JPH1177474A - Workpiece housing device with workpiece lifting function provided with workpiece centripetal guide means - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability by carrying out centering just before a workpiece mounted on a mounting base is given and received, and giving and receiving the workpiece surely. SOLUTION: A workpiece housing device B is formed in such a constitution that a plurality of mounting bases 24 for mounting a plurality of workpieces W (W1, W2) are circulated and carrying on a carrying surface 21 arranged on a base 23, and are stopped at a prescribed dividing position on the carrying surface, and the workpieces W (W1, W2) mounted on the mounting bases 24 stopped at the prescribed calculating position for supplying the workpieces W (W1, W2) to a machine tool, are lifted up to a prescribed height position. The device B is provided with a workpiece centripetal guide means A for carrying out centering at a position where the workpiece W (W1, W2) positioned at the most upper step position are given and received, in the workpieces W (W1, W2) which are arranged upward the prescribed calculating position of the base 23 and lifted to the prescribed height position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention stores a workpiece to be gripped by a workpiece gripping means provided at a front end of a spindle of a machine tool, and supplies the workpiece to and from the machine tool. The present invention relates to a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional machining cell (for example, a turning cell), a storage device for storing a workpiece is stacked and stored on a plurality of mounting tables circulating on a base of the storage device. There is a type of stacking method. In such a processing cell, after positioning the mounting table at a predetermined indexing position, a continuous supply of the workpiece between the storage device and the machine tool via a loader, a transfer means such as a robot, Had been discharging. By the way, since the material workpiece or the like, which is the workpiece, has only been subjected to material cutting or the like, when a plurality of the workpieces are stacked on the mounting table, misalignment or inclination is likely to occur. Therefore, the workpiece is exchanged by increasing the opening / closing stroke of the hand unit in a transfer unit such as a loader or a robot to deal with misalignment or inclination. Further, as another invention for coping with the misalignment, inclination and the like, JP-A-6-3
There is an invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 28339. According to the present invention, after the workpiece is grasped by the hand portion of the transport means, the workpiece once grasped is placed on a material placing table provided near the storage device, and corrected to a correct posture and re-gripped. Things. However, also in the present invention, when the workpiece is first grasped by the hand unit, it is necessary to increase the opening / closing stroke of the hand unit as in the conventional processing cell.

When the stroke of the hand unit is increased, the hand unit is correspondingly increased in size and weight. This increase in the size of the hand unit and the like is inconvenient, as it leads to an increase in the size of the drive motor and an attempt to reduce the size of the drive motor because the transfer speed of the hand unit must be reduced. In addition, since there is a limit to the weight that can withstand conveyance, if the weight of the hand part is heavy, the weight of the work that can be conveyed is correspondingly reduced, which is inconvenient.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-46321 discloses that a workpiece is directly gripped by a workpiece gripping means (chuck or the like) provided at a front end of a movable spindle so that the transport means is not required. The disclosed spindle moving type loading lathe is disclosed. In this spindle moving type loading lathe, since a transfer means such as a loader and a robot is not interposed, the processing system itself is simplified, reliability is improved, and cost is reduced. However, the chuck, which is a workpiece gripping means in such a lathe, is originally intended for gripping at the time of processing, so that the opening / closing stroke cannot be unnecessarily increased. Actually, a long-stroke type chuck having a large opening / closing stroke is also used. However, for example, if the outer diameter of the standard chuck is the same as that of the standard chuck, the chuck performance deteriorates, which is inconvenient. Therefore, the opening / closing stroke of the chuck cannot be increased due to the maintenance of accuracy or the limitation of the number of rotations. Therefore, when the workpieces are tilted due to stacking, the stopping accuracy of the mounting table that circulates the workpieces is poor. In such a case, there is a possibility that a problem may occur in which the claws of the chuck collide with the workpiece, or the workpiece may not be able to be gripped due to a large shift or the like.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and performs centering just before transfer of a workpiece placed on a mounting table to perform reliable transfer. It is another object of the present invention to provide a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means that enhances reliability.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 has a plurality of workpieces on a transfer surface provided on an upper portion of a base. A plurality of mountable mounting tables are circulated and transported, and stopped at a predetermined indexing position on the transport surface, and further stopped at the predetermined indexing position to supply a workpiece to a machine tool. In the workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function for lifting a plurality of workpieces placed on the mounting table to a predetermined height position, the workpiece storage device is provided above the predetermined indexing position of the base. And a workpiece centering guide means for centering the workpiece lifted to the predetermined height position to a position where the workpiece located at the uppermost position can be transferred. Workpiece lift function with featured work centering guide means It was workpiece storage device.

In the invention according to the second aspect, the workpiece centering guide means is movably provided on a guide member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means, and the workpiece centering guide means is provided with the workpiece centering guide means. One having a plurality of guide members that can be set corresponding to the outer periphery of an object, and a guide member that guides the workpiece when the workpiece is inserted into a centering portion of the guide member. The centering portion of the plurality of guide members set to have a predetermined clearance corresponding to the outer periphery of the workpiece, the centering by performing the centering by inserting the workpiece. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function, comprising the workpiece centering guide means according to claim 1. Also, in the invention according to claim 3, the workpiece centering guide means has a guide member interlocking means for interlocking one guide member and another guide member among the plurality of guide members. 3. A workpiece with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of guide members can be moved in conjunction with each other. It was a storage device. Further, in the invention according to claim 4, a drive motor provided on the base of the workpiece centering guide means, for driving the guide member, and a drive motor control unit for controlling the drive motor, 4. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the set position of the guide member can be automatically set. .

[0008] In the invention described in claim 5, the workpiece centering guide means includes a plurality of guides movably provided on a guide member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means. A driving member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means and driving the plurality of guide members, and moving the plurality of guide members by a driving force of the driving member; 2. A workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide members sandwich the workpiece at a height position from the periphery and perform centering. A work storage device was provided. Further, the workpiece centering guide means is provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means, and a guide member extending in the diameter direction of the workpiece, and guided by the guide member, A pair of guide members movably provided in the diameter direction of the workpiece, and a pair of guide members provided between the pair of guide members, and interlocking one guide member and the other guide member of the pair of guide members. Guide member interlocking means, provided on the base of the workpiece centering guide means,
A driving body that drives one of the pair of guide members, and the pair of guide members is moved by the driving force of the drive body to move the workpiece at the predetermined height position. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 5, wherein the workpiece is centered by being sandwiched from both sides.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, the machine tool exchanges the workpiece directly from the workpiece storage device with the workpiece holding means provided at the front end of the spindle, and the machine tool has a headstock. A spindle moving loading machine tool that moves the workpiece to a workpiece transfer position outside the processing area of the workpiece and a processing position within the processing area by movement; and the workpiece centering guide means is 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece gripping means directly grips the workpiece and centers the workpiece at a receivable position. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is characterized in that a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function is provided with workpiece centering guide means. The workpiece centering guide means is located at the uppermost position of the workpiece lifted to a predetermined height at a predetermined indexing position of the workpiece storage device with the workpiece lift function. This is a means for centering the workpiece to be transferred. Hereinafter, the work centering guide means will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function. Is an enlarged view of a part of the workpiece centering guide means, (b)
FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 2A, and FIG. The workpiece W in the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape as a workpiece for turning, and the following embodiment will be described with the workpiece centering guide means A corresponding to the cylindrical shape. May be a polygonal workpiece.

[Workpiece centering guide means] The workpiece centering guide means A is provided so as to be interlocked in the diameter direction of the workpiece W at the transfer position of the workpiece as shown in FIGS. ,
A pair of guide members 10a and 10b that can be set corresponding to the outer periphery of the workpiece W, and a pair of guide members 10a and 10b;
In the present embodiment, a guide member 11 is provided to guide the pair of guide members 10a and 10b in the diametrical direction of the workpiece W, and has a guide member interlocking means 12 for opening and closing at a predetermined position. .

The workpiece centering guide means A is constructed as described above, and is held at a predetermined height by the base 13. The base 13 is, as shown in FIG.
4 is located near the predetermined indexing position where the stop is performed, and the lower base of both legs is located on the outer side of the base 2 on the side of the swivel 21 serving as a transfer surface.
3 or the support 13b, 13
It is a bridge-shaped frame body fixed with bolts via c. The guide member 10 is fixed to the beam portion 13a of the base 13.
a, 10b and the guide member 11, and the guide member interlocking means 12 is formed on the beam portion 13a (FIG. 3).
reference). The height positions of the guide members 10a and 10b and the guide member 11 provided and held in the beam portion 13a are
The predetermined height, that is, the height corresponding to the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position among the workpieces W lifted by the workpiece lifting means 3.

A longitudinal locking hole 11c is formed in the girder portion 13a so that the guide members 10a, 10b
A shaft of a fixing member (bolt) 11d for fixing the guide member 10d is inserted into the locking hole 11c.
It is screwed into the screw holes a and 10b. That is, after the guide members 10a and 10b are set at predetermined positions, they are fixed to the base 13 by the fixing member 11d.

Guide rod support members 11 are provided at appropriate intervals on both sides of guide members 10a and 10b.
b, 11b, and the guide rod support member 11
The base ends of b and 11b are bolted to the beam part 13a.
Furthermore, the guide rod support members 11b, 1
Two guide rods 11a, 11a parallel to the opening / closing direction of the guide members 10a, 10b are attached to the base 1b. The guide rods 11a, 11a are movably fitted into two parallel guide holes 10c, 10c formed in the base portions of the guide members 10a, 10b, and guide the movement of the guide members 10a, 10b. Guide member 10
It is preferable that a sliding bearing or a rolling bearing such as a metal bearing or an oilless bearing is provided in the guide holes 10c, 10c of the guide holes 11a, 10b so as to be movable with respect to the guide rods 11a, 11a. The above guide holes 10c, 10c, guide rods 11a, 11a, guide rod support member 11
b and 11b correspond to the guide member 11, and the guide member 10
The workpieces a and 10b are guided by the guide member 11 and open and close in the diameter direction of the workpiece W to be transferred.

Each tip of the guide members 10a, 10b
When the guide members 10a and 10b are displaced from the centers of the workpieces W at one or more of the four inside positions, the guide members 10a and 10b abut on the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece W. A guide member 10a bent in a V-shape,
The center of the workpiece 10b is the center of the workpiece W, and the guide members 10a and 10b open and close the center of the workpiece W. Therefore, among the workpieces W lifted to a predetermined height position, the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position is in contact with the abutting portions 10d attached to four locations inside the guide members 10a and 10b. It is centered by contact. That is, the contact portion 10d serves as a centering portion that positions the workpiece W within a predetermined centering accuracy in a state where the workpiece W is inserted.

The contact portion 10d is attached to the guide members 10a and 10b by bolts. The lower portion of the contact portion 10d is located at the uppermost position of the lifted workpiece W. An inclined portion 10e is provided as a guiding portion for guiding the workpiece W1 to the centering portion (see FIG. 2B). That is, the guide member 10 is
a and 10b are set at predetermined positions for centering the workpiece W1, and the lifted workpiece W1 is guided into the contact portion 10d while being brought into contact with and along the inclined portion 10e. , Centering. Further, the guide members 10a, 10b
When the difference between the center of the contact portion 10d and the center of the workpiece W is within a predetermined dimension, the workpiece W does not contact the inclined portion 10e and the contact portion 10d. In some cases, the workpiece W may be inserted into the contact portion 10d, but the workpiece W is within the centering accuracy from the beginning. By the way, the accuracy of the centering is only required to be within a predetermined range in which the claw of the chuck 41 can be gripped, and the setting of the guide members 10a and 10b is also performed according to the dimension (the material diameter of the workpiece + (A predetermined gap). In addition, the contact portion 10d is
It is suitable because it can be replaced and replaced when damage etc. occurs,
The guide members 10a, 10b are not attached with the contact portions 10d.
Inclined portion 10e and contact portion 10d
And may be directly centered. Further, a roller 10f can be used for the guide portion and the contact portion as shown in FIG. 8B.

On the beam portion 13a of the base 13, there is formed a guide member interlocking means 12 which is connected to the base ends of the guide members 10a and 10b to open and close at a predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide member interlocking means 12 includes two wires 12.
a, 12a 'and a connecting portion 1 for connecting the ends of the wires 12a, 12a' to the base ends of the guide members 10a, 10b.
2b, and shafts 12c and 12d for supporting the wires 12a and 12a 'by looping them around.

The shaft portions 12c and 12d are connected to the beam portions 13a.
Are bolted at two places on both sides of the guide member 11 to form a groove around which the wires 12a and 12a 'are looped in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery. One end of the wire 12a is connected to the base end of the guide member 10a, the other end is connected to the base end of the guide member 10b by being wrapped around the shaft 12c. On the other hand, one end of the wire 12a '
The other end is connected to the base end of the guide member 10a while being connected to the base end of the guide member 10a. Also,
The base ends of the guide members 10a and 10b are provided so as to be shifted back and forth, and the guide members 10 whose base ends are shifted rearward.
A hole 12e through which the wire 12a is inserted is formed in the base portion (see FIG. 2), and the wire 12a and the guide member 10a are formed.
Encourages smooth movement of

With the above configuration, the guide members 10a, 10a
b is moved in the diametrical direction of the workpiece W1 to be transferred, the other guide member 10
b and 10a open and close synchronously and by the same distance while interlocking with the centering center. That is, the guide members 10a and 10b can be linked in the diameter direction of the workpiece W1 by the guide member interlocking means 12, and can be set in accordance with the diameter of the workpiece W1.

In the present embodiment, a workpiece storage device B having a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means A is attached to a vertical NC lathe M which is a spindle moving type loading machine tool. ing. Hereinafter, the vertical NC lathe M and the workpiece storage device B with the workpiece lift function will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a front view of a vertical NC lathe provided with a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of a vertical NC lathe provided with a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function. FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the workpiece lifting means, FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the turning means of the workpiece storage device, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the workpiece centering guide means. . FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the workpiece guide means, and FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a second and a third embodiment of the guide member interlocking means.

The spindle moving type loading machine tool M is a chuck 41 provided at the front end of the spindle as a workpiece gripping means, and receives and transfers the workpiece W directly from the workpiece storage device B. This is a machine tool that transfers the workpiece W to a workpiece transfer position outside the processing area and a processing position inside the processing area by moving the headstock 52.

[Vertical NC Lathe] First, the vertical NC lathe M will be described with reference to FIGS. The vertical NC lathe M according to the present embodiment includes an L-shaped bed 46 in side view,
A rear bed 46a formed at the rear of the bed 46
Is provided with a saddle 49 that moves in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the axis of a main shaft 52a to be described later. A headstock 52 having the axis of the spindle 52a in the vertical direction is provided on the saddle 49 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and is operated by a built-in spindle drive motor (not shown). The main shaft 52a rotates. When the Z-axis servo motor 48 drives a Z-axis ball screw (not shown) to rotate, the headstock 52 moves in the Z-axis direction by being guided by guide means (for example, linear rolling guide means) (not shown). It is possible. A chuck 41 for gripping the workpiece W is attached to the front end of the main shaft 52a.
The pawl 41a is opened and closed by the chuck cylinder 41b.

The saddle 49 is guided by a guide rail 47 provided on the rear bed 46a, and the X-axis ball screw 5
With the rotation of 0, it moves in the X-axis direction. The guide rail 47 is provided between the workpiece transfer position C1 of the workpiece storage device B with the workpiece lift function and the processing position C2 in the processing area where the tool 51 mounted on the turret 45 performs processing. These are two rails arranged in parallel to guide the table 52. Also, parallel to the guide rails 47, 47,
And an X-axis ball screw 50 whose both ends are rotatably supported.
Are provided between the rails 47, 47, and the X-axis ball screw 50 and the X-axis servomotor 43 are connected by a toothed pulley / toothed belt mechanism. Accordingly, the X-axis ball screw 50 is rotated by the action of the X-axis servo motor 43, and the saddle 49 to which the nut (not shown) screwed with the X-axis ball screw 50 is attached moves in the X-axis direction. The X-axis ball screw 50 and the X-axis servomotor 43
May be directly connected by a coupling.

A tool post 45 is provided on the front surface of the rear bed 46a.
a, a turret 45 to which the tool 51 is attached
However, it is supported so that indexing is possible. The saddle 49 moves in the X-axis direction, and moves to a predetermined position at one end (a workpiece transfer position C).
A workpiece storage device B with a workpiece lift function is provided below the headstock 52 when 1) is reached. The center of the mounting table 24 stopped at a predetermined indexing position, which will be described later, is located on the axis of the main shaft 52a of the headstock 52 that has reached this position (the headstock indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). On the other hand, the saddle 49 moves the X axis in a predetermined position (the processing position C
When moving to 2), the workpiece W held by the chuck 41 and the tool 51 attached to the turret 45 are
Processing is performed by relative movement in the axis and Z-axis directions. Therefore, at the workpiece transfer position C1, the chuck 41 attached to the front end of the main shaft 52a moves downward in the Z-axis by the action of the Z-axis servomotor 48, and is at a predetermined indexing position and at a predetermined height. The workpiece W lifted to the vertical position is gripped. Thereafter, the chuck 41 holding the workpiece W is
By the action of the Z-axis servo motor 48, the workpiece W moves upward in the Z-axis, receives the workpiece W from the workpiece storage device B with the workpiece lift function, and then moves to the other end.
When the spindle 52a reaches a predetermined position (processing position C2) on the other end side, the main shaft 52a rotates at a predetermined number of rotations and relatively moves in the X-axis and Z-axis directions to process the workpiece W. Will be

[Workpiece Storage Device with Workpiece Lift Function] The workpiece storage device B with workpiece lift function is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a support shaft 22 provided on a base 23, a revolving base 21 supported by the support shaft 22 and revolving, and a plurality of workpieces W provided on the revolving base 21 can be placed. A plurality of mounting tables 24; a drive motor 60 for circulating the swivel table 21 to stop at a predetermined indexing position; and a workpiece W mounted on the mounting table 24 stopped at the predetermined indexing position.
To lift the workpiece to a predetermined height.

The swivel table 21 has bearings 63, 6 on a support shaft 22.
It is fixed to a turning shaft 64 that is provided so as to be freely turnable via 3. Also, the gear 62 fixed to the turning shaft 64 is
It meshes with a gear 61 fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 60. That is, the rotation of the drive motor 60 causes the gear 61 to move through the gear 62 through the turning shaft 64 and the turning table 2.
Turn 1 One or more casters 67 may be provided on the outer peripheral side of the swivel 21. Further, a part of the outer periphery of the shaft guide 24f (see FIG. 6) of the mounting table 24 has a notch, and an arm 31a of the workpiece lifting means 3 described later moves up and down through the notch. Further, the shaft guide 24f is provided with three support shafts 24g that are erected movably in the radial direction. The support shaft 24g is provided on a tray 24 placed on the shaft guide 24f.
The workpiece W on the tray 24d is supported by passing through the groove 24e of d, and the tray 24d is vertically movable in the axial direction of the support shaft 24g. The guide 7 on the fixed base 72
3. Three linear grooves are radially formed in the shaft guide 24f to guide the support shaft 24g and the moving member 71 supported by the lower end of the support shaft 24g. The tray 24d is formed with three grooves 24e that extend in an arc shape and radially. That is, when the tray 24d rotates, the support shaft 24g moves in the radial direction, so that positioning corresponding to the diameter of the workpiece W becomes possible, and the workpiece W can be appropriately supported.

Next, the workpiece lifting means 3 for lifting the tray 24d to a predetermined height position and causing the chuck 41 to grip the workpiece W will be described with reference to FIG. Incidentally, the predetermined height position means that, among the workpieces W stacked on the tray 24d, the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position can be gripped by the Z-axis movement of the chuck 41. Refers to the height position. In the present embodiment, the workpiece lift means 3 is provided on the mounting table 24 or the second workpiece indexed to the first workpiece transfer position D shown in FIG.
Are formed at two positions to lift the tray 24d of the mounting table 24 'indexed to the workpiece transfer position E. However, since the workpiece lifting means 3 has the same configuration, the following description will focus on the workpiece lifting means 3 that lifts the mounting table 24 indexed to the workpiece transfer position D.

The workpiece lift means 3 is attached to a base 23 near a predetermined indexing position where the mounting table 24 stops. More specifically, the workpiece lift means 3 includes a guide means (not shown) for vertically moving the arm 31a, a rack 32a formed on the lift member 32, and a mounting table 24. Is located below a predetermined indexing position at which the motor stops, a drive motor 34 attached to the base 23, a pinion 33 attached to the output shaft of the drive motor 34 and meshing with the rack 32a, and an upper end of the lifting member 32 Arm 31a or 3 attached to
1b and a first workpiece which detects that the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position has risen to a predetermined height position, and sends a signal to a control unit driving the drive motor 34 to stop the first workpiece. It comprises detection means 25a and 25a '(see FIG. 1). That is, the tray 24d is raised and lowered by the drive motor 34 via the rack and pinion mechanism, and the upper surface of the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position is always at a fixed position (the workpiece detecting means 25a, 25a ′). In addition, the first workpiece detection means 2
As 5a and 25a ', transmission type photoelectric sensors are suitable, but other types of photoelectric sensors, magnetic sensors and the like can be used. The lifting and lowering of the tray 24d is not limited to the rack and pinion mechanism, but may be performed by using a screw mechanism.

The tip of the arm 31a is formed in a U-shape and protrudes above the swivel table 21 (see FIG. 2).
During the circulation of the mounting table 24, it is located in the space 74 between the swivel table 21 and the shaft guide 24f. However, when the mounting table 24 stops at a predetermined indexing position, the drive motor 34 operates to raise the elevating member 32, and as a result, the arm 31a passes through the notch of the shaft guide 24f, and the circular tray 24d Lift. Further, among the workpieces W on the tray 24d, when the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position reaches a predetermined height position, the workpiece detection means 25a, 25a 'detect the workpiece W1 and activate the drive motor 34. Stop.

In this embodiment, the mounting table 2 stops at a predetermined indexing position corresponding to the first workpiece transfer position D.
Aside from the mounting table 4, another mounting table 24 'is stopped at a position corresponding to the second workpiece transfer position E adjacent to the mounting table 24. The X-axis on which the headstock 52 moves also passes on the mounting table 24 'in addition to the mounting table 24 described above. Also, the tray 24d of the mounting table 24 'is moved up and down by the arm 31b of the workpiece lifting means 3. Therefore, this mounting table 2
The workpiece W can also be exchanged with the workpiece 4 '. In the case of the present embodiment, the workpiece W2 after processing is transported by the movement of the headstock 52 and is stacked. The tray 24d 'or the tray 24d' is located at the second workpiece transfer position E.
Second workpiece detection means 8 for detecting that the upper workpiece upper surface has moved to a position where the next workpiece W can be placed.
1, 82 are provided. The drive motor 34 is controlled via a control unit by the signals of the second workpiece detection means 81 and 82. As the second workpiece detection means, transmission type and reflection type photoelectric sensors and magnetic sensors (such as proximity switches) can be used.

[Explanation of Operation in this Embodiment] Base 23
1 and 5, a plurality of mounting tables 24 are provided. At least one of the mounting tables 24 is an empty mounting table 24 and the other mounting tables 2
4, a plurality of workpieces W are stacked. And
The empty mounting table 24 is placed on the workpiece lift means 3b at the finished product receiving position E, which is the second workpiece transfer position, and the mounting table 24 on which the workpiece W is stacked is moved to the first workpiece. Positioning is performed so as to correspond to the workpiece lift means 3a at the material supply position D which is the transfer position. In this case, the guide member 10
a and 10b indicate that the opening / closing stroke of the claw of the chuck 41 is α.
mm (diameter), [material diameter of workpiece + α- (2
4)] mm is set in advance. Subsequently, the workpiece lift means 3a operates to raise the arm 31a and lift the tray 24d (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). As a result of this lifting, the workpiece W on the tray 24d rises while being guided by the support shaft 24g, as shown in FIG. Then, among the workpieces W stacked on the tray 24d, the workpiece position detection means 25a, 25a 'detects that the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position has risen to a predetermined height. , The tray 24d and the workpiece W are stopped from rising.

On the other hand, as the tray 24d is raised, the workpiece W1 located at the uppermost position is released from the support shaft 24g, and is inserted into the centering portions of the guide members 10a and 10b to be centered. After the centering is completed, the headstock 52 descends from above in the Z-axis direction, the chuck 41 grips the workpiece (material) W1 at the uppermost position, and the headstock 52 rises to a predetermined position. Transfer is completed.

Thereafter, the headstock 52 moves to the machining position C2 in the machining area, and the workpiece W is machined. After this processing is completed, the headstock 52 moves to a position above the mounting table 24 'at the finished product receiving position E. Then, the workpiece lift means 3b raises the tray 24d of the mounting table 24 ', and further, the second workpiece detection means 81, 82.
However, when detecting that the tray 24d is located at the predetermined upper end position, the lifting of the tray 24d is stopped. After this ascent is stopped, the processed workpiece W2 is placed on the tray 24d. When the work W2 has been placed on the mounting table 24 ',
The headstock 52 then moves to the material supply position D (see FIG. 1) and receives the next workpiece (material) W. At this time, since the tray 24d is raised, the guide members 10a,
Centering can be performed by contact with 10b. By repeating the above operation, all the workpieces W on the mounting table 24 are processed, the processed workpieces W2 are stacked on the mounting table 24 ', and the tray 24d of the mounting table 24 is empty. become. Then, the revolving base 21 is indexed, the mounting part 24d of the empty tray 24d is positioned at the finished product receiving position E, and the next mounting table 24 is positioned at the material supply position D, thereby enabling continuous processing. .

In this embodiment, the guide members 10a, 1
Guide member interlocking means 1 for interlockingly moving 0b
2 has been described as a means using the wires 12a and 12a ', but a rack and a rack as shown in FIG.
The guide members may be moved in conjunction with each other using a pinion mechanism or a chain / sprocket mechanism. In other words, any device can be used as long as it can transmit the rotation of the center rotating body (pinion, sprocket, etc.) in conjunction with the linear moving body (rack, chain) meshing on both sides. By rotating the central axis of this rotating body with a manual handle,
The operability of setting the guide members 10a and 10b is improved.
Further, a screw mechanism having a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the screw shaft is rotated by the manual handle, and the guide member 1 is rotated.
If the setting of 0a and 10b can be performed, the operability is improved.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A fluid pressure cylinder (hereinafter, referred to as a cylinder) 90, which is a driving member for the guide member, is provided on one side of the guide members 10a, 10b of the girder portion 13a. Further, a cylinder rod 91 is attached to the base portion on one side (in this example, the guide member 10a) of the guide member via an attachment member. That is, the guide member 10
a is a guide rod 11 driven by the cylinder 90.
a, 11a. Guide member 1
A guide member interlocking means 12 is provided between Oa and the guide member 10b as in the first embodiment.
Therefore, the guide member 10a is moved by the cylinder 90 to K
When the guide member 10b moves to the first side, the guide member 10b also moves to the K2 side.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described. The guide members 10a and 10b are waiting at the farthest position. When the workpiece (raw material) W1 located at the uppermost position rises to a predetermined position due to the rise of the tray 24d, the workpiece W1 comes off the support of the support shafts 24g, 24g, 24g. Thereafter, when the cylinder 90 is driven, the guide members 10a, 10b move in the closing direction (K1, K2 directions) in conjunction with each other, and the pair of guide members 10a, 10b sandwich the workpiece W1 to perform centering. In this embodiment, the workpiece W located at the uppermost position
As long as the workpiece 1 is not dropped from the support shaft 24g in a state where it is not supported, the shift amount of the workpiece W1 is not limited and the centering can be performed. The second embodiment is not limited to this example. The center axis of the rotating body (pinion, sprocket, etc.) in the mechanism of FIG. 10A may be rotated by a rotary cylinder or a drive motor so that the workpiece is sandwiched between a pair of guide members. The drive motor for driving the screw shaft of the mechanism in FIG. 10B may be rotated so that the workpiece is sandwiched between the pair of guide members.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The guide members 10a and 10b are screwed into the screw shaft 92. The screw shaft 92 has a right-hand thread 92a and a left-hand thread 92b. A guide rod 12 parallel to the screw shaft 92 is inserted into the guide members 10a and 10b. Therefore, when the screw shaft 92 rotates, the guide members 10a and 10b approach and separate from each other. The output shaft of the drive motor 93 is connected to the screw shaft 92 via a coupling 94. The drive motor 93 is preferably a control motor such as a servo motor or a stepping motor whose position can be controlled by a motor control unit (not shown). When the drive motor 93 rotates, the guide members 10a and 10b can be positioned at the commanded predetermined positions. That is, it is possible to automatically set the position specified by the motor control unit. Also, this third
The embodiment is not limited to the one using the screw mechanism,
For example, in the mechanism described with reference to FIG. 10A or the like, by directly or indirectly connecting the center axis of the rotating body and the output shaft of the drive motor, and controlling the rotational position of the rotating body, the guide member 10a , 10b may be controlled by positioning and automatically set.

In this embodiment, a vertical NC lathe M, which is a spindle moving type loading machine tool, is provided with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to the present invention. The example using the storage device B has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function having a workpiece centering guide means according to the present invention is used in a processing cell provided with a transfer means such as a loader or a robot. However, it is not necessary to increase the opening / closing stroke of the hand unit in the transfer means, and the hand unit can be reduced in size and weight, which is preferable.

In the description of the first to third embodiments, the workpiece placing portion is provided on the upper part of the revolving body, but the present invention is not limited to this. The workpiece storage device may be configured such that a plurality of pallets connected by a chain are provided on a base so as to be movable in a circulating manner, and a workpiece mounting portion is provided on the pallets. In each of the above embodiments, the pair of guide members 1
In the example described above, 0a and 10b are opened and closed in the diametric direction of the workpiece W, and are centered by being pinched. However, the guide member is not limited to such an example, and a plurality of guide members may be provided to abut on the outer periphery of the workpiece W from three or more places to perform centering. The contact portion of the guide member may be formed so as to be movable in the radial direction from the center of the workpiece W to perform centering. Further, in the case of centering by the plurality of guide members, a known cam mechanism, screw mechanism, and the like used in a steady rest device of a machine tool disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-75292.
The centering may be performed using an opening / closing mechanism using a wedge mechanism.

[0040]

According to the present invention, a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to the present invention is capable of centering within a predetermined range when a workpiece is transferred. Therefore, even in the case of stacked workpieces, the transfer of the workpiece can be reliably performed, and the reliability is improved. In particular, in the case of a machine tool such as a spindle moving type loading machine tool, it is not necessary to increase the stroke of a chuck for gripping a workpiece, and a standard chuck can be used. As a result, it is possible to withstand the load at the time of turning processing, and it is possible to perform processing by high-speed rotation. Further, even in a processing cell provided with a transfer unit such as a loader or a robot, the opening and closing stroke of the hand unit in the transfer unit can be reduced, so that the hand unit can be reduced in size and weight, and high-speed transfer and The transportable weight of a workpiece to be transported can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function as viewed from above.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partially enlarged views of a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function, wherein FIG. 2A is a schematic enlarged view of a workpiece centering guide means, and FIG. F sectional drawing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the workpiece centering guide means viewed from a G direction.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vertical NC lathe provided with a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a vertical NC lathe provided with a workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the workpiece lifting means.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a turning means of the workpiece storage device.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the workpiece centering guide means, wherein FIG.
(B) is a diagram using rollers.

FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the workpiece centering guide means.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the guide member interlocking means, wherein FIG. 10A is a diagram showing the second embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

A Work centering guide means 10a, 10b Guide member 10c Guide hole 10d Abutment portion 10e Inclined portion (induction guide portion) 10f Roller (induction guide portion) 11 Guide member 11a Guide rod 11b Guide rod support member 11c Lock hole 11d Fixing member (bolt) 12 Guide member interlocking means 12a, 12a 'Wire 12b Connecting part 12c, 12d Shaft part 12e Hole 12f Pinion 12g, h Rack part 12i Cylinder 12j Piston 13 Base 13a Girder part 13b, 13c Leg part B Workpiece storage device with work lift function 21 Revolving table (transport surface) 22 Support shaft 23 Base 24 Placement table 24d Tray 24e Groove 24f Shaft guide 24g Support shaft 25a, a 'Workpiece detection means 60 Drive motor 61, 62 Gear 63 Bearing 64 Revolving shaft 65 Center fixed Table 67 Caster 71 Moving member 72 Fixed table 73 Guide 74 Space 3 Workpiece lifting means 31a, 31b Arm 32 Elevating member 32a Rack 33 Pinion 34 Drive motor M Vertical NC lathe 41 Chuck 42 Drive transmission means 43 X-axis servo Motor 44 Tool post 45 Turret 46 Bed 47 Guide rail 48 Z-axis servo motor 49 Saddle 50 X-axis ball screw 51 Tool 52 Headstock W Workpiece W1 Workpiece located at the highest position W2 Workpiece after processing Stuff

Claims (7)

[Claims] A plurality of mounting tables on which a plurality of workpieces can be mounted are circulated and transported on a transport surface provided on an upper portion of a base, and stopped at a predetermined indexing position on the transport surface. And a workpiece lift function for lifting a plurality of workpieces mounted on the mounting table stopped at the predetermined indexing position to a predetermined height position to supply the workpieces to the machine tool. In the attached workpiece storage device, among the workpieces provided above the predetermined indexing position of the base and lifted to the predetermined height position,
A workpiece lift provided with workpiece centering guide means, comprising workpiece centering guide means for centering a workpiece located at the uppermost position at which the workpiece can be transferred. Workpiece storage device with function. 2. The workpiece centering guide means is movably provided on a guide member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means, and can be set corresponding to an outer periphery of the workpiece. And a guide member for guiding the workpiece when the workpiece is inserted into the centering portion of the guide member, and an outer periphery of the workpiece. The centering is performed by inserting an outer peripheral portion of the workpiece into a centering portion of the plurality of guide members set to have a predetermined clearance corresponding to (1). Workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function, provided with a workpiece centering guide means. 3. The workpiece centering guide means has a guide member interlocking means for interlocking one guide member and another guide member among the plurality of guide members, and the plurality of guides. 3. The workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function according to claim 2, wherein the member can be moved in conjunction with the workpiece. 4. A drive motor provided on the base of the workpiece centering guide means, for driving the guide member, and a drive motor control unit for controlling the drive motor, wherein the set position of the guide member is 4. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function, comprising a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 2 or 3, wherein automatic setting is possible. 5. The workpiece centering guide means comprises: a plurality of guide members movably provided on a guide member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means; and the workpiece centering means. A driving body provided on the base of the guide means, for driving the plurality of guide members, the plurality of guide members are moved by a driving force of the driving body, and the workpiece at the predetermined height position is moved. The workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide members perform centering by sandwiching the guide members from the periphery. 6. The workpiece centering guide means includes: a pair of guide members movably provided on a guide member provided on a base of the workpiece centering guide means; A guide member interlocking means provided between the guide members for interlocking one guide member and the other guide member of the pair of guide members; and a base member of the workpiece centering guide means; A driving body that drives one of the driving bodies, the pair of guide members being moved by the driving force of the driving body, and the pair of guide members sandwiching the outer peripheral portion of the workpiece at the predetermined height position from both sides. 6. A workpiece storage device with a workpiece lift function provided with a workpiece centering guide means according to claim 5, wherein the workpiece is centered. 7. The machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is directly transferred from a workpiece storage device by a workpiece holding means provided at a front end of a spindle, and a work area of the workpiece is moved by moving a headstock. A spindle moving type loading machine tool for moving the workpiece to an external workpiece transfer position and a processing position in a processing area, wherein the workpiece centering guide means, the workpiece gripping means, The workpiece centering guide means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the workpiece is directly gripped and centered at a position where it can be received. Workpiece storage device with workpiece lift function.