JPH09309040A - Work switching mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save space in the horizontal direction. SOLUTION: A rotation arm 44 is capable of holding work holders 22A and 22B at each of its rotation ends. The rotation arm 44 is capable of rotation around a rotation shaft 43, which is a horizontal shaft. The rotation arm 44 is rotated by driving of a driving motor 45, and both the work holders 22A and 22B are rotated in the vertical face so that their positions are switched.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a work changing mechanism for changing a processed work and a work to be processed next.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of exchanging mechanism, a work is held at both rotary ends (at 180 ° point symmetrical positions) of a rotatable rotary member, and the rotary member is placed on a horizontal plane. By rotating the inside of the workpiece by 180 °, the positional relationship between the two works is switched.

However, since the rotating member is rotated in a horizontal plane and a space for rotating the rotating member must be secured, the mechanism is enlarged in the horizontal direction. The present invention has been made by paying attention to the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a work replacement mechanism capable of saving space in the horizontal direction.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, a rotating arm rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft at a central portion and a rotating arm for rotating the rotating arm. A rotating means and holding means for holding a workpiece, which are respectively provided at both rotating ends of the rotating arm, are provided. When the rotating arm is rotated by the rotating means, one rotating end side of the rotating arm is provided. Is a work exchange mechanism configured to exchange the positional relationship between the work held on the other side and the work held on the other rotation end side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an elevating means for elevating the rotating arm is provided. Claim 3
According to the invention, between the rotating arm and the holding means, the holding means is caused to rotate in synchronization with the revolution of the holding means around the horizontal axis due to the rotation of the rotating arm, whereby the posture of the work is kept constant. A posture maintaining means for maintaining is interposed.

(Operation) In the invention of claim 1 having the above-mentioned structure, the rotating arm is rotated about the horizontal axis by the rotating means, and the work held at both rotating ends of the rotating arm via the holding means is horizontal. It is revolved around the axis. Therefore, the positional relationship between both works is switched.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the rotating arm is moved up and down by the elevating means. Therefore, for example, at the time of exchanging workpieces, it is possible to secure a rotating space that does not interfere with the table even if the rotating arm is not horizontally displaced with respect to the table of the processing machine.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the holding means is revolved around the horizontal axis by the rotation of the rotary arm, and is rotated by the posture maintaining means in synchronization with the revolution.
Therefore, the posture of the work is kept constant even during the revolution of the rotating arm.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a work loading / unloading device will be described below. Note that the left side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the front and the right side is the rear.

FIG. 1 shows a surface grinder 11 as a processing machine,
It is a figure which shows the workpiece loading / unloading apparatus 21 for supplying the workpiece W to the same surface grinding machine 11, and taking out the processed workpiece W.

In the surface grinder 11, a column 13 is erected on a machine base 12 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.
The head 14 is held so that it can be raised and lowered. Grinding wheel 1
The motor 5 is rotatably held by the head 14.
It is rotationally driven by 9. The table 16 is arranged on the machine base 12 via rails 17, and can reciprocate on the rails 17 in the left-right direction.

The work loading / unloading device 21 includes a work holder 22, a transfer mechanism 23, and a replacement mechanism 24. The work W is fixedly held by the work holder 22, and the work holder 22 is carried by the operation of the carrying mechanism 23 between the work carry-in / carry-out position H where the worker stands by and the exchanging mechanism 24. The exchange mechanism 24 receives the work holder 22A sent from the work loading / unloading position H by the transport mechanism 23 and exchanges the work holder 22A with the work holder 22B on the table 16 of the surface grinder 11.

Then, the work W is processed while the work holder 22 is moved and arranged on the table 16 of the surface grinder 11. So column 13 is table 1
6 is moved and arranged, the head 14 is lowered, the grinding wheel 15 is brought into contact with the work W, and the table 16 is reciprocally moved while rotating the grinding wheel 15 to perform surface grinding of the surface of the work W. Done.

Next, the work loading / unloading device 21 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main frame 25 is arranged on the front side of the surface grinder 11. The frame-shaped upper frame 26 is mounted on the upper surface of the main frame 25 in a substantially horizontal state. The middle frame 27 is arranged inside the main frame 25 in parallel with the upper frame 26 at a predetermined interval. The above-described transport mechanism 23 is disposed on the upper frame 26, and the exchange mechanism 24 is disposed on the middle frame 27.

Explaining the transport mechanism 23, the shaft 28 is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the upper frame 26 via a shaft support member 29, and a pair of them are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. A drive motor 30 composed of an electric motor or the like is supported by the upper frame 26 and is drivingly connected to one shaft 28. Sprocket 31 is fixed to both ends of each shaft 28,
The chain 32 is wound around the sprocket 31 that faces the front and rear shafts 28. The plurality of tabs 32a are
The chain 32 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the chain 32 at a predetermined interval. The pair of chain frames 33 are provided on the upper frame 26 and support the upper linear portion of the chain 32 from the back surface side.

Then, by driving the drive motor 30, the chain 32 is rotated, and the claw 32a is brought into contact with the front end surface or the rear end surface of the work holder 22 placed on the straight part of the chain 32, and the same. The work holder 22 is moved in the front-back direction, that is, in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the surface grinder 11.

The exchanging mechanism 24 will be described. A pair of moving guide rails 34 are laid in parallel on the upper surface of the middle frame 27 at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction. The slide plate 35 is provided with guide portions 35a at four corners on the back surface side, and is engaged with the moving guide rail 34 by the guide portions 35a. The moving cylinder 36 is a rodless air cylinder, and is arranged in the front-rear direction at the center of the middle frame 27. The slider 36a of the moving cylinder 36 is connected and fixed to the back surface of the slide plate 35. Therefore, the slide plate 35 is moved along the moving guide rail 34 to the surface grinder 11 by the movement of the moving cylinder 36. On the other hand, it is slid in the approaching / separating direction.

A pair of elevating guide frames 37 including guide rails 37a are fixed to the left and right sides of the rear side of the slide plate 35, respectively.
Extends vertically in the lateral direction. The pair of elevating frames 38 are engaged with the guide rails 37 a of the elevating guide frame 37, respectively.
It is slidable in the vertical direction along a. The synchronous shaft 39 is rotatably disposed on the slide plate 35 via a shaft support member 40, and is mounted on a rack 38a formed on each elevating frame 38 with gears 39a fixed to both left and right ends thereof. It is meshed.

The pair of lifting cylinders 41 constituting the lifting means comprises air cylinders, and the slide plate 3
It is fixed to the left and right sides of 5 in an inverted state. A rod 41a of the lifting cylinder 41 extends and contracts in the vertical direction, and the rod 41a is connected and fixed to the lower end of the lifting frame 38. Therefore, the elevating frame 38 is lowered by the extending operation of the elevating cylinder 41, and the elevating frame 38 is raised by the contracting operation. Even if an expansion / contraction difference is generated between the left and right lifting cylinders 41, the synchronous shaft 39 connecting the two lifting frames 38 with the gear 39a and the rack 38a suppresses the expansion and contraction.
The lifting amount of 8 is the same.

The pair of fixed arms 42 is used for the lifting frame 3
8 is cantilevered at the upper end. The rotary shaft 43 as a horizontal shaft is provided horizontally between the tips of the fixed arms 42,
It is rotatably supported by each fixed arm 42.
The pair of rotary arms 44 are arranged inside the fixed arm 42, and are fixed to the rotary shaft 43 by their central portions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a rotation motor 45, which is an electric motor as a rotation means, is arranged at the base of one fixed arm 42. The chain / sprocket mechanism 4 is driven by the rotation motor 45.
The rotary shaft 43 is rotated through the rotary arm 44.
Is rotated about the rotation shaft 43.

The rotary disk 47 is rotatably disposed in each rotary arm 44 at both rotary end portions (at 180 ° point symmetrical positions about the rotary shaft 43).
The driven timing pulley 48 is fixed to the back surface of each rotating disk 47. The drive timing pulley 50 is fixedly arranged in the fixed arm 42 at a position coaxial with the rotary shaft 43. The timing belt 51 is wound around a front and rear driven timing pulley 48 and a drive timing pulley 50 via a guide roller 52. In addition,
The rotation ratio of both timing pulleys 48, 50 is 1: 1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the engaging member 49 constituting the holding means includes an engaging roller 49a and an engaging pin 49b, and the engaging roller 49a rotates. The engagement pin 49b is arranged at the coaxial position of the disk 47 and at the eccentric position. Similarly, the engaging portions 22a also constituting the holding means are provided on both sides of the work holder 22,
The engaging portion 22a is an engaging recess 2 opened downward.
2b and the engaging groove 22c which is also opened downward
And Then, as the rotating arm 44 is raised, the engaging roller 49a is inserted into the engaging concave portion 22b and the engaging pin 49b is inserted into the engaging groove 22c from below, respectively, and the work holder is provided between the rotating ends of the rotating arm 44. 22 is held and fixed. Further, by lowering the rotary arm 44 from this state, the engaging roller 49a and the engaging recess 2
2b and the engagement pin 49b are engaged with the engagement groove 22c, that is, the holding state between the rotation ends of the rotation arm 44 of the work holder 22 is released.

Then, for example, in FIG. 4, when the rotary arm 44 is rotated counterclockwise around the rotary shaft 43, the drive timing pulley 50 fixed to the fixed arm 42 is moved relative to the rotary arm 44. Will be rotated. As a result, the rotating disk 47 (engaging member 4
9) is rotated in the clockwise direction about its own axis by the same angle as the revolution angle around the rotation axis 43. In other words, the rotating disk 47, the driven timing pulley 48, the drive timing pulley 50, and the timing belt 51 constitute the posture maintaining means of the present embodiment, and the work holder 22 is kept in a fixed posture even when the rotary arm 44 is rotated ( It is configured so that it can be maintained in the same posture as when it is placed on the table 16.

Next, the work carrying-in / carrying-out device 21 having the above-mentioned structure.
The operation of will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the worker mounts and fixes the work W to be processed on the work holder 22A, and the work holder 22A is mounted on the work mechanism 22A.
Set to the carry-in / carry-out position H side. The set work holder 22A is operated by the transport mechanism 23,
It is conveyed toward the exchange mechanism 24. The work holder 22A transported to the exchange mechanism 24 has its engaging member 22A when the elevating frame 38 is slightly raised.
The engaging member 40 on one rotating end side of the rotating arm 44 is engaged with a. Therefore, the work holder 22A is held and fixed between the rotating disks 47 at one rotating end of both rotating arms 44.

As shown in FIG. 7, the moving cylinder 36 is driven while the work holder 22A is held, and the slide plate 35 is moved toward the surface grinder 11. In the state where the slide plate 35 is closest to the surface grinder 11, the elevating frame 38 is raised by a slight amount, and the engaging member 49 on the other rotating end side of the rotating arm 44.
And the processed work W placed on the table 16
Is engaged with the engaging portion 22a of the work holder 22B holding the. Therefore, the work holder 22B is held between the rotary disks 47 at the other rotary ends of the rotary arms 44. That is, the work holder 22 on the table 16
The mounting position of the work holder 22 in the transport mechanism 23 is
It is slightly higher than the mounting position.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lifting cylinder 41 is contracted, the lifting frame 38 is lifted, and the fixed and rotating arms 42 and 44 are vertically lifted with respect to the table 16. Therefore, between the rotary arm 44 and the table 16, the work holder 2 held by the rotary arm 44 is held.
A space that allows rotation in the vertical planes of 2A and 22B is secured. The column 13 has a work holder 22.
When A and 22B are exchanged, they are set back.

Then, the rotating arm 44 is rotated about the rotating shaft 43 by the driving of the rotating motor 45.
At this time, since the rotating disk 47 is rotated about the rotating shaft 43 by the same angle in the opposite direction to the revolution, it is fixed to the rotating disk 47 via the engaging portions and the engaging members 22a and 49. Both the work holders 22A and 22B are revolved around the rotary shaft 43 while maintaining the horizontal state (the same state as when placed on the table 16).

Then, as shown in FIG.
The rotation motor 45 is stopped in a state in which 4 is rotated by 180 °, and the elevating frame 38 is lowered by the extension operation of the elevating cylinder 41. Therefore, the work holder 22A is placed on the table 16 and the work holder 22A
The engaging member 49 of the rotating arm 44 is disengaged from the engaging portion 22a of A.

After the work holder 22A is placed on the table 16, the movement of the moving cylinder 36 in the opposite direction causes the slide plate 35 to move in a direction away from the surface grinder 11. Then, the elevating frame 38 is lowered by a slight amount in a state where the rotary arm 44 is closest to the transfer mechanism 23, and the work holder 22B is placed on the transfer mechanism 23 and at the same time, the work holder 22 is moved.
The engaging member 49 of the rotary arm 44 is disengaged from the engaging portion 22a of B. Then, the work holder 22B detached from the rotary arm 44 is moved to the work loading / unloading position H by the operation of the transport mechanism 23, and is taken out of the work loading / unloading device 21 by the worker.

The present embodiment having the above-described structure has the following effects. (1) The rotating arm 44 that holds the work holders 22A and 22B is configured to rotate about the rotating shaft 43 that is a horizontal shaft. Therefore, the rotary arm 44 is rotated in the vertical plane, and the work loading / unloading device 21 can be saved in a horizontal space. That is, in a factory or the like in which the device 21 is installed, it is possible to use a vertical space that has a relatively large margin as compared with the horizontal space, which leads to effective use of the space.

(2) The rotating arm 44 is constructed to be movable up and down by the operation of the lifting cylinder 41. Therefore, even if the rotary arm 44 is not moved in the horizontal direction with respect to the table 16, the rotary arm 44 and the rotary arm 44 do not move when the rotary arm 44 rotates.
6,44 are not interfered. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure the rotation space of the rotation arm 44 around the horizontal direction of the table 16, and it is possible to more effectively achieve the horizontal space saving of the device 21 described above.

(3) Here, for example, the rotary disk 47, the driven timing pulley 48, the drive timing pulley 50, and the timing belt 51 are deleted from the device 21, and the engaging member 49 is engaged with the rotary end of the rotary arm 44. It is assumed that only the roller 49a is provided. In this case, when the rotating arm 44 rotates, the work holder 22 is driven by the weight of the engaging roller 49a by its own weight.
By turning around, the posture is kept constant. However, on the other hand, there is a possibility that the work holder 22 will be swung about the engagement roller 49a, and there is a danger that the work holder 22 will fall off the rotary arm 44. However, in the present embodiment, the posture maintaining means 47, 48, 50 for forcibly maintaining the posture constant,
51, the posture of the work holder 22 can be reliably maintained in a constant state even when the rotating arm 44 rotates. Therefore, there is no fear of the work holder 22 dropping off the rotating arm 44.

(4) The work loading / unloading device 21 includes the work holder 2 from the loading / unloading position H to the exchanging mechanism 24.
A transport mechanism 23 that transports 2 is provided. Therefore, even if the worker does not approach the exchange mechanism 24 in which the rotating arm 44 is rotated, the work holder 2 to the exchange mechanism 24 is not changed.
2 It can be attached or detached. Further, it is possible to secure a predetermined distance between the operator and the surface grinder 11,
The worker can perform work such as supply or removal of the work holder 22 at a position far from the surface grinder 11.

(5) The exchanging mechanism 24 is moved toward and away from the surface grinder 11 by the slide moving means 34 to 36. Therefore, the worker can work at a position far from the surface grinder 11.

It should be noted that, for example, the following embodiments can be carried out without departing from the spirit of the present invention. (1) The rotating disk 47, the driven timing pulley 48, the drive timing pulley 50, and the timing belt 51 are deleted from the above embodiment, and only the engaging roller 49a of the engaging member 49 is provided at the rotating end of the rotating arm 44. That is,
The engaging roller 49a is used as the posture maintaining means, and the rotating arm 4 is used.
When the work holder 22 rotates, the work holder 22 is rotated about its own engagement roller 49a due to its own weight, so that the work holder 22 maintains a constant posture.

(2) The transport mechanism 23 may be removed from the above embodiment so that the worker directly attaches / detaches the work holder 22 to / from the exchanging mechanism 24. (3) Apply the device 21 as a processing machine other than the surface grinder, such as a lathe.

The technical idea that can be understood from the above embodiment will be described. (1) The work replacement mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising slide moving means 34 to 36 for slidingly moving the rotating arm 44 in a horizontal direction.

In this way, the operator can move the surface grinder 1
At a position far from 1, the work holder 22 can be supplied or withdrawn. (2) A work loading / unloading device 21 for loading the work W into the processing machine 11 and carrying out the processed work W from the processing machine 11, wherein the work W is carried out. A work loading / unloading device including the work switching mechanism 24.

By doing so, it is possible to prevent the apparatus 21 from becoming large in the horizontal direction.

[0041]

According to the invention of claim 1 having the above structure, since the rotary arm is configured to rotate in the vertical plane, the space of the mechanism can be saved in the horizontal direction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the rotary arm is moved up and down, the rotary space of the rotary arm can be secured in the vertical direction of the mechanism, and the space of the mechanism can be further saved in the horizontal direction.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the posture of the work can be maintained constant even during the rotation of the rotary arm, and the replacement of the work can be stably performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a surface grinder and a work loading / unloading device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a work loading / unloading device.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a work loading / unloading device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a replacement mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a replacement mechanism.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an engagement state between an engagement member and an engagement portion, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the engagement portion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the work loading / unloading device.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the work loading / unloading device.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the work loading / unloading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

22a ... Engaging portion constituting holding means, 24 ... Replacement mechanism, 36 ... Rotating shaft as horizontal axis, 37 ... Drive motor as rotating means, 38 ... Rotating arm, 40 ... Engaging member constituting holding means, W ... work.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A rotating arm rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft at its center, rotating means for rotating the rotating arm, and a rotating arm provided at both rotating ends of the rotating arm, respectively. A holding means for holding,
When the rotating arm is rotated by the rotating means, the positional relationship between the work held on one rotating end side of the rotating arm and the work held on the other rotating end side is switched. Work replacement mechanism. 2. The work exchange mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating means for elevating the rotating arm. 3. Between the rotary arm and the holding means,
The posture maintaining means for maintaining a constant posture of the work is interposed by rotating the holding means by rotating the holding arm around the horizontal axis by the rotation of the rotary arm. Work replacement mechanism described.