JPS6031891Y2 - Palette changer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention is a processing table (usually called a compound table) that is movably installed on the XZ plane of a machine tool.

) This relates to a shuttle table-type pallet changer that has a hole for carrying out pallets on the top.

A rotary continuous pallet changer is generally used as a conventional pallet changer for carrying out a pallet onto a compound table movable on an XZ plane.

This is because the compound table moves within the XZ plane, so in the conventional shuttle system, there is a problem of interference between the shuttle guide and the table.

The above-mentioned rotary one type has two arms that index and rotate by 1800 degrees, and the work material placed on the pallet on the arm located at the work attachment/removal position farthest from the main spindle is moved by the rotation of the pallet changer arm. This is a method of exchanging it with a processed workpiece.

That is, while a workpiece placed on a pallet on a processing table is being processed, a processed workpiece indexed to a workpiece mounting/removal position on a pallet changer arm is replaced with a workpiece material.

When the processing of the workpiece is completed, the processed workpiece placed on the pallet is moved to an exchange position close to the pallet changer by movement of the processing table.

The processed workpiece is then returned onto the pallet changer arm.

Subsequently, the pallet changer arm rotates, and the workpiece material is indexed to the processing table side of the machine tool, while the processed workpiece is indexed to the workpiece installation and removal positions.

Furthermore, the pallet on which the work material is placed on the pallet changer arm indexed to the processing table side is carried onto the processing table.

The processing table that clamped the work material moves,
Predetermined processing is started.

That is, the rotary type pallet changer described above requires time to change pallets.

Furthermore, since the pallet changer arm rotation device is provided on the side of the processing table of the machine tool, extra floor space is required, resulting in a complicated structure and high cost.

In view of these problems, the present invention is a machining center in which shuttle table-shaped pallet changers are installed on the left and right sides of a relatively spacious machining table.

That is, the pallet can be directly transferred onto the processing table at the origin position by the movable conveyance path of the shuttle.

This eliminates the need for a rotary pallet changer and shortens pallet exchange time.

Furthermore, by eliminating the rotary continuous pallet changer, the floor space can be reduced and costs can be reduced.

Embodiments of the pallet changer of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a machine tool in which the pallet changer of the present invention is installed on the left and right sides of a processing table.

In the figure, 1 is a bed of a machine tool, a carrier C is provided on two guide surfaces on the bed 1 so as to be slidable in two directions, and a saddle S is provided on the X guide surface of the carrier C in the X direction. It is slidably installed on the

A processing table 2 is provided in the center of the saddle S,
A pallet 4 with a workpiece 3 attached thereto is placed on the processing table 2.

Further, a first standby device M is provided on the bed 1 of the machine tool and used as a pallet standby position on the left side of the processing table 2, and a workpiece is placed on the first pallet standby position M. A pallet 7 on which materials 6 are placed is placed.

Furthermore, a second pallet standby device N is provided on the right side of the processing table 2 and is used as a pallet standby position to receive the workpiece 3 processed by the processing table 2.

Also, the two-dot chain line A9 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

C indicates the movement area of the processing table 2.

Next, the first movable conveyance path will be explained according to a partially enlarged plan view of the left side surface of the processing table 2 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, two rails 10 and 10' are fixed in parallel on a rail 9'9' that constitutes the bed 1.

A plurality of rollers 1 are provided on the inner surfaces of the two rails 10, 10'.
1 and 11' are rotatably supported on shafts 12 provided parallel to the floor surface and facing each other at a position lower than the upper surface of the rail 10.degree. 10'.

(FIG. 5) Furthermore, in FIG. 3, the rail 10.10
In the center of the frame 13 is parallel to the rail 10, 10'.
are fixed on the wires 9, 9'.

The frame body 13 is composed of two rectangular members, and grooves 14 are cut on both sides thereof over the entire length.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a first movable conveyance path 5 having a U-shaped cross section is provided at the upper part of the frame 13.

Further, on both sides of the first movable conveyance path 5, through holes 15 are bored parallel to the floor surface, and the shaft 1 is inserted into the through holes 15.
Rollers 17, 17' are rotatably supported on the shaft 6.

Further, a plurality of rollers 17 provided inside the first movable conveyance path 5 are inserted into the groove 14 of the frame 13, and support the first movable conveyance path 5 so as to be movable back and forth. There is.

Furthermore, a plurality of shafts 18 are fixed perpendicularly to the floor surface at the lower ends of both sides of the first movable conveyance path 5, and rollers 19 are mounted on the shafts 18.
, 19' are rotatably supported.

Therefore, the movement of the first movable conveyance path 5 in the lateral direction is restricted by the rollers 19, 19'.

(FIG. 5) Also, as shown in FIG. 5, through holes 20, 20' are bored in one end of the frame 13 parallel to the floor surface.
One end of a cylinder 22 for driving a movable conveyance path is swingably supported by a shaft 21 inserted into the shafts 0 and 20'.

(FIG. 6) The tip of the piston rod 23 of the cylinder 22 for driving the movable conveyance path, which is provided in the frame 13 and parallel to the frame 13, is connected to the plate 2 at the front end of the first movable conveyance path 5.
4 is screwed on.

(FIG. 3) On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a proximity switch 25 is provided on the side surface of the frame 13 to confirm the position of the first movable conveyance path 5.

That is, an adjustable screw 27 is provided on the L-shaped member 26 fixed to the lower end of the first movable conveyance path 5 so as to face the proximity switch 25 .

Further, a plurality of rollers 28 are rotatably supported on both upper side surfaces of the first movable conveyance path 5 via shafts 29.

Further, the outer diameter of the roller 28 is provided so as to protrude slightly above the upper surface of the first movable conveyance path 5 (FIG. 5). On the other hand, in FIG. 30, a pallet conveying cylinder 32 is swingably supported in parallel to the first movable conveying path 5 via a pin 31.

Further, a guide bar 33 is provided parallel to the side surface of the pallet conveyance cylinder 32 on the first movable conveyance path 5 side, and one end of the guide bar 33 extends to the side surface of the second pallet standby device N. .

(FIGS. 2 and 3) Furthermore, a connecting member (hereinafter referred to as a tube material 42) is fitted into the guide bar 33 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and locking bodies 34, 34 are provided at both ends of the tube material 42. ' are provided parallel to the pallets 4 and 7.

A limit switch 35 is provided on the base 1 at the end of the guide bar 33 to confirm the retreat position of the pallet 7.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, L-shaped locking members 36 and 36' are fixed to the side surfaces of the pallets 4 and 7 on the side of the guide bar 33, and the L-shaped locking members have grooves 37 that penetrate vertically. is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, locking bodies 34 and 34' provided at both ends of the tube material 42 are engaged with the grooves of the locking members 36 and 36' of each of the pallets 4 and 7, respectively.

An L-shaped port 38 is provided on the side surface of the end of the tube 42 on the pallet 4 side, and a piston rod 39 of the pallet conveying cylinder 32 is screwed into the L-shaped support 38.

The first movable conveyance path 5 has been described above, but the second movable conveyance path 8 has the same structure as the first movable conveyance path 5, and is configured symmetrically with respect to the processing table 2 in the center. There is.

(FIGS. 2 and 3) That is, when the machining of the workpiece 3 placed on the pallet 4 on the machining table 2 is completed, the machining table 2 returns to its origin.

Next, the first and second
A movable conveying path 5.8 advances toward the processing table from both sides.

Said 1st. The second movable conveyance paths 5 and 8 each stop close to the processing table 2, and each of the first and second movable conveyance paths 5
, 8 are supported by supports 40 provided on the first and second movable conveyance paths 5 and 8.

(FIG. 4) The configuration of the present invention has been described above, and its operation will be explained next.

A machining table 2 located at the center of the bed of the machine tool is provided so as to be movable in the XZ direction by tape commands, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, when the machining of the workpiece 3 placed on the pallet 4 on the machining table 2 is completed, the machining table 2 returns to its original position.

Subsequently, after the processing table 2 returns to the origin, the pallet 4 clamped on the processing table 2 is unclamped, and the processing table 4 rises slightly.

This floating causes the locking member 36 provided on the side surface of the pallet 4 to engage with the locking body 34 provided at the end of the tube material 42 .

(FIGS. 3 and 5) That is, the first . The second movable conveyance paths 5 and 8 are movable conveyance path driving cylinders 22 and 22'.
Due to this action, it moves forward to near the processing table 2.

During this forward movement, the first movable conveyance path 5 and the second movable conveyance path 8 are supported by rollers 17, 17' provided so as to be able to roll within the grooves 14 of the frame 13, and also move in the lateral direction. teeth,
It is guided by the side surfaces of the frame body 13 by rollers 19, 19'.

(FIGS. 5 and 6) When the first movable conveyance path 5 and the second movable conveyance path 8 move forward to their forward ends, the adjacent The signal of switch 25 is emitted.

Next, in response to the signal from the proximity switch 25, the piston rod 39 of the pallet conveying cylinder 32 advances, and the tube 42 advances through the L-shaped port 38 and is guided by the guide bar 33.

(Fig. 3) At this time, the pallet and 7 are connected together with the tube 42 via the L-shaped locking members 36, 36' of the pallet 4.7 that are engaged with the locking bodies 34, 34' of the tube 42. Advance.

(Figure 3) In this advance, the rails 10, 10'
The pallet 7 supported by the rollers 11, 11' rolls on the rollers 11, 11' and moves on the rollers 28, 28' of the moving first movable conveyance path 5.

(Fig. 5) At this time, the lateral movement of the pallet 7 is guided by guide plates 41, 41' (third
(Fig. 5) That is, the pallet 7 on which the workpiece material 6 is placed is placed on the processing table 2, and the workpiece 3 processed on the processing table 2 is placed on the processing table 2.
The pallets 4 carrying the pallets 4 are respectively moved onto the second pallet standby device N.

As a result of this movement, when each of the pallets 4 and 7 reaches the forward end, a signal is generated by a limit switch 35' provided on the second pallet standby device side of the guide bar 33.

(Fig. 2) Each of the first steps that have been moving forward with this sign. The second movable conveyance paths 5 and 8 are respectively retracted.

Next, the processed workpiece 3 on the pallet 4 transferred onto the second pallet standby device N is replaced with a workpiece material.

Therefore, by repeating the above-described operations, the workpieces on the pallet are sequentially exchanged and processed.

That is, the pallet changer of the present invention is effective in that the pallet exchange time is shortened and the structure is simple and can be provided at low cost compared to the conventional rotary type pallet changer.

As mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to the configurations shown in the embodiments, and modifications are expected without departing from the technical idea of the present invention as described in the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is 1. A front view of the pallet changer showing a state in which the second movable conveyance path is contracted, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1,
Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the first movable conveyance path in an extended state, Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is A of Fig. 3.
-A movement sectional view, and FIG. 6 is a BB sectional view of FIG. In the figure, 1...Bed, 2...Processing table, 3...Workpiece, 4...Pallet, 5...First movable conveyance path , 6... Work material, 7... Pallet, 8... Second movable conveyance path, 13... Frame, 22...
... Cylinder for driving movable conveyance path, 32 ... Cylinder for pallet transport, 33 ... Guide bar, 3
4.34'...Locking body, 36,36'...
...L-shaped locking member, I99B, C...Table movement area, C...Carrier, M...
First pallet standby device, N...Second pallet standby device, S...Saddle.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a base, a processing table movably provided on the plane of two axes perpendicular to the base, and first and second pallet standby devices provided on both sides of the movement range of one axis of the processing table. and first and second conveyance paths provided in the first and second standby devices so as to be movable in and out of the processing table in the direction of the one axis, and a connection movable in parallel to the one axis. a member, a drive source for moving the first and second conveyance paths in and out, and a drive source that engages with the pallet to transfer the pallet between the first standby device and the processing table or the processing table and the second standby device. The locking body attached to the connecting member is separated from the driving source for moving the connecting member, and the processing table is retracted during processing, and the first and second conveyance paths are brought out only when replacing the pallet. A palette changer characterized by being designed to act as a guide.