JPS61209859A - Pallet exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten time taken for exchanging pallets by providing two cubic pallet pools in which the pallets can be indexed to respective exchanging positions corresponding to two positions of a machine table. CONSTITUTION:While a work attached to a pallet 17 on a machine table 13 is worked by a machining center, one pallet pool 11 is driven so that the pallet 17 delivered onto a table 13 is indexed to an exchanging position P1 and stands by. Next, after the completion of working, the table 13 is located in a predetermined position X2 corresponding to an exchanging position P2 at the table 12 side for exchanging pallets. Further, a clamper 16 is lifted by a predetermined amount on the basis of the pallet exchanging command to unclamp the pallet 17 so that an engaging block 44 engages then an engaging lever 17a of the pallet 17 on the table 13 through the operation of a cylinder 42 to be delivered from the clamper 16 onto a pallet receiving bed 27 in the exchanging position P2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a pallet exchange device for exchanging pallets between a machine table and a pallet pool.

<Prior Art> A pallet exchange device that exchanges pallets between a machine table and a pallet pool in which a plurality of pallets are stored in a circulating manner is known. Since the system is configured to circulate pallets along a horizontal track, it requires a considerable amount of floor space, and there are problems in that it is difficult for workers to access the pallet exchange position.

Moreover, in conventional pallet exchange equipment, there are two methods for exchanging pallets between the machine table and the pallet pool. One of them is to arrange a rotating table between the machine table and the pallet pool. , both pallets pulled out from the pallet pool and machine table are placed on the rotating table, and the rotating table is rotated to 180 degrees.
° A method of rotating and then transporting both bullets from the rotating table to the machine table and pallet pool;
The other method involves direct exchange between the machine table and the pallet pool, in which the used pallets are first returned from the machine table to the empty storage position in the pallet pool, and then the pallets to be used for fire are returned to the exchange position. It is indexed and transported to the machine table.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, while the former method has the advantage of shortening i when exchanging pallets, it also has the problem of requiring extra floor space due to the installation of a rotating table. Although this method is advantageous in terms of floor space, it takes a considerable amount of time to exchange pallets, and there is a problem that the exchange time becomes even longer especially in a pallet pool using a random call method.There are advantages and disadvantages to each method. was inevitable.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art. Machine tape! Two three-dimensional pallet pools that can index pallets to respective exchange positions corresponding to the two positions of the machine table are arranged side by side in the moving direction of the machine table, and the exchange positions of these two pallet pools and the two positions of the machine table are A loading/unloading device is provided for sequentially loading and unloading pallets between the two.

With the above configuration, when the machining of the workpiece attached to the pallet on the machine table is completed, the machine table is positioned at a fixed position corresponding to the exchange position of one pallet pool, and the loading/unloading device moves the workpiece on the machine table. The pallet is delivered to the exchange position in the pallet pool. Next, the machine table is moved to a fixed position corresponding to the exchange position of the other pallet pool, and the pallet with the next work to be machined, which has been indexed in advance at that exchange position, is placed on the machine table by the loading/unloading device. It will be brought in.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In Fig. 1, 10 is a machining center, 11° 12
shows a three-dimensional pallet pool. Machining center 1
0 machine table 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is placed horizontally movably on the bed.
An indexing table 15 is rotatably mounted on 3. A clamper 16 is mounted on the index table 15 so as to be movable up and down, and a pallet 17 that is slidably engaged with the clamper 16 is positioned and clamped on the index table 15 by lowering the clamper 16 and unclamping by raising it. It has become so. Thus, the machine table 13 is positioned at two positions XI and X2 in the direction of movement when the pallet 17 is replaced.

Said pallet pool 11. ．． 12 is machine table 1
The machine table 13 is spaced apart in the direction of movement of the machine table 13, and extends parallel to the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the machine table 13. A plurality of pallets 17 are stored in each of these pallet pools 11 and 12 in a three-dimensional manner so that they can be indexed in a loop in a vertical plane. Since each pallet pool 11 and 12 has the same configuration, the following pallet pool 1
1, its configuration will be explained based on FIGS. 2 and 3.

The pallet pool 11 has fixed rails 21 in two stages, upper and lower.
．． 22 are provided in parallel, and these fixed rails 21, 22
A plurality of pallet holders 27 that slidably engage and hold pallets 17 are movably supported.

At both ends of the two upper fixed rails, there are movable rails 23.2 each with a length that can support only one pallet holder 27.
4 is provided so as to be openable and closable in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the pallet pedestal 27, and an elevator 25° 26
The pallet 17 is mounted between the movable rails 23 and 24 and the lower fixed rail 22 so that it can be moved up and down.

One of the elevators 25 and 26 (25) moves the pallet holder 27 supported by the movable rail 23 to the movable rail 23.
The pallet holder 27 is held on the lower fixed rail 22 by lowering it by a predetermined amount, and the other elevator 26 is supported on the lower fixed rail 22. The pallet holder 27 is raised by a predetermined amount with the movable rail 24 open, and when the movable rail 24 is closed, the pallet holder 27 is moved up to the movable rail 2.
4 is supported.

Further, conveyor bars 29.30 are supported in the pallet pool 11 so as to be movable in a forward and backward manner along the upper and lower fixed rails 21.22, and these conveyor bars 29.30 are removably engaged with the pallet pedestal 27. A plurality of transport claws 31, 32 are provided at equal intervals. Each transport bar 29.3
0 is the conveyance claw 31.0 by the conveyance cylinder 33.34.
They are simultaneously moved forward and backward in opposite directions by a distance l between pitches of 33, and rotated by a predetermined angle by a cylinder for tilting the claws of the circuit.

As a result, the plurality of pallet holders 27 on the upper fixed rail 21 are moved toward the machine table 13 by l pitches by the transport bar 29, and the first pallet holder 27 is supported on the movable rail 23 at the pallet exchange position P1. At the same time, the plurality of pallet holders 27 on the lower fixed rail 22 are moved to the machine table 1 by the transport bar 30.
The rice is moved one pitch at a time in the opposite direction to 3, and the leading pallet holder 27 is placed directly under the movable rail 24.

will be done. In this way, a plurality of pallets 17 can be moved in one direction within the vertical plane by the interrelated operations of the opening/closing operations of the movable rails 23 and 24, the raising and lowering operations of the elevators 25 and 26, and the conveying operations of the conveyor bars 31' and 32. By circulating the pallets 17, a required pallet 17 is indexed to a replacement position P1 corresponding to the machine table 13.

Also, in the local pallet pool 12, a plurality of pallets 17 are circulated in a vertical plane in the same manner as described above, and the required pallet 17 is indexed to the exchange position P2 corresponding to the machine table 13.

Furthermore, the pallet pools 11 and 12 are respectively provided with cylinders 41 and 42 for carrying in and carrying out the pallets 17 between the exchange positions Pi and P2 and the machine table 13. These cylinders 41 for loading and unloading
．． The piston rod 42 has an engagement block 43. which detachably engages with an engagement rod 17a protruding from the pallet 17.
44 is rotatably supported, and these engaging blocks 43 and 44 are rotated by a predetermined angle by a circuit relief cylinder to disengage from the pallet engaging rod 17a.

Next, a pallet exchange operation in the above configuration will be explained. In addition, in the following, two pallet pools 11
.

While the work mounted on the pallet 17 on the machine table 13 is being processed by the machining center IO, one of the pallet pools 11 is driven and the required pallet 17 to be carried onto the machine table 13 next is replaced. It is indexed to position P1 and waits.

When the predetermined machining of the workpiece on the machine table 13 is completed, the machine table 13 is first positioned at a fixed position X2 corresponding to the exchange position P2 on the pallet pool 12 side, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, for pallet exchange. Ru. In this state, the clamper 16 is raised by a predetermined amount based on the pallet exchange command, and the pallet 17 is unclamped. Subsequently, the loading/unloading cylinder 42 is operated and the engagement block 44 is activated.
is the engagement rod 17a of the pallet 17 on the machine table 13.
In this state, the pallet 17 is carried out from the clamper 16 on the machine table 13 onto the pallet pedestal 27 at the exchange position fP2. When the pallet 17 is carried out to the pallet pool 12 side in this way, the machine table 13 is then shifted to the regular position Xi (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) corresponding to the exchange position P1 on the pallet pool 11 side, and The pallet 17 waiting at the exchange position PI is moved by the unloading cylinder 41 to the clamper 16 on the machine table 13.
to be transported to. After that, the clamper 16 is lowered to position and clamp the pallet 17 on the machine table 13,
Machine table 13 is moved to process workpieces on pallet 17.

During the machining of this workpiece, the pallet pool 12 is controlled in order to index the pallet 12 to be next delivered to the machine table', 3 to the exchange position P2. Therefore, when the next pallet is exchanged, the machine table 13 is first moved to the fixed position X corresponding to the exchange position P1 of the pallet pool 11, contrary to the above.
1, and after carrying out the pallet 17, it is shifted to a fixed position X2 corresponding to the exchange position P2 of the pallet boule 12, and the pallet 17 is carried in.

In the embodiment described above, the loading/unloading cylinder 41.
42 was installed on the pallet pool 11 and 12 sides, but the loading and unloading cylinders were installed on the machine table 1.
It may be installed on the third side, and in this case, one cylinder for carrying in and carrying out pallets can be carried in and carried out for two pallet pools.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which pallets are brought in alternately from two pallet pools 11 and 12, but one pallet pool is used for taking out pallets.
The other pallet pool can also be used for pallet return.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the pallets are sequentially circulated by the conveyor bar and the elevator, but it is also possible to circulate the pallets all at once using an endless chain or the like.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention provides two three-dimensional pallet pools in which a plurality of barrels and throats are stored in a vertically indexable manner on the front side of a horizontally movable machine table. are arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the machine table, and the machine table is positioned at two positions corresponding to the exchange positions of each pallet pool, and pallets are carried in between this machine table and each exchange position of the two pallet pools. Since it is configured to be carried out, there is no need to install a turning table between the machine table and the pallet pool, which reduces pallet exchange time, reduces floor space, and reduces costs. Furthermore, since the pallet pool is constructed in a three-dimensional shape, the floor space required for the number of pallets stored can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional method.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall plan view showing a machining center with a pallet pool, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan view and a side view showing the schematic configuration of a pallet exchange device. . 10... Machining center, 11.12... Pallet pool, 13... Machine table, 17... Pallet, 41.42... Loading/unloading device (loading/unloading cylinder), PL, P2... exchange position.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A machine table is provided that is movable in the horizontal direction and can be positioned in two positions for pallet exchange, and a plurality of pallets are stored on the front side of the machine table so as to be indexable in a vertical plane, and the machine Two three-dimensional pallet pools that can index pallets to respective exchange positions corresponding to the two positions of the table are arranged side by side in the moving direction of the machine table, and the exchange positions of these two pallet pools and the two positions of the machine table are arranged side by side. 1. A pallet exchange device characterized by being provided with a loading/unloading device for sequentially loading and unloading pallets between each. (2) The pallets according to claim 1, wherein the pallets are exchanged by the loading/unloading device by alternately loading pallets from two pallet pools onto a machine table and unloading them from the machine table. Exchange device.