JPH07101538A - Workpiece transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the occurrence of a useless transfer motion and ensure high-speed transfer by applying the constitution where the arms of index tables laid between a plurality of work tables and transfer conveyors are synchronously rotated for concurrently performing workpiece pickup and return operations. CONSTITUTION:The first index table 2 rotatable with a plurality of arms 11a to 11d corresponding to a plurality of work stations 6 to 9 is provided, together with the second index table 3 rotatable with an arm 21a corresponding to a transfer position 5 specified on a transfer conveyor 1, and arms 21b corresponding to the arms of the first index table 2. When one arm 21a of the second index table 3 comes to correspond to the transfer position 5, another arm 21b synchronously rotates, so as to correspond to one arm of the first index table 2, and pallets 4 are transferred at each position corresponding to the rotation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work transfer device, more specifically, a work transfer device which picks up a work continuously sent by a transfer conveyer and which is provided at a position different from that of the transfer conveyer. Of the above-mentioned work stations in order, and the apparatus conveys them by returning them to the conveyer again.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many work transfer devices of this type have been proposed and implemented in the past. However, there is a problem that none of the devices is sufficiently satisfactory in high speed, or that they are large and require a large installation space. Therefore, there has been a demand for a work transfer device which solves these problems and can be downsized at a higher speed.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional work transfer device is not sufficiently satisfactory in high speed and has a problem that it requires a large space for installation in a large size. . Therefore, a work transfer device that can be downsized at high speed has been required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a work transfer device capable of high speed transfer and downsizing.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the object is to sequentially pick up workpieces continuously sent by a transfer conveyor at a transfer position, and to install them at a position different from this transfer conveyor. In a work transfer device which sequentially passes a plurality of work stations and returns the work stations to the transport conveyor, the plurality of work stations are arranged in a circle, and a plurality of arms respectively correspond to the work stations. First index table rotatably arranged substantially at the central position of the plurality of work stations, the arm corresponding to the transfer position on the transfer conveyor, and the first index table. An arm that corresponds to the arm of the index table and is provided between the conveyor and the first index table. And a second index table that is arranged so that the first index table and the second index table are provided when one arm of the second index table corresponds to the transfer position. By allowing another arm of the second index table to rotate synchronously so as to correspond to one of the arms of the first index table, the work can be transferred at each corresponding position. Is achieved. Further, preferably, as the plurality of work stations, a station for transferring the work between the first index table and the second index table, and a station for reading the information of the work. The station for adjusting the work and the station for writing the information of the work are sequentially arranged and implemented. Further, it is preferable that the conveyed work is placed at a station for adjusting the work, and a vibration damping means for supporting the work from the lower side and suppressing vibration is provided.

Further, in the present invention, the object is to convey the pallet on which the work is placed to the adjusting position by the arm of the index table and place the pallet, and to place the work placed on the adjusting position on the X-axis. In a work transfer device having a step of moving in the Y direction to perform an adjustment work, a positioning pin having a tapered tip is provided on one of the pallet and one of the arms for carrying the pallet, On the other hand, a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged is provided, and in the state where the pallet is placed at the adjustment position, only a part of the tip end portion of the positioning pin is in the positioning hole. It is provided with a means capable of being inserted into a half-blanked state in which play is created between the positioning pin and the positioning hole, and the pallet is adjusted in the XY directions. There as performed while half blanking the positioning pins is achieved.

[0007]

According to this structure, the arm of the second index table alternately moves between the transfer position of the conveyor and the transfer position on the side of the first index table by the rotation of the second index table. At this time, the arm of the second index table picks up the unprocessed work on the transport conveyor and transfers it to the arm of the first index table, and conversely, the arm of the first index table performs each work. The processed work coming through the station can be carried back onto the conveyor by another arm of the second index table. Therefore, a series of operations from picking up the work on the transfer conveyor to passing through each work station and returning to the transfer conveyor can be performed continuously, so that wasteful transfer operation is eliminated and high-speed transfer is possible. become.

Further, since the second index table is provided between the conveyor and the first index table, the length of the arm of the first index table can be shortened. Therefore, the space required for rotating the first index table can be made small, so that the installation space of the equipment can be made small accordingly.

Further, a positioning pin having a tapered tip is provided on one of the pallet and one of the arms for carrying the pallet, and the other has a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged. With the pallet placed in the adjustment position, only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, and a play is created between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. Since the pallet can be adjusted in the X-Y directions in the half-pulled state, the conveyance-
A series of operations from adjustment to transportation can be carried smoothly, and high-speed transportation is possible.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration layout diagram of a work transfer device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the work transfer device is roughly composed of a conveyor 1, a first index table 2, a second index table 3 and the like.

More specifically, the transport conveyor 1 includes:
For example, a pallet 4 having an optical pickup for a compact disc (hereinafter referred to as "CD") as a work requiring adjustment and assembly is placed.
Is continuously fed to the transfer position 5, and further from the transfer position 5, it can be sent to the next process. The CD optical pickup here and the pallet 4 always move together.

An LSI card (not shown) is attached to the pallet 4. On this LSI card, history information of adjustment and assembly in each process for each CD optical pickup mounted on the pallet 4 is written, and this information can be read or new information can be written. ing.

The first index table 2 has a plurality of work stations 6, 7, 8 and 9 arranged in a circle and is arranged substantially in the center of the work station. 4 arms on the same plane at the top
1a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are attached so as to be integrally rotatable radially at intervals of approximately 90 degrees. Positioning / holding portions 12 are provided at the tips of the arms 11a to 11d to position and position the pallet 4 on which the CD optical pickup is mounted. In addition,
The positioning holder 12 is inserted into a positioning hole 13 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) formed in the pallet 4 to position the pallet 4 in the horizontal direction (XY direction). A pin 14 is provided.

The tip 14a of the positioning pin 14
Is for facilitating insertion into the positioning hole 13, and for adjusting the movement of the pallet 4 in the horizontal direction (X-Y direction) by making a play of about 4 mm between the positioning hole 13 and the positioning hole 13 in the half-pulled state. In order to be obtained, it is formed in a tapered shape.

Now, the working stations 6 to 9 will be further described. The working station 6 has a first index table 2 and a second index table 3.
Is a station for transferring the pallet 4 between the pallet 4 and the work station 7. The work station 7 reads the history information of the optical pickup for CD on the pallet 4 from the LSI card mounted on the pallet 4, and the work station 8 the pallet 4 Adjustment station, work station 9 for adjusting and assembling the above optical pickup for CD
Is a station for writing new history information of the optical pickup for CD on the pallet 4 which has been adjusted to the LSI card. Then, when the arms 11a to 11d of the first index table 2 are rotated by about 90 degrees,
The optical pickup for CD mounted on each of the arms 11a to 11d, the pallet 4, and the stations 6
To 9 sequentially.

The adjusting station 8 has a surface plate 15 on which the pallet 4 is placed, as shown in FIGS.
And four air springs 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d attached to the front, rear, left and right corners respectively to adjust the height and inclination of the surface plate 15, and three other airs except the air spring 16a. Springs 16b, 16c, 16
each of the air springs 16b, 1 provided adjacent to d.
A leveling device 17 and the like having an actuator 17a abutting on the lower surface of the surface plate 15 at the tip is provided for obtaining posture information regarding the height and inclination of the surface plate 15 according to 6c and 16d.

The air of the air springs 16a to 16d for controlling the posture of the surface plate 15 is supplied to the leveling device 1 by the air.
7 is monitored by a control means (not shown) based on the information from 7, and the surface plate 15 is always horizontal, that is, the pallet 4
Is held so that it has a predetermined height which is kept horizontal.

Further, an XY table 18 is attached to the upper surface of the surface plate 15. In addition, on the XY table 18, as a vibration damping unit, the pallet 4 conveyed on the surface plate 15 by the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 is supported from below to support the pallet 4.
Two pins 23 are detachably attached. In addition,
The number and position of the pins 23 are the shape of the pallet 4 and the CD.
It depends on the shape of the optical pickup and the like.

Further, between the surface plate 15 and the base 30,
A stopper 19 is provided for restricting the lowering position of the surface plate 15 when the air springs 16a to 16d are deflated and the surface plate 15 is moved down for maintenance and the like.

Next, the second index table 3 is
It is arranged between the transfer position 5 on the side of the conveyor 1 and the transfer station 6 on the side of the first index table 2. Then, the two arms 21a and 21b are integrated in a state of being displaced by approximately 180 degrees on the same plane above the rotary shaft 20 which is rotated by a motor (not shown) and is vertically moved by a cylinder (not shown). It is rotatably attached. In addition, each arm 21a,
A chuck (not shown) for gripping the pallet 4 is provided at the tip of 21b.

The transfer operation in the work transfer device thus configured will be described below. First, the first index table 2 and the second index table 3 are rotated in synchronization, and one arm 21a (or 21b) of the second index table 3 is arranged at the transfer position 5 on the side of the conveyor 1. The other arm 21b (or 21a), the four arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 on the transfer station 6
Corresponding to one of the above.

When the second index table 3 is rotated, it is displaced upward as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and the arms 21a and 21b of the second index table 3 are on the conveyor 1. The pallet 4 and the transfer station 6 are separated from the pallet 4 on the first index table 2.

Here, when an instruction to grip the pallet 4 is given from a control unit (not shown), the second index table 3 is lowered and the pallet 4 on the conveyor 1 and the first index in the transfer station 6 are moved. Table 2
The arms 21a and 21b are brought into contact with the upper pallet 4 and simultaneously chuck them. Next, the second index table 3 is lifted while the arms 21a and 21b chuck the pallet 4, respectively.

After ascending, it is horizontally swung 180 degrees.
Then, the tip of the arm 21b is placed on the transfer conveyor 1 and the arm 21b is placed in the transfer station 6.
The tip of a is placed.

Next, the second index table 3 is lowered, and the chuck is released at the lowered position. Then,
A state in which the pallet 4 chucked by the arm 21b is returned to the conveyor 1 and the pallet 4 chucked by the arm 21a is placed on the arm (one of 11a to 11d) in the transfer station 6. It is transferred by. In addition, here, the arms (11a-
11d) side, the pallet 4 has a positioning hole 1
The positioning pin 14 is inserted into 3 and positioned (see FIG. 8).

As a result, the pallet 4 on which the optical pickup for CD is mounted before the adjustment and assembly on the conveyor 1 is transferred to the second index table 3 side and the second index table 3 side is adjusted and assembled. The pallet 4 having the optical pickup for CD which has been completed is transferred to the side of the conveyor 1. Then, the pallet 4 transferred to the transport conveyor 1 side is carried to the next step by the transport conveyor 1.

On the other hand, the pallet 4 transferred to the side of the first index table 2 is moved from the transfer station 6 to the reading station 7 and the adjusting station as the first index table 2 is rotated by 90 degrees. 8 and the writing station 9 are sequentially transferred. Then, at the reading station 7, the history information is read from the LSI card on the pallet 4 and then transferred to the adjustment station 8 for adjustment.

The 90 ° turn of the first index table 2 here corresponds to the 180 ° turn of the second index table 3, that is, the second index table 3 turns. The first index table 2 rotates 90 degrees each time it rotates 180 degrees, and at the transfer station 6, the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 and the arms (21a, 21b) of the second index table 3 are indispensable. ), And the pallet 4 can be transferred at this position.

Here, when the pallet 4 is conveyed to the adjustment position, the pallet 4 is lowered together with the arms (11a to 11d), and the lower surface of the pallet 4 is placed on the surface plate 15 via the XY table 18. It abuts the tip of the pin 23 provided (see FIG. 9). Furthermore, the pallet 4 has an arm (11
a) to 11d), the lower surface of the pallet 4 is supported by the surface plate 15 side through the pin 23, and only the arms (11a to 11d) descend, and the tip 14a of the positioning pin 14 from the positioning hole 13 is lowered. Is slightly inserted into the positioning hole 13, and the positioning hole 13 and the positioning pin 14
And the pallet 4 is in a half-blanked state in which a gap for allowing movement in the XY directions is formed (see FIG. 10). At the same time, the pallet 4 is supported by the surface plate 15 from below via the pins 23, so that the vibration is suppressed and the pallet 4 is positioned on the surface plate 15 side.

And, in this way, the positioning pin 14
And the positioning hole 13 are half-blanked, and the pin 23 and XY
While being held on the surface plate 15 via the table 18, the XY table 18 moves the pallet 4 in the XY direction, and skew adjustment of the optical pickup for CD mounted on the pallet 4 can be performed. Done. At this time, the amount by which the pallet 4 is moved is within a range of about 4 mm, which is a gap formed by removing the positioning pin 14 from the positioning hole 13 of the pallet 4 by half.

Further, the optical pickups 15a, 1 for CD are used.
When the adjustment of 5b is completed, the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table are lifted to lift the pallet 4 from the surface plate 15. Then, the positioning pin 14
9 is completely inserted into the positioning hole 13 of the pallet 4 and positioned as shown in FIGS. 9 and 8, and is set on the first index table 2.

Next, the first index table 2 is rotated 90 degrees and the pallet 4 at the adjusting station is moved.
Is transferred to the writing station 9, where new history information is written in the LSI card.

Then, when the next 90-degree turn is performed again, it is moved to the transfer station 6, gripped by the arms (21a, 21b) of the second index table 3, and transferred onto the conveyor 1. Further, the pallet 4 transferred onto the transfer conveyor 1 is carried to the next step by the transfer conveyor 1.

Therefore, by repeating this operation, the pallet 4 sent from the previous process on the conveyor 1 is transferred from the transfer position 5 to the transfer station 6
To the transfer station 6 through the read station 7, the adjustment station 8 and the write station 9, and then to the transfer position 5 of the transfer conveyor 1 to transfer to the next step. Will be performed.

In the above embodiment, the case where the optical pickup for CD is transferred together with the pallet 4 has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case of transferring other than this. Further, in the insertion engagement between the pallet 4 and the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2, a positioning hole 13 is provided on the pallet 4 side, and a positioning pin 14 is provided on the arm (11a to 11d) side. However, the positioning pin is provided on the pallet 4 side, and the positioning hole 13 is provided on the arm (11a to 11d) side.
Needless to say, a structure provided with is also possible.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The arm of the second index table moves alternately between the transfer position of the conveyor and the transfer position of the first index table by the rotation of the second index table. At this time, the second index table moves. The arm of the table picks up the unprocessed work on the transfer conveyor and transfers it to the arm of the first index table, and conversely, the arm of the first index table carries the processed work through each work station. The work can be carried back on the transfer conveyor by another arm of the second index table, and a series of operations from picking up the work on the transfer conveyor to returning to the transfer conveyor again through each work station. Operation is performed continuously, wasteful transfer operation is eliminated and high speed transfer is possible It made.

Further, since the length of the arm of the first index table can be shortened, the space required for rotating the first index table can be made small, and accordingly, the equipment can be installed. It is expected that the installation space can be reduced.

Further, a positioning pin having a tapered tip is provided on one of the pallet and one of the arms for carrying the pallet, and the other has a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged. With the pallet placed in the adjustment position, only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, and a play is created between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. Since the pallet can be adjusted in the X-Y directions in the half-pulled state, the conveyance-
A series of operations from adjustment to transportation can be carried smoothly, high-speed transportation is possible, and improvement in productivity can be expected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration layout diagram of a work transfer device shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a main part of a first index table.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of a first index table.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a main configuration of an adjustment station.

5 is a side view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

6 is a side view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an enlarged main configuration of an adjustment station.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of a main part structure in the adjustment station.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of a main part structure in the adjustment station.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of a main part structure in the adjustment station.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyor 2 First index table 3 Second index table 4 Pallet 5 Transfer position 6 Work station (transfer station) 7 Work station (reading station) 8 Work station (adjustment station) 9 Work station (writing station) 11a-11d Arm 13 Positioning hole 14 Positioning pin 14a Tapered tip 15 Surface plate 16a-16d Air spring 18 XY table 21a, 21b Arm 23 pin (vibration damping means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Kenji Yoshikawa 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A work conveyer is continuously picked up at a transfer position, picked up sequentially at a transfer position, and the work is conveyed again through a plurality of work stations provided at positions different from the transfer conveyer. In the work transfer device for returning to the conveyor, the plurality of work stations are arranged in a circle, and a plurality of arms respectively corresponding to the work stations are provided in a radial shape to substantially the center position of the plurality of work stations. A rotatably disposed first index table, an arm corresponding to a transfer position on the conveyor, and an arm corresponding to the arm of the first index table. A second index table rotatably disposed between the transport conveyor and the first index table And the first index table and the second index table are one of the second index tables.
When one arm corresponds to the transfer position, another arm of the second index table rotates synchronously so as to correspond to one of the arms of the first index table, and at each corresponding position. A work transfer device, wherein the work can be transferred. 2. The plurality of work stations, a station for transferring the work between the first index table and the second index table, a station for reading the information of the work, 2. The work transfer device according to claim 1, wherein a station for adjusting the work and a station for writing information on the work are sequentially arranged. 3. The station for adjusting the work is provided with a vibration damping means for mounting the conveyed work and supporting the work from below to suppress vibration. Work transfer device. 4. A pallet on which a work is placed is conveyed to and placed on an adjustment position by an arm of an index table, and the work placed on the adjustment position is moved in the XY directions to perform an adjustment work. In a work transfer apparatus having a step, a positioning pin having a tapered tip is provided on one of the pallet and the arm for carrying the pallet, and the positioning pin is inserted and engaged on the other side. A positioning hole is provided, and in the state where the pallet is placed at the adjustment position, only a part of the tip end portion of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, and the positioning pin is positioned between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. Means for allowing play to be created in a half-blanked state, and adjusting the pallet in the XY direction by half-blanking the positioning pin. A work transfer device characterized in that it can be performed in a state.