JPS6133418A - Shifting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatize a shifting process including the turning operation of a workpiece, by movably providing two gripping devices along a workpiece transfer line, by providing a turning mechanism for turning a gripped workpiece, to at least one of the gripping devices. CONSTITUTION:A shifting device 4 is constituted such that two gripping devices 5, 6 are arranged along a transfer line 1 for workpieces 2, 3. Further, the workpiece gripping devices 5, 6 are composed of workpiece gripping sections 7, 10 and guide members 9, 12 for supporting arms 8, 11 movably in the vertical direction, which support the sections 7, 10. Further, a transfer rail 13 for moving the guide member 12 along the transfer line 1 is laid in one gripping device 6, and therefore this gripping device 6 grips a workpiece which is gripped by the other gripping device 5 which has been moved to its destination, and returns the same to a predetermined position on the line 1. Further, each of workpieces gripping sections 7, 10 is provided with three workpiece absorbing surfaces 7a-7c or 10a-10c, rotatably about a shaft 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transfer device suitable for automating the change in orientation of a workpiece flowing on a conveyance line.

[Conventional technology]

Ceramics are usually made by preparing the base clay, shaping it, and glazing it.

It is formed through successive processes such as decoration and firing.

In this type of ceramic manufacturing process, the molded clay material (semi-finished product) is sent to the next process on a conveyor line such as a conveyor. It is necessary to transfer the semi-finished product (hereinafter referred to as a work) by turning it upside down or placing it on another work.

Conventionally, all workpieces were transferred manually by an operator on a conveyance line.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, relying on the manual work of workers to transfer workpieces on the transport line not only places a heavy burden on the workers, but also causes the problem that work efficiency is affected by the skill level of the workers. there were.

The present invention was proposed to solve such problems, and can automate the conversion of the orientation of the workpiece, such as turning the front and back sides, thereby reducing the burden on the worker and improving the skill of the worker. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer device that can improve work efficiency regardless of the situation.

[Means to solve the problem]

The transfer device of the present invention, as a means for solving the above problem, that is, as a means for automating the change in the direction of the workpiece flowing on the transport line, grips the workpiece on the transport line and transfers the workpiece. a first gripping device that moves the workpiece to a predetermined position away from the conveyance line; and a first gripping device that grips the work gripped by the first gripping device at a destination where the first gripping device moves to a predetermined position on the conveyance line; and a second gripping device for returning the workpiece to the conveyance line, and at least one of the first gripping device and the second gripping device is provided with a direction changing mechanism for changing the orientation of the workpiece with respect to the conveyance line.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a conveyor line such as a conveyor, and 2 and 3 are conveyor lines 1 and 3.
4 indicates a transfer device.

The transfer device 4 includes a first gripping device 5 and a second gripping device 6 along the transport line 1.

The first gripping device 5 includes a workpiece gripping part 7 for gripping a workpiece 2.3 on the conveyance line 1, and a guide member 9 supporting an arm 8 that supports the workpiece gripping part 7 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. and works 2 and 3 on line 1.
, and move the workpiece 2°3 to a predetermined position (standby position) above line 1 as shown by arrow (A).

The second gripping device 6 includes a workpiece gripping section 10 for gripping the works 2 and 3, an arm 11 that supports the workpiece gripping section 10, and a guide member 12 that supports the arm 11 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. and the guide member 12 is placed on the conveyance line 1.
It is equipped with a transport rail 13 for moving along the
At the movement destination (standby position) by the first gripping device 5, the first
The workpiece gripped by the gripping device 5 is gripped and returned to a predetermined position on the line 1.

Each workpiece gripping section 7, 10 has a similar structure and grips the workpieces 2, 3 by vacuum suction. Each gripping section 7, 10 has three suction surfaces that grip the workpieces 2, 3 by vacuum suction, and each suction surface 7a, 7
b, 7c, 10a.

10b and 10C form a polyhedral structure, and each suction surface 7a, 7b, 7c, 10a, 10b.

Arm 8 so that 10C can be directed toward the workpiece.
, 11. And arm 8
．． 11 or inside each gripping part 7, 10, a drive device for rotating the gripping bodies 7, 10 is provided. The drive device rotates the gripping parts 7 and 10 around the shaft 14 to determine the suction surface to be used, and also
, 3 together with the gripping parts 7 and 10 to change the orientation of the workpiece 2.3 with respect to the line.

In this way, if the two gripping devices 5.6 are provided and the gripping portions 7 and 10 in each gripping device 5.6 are configured to be rotatable so as to change the orientation of the gripped workpiece, it is easy to The orientation of the works 2 and 3 on the transport line 1 can be changed and transferred.

For example, a case where workpiece 2 is inverted and placed on workpiece 3 will be explained as follows.

(1) First, the gripping device 5 descends and suctions the upper surface 2a of the workpiece 2 with the suction surface 7a, and the workpiece 2 is placed in the 1st place.
Pull up to the standby position above.

(i) Next, the gripping section 10 of the gripping device 6 moves to the standby position, and the suction surface 10a sucks the lower surface 2b of the workpiece 2, thereby picking up the workpiece 2 from the gripping device 5.

(To) Next, the gripping device 6 moves horizontally along the line 1 to the reference position O, and at this position, the gripping part 10 rotates 180 degrees so that the upper surface 2a of the workpiece 2 is directed downward.

(v) Next, when the workpiece 3 comes below the reference position, the gripping part 10 descends and the workpiece 2 is placed on the upper surface of the workpiece 3, and the vacuum suction by the suction surface 10a is released and the gripping part 10 is lowered. The unit 10 returns to the reference position, and one transfer operation is completed.

With the structure in which the workpiece is gripped by vacuum suction in this manner, even if the workpiece 2 is a soft molded clay material, it can be easily transferred without being damaged. Also,
Each of the aforementioned suction surfaces 7a, 7b.

7c, 10a, 10b, and 10c are respectively designed to correspond to the surface shapes of three types of workpieces flowing on the conveyance line 1, and in this way, multiple types of suction surfaces 7a,
By equipping 7b, 7c, 'IOa, 10b, and 10C, the types of workpieces that can be transferred can be diversified, and the gripping state of each workpiece can be improved to increase transfer efficiency. - Also, as mentioned above, the second gripping device 6 is
If the configuration allows movement in the transport direction, by appropriately setting the speed of the gripping device 6, the transfer can be completed without stopping the transport line 1, and time is not wasted just for the transfer. You will no longer have to worry about it.

In addition, in this embodiment, each gripping part 7, 10 has three
Although each suction surface is provided, the number of suction surfaces is not limited to this example. Furthermore, in this embodiment, both gripping devices 5 and 6 are configured to be able to change the orientation of the workpiece 2, but only one of them may be provided with a direction changing mechanism for changing the orientation of the workpiece 2. You can also use it as

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention.

In the transfer device 15 of this embodiment, the second gripping device 6 is modified. That is, in this second gripping device 6, the workpiece gripping section 10 is supported by the arm 16, and the workpiece gripping section 10 is supported by the arm 16.
6 is pivotally supported on struts 1-7. And arm 16
The shaft 19 is rotated by the gear mechanism 18 as shown by the arrow (b).
The rotation of the arm 16 causes the gripped workpiece to change (reverse) its orientation and move in the transport direction.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the transfer device of the present invention is equipped with two gripping devices along the carrying and feeding line, and at least one of them is equipped with a direction changing mechanism for changing the direction of the gripped workpiece. By linking these two gripping devices, it is possible to automate the transfer work including changing the orientation of the workpiece on the conveyance line. Automation can reduce the burden on workers and improve work efficiency without depending on the skill level of the workers.

Further, if the work gripping section of the gripping device is configured to grip the work by vacuum suction, even soft works such as clay can be reliably transferred without being damaged.

Furthermore, by configuring the workpiece gripping section to include a plurality of suction surfaces for vacuum suction, it is possible to diversify the types of workpieces that can be transferred, and to improve the gripping condition of each workpiece, thereby increasing transfer efficiency. It can also be increased.

Furthermore, by configuring one of the gripping devices to be movable along the conveyance direction of the conveyance line, it is possible to complete the transfer without stopping the conveyance line, which saves time just for the transfer. There will be no more wasted money.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of another embodiment of the invention. 1...Transfer line, 2.3...Work, 2a...Top surface, 2b...Bottom surface, 4.
...Transfer device, 5...First gripping device,
6... Second gripping device, 7, 10...
Work gripping parts, 7a, 7b, 7c, loa. 10b, 10c...Adsorption surface, 15...
Transfer equipment.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first gripping device that grips a workpiece on a conveyance line and moves the workpiece to a predetermined position away from the conveyance line, and a destination to which the first gripping device moves. a second gripping device that grips the workpiece gripped by the first gripping device and returns it to a predetermined position on the conveyance line, and at least one of the first gripping device and the second gripping device The transfer device is characterized in that it is provided with a direction changing mechanism that changes the direction of the work with respect to the transport line. 2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece gripping portion of each of the gripping devices grips the workpiece by vacuum suction. 3. The workpiece gripping section is provided with a plurality of suction surfaces for gripping the workpieces by vacuum suction, corresponding to the types of workpieces flowing through the conveyance line, as set forth in claim 1. transfer equipment. 4. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the second gripping device is provided movably along the conveyance line.