which the NC machine tool 1B is mounted.
Both ends 12a and 12b of a spline shaft 12 having a spline formed on the outer periphery thereof are rotatably loosely fitted therebetween.

One end 12a of the spline shaft 12 is provided with a support member 11
a, an arm 13 is fixed to the end of the arm 13 and is eccentric from the axis of the spline shaft 12 of the arm 13; Hereinafter, all the air or hydraulic cylinders are simply referred to as cylinders) 14, and a piston rod 14a is rotatably connected via a rotating member 14b.

Therefore, when the cylinder 14 is operated, the arm 13
The spline shaft 12 is turned in the direction of arrow F through the.

Further, only the sliding in the arrow H direction is allowed in the spline shaft 12, and a slide member 15 for rotating the spline shaft 12 in the direction of the arrow F is fitted. The slide member 15 is mounted on the skid rail 3. The U-shaped locking member 16 in which a locking claw 16a capable of locking the work W is formed by a required pitch is fixedly installed.

A cylinder 17 for moving the slide member 15 parallel to the spline shaft 12 is fixedly provided on the support member 11b on the side opposite to the locking member 16 of the slide member 15, and the spline shaft shaft 17a has a piston rod 17a. A moving member 18 having a hole 18a having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the spline inserted therein and a convex portion 18b rotatably fitted and coupled to the slide member 15 is fixedly provided.

Therefore, by operating the cylinder 17 with a required stroke, the workpiece W at the intermediate position B is attached to the fixture 1.
It is possible to move to the processing position C on the position 9.

Then, the workpiece W carried out from the machining station of the previous process to the transport standby position A, which stands by for transporting to the NC machine tool of the next process, has its rear end face pushed by the locking claws 4a attached to the chain conveyor 6. Then, it is conveyed to the intermediate position B while sliding on the skid rail 3.

At this time, since the work W is vacant at the transfer standby position A, the automatic transfer device 10A in the previous step can carry out the processed work W thereto.

Next, when there is no work W at the transport standby position D in the next process,
The work W at the intermediate position B and the processing position C is transferred to the processing position C and the transfer standby position D in the next process by the operation of the transfer device 7, and the work W in the transfer standby position D is transferred to the automatic transfer device 10C in the next process. It is further conveyed to an intermediate position further downstream by the pitch feed chain conveyor 6 '.

Then, the workpiece W at the processing position C (on the fixture 19) is NC.
Predetermined machining is performed by the machine tool 1B, and if the workpiece W does not reach the intermediate position B within a certain time after the completion of machining,
When there is no work W at the transfer standby position D in the next process, the work W at the processing position C is preferentially transferred to the transfer standby position D in the next process by the transfer device 7.

After that, when the work W reaches the intermediate position B, regardless of the presence or absence of the work W at the conveyance standby position D in the next process, the conveyance device 7
Thus, the work W at the intermediate position B is conveyed to the processing position C.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, such a conventional independent type automatic transfer device uses two automatic transfer devices provided with a pitch feed chain conveyor and a U-shaped locking member, and determines the workpieces respectively positioned on the transfer line. Since it was carried to each of the carrying positions and the length of the machining cycle time of the NC machine tool which was different for each process was dealt with, there was a problem that the equipment cost increased as the number of carrying devices increased.

This invention aims at solving such a problem.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention for achieving such an object is to lay out a plurality of NC machine tool groups for machining a workpiece such as drilling, boring, milling, tapping, etc. in-line, and to provide NC machine tools for each process. In a stand-alone transfer device of an FMS equipment equipped with an independent transfer device, a transfer standby position for waiting for transferring the workpiece to the NC machine tool of the next process, and an attachment of the NC machine tool of the next process. A machining preparation position to which the workpiece is passed, and an intermediate position provided between the conveyance standby position and the machining preparation position are installed on a conveyance line corresponding to each NC machine tool, A guide shaft is provided horizontally in parallel with the transfer line corresponding to each of the NC machine tools, and a projection end portion that abuts a rear end portion of the workpiece at the processing preparation position and an intermediate position are provided. A locking member formed with a locking portion that engages with the workpiece and a locking portion that engages with the workpiece at the processing preparation position is slidably mounted on the guide shaft, First driving means for driving the guide shaft to drive the locking member to an engaging position for engaging the workpiece through the guide shaft and a retracted position for disengaging the engaging member;
Second driving means for driving the locking member along the guide shaft, and the locking member driven to the engagement position by the first driving means by the second driving means. The workpiece is conveyed by driving in the conveying direction along the guide shaft by a distance equal to the distance between the conveyance standby position, the intermediate position, and the machining preparation position, and the machining preparation of the fixture is performed. The independent automatic carrier device is characterized in that a retracting device for retracting the workpiece conveyed to the position to the machining position is provided for each of the fixtures.

[Action]

According to the independent type automatic transfer device configured in this way, when there is no workpiece at all of the transfer standby position, the intermediate position, the processing preparation position, the processing position on the transfer line, and the transfer standby position of the next process, The workpiece carried out to the transfer standby position by the automatic transfer device of the process is transferred to the intermediate position by the automatic transfer device, and is transferred to the intermediate position by the automatic transfer device by the automatic transfer device of the previous process. The processed object can be carried out.

If the retracting device is at the processing preparation position, the workpiece at the intermediate position is automatically conveyed to the processing preparation position by the automatic transfer device, and is further drawn to the processing position by the retracting device and attached to the fixture. Then, predetermined machining is performed by the NC machine tool.

At this time, since the workpiece is vacant at the intermediate position, when there is the workpiece at the transport standby position, the automatic transport device operates to transport the workpiece to the intermediate position. Since the workpiece being machined by the machine is pulled in from the transport line to the machining position by the retractor, the automatic carrier moving on the carrier line will not interfere with the workpiece being machined. Absent.

Then, when there is no work piece in the conveyance standby position of the next process and there are all work pieces in the conveyance standby position, the intermediate position and the processing preparation position, three pieces are processed at the same time, and the machining preparation position and the intermediate position or the processing preparation position and the conveyance If there are workpieces in the standby position, two at the same time, and if there are workpieces only in the machining preparation position, 1
Each of the workpieces can be transported to a predetermined transport position downstream thereof by an automatic transport device.

The above-described transfer device used to transfer the workpiece has a guide shaft provided in parallel along the transfer line, and a locking member slidably mounted on the shaft. The locking member is provided with a projecting end portion that abuts the rear end portion of the workpiece at the machining preparation position and two locking portions that engage the workpiece at the intermediate position and the machining preparation position. The locking member is driven to an engaging position for engaging the workpiece and a retracted position for disengaging the workpiece, so that the workpiece can be reliably conveyed by one conveying device having a simple structure. To be done.

〔Example〕

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an independent type automatic carrier according to the present invention together with an NC machine tool, and parts corresponding to those in FIG.

In this independent type automatic transfer device, for example, a transfer standby position A for waiting for transferring the work W to the NC machine tool 1B of the next process and a fixture 20 for fixing the work W of the NC machine tool 1B of the next process are transferred. the processing ready position C ₁ is a position that is on the line, at the same time the downstream side the workpiece W to be present in the intermediate position B on the conveying line between the conveying standby position a and the processing preparation position C ₁ (arrow E direction) The automatic carrier 27 capable of carrying every one pitch, and the fixture 20 by the carrier 27.
The retracting device 21 for retracting the workpiece W conveyed to the machining preparation position C ₁ from the conveying line to the machining position C ₂ is provided for the fixture 20 of each NC machine tool.

A cylinder 22 is fixedly mounted on the base 20a of the fixture 20,
A retracting device 21 for moving the pedestal 23 fixed at the tip thereof in the arrow G direction by expanding and contracting the piston rod 22a is attached, and the work W conveyed to the processing preparation position C ₁ is processed at the processing position C 1. I am trying to be able to pull in ₂ .

The automatic transfer device 27 differs from the automatic transfer device 7 shown in FIG. 4 in that the shape of the locking member 26 is different, and the locking member 26 includes the workpiece W at the transfer standby position A and the intermediate position B on the transfer line. Two U-shaped locking claws 26 having a width substantially equal to or slightly wider than the width of the boss Wb that can be inserted into the transport boss Wb.
a, 26a and a projecting end portion 26b projecting to the downstream side end portion of the locking member 26 so as to slidably penetrate therethrough and the spring 2
The push pin 25, which is urged and protruded to the downstream side of the transport line by means of No. 4, is attached to a required position where the tip end thereof abuts the outer surface of the boss Wb of the work W located at the processing preparation position C ₁ .

In addition, a piston rod 28b of a cylinder 28a for stopping the work W at the transfer standby position A is provided on the pedestal 8.
A stopper 28 for stopping the flow, which is fixedly provided with a stopper piece 28c, is attached to the tip of the stopper so as to regulate the flow of the work W on the transfer line.

Note that the NC machine tool 1B and the automatic transfer device 27 are independently controlled centrally by the control device 2 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the state where there is no work W at the transfer standby position D of the next process, the processing preparation position C ₁ and the intermediate position B on the transfer line of the NC machine tool 1B, it is carried out to the transfer standby position A by the automatic transfer device of the previous process. For the workpiece W, the retracting device 21 has the processing position C.
_2, when the stopper 28 'in the next step is in the forward limit position shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder 28a of the stopper 28 is actuated by the control of the controller 2 (FIG. 3) and the piston rod 28b. Contracts, the stopper piece 28c retracts from the position shown in the figure, and the work W at the transport standby position A is released from the restriction to stop the flow.

Then, the cylinder 14 of the automatic transport device 27 operates,
The spline shaft 12 is swung via the arm 13 in the direction indicated by the solid arrow F in the figure, and the upstream locking claw 26a of the locking member 26 fixed to the slide member 15 is at the transport standby position A. After being inserted into the boss Wb of the work W and locked, the cylinder 17 is operated to contract the piston rod 17a, and the locking member 26 is slid along with the slide member 15 along the spline shaft 12 in the arrow E direction. hand,
The work W is transported from the transport standby position A to the intermediate position B.

When the work W is transferred to the intermediate position B, the cylinder 14,
And 17 respectively operate in the opposite direction to the above case, rotate the locking claw 26a of the locking member 26 in the direction away from the work W (the broken line arrow F), and move to the upstream side in that state. Then, it returns to the position shown in FIG. Here, the cylinder 28a of the stopper 28 is actuated again and the piston rod 28b
Extends, and the stopper piece 28c advances.

At this time, since the work W is vacant at the transfer standby position A, the automatic transfer device in the previous process can carry out the processed work W there.

Next, if the retracting device 21 is in the retracted limit (C ₁ position), the work W at the intermediate position B is automatically transferred by the automatic transfer device 27 to the control device 2.
Of the intermediate transfer position B to the processing preparation position C ₁ and the automatic transfer device 27 then returns to the first position again.
Return to the position shown in the figure.

The work W conveyed to the processing preparation position C ₁ is pulled by the drawing device 2
When 1 moves forward, it is drawn to the processing position C ₂ ,
After being fixed to the fixture 20, machining such as drilling, boring, milling and tapping is performed by the NC machine tool 1B.

At this time, since the work W is vacant at the intermediate position B, when the work W is at the transfer standby position A, the automatic transfer device 27 operates to transfer the work W at the transfer standby position A to the intermediate position B. To do.

At this time, the locking claw 26a formed on the locking member 26 of the automatic transport device 27 and the push pin 25 provided on the projecting end portion 26b.
Overlaps with the fitting 20 and the retracting device 21, but the locking claw 26a, the projecting end 26b, and the push pin 25
Is positioned so as not to interfere with the fixture 20 and the retracting device 21, so that they do not interfere with each other.

The workpiece W that has been machined at the machining position C ₂ is attached to the fixture 20.
Removed from the machine, and the retracting device 21 is used to prepare the machining preparation position C.
Returned to ₁ .

When there is no work W at the transfer standby position D in the next process and there are works W at all positions of the transfer standby position A, the intermediate position B, and the processing preparation position C ₁ , three work preparation positions C ₁ at the same time. When there are workpieces W at the intermediate position B or the machining preparation position C ₁ and the transport standby position A, two workpieces W at the same time, and when there is a workpiece W only at the machining preparation position C _1, only one workpiece W, By the operation of the automatic transport device 27,
Each one pitch is conveyed to a predetermined position downstream.

At this time, the work W at the processing preparation position C ₁ is attached to the projecting end portion 26 b of the locking member 26 of the automatic transport device 27 and is pushed to the NC machine tool 1 B by the push pin 25 urged by the spring 24. The rear end of the transport boss Wb is pushed while absorbing a pitch error between the NC machine tool 1C of the next process and the transport boss Wb is transported to the transport standby position D of the next process.

In order to guarantee the stopping accuracy of the work W at the conveyance standby position D in the next process, the stopper 28 'for stopping the flow provided in the NC machine tool 1C in the next process contacts the front end of the work W, To position.

In this embodiment, the transport boss Wb of the work W is sandwiched and locked by the U-shaped locking claws 26a formed on the locking member 26 of the automatic transporting device 27, so that the work W is transported. It is possible to prevent the meandering and increase the conveying speed.

In this embodiment, an example in which only one intermediate position is provided on the transfer line has been described. However, the intermediate position is not limited to one, and a plurality of intermediate positions may be provided to correspond to the automatic transfer. It is also possible to provide as many locking claws on the device side as the number of intermediate positions.

Also, although a cylinder is used as the drive source of the stopper 28,
As long as the stopper piece 28c can be projected and retracted at a position that regulates the flow of the work at the transfer standby position,
You can use a stopper that combines a solenoid and a motor with a link.

[Effect of device]

As described above, the independent automatic carrier according to the present invention, when the NC machine tool is used to machine a workpiece at the machining preparation position on the conveyor line, is a retracting device provided in the fixture of each NC machine tool. Therefore, since it is drawn from the transfer line to the processing position and retracted for processing, the workpieces existing at the transfer standby position, the intermediate position and the processing preparation position on the transfer line are processed during processing of the NC machine tool. Operate an automatic transfer device that can simultaneously transfer workpieces to the downstream side,
Even if the work in the transfer standby position is advanced to the intermediate position,
Since the workpiece being machined that is fixed to the fixture does not interfere with the automatic transfer device, the N layout inline
The C machine tool group can be operated without lowering the overall operation rate, and since only one automatic transfer device needs to be used for each NC machine tool, the equipment cost can be reduced accordingly. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a plan view showing an independent type automatic carrier according to the present invention together with an NC machine tool, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an independent NC machine tool group laid out inline. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an FMS facility equipped with a type automatic carrier, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional independent automatic device together with an NC machine tool. 1A to 1E ...... NC machine tool 20 ...... fixture, 21 ...... drawing device 27 ...... automated transporter A ...... conveyance waiting position, B ...... intermediate position C ₁ ...... processing ready position, _{C 2} ...... machining Position W ... Workpiece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An FMS in which a plurality of NC machine tool groups for performing drilling, boring, milling, tapping and the like on a work piece are laid out inline, and an NC machine tool is provided with an independent conveying device for each process. In a stand-alone transfer device of equipment, a transfer standby position for waiting for transferring the workpiece to the NC machine tool in the next step, and processing in which the workpiece is passed to a fixture of the NC machine tool in the next step A preparation position and an intermediate position provided between the conveyance standby position and the processing preparation position are installed on the conveyance line corresponding to each NC machine tool, and correspond to each NC machine tool. A guide shaft is provided horizontally parallel to the transfer line, and is engaged with the projecting end portion that abuts the rear end portion of the workpiece at the processing preparation position and the workpiece at the intermediate position. An engaging member having an engaging portion and an engaging portion that engages with the workpiece at the processing preparation position is slidably mounted on the guide shaft, and the guide shaft is driven to guide the guide member. First driving means for driving the locking member to an engaging position for engaging the workpiece via a shaft and a retracted position for disengaging the engaging member; and the locking member for the guide shaft. Second driving means for driving the locking member driven to the engagement position by the first driving means, the conveyance standby position, the intermediate position, and The workpiece is transported along the guide axis by a distance equal to the distance between the machining preparation positions, and the workpiece is conveyed to the machining preparation position of the fixture. Providing a retracting device to each position for each of the fixtures A stand-alone automatic carrier characterized by