KR102013110B1 - Pallet circulation system for workpiece transfer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pallet circulation apparatus for transferring a workpiece. According to the present invention, the pallet circulation apparatus for transferring a workpiece disposed corresponding to a machining center and supporting, circulating, and transferring a pallet supporting the workpiece comprises: a frame including a horizontal running plane and front and side input/output parts inputting/outputting the pallet therethrough; a carrier transfer unit including driving driven sprockets disposed on the upper part of the running plane to be spaced apart, a driving chain circulated through the driving and driven sprockets, a transfer motor applying a rotational torque to the driving sprocket, and a control unit controlling the transfer motor; a carrier connected to the driving chain to run on the driving plane along circulation movement of the driving chain, supporting the pallet to the upper part thereof, and adjusting a separation direction from the driving chain during running; and a linear transfer unit installed on the upper part of the driving and driven sprockets and operated when the carrier is correctly placed at the front input/output part to pass the pallet through the front input/output part. Accordingly, the pallet circulation apparatus allows the transferred carrier to autonomously change a path within an allowable range to receive a new pallet and workpiece from the outside, such that a separate introduction path is not required, thereby also simplifying the structure and facilitating control.

Description

Pallet circulation system for workpiece transfer

The present invention relates to a pallet circulator for use with a machining center for cutting, and more particularly, to a pallet circulator for conveying a workpiece by smoothly feeding and discharging pallets by adjusting a transport path of a carrier for transporting a pallet. .

Machine tools, which are the basis of the machinery industry, are known as machines for making machines, ranging from dedicated machine tools capable of performing only one type of machining professionally to general-purpose machine tools with a wide range of processing methods. There are various kinds.

As such a machine tool, conventionally, lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, boring machines, end mills, grinding machines, shapers, planers, and the like are used. Automatic machine tools such as machining centers are the mainstream. In recent years, machining centers have been equipped with a process monitoring function, automatic measurement and correction function, and a failure self-diagnosis function.

The machining center includes a control unit that performs various operations as well as input / output control, a control panel, an automatic tool changer (ATC), a work taking in and out device, and the like. The control panel is an input unit for inputting and editing a program or data for controlling the machining center, and the automatic tool changer automatically replaces a tool inserted in the spindle in the programmed sequence.

In addition, the work taking-out apparatus is for shortening the non-cutting time of the machining center, and there is a reciprocating method and a circulation method according to the method of moving the pallet on which the work is placed.

The reciprocating method is to operate two pallets. For example, while cutting the workpiece inserted into the cutting space by the left pallet, another cutting object is set on the right pallet, and after the cutting is completed and the left pallet comes out of the cutting space, the right pallet is put into the cutting space. . In other words, the left pallet and the right pallet are alternately introduced into the cutting space to improve the operation rate of the machine.

The circulation method is to raise the pallet on the carrier circulating along a predetermined path, move the carrier so that the pallet is pushed into the machining center when the pallet is located in front of the door of the machining center, or the empty carrier is placed in front of the door. The pallet has a structure in which the pallet is pulled out from the inside of the machining center and placed on the carrier in a stand-by state.

However, the conventional circulation system has a disadvantage that the structure is complicated. For example, in addition to the main track through which the carrier circulates, an introduction path for placing a new workpiece on the carrier and the like must be laid.

Domestic Utility Model Publication No.1994-0001992 (Positioning device for carrier for workpiece transport) Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0032020 (Pallet delivery device of horizontal machining center)

The present invention has been created to solve the above problems, and since the carrier during the transfer can accept the new pallet and the workpiece, there is no need for a separate introduction path, so the pallet circulation device for the workpiece transfer is simple and easy to control. The purpose is to provide.

The pallet conveying apparatus for workpiece conveyance of the present invention as a means for solving the problem for achieving the above object is disposed in a machining center, and is circulated and conveyed by supporting a pallet for supporting the workpiece, where the horizontal traveling plane and the pallet enter and exit. A frame having a front access part and a side access part; A driving sprocket and a driven sprocket spaced apart from each other on an upper portion of the driving plane, a driving chain circulating over the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, a transfer motor for applying rotational torque to the driving sprocket, and a control unit for controlling a transfer motor; A carrier transfer unit; A carrier connected to the driving chain and traveling on a driving plane according to a circular movement of the driving chain and supporting a pallet thereon, the distance of which is adjustable to the driving chain during driving; It is installed on top of the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, and operates in a state in which the carrier is located in the front access portion, and includes a linear transfer portion for allowing the pallet to pass through the front access portion.

In addition, the carrier; A support upper plate that takes the form of a plate and supports a pallet, a wheel installed below the support upper plate and rolling on the driving plane, and a steering unit for determining the driving direction of the wheel by a control signal transmitted from the outside A plurality of wheel parts provided, a controller for controlling the steering unit, a battery for supplying power to the steering unit and the controller, and the driving chain and the support top plate, the distance of the support top plate to the driving chain It has an extension arm part whose length is adjusted according to a change.

In addition, the expansion arm portion; An arm body having a chain connector fixed to the driving chain, one end thereof connected to the chain connector, and having a telescopic structure extending horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the driving chain, and an extension end of the arm body on the bottom surface of the support upper plate. It has an arm holder for fixing.

In addition, a locking magnet portion is fixed to the side entry portion, and the support upper plate is provided with a fixed position magnet portion attached to the locking magnet portion to prevent the movement of the carrier while the carrier arrives at the side entry portion.

The pallet circulating device for workpiece transport of the present invention, which is constituted as described above, is capable of accepting new pallets and workpieces from the outside by changing the path by itself while the carrier is being transported within the allowable range, and thus, a separate introduction path is not required. It is simple and easy to control.

1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a pallet circulating device for transporting a workpiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the detailed structure of the linear transfer unit shown in FIG.
3A and 3B are views for explaining a lower configuration of the carrier of FIG.
4 is a side view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
6 is a view for explaining the principle of operation of the carrier shown in FIG.
7 and 8 are views for explaining the operation of the pallet circulation apparatus for transporting the workpiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Basically, the pallet circulating device for workpiece conveyance of the present invention uses a plurality of pallets circulating along a predetermined path, receives a new workpiece from the outside, transfers the received workpiece to the machining center, and transfers the finished workpiece. Withdraws from the machining center and exports it to the outside.

A basic configuration of such a pallet circulation device includes: a frame corresponding to a machining center and configured to circulate and convey a pallet supporting a workpiece, the frame having a horizontal traveling plane, a front entry part and a side entrance part through which the pallet enters and exits; A driving sprocket and a driven sprocket spaced apart from each other on an upper portion of the driving plane, a driving chain circulating over the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, a transfer motor for applying rotational torque to the driving sprocket, and a control unit for controlling a transfer motor; A carrier transfer unit; A carrier connected to the driving chain and traveling on a driving plane according to a circular movement of the driving chain and supporting a pallet thereon, the distance of which is adjustable to the driving chain during driving; It is installed on top of the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, and operates in a state in which the carrier is located in the front access portion, and includes a linear transfer portion for allowing the pallet to pass through the front access portion.

1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a pallet circulation device 20 for conveying a workpiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the pallet circulation device 20 according to the present embodiment includes a frame 21, a carrier conveying part, a plurality of carriers 40, and a linear conveying part 30.

First, the frame 21 is a structure which provides the horizontal traveling plane 23, and is arrange | positioned correspondingly in front of the entrance and exit of the machining center 10. As shown in FIG. An entrance is a passageway through which a workpiece enters and exits. Reference numeral 13 is a support table on which the pallet is placed. The pallet supports the workpiece in a fixed state on the support table 13.

The frame 21 is provided with a front entrance part 25 and a side entrance part 24. The front entrance and exit part 25 is a horizontal passage which passes the pallet P in the arrow a direction, or passes the pallet mounted on the support table 13 in the opposite direction to the a direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the side entry part 24 guides the pallet P waiting on the outside of the frame to the frame 21 side through the arrow b direction or in the arrow c direction of FIG. 1. It is a horizontal passage to discharge. To this end, a rail (not shown) is installed at the bottom of the access passage 24a to guide the linear movement of the carrier P.

In addition, guide walls 24b are fixed to both sides of the access passage 24a. The guide wall 24b serves to protect the pallet inside the access passage 24a. In addition, the locking magnet portion 24c is provided at the end of the guide wall 24b, that is, at the end facing the driving chain 29.

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking magnet part 24c fixes and supports the carrier 40 in the state in which the arbitrary carrier 40 reached the side entrance part 24. As shown in FIG. In other words, the carrier 40 is temporarily fixed by using a magnetic force so that the carrier 40 does not open from the side entry part 24 when the pallet P enters the arrow b direction.

The pallet P enters the inside of the frame 21 through the side entry part 24, moves in the direction of arrow d, enters and exits the machining center 10, and then drives sprocket 27 and driven sprocket ( 28) can be rotated once and move along the copper wire discharged to the outside through the side entrance (24).

The carrier conveying unit is to circulate a plurality of carriers 40, the driving sprocket 27, the driven sprocket 28, the driving chain 29, the transfer motor (26 in Fig. 2), the control unit (22 in Fig. 2) ).

The drive sprocket 27 and the driven sprocket 28 are machine elements installed horizontally on the running plane 23 and are spaced apart at regular intervals by the same height. As shown in FIG. 2, the driving sprocket 27 is connected to the transfer motor 26 and rotates by receiving a rotational torque from the transfer motor 26. The rotational speed or direction of rotation of the drive shaft of the feed motor 26 is controlled by the controller 22. The transport pattern of the carrier 40 may be determined through the control unit 22. The driven sprocket 28 is an idle sprocket idling in the running plane 23.

The driving chain 29 rotates while being driven over the driving sprocket 27 and the driven sprocket 28 and transmits a transfer force to the carrier 40. To this end, a plurality of chain connectors 45a are fixed to the driving chain 29 at regular intervals.

In addition, the upper portion of the drive sprocket 27 and the driven sprocket 28 is provided with a linear transfer portion 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transfer part 30 operates when the pallet P is located between the support tables 13, and pushes a pallet to the support table 13 in the arrow a direction. Alternatively, or serves to pull the pallet on which the support table 13 is raised to the outside of the machining center 10. In other words, the carrier 40 is operated in a state in which the carrier 40 is positioned in the front entrance part 25 to allow the pallet to pass through the front entrance part.

To this end, separate guide rails (not shown) for guiding the horizontal conveyance of the pallets are arranged in a straight line in the carrier 40, the front access part 25, and the support table 13.

The configuration of the linear transfer unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the detailed structure of the linear transfer unit 30.

As shown in the drawing, the linear transfer part 30 includes a support part 31a, a housing 31, a motor 36, a lead screw 32, a transfer nut part 33, a horizontal arm 34, and a jaw ( 35).

The supporting part 31a is fixed to the upper portion of the driving plane 23 and supports the housing 31 at a predetermined height. The housing 31 is positioned higher than the drive sprocket 27 and the driven sprocket 28 in a state of being horizontally supported by the support part 31a.

The housing 31 takes the form of a box opened toward the machining center 10 and accommodates the motor 36, the lead screw 32, the transfer nut part 33, and the horizontal arm 34.

The motor 36 operates by receiving electric power applied from the outside to axially rotate the lead screw 32. The rotational speed or the rotational direction of the drive shaft of the motor 36 is adjusted by the controller 22 described above.

The lead screw 32 is a male screw thread formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof and extends horizontally toward the support table 13, and is rotatably supported by a separate support means (not shown).

The conveying nut part 33 engages with the horizontal arm 34 as a block member which passes the lead screw 32 to the center. As the lead screw 32 is axially rotated, the transfer nut part 33 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the lead screw 32.

The horizontal arm 34 is a rod-shaped member whose one end is fixed to the transfer nut part 33 and is extended in the longitudinal direction, and is supported by a separate supporting means (not shown), thereby enabling longitudinal longitudinal movement.

In addition, a jaw 35 is provided at an extended end of the horizontal arm 34. The jaw (35) waits for the operation of the motor (36) in a state where the groove (not shown) formed in the pallet (P) is bitten and fixed. According to the operation of the motor, the jaw 35 linearly moves in the direction of the arrow e or vice versa.

On the other hand, the carrier 40 is connected to the driving chain 29 to travel on the running plane 23 in accordance with the circular movement of the driving chain, and supports the pallet (P) on the top. In particular, the carrier 40 may adjust the separation distance with respect to the driving chain 29 while driving. That is, steering is possible in the arrow g direction and the arrow d direction while driving.

3A and 3B are views for explaining the overall configuration of the carrier of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the carrier shown in FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the carrier shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the carrier 40 includes the support top plate 41, the wheel portion 42, the controller 44, the battery 43, and the expansion arm portion 45.

The support upper plate 41 supports the pallet P, and has a rail (not shown) for receiving or exporting the pallet P on its upper surface. The size or shape of the support top plate 41 may vary as needed.

In addition, the fixed position magnet portion 46 is positioned at the front and rear ends of the support upper plate 41 in the traveling direction. The exact position magnet part 46 corresponds to the locking magnet part 24c one-to-one as a permanent magnet as shown in FIG. The fixed position magnet part 46 is attached to the locking magnet part 24c in the state in which the support upper plate 41 reached the side entrance part 24, and maintains a stationary state.

The wheel part 42 is installed at the front and rear in the driving direction of the carrier 40 and serves to horizontally support the support upper plate 41. The structure of the front and rear two wheel parts 42 are the same.

The wheel part 42 is fixed to the bottom surface of the support upper plate 41 and provides support for the case 42a, the wheel shaft 42d and the tie rod 42f penetrating the case 42a, and the wheel shaft 42d. A wheel 42c coupled to both ends and a steering unit 42b for determining the running direction of the wheel 42c through the tie rod 42f in a state provided inside the case 42a.

The case 42a takes the form of a box and supports the wheel shaft 42d and the tie rod 42f. Both ends of the tie rod 42f are connected to both wheels 42c, and are operated by the steering unit 42b to move in the longitudinal direction and to adjust the running direction of the wheels 42c. The tie rod 42f has the same structure and role as the tie rod applied to the steering apparatus of the vehicle.

The steering unit 42b is installed inside the case 42a, and receives the signal from the controller 44 to determine the driving direction of the wheel 42c through the tie rod 42f. As long as the tie rod 42f can be moved, the output method of the steering unit 42b can be variously changed.

The wheel 42c is a wheel that rolls on the traveling plane 23 while being supported at both ends of the wheel shaft 42d and can be made of rubber or silicon. The reason why the wheel 42c is applied with rubber or silicone is to increase the frictional force of the wheel with respect to the driving plane 23. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the support upper plate 41 is for smoothly moving to arrow g direction and d direction.

The controller 44 is connected to the steering unit 42b in both side wheel parts 42 in a wired or wireless manner and transmits a control signal to the steering unit 42b. The steering unit 42b adjusts the driving direction of the support upper plate 41 by turning the wheel 42c in the left or right direction in response to the control signal of the controller 44.

The battery 43 is a rechargeable power supply, and serves to supply necessary power to the steering unit 42b and the controller 44. As the battery 43, a lithium ion battery or a lithium polymer battery can be used.

The expansion arm 45 connects the driving chain 29 and the support top plate 41, and includes a chain connector 45a, an arm body 45b, and an arm holder 45c. The chain connector 45a is a pin connected to the driving chain 29 and transported along the driving chain 29. The chain connector 45a forms a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the driving chain 29.

The arm body 45b has a telescopic structure composed of a plurality of unit arms 45d. One end of the arm body 45b is fixed to the chain connector 45a, and the other end is connected to the support upper plate 41 through the arm holder 45c. The length of the arm body 45b is adjusted according to the change of the distance of the support upper plate 41 with respect to the driving chain 29. The carrier 40 receives the transfer force of the driving chain 29 through the elastic arm 45.

6 is a view for explaining the principle of operation of the carrier 40 shown in FIG.

As shown, the carrier 40 is connected to the driving chain 29 moving in the arrow z direction. When the carrier 40 travels in parallel as close to the driving chain 29 as possible, and the driving direction of the wheel 42c is changed to the right, the support upper plate 41 starts to move in the direction of the arrow g. (First lower carrier)

As the support top plate 41 moves in the direction of the arrow g, the support top plate 41 gradually moves away from the driving chain 29, and at this time, the length of the arm body 45b increases. (Second carrier from the bottom)

When the wheel 42c is turned to the left in the above state, the support upper plate 41 travels in the direction of the arrow d and gradually approaches the driving chain 29. At the same time, the length of the arm body 45b is of course shortened. When the driving direction of the wheel 42c is changed to the front in the state where the support upper plate 41 is completely close to the driving chain 29, the support upper plate 41 is driven in parallel with the driving chain 29.

7 and 8 are views for explaining the operation of the pallet circulation device 20 for conveying the workpiece according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the jaw 35 of the straight line transfer part 30 starts to pull out the pallet P in the direction of the arrow k. The finished workpiece (not shown) is fixed to the pallet. Of course, the driving chain 29 stops while the jaw 35 is operating.

When the pallet is moved onto the support upper plate 41 by the linear transfer part 30, the driving chain 29 is rotated in the direction of the arrow z. As the driving chain 29 moves, the carrier 40 starting from the side entry part 24 moves in the direction of arrow d and moves to the front entrance part 25, and the supporting upper plate of the following carrier 40 ( 41) moves in the arrow g direction and reaches the side entry part 24, as shown in FIG.

In the state where the support top plate 41 is fixed to the side entrance part 24, the pallet P is supplied to the support top plate 41 by supplying it to the arrow b direction, and when the driving chain 29 is rotated again, it is newly supplied. The pallet is moved toward the driving chain 29 and moves toward the front access part 25. By repeating the above process, the circulation operation of the pallet continues.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail through the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible for a person with ordinary knowledge within the scope of the technical idea of this invention.

10: machining center 13: support table 20: pallet circulation system
21: frame 22: control unit 23: driving plane
24: side entrance part 24a: entrance passage 24b: guide wall
24c: Locking magnet part 25: Front access entrance part 26: Transfer motor
27: drive sprocket 28: driven sprocket 29: driving chain
30: linear transfer part 31: housing 31a: support portion
32: Lead screw 33: Feed nut part 34: Horizontal arm
35: Joo 36: Motor 40: Carrier
41: support top plate 42: wheel portion 42a: case
42b: Steering unit 42c: Wheel 42d: Wheel shaft
42f: tie rod 43: battery 44: controller
45: telescopic arm part 45a: chain connector 45b: arm body
45c: arm holder 45d: unit arm 46: fixed position magnet part

Claims (4)

delete delete Correspondingly disposed in the machining center, the pallet is supported to support the workpiece,
A frame having a horizontal traveling plane, a front entrance and a side entrance into and out of the pallet; A driving sprocket and a driven sprocket spaced apart from each other on an upper portion of the driving plane, a driving chain circulating over the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, a transfer motor for applying rotational torque to the driving sprocket, and a control unit for controlling a transfer motor; A carrier transfer unit; A carrier connected to the driving chain and traveling on a driving plane according to a circular movement of the driving chain and supporting a pallet thereon, the distance of which is adjustable to the driving chain during driving; It is installed on the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, the carrier is operated in a state positioned in the front access portion, and includes a linear transfer portion for allowing the pallet to pass through the front access portion,
The carrier; A support upper plate that takes the form of a plate and supports a pallet, a wheel installed below the support upper plate and rolling on the driving plane, and a steering unit for determining the driving direction of the wheel by a control signal transmitted from the outside A plurality of wheel parts provided, a controller for controlling the steering unit, a battery for supplying power to the steering unit and the controller, and the driving chain and the support top plate, the distance of the support top plate to the driving chain It includes an extension arm part whose length is adjusted according to the change,
The expansion arm unit; An arm body having a chain connector fixed to the driving chain, one end thereof connected to the chain connector, and having a telescopic structure extending horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the driving chain, and an extension end of the arm body on the bottom surface of the support upper plate. A pallet circulating device for conveying a workpiece having an arm holder for fixing. The method of claim 3,
The locking magnet part is fixed to the side entry part,
The support upper plate, the pallet circulating device for a workpiece transfer provided with a magnet position fixed to the locking magnet to prevent the movement of the carrier when the carrier reaches the side entrance.

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