KR20040035652A - Flexible Manufacturing System in which the center-shaft is enable to rotate in one-direction continuously - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A radial flexible manufacturing system with a continuous unidirectional rotating transfer shaft is provided to reduce power required for transferring motions by separating a pallet loaded with a workpiece from a table and transferring the pallet to the next station, improve accuracy in manufacturing, reduce the installation cost, and improve work efficiency. CONSTITUTION: A radial flexible manufacturing system with a continuous unidirectional rotating transfer shaft(24) comprises pallets(10) fixing workpieces; a transfer part transferring the pallets to each station; tables positioning and rotating the workpieces from each station to manufacturing area; and a manufacturing part manufacturing the workpieces rotated to the manufacturing areas by the tables. The pallets, the transfer part, and the tables are each separated. The transfer part comprises a transfer arm(21) raising and transferring the pallets to the next station; the transfer shaft rotating the transfer arm; a vertical transfer unit(25) moving the transfer shaft up and down; a driving source of rotation(26) generating rotational force; and an angle division unit rotating the transfer shaft at a predetermined angle, using the rotational force of the driving source of rotation.

Description

Flexible Manufacturing System in which the center-shaft is enable to rotate in one-direction continuously}

The present invention relates to a processing system for use in a mass production work line, more particularly having three or more stations radially; The pallet loaded with the workpiece is sequentially rotated to each station through the rotation of the feed shaft; A radial flexible manufacturing system in which one-way rotation of the feed shaft is capable of continuously or rotating a workpiece in each station to be machined is required.

The flexible processing system is a processing system that has a plurality of stations for machining parts such as machines and automobiles, and rotates the workpiece to the area that needs to be processed within each station, and then processes the conventional flexible processing system. It is a linear flexible machining system in which a pallet loaded with a workpiece by arranging in a single-character line is processed while moving the station sequentially.

However, in the case of the linear flexible machining system in which the station is arranged in the one-character line, the finished workpiece is unloaded from the pallet and the pallet must be moved back to the station for loading the workpiece. In this process, since a separate conveying equipment for moving the pallet is required, power consumption and installation cost increase.

In addition, there is a problem that requires a large installation space to build the linear flexible processing system.

In order to solve the above problems, a radial flexible processing system in which a plurality of stations are arranged radially instead of a single line has recently emerged.

The radial flexible processing system will be described by taking an example in which six stations are radially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The six stations consist of one standby station (S1) and five processing stations (S2 to S6), where the standby station (S1) loads / unloads a workpiece on a table and the processing stations (S2 to S6). In the machine, the machined machining area of the workpiece fixed on the table is machined.

Looking at the machining process by the system, through the loading / unloading device (M1) to load and fix the workpiece (semi-finished product) on the table top surface (1) located in the standby station (S1) and five machining stations (S2 ~ S6) The workpieces are sequentially processed by the processing apparatuses M2 to M6 as they go through.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1.

First, the transfer operation of sequentially positioning the workpiece in each station rotates the upper housing 5 by rotating the worm gear 3 and the worm wheel 4 through a rotation driving source such as a servo motor.

Next, the rotational operation of returning the workpiece itself to the area to be processed at each station is precisely implemented by the table 6 installed in the upper housing 5. Looking at the driving mechanism, the worm gear and the worm wheel are driven by driving the servomotor in the table. Rotating to rotate the table top surface (1) to which the workpiece is fixed at a desired angle.

On the other hand, the six tables installed in the upper housing go through all the stations sequentially with the workpiece, so all six tables should be configured with index tables that can rotate the workpiece at the correct angle. Here, the power supply line 2 for driving the servomotor in the index table is supplied from the hollow shaft which is the rotation center of the upper housing.

The conventional system configured as described above has the following problems because the components are all integrated.

Since the entire upper housing (5) supporting the six tables must be rotated for the movement of the workpiece, the power consumption is severe.

If an error occurs in the movement of the workpiece, it is connected to the machining error at the machining stations (S2 to S6) or the error is amplified.

The power line 2 of the servomotor in the index table supplied from the hollow shaft which is the center of rotation of the upper housing 5 is twisted by the rotational transfer of the upper housing 5. In order to prevent the upper housing (5) requires a reverse transfer process, so that problems such as power loss and work efficiency is reduced.

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the power required during the transfer operation by separating the pallet loaded with the workpiece from the table and transferring it to the next stage station during the transfer of the workpiece. have.

In addition, each table is configured separately from the feed shaft for pallet transfer, so that the feed error of the feed shaft is not linked to the machining error at each station or the error is amplified, thereby increasing the processing precision and increasing the cost of the index table. It is to reduce system installation cost by reducing the number of use.

In addition, it is possible to increase the work efficiency by allowing the feed shaft to rotate continuously in only one direction by eliminating the need for the reverse feed operation of the feed shaft for feeding the pallet.

1 is a view schematically showing a plan view of a conventional radial flexible processing system,

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1;

3 is a view showing a plan view of a radially flexible machining system capable of continuously rotating one direction of the feed shaft as an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a view showing a cross-sectional view of B-B 'of Figure 3 is a view showing a state in which the feed axis is lowered,

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B 'of FIG. 3 and shows a state in which a feed shaft is raised;

6 is a view showing in detail the shape of the pallet,

7 is a view showing a state in which the gearbox is connected to the rotational drive by the universal joint,

8 is a view showing a state of Geneva gear,

9 is a view showing a state of the driver cam,

10 is a view showing in detail the combination of the pallet and the table,

11 is a process diagram illustrating the process of moving the pallet from one station to the next.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing ※

1: pallet 2: power line

5: Upper housing 6: Index table

M1: Loading / Unloading Device M2 ~ M6: Processing Equipment

S1 to S6: Station 10: Pallet

21: feed arm 24: feed shaft

25: up and down transport means 27: gear train

30a: index table 30b: fixed table

40: gearbox 50: driver cam

60: universal joint

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration of the present invention.

3 is a view showing a plan view of a radially flexible machining system capable of continuously rotating one direction of the feed shaft as an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a view showing a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B 'of FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 3 and shows a state in which the feed shaft is lowered.

First, the configuration of the present invention is a pallet (10) for largely fixing the workpiece; A transfer unit 20 for transferring the pallet to each station; A table (30) for rotating or rotating the workpiece in each station to an area in need of machining; It can be divided into the processing unit 40 for processing the workpiece rotated by the table, the biggest feature of the configuration of the present invention is the pallet 10, the transfer unit 20, the table 30 are each separated structure It has an independent configuration.

The pallet 10 is a part for transporting and rotating the workpiece by fixing the workpiece with a hydraulic clamp or the like, and the configuration of one embodiment of the pallet 10 used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

The pallet 10 is composed of a circular or polygonal block, which constitutes a pallet groove portion 11 formed concave from the entire circumference to allow the fork portion 22 of the transfer arm to be described later to be inserted into an overall shape. To be a block.

The pallet part 12 in the pallet groove part consists of a cylinder or a polygonal column so that when the pallet is rotated (rotated) by the table 30 to be described later, the pallet part 11 in the pallet groove part is the fork part 22 of the transfer arm. Avoid contact with).

The pallet groove 11 is provided with a plurality of pin holes 13 that can be fixed in combination with a plurality of locking pins 23 formed on the upper surface of the transfer arm fork 22.

In addition, the lower surface of the pallet 10 is composed of a plurality of pin holes 14 that can be fixed in combination with a plurality of locking pins 32 formed on the pallet body 31 of the table 30 to be described later.

The locking pins 23 and 32 and the pin holes 13 and 14 are corresponding to each other, and the locking pins 23 and 32 are preferably shaped to have a slope so that position correction is possible even when a slight error occurs when the locking pin is inserted into the pin hole. As a result, the rotational error of the feed shaft is not connected or amplified by the machining error at each station, thereby increasing the machining precision.

Meanwhile, the hydraulic clamp 15 is configured on the upper surface of the pallet to fix the workpiece. The pallet 10 is transferred to the station in each step and the hydraulic clamp 15 is repeatedly separated / combined with the table 30 in each station. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to set the flow path connected to the).

Therefore, in the present invention, the flow path 16 is set in the pallet by the first method, and the one-touch hydraulic couplings 17 and 17 'are installed on the bottom surface of the pallet and the top surface of the pallet body to the flow path 36 set inside the table. It suggests how to be connected.

Then, the rotary joints of the pallet 10 and the rotation of the pallet 10 are formed by constructing rotary joints known to the pallet 10 and the feed shaft 24 by the second method, respectively, and connecting the rotary joints with hoses. The hydraulic pressure required for the hydraulic clamp 15 can be supplied regardless of up-down, rotation, or the like.

The next conveying part 20 is a conveying arm 21 which raises and conveys the pallet 10 as a part which raises the pallet 10 and conveys it to the station of a next step; A feed shaft 24 for rotating the feed arm; Up and down transportation means (25) for up / down of the transport shaft; A rotary drive source 26 for generating a rotational force; It is composed of an angle dividing means for rotating the feed shaft by a predetermined angle by using the rotational force of the rotation drive source.

The transfer arm 21 is configured to be coupled to / separated from the pallet 10, the configuration of one embodiment is configured radially from the transfer shaft 24 and the end of the transfer arm 21 is branched in two directions The fork 22 is configured to be inserted into the pallet groove 11. And on the upper surface of the fork portion 22 of the transfer arm as described above constitutes a plurality of locking pins (23).

The conveying shaft 24 is a portion for rotating the conveying arm 21 to convey the pallet 10. In order to convey the pallet 10, the pallet 10 must be separated from the table 30 located at each station. . Therefore, the feed shaft 24 should be configured to the up and down conveying means 25 to up / down the feed shaft.

As the up and down transportation means 25, various means such as a gear device or a hydraulic device may be applied, and the case of using the hydraulic cylinder as an embodiment will be described.

This constitutes a hydraulic piston 24a on the feed shaft 24 and fixes the hydraulic cylinder 25a surrounding the hydraulic piston to the housing. And the hydraulic piston 24a is up / down by supplying hydraulic pressure through the flow paths 25c and 25d comprised in the upper and lower hydraulic cylinders.

On the other hand, since the feed shaft 24 rotates when the hydraulic piston 24a is raised, a thrust bearing 25b is formed on the upper surface of the hydraulic cylinder in contact with the upper surface of the hydraulic piston.

The rotation drive source 26 may be a servo motor or a general motor or a hydraulic device as a part generating a rotation force.

The angle dividing means may be implemented through various means such as the gear train 27, the gear box 40, or the driver cam 50.

Hereinafter, look at embodiments of the angle dividing means that can be configured in various ways.

1. When directly connecting the rotary drive source 26 and the feed shaft (24)

This is a case where the rotary drive source 26 is used as the angle dividing means as it is. The rotary drive source 26 and the feed shaft 24 are directly connected to each other to directly rotate the feed shaft 24 by the rotation of the rotary drive source 26. Allow it to rotate. Therefore, the rotation drive source 26 used in this case requires a relatively sophisticated angle control.

2. In case of using gear train (27)

4 to 5, the gear train 27 is a portion that transmits the rotational force generated in the rotation drive source 26 to the feed shaft is composed of a flat differential.

An idle 27b is formed between the gear 27a fixed to the feed shaft in the gear train 27 and the gear 27c constituted by the rotational power source, and the idle 27b is extended by the hydraulic piston by lengthening the tooth width. The gear 27a fixed to the down-feeding shaft is always in engagement with the idle 27b.

3. In case of using gearbox 40

Referring to FIG. 7, the gearbox 40 is up-down together with the feed shaft 24, and the rotational force generated by the rotation drive source 26 is applied to the up-down of the gearbox 40 through the universal joint 60. It is transmitted to the gearbox 40 regardless.

The gearbox 40 may also be composed of a general spur gear, a helical gear, a bevel gear, or the like. In particular, the gearbox 40 may be used to generate an effective angle division of the feed shaft using Geneva gear.

As shown in FIG. 8, the structure of the Geneva gear is Geneva at a predetermined angle according to the number of the guide grooves 44 of the Geneva gear 41 when the rotating disc 42 having one or more protruding pieces 43 rotates 360 °. The gear 41 rotates at a constant angle.

4. When Drive Cam (50) is used

As shown in FIG. 9, the drive cam 50 constitutes a disc 52 having a plurality of protrusions 53 on a lower surface of the feed shaft 24, and has a spiral structure that meshes with the protrusions 53. It consists of a drive cam 50 having a groove 51.

By the rotation of the driver cam 50, the projection 53 engaged with the groove 51 is pushed back so that the feed shaft 24 is rotated by a predetermined angle.

The driver cam 50 is up-down together with the feed shaft 24, and the rotational force generated by the rotation drive source 26 is independent of the driver cam 50 through the universal joint 60 regardless of the up-down of the driver cam 50. 50 is passed.

The index table 30a is mainly used as a part of the table 30 which rotates the workpiece to a region requiring machining at each station.

Looking briefly with reference to Figure 10 the structure of the index table (30a) and the pallet body coupled to the pallet (31); A rotating shaft 33 for rotating the pallet body; A gear train 34 for transmitting a rotational force to the rotation shaft 33; It consists of a rotation drive source 35 for generating a rotational force.

As described above, the pallet body 31 has a plurality of locking pins 32 to be coupled to and fixed to the pin hole 14 formed on the bottom surface of the pallet when the rotary arm 21 descends.

In the gear train 34, the angle of the pallet body 31 is mainly adjusted by using a worm wheel fixed to the rotating shaft and a worm gear connected to the rotation driving source 35.

As the rotation drive source 35, a hydraulic device is suitable for adjusting an angle of 90 ° to 180 °, and a servo motor is preferably used when more precise angle adjustment is required.

Since the table 30 has a structure separated from the transfer unit 20, the power line 37 of the rotary drive source 35 is not supplied from the hollow shaft as in the related art, but the rotary drive source 35 of each index table is external to the system. Is connected directly to Thus, unlike the related art, since there is no fear of the power line 37 being twisted, the one-way rotation of the feed shaft 24 becomes continuous.

Meanwhile, in the first method of setting the flow path connected to the hydraulic clamp 15 described above, the upper surface of the pallet body 31 and the lower surface of the pallet 10 of the index table 30a are located at positions corresponding to each other. -Touch hydraulic couplings 17, 17 'are constructed. And it connects to the flow path 36 set inside the pallet body.

Accordingly, the hydraulic clamp 15 is applied to the hydraulic clamp 15 irrespective of the rotation of the pallet 10 according to the separation / coupling of the pallet 10 and the pallet body 31 and the rotation of the rotary shaft 33. Ensure that the required hydraulic pressure is provided.

The processing unit 40 is a machining center, a drilling machine, a robot device, etc. are located, and rotates the pallet 10 to the processing area by the table 30 at each station to perform a machining operation.

Hereinafter, look at the operation of the present invention configured as described above.

The present invention processes the assigned area of the workpiece at each station while sequentially rotating the pallet on which the workpiece is mounted, to the plurality of stations located radially via the transfer arm 21.

The first method of setting the flow path connected to the hydraulic clamp 15 described above, that is, the case where one-touch hydraulic couplings 17 and 17 'are installed on the lower surface of the pallet and the upper surface of the pallet body as an embodiment. As a result of dividing the process of the pallet 10 moving from one station to the next station, it can be divided as shown in FIG. 11.

1. Ascent Process (P1)

By supplying the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 25a, the hydraulic piston 24a on the feed shaft 24 rises so that the transfer arm 21 is raised, and the transfer arm 21 and the pallet 10 are provided with the locking pin 23 and the pin hole. The pallet 10 and the pallet body 31 are separated from each other while being coupled to each other through (13). At this time, the hydraulic coupling 17 blocks the flow path at the lower surface of the pallet to prevent the hydraulic drop of the hydraulic clamp.

2. Transfer Process (P2)

In the state where the feed shaft 24 is raised, the feed force 21 is rotated by decelerating the rotational force generated by the rotation drive source 26 through the gear train 27 and transferring the feed force to the feed shaft 24. This transfers the pallet 10 to the next station.

3. Descent process (P3)

By reducing the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 25a, the hydraulic piston 24a on the feed shaft 24 is lowered so that the transfer arm 21 is lowered. The pallet 10 and the pallet body 31 are provided with locking pins 32 and pin holes. The transfer arm 21 and the pallet 10 are separated from each other by being coupled to each other through (14). In this case, even when a fine feed error occurs in the transfer process of the transfer arm 21, it is possible to correct the rotational error through the combination of the locking pin 32 and the pin hole 14 having a slope.

4. Rotating Process (P4)

The pallet body 31 is rotated by decelerating the rotational force by the rotation driving source 35 inside the index table and transmitting it to the rotation shaft 33 through the gear train 34. This rotates the pallet 10 accurately to the area | region which needs processing.

5. Machining Process (P5)

When the pallet 10 is rotated to a region where processing is necessary at the station, the workpiece is processed through a machining center, a drilling machine, and the like. This machining process can be variously changed according to the machining operation to be performed by the station, and if necessary, may be processed while performing the rotation process (S4).

In addition, in the machining process P5, not only the pallet 10 can be rotated, but also the work of the bottom surface of the work can be performed by reversing the work itself as necessary. This is because the workpiece can be fixed upside down by lowering the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic clamp and then inverting the workpiece with a robot device or the like and applying hydraulic pressure again.

6. Reset process (P6)

When the machining process (P5) is completed, the pallet 10 should be moved to the next station, so it must be combined with the transfer arm 21 again. Therefore, by rotating the rotary drive source 35 in the index table 30a to the opposite position, the pin hole 13 formed in the pallet groove 11 and the locking pin 23 of the rotary arm 21 can be re-engaged. The process of resetting is necessary. Then, the rising operation S1 is continued.

However, in the present invention, it is not necessary to go through the above processes (P1 to P6) at all stations. The reason will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

In the case of the standby station S1, only the loading / unloading operation of the workpiece is required. In the case of the two machining stations S2 and S3 which machine the upper and front surfaces of the workpiece, the workpiece can be processed as it is. Therefore, the rotation process (P4) and the reset process (P6) of the station movement process (P1 to P6) of the pallet described above is unnecessary.

Therefore, the three stations (S1, S2, S3) do not need to install an expensive index table (30a) for the rotation of the pallet (10) and locking pins that are coupled to the pin hole (14) fixed to the bottom of the pallet ( A fixed table 30b having a pallet body 31 constituted by 32 is sufficient.

With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the power required when the pallet is rotated to the next station.

In addition, since stationary tables (P4) and reset (P6) are not required in pallet conveying processes (P1 to P6), stationary tables can be installed instead of expensive index tables, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

In addition, since each table is configured separately from the feed shaft, the machining accuracy can be increased by preventing the rotational error of the feed shaft from being connected to the machining error at each station or amplifying the error.

In addition, since the power line 37 of the index table is not twisted by the rotation of the feed shaft, the feed shaft can be continuously rotated clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW), thereby increasing work efficiency.

Claims (9)

In the flexible processing system having three or more radially used stations for mass production work lines, A pallet 10 for fixing the work piece; A transfer unit 20 for transferring the pallet to each station; A table 30 which rotates the workpiece at each station to the required area or rotates the workpiece 30; A processing part 40 for processing the workpiece rotated by the table into the processing area; The pallet 10, the transfer unit 20, and the table 30 each have a separate structure; The transfer unit 20 includes a transfer arm 21 for raising the pallet 10 to transfer to the next step of the station; A feed shaft 24 for rotating the feed arm; Up and down transportation means (25) for up / down of the transport shaft; A rotary drive source 26 for generating a rotational force; Radial flexible processing system capable of continuous rotation in one direction of the feed shaft, characterized in that consisting of an angle dividing means for rotating the feed shaft by a predetermined angle using the rotational force of the rotation drive source. The method of claim 1, The pallet 10 is composed of a circular or polygonal block and constitutes a pallet groove portion 11 formed concave toward the center from the entire circumferential surface of the pallet, and the pallet portion 12 inside the pallet groove portion has a cylindrical or polygonal column. Consists of a shape, the upper surface of the pallet is a hydraulic clutch (15) for fixing the workpiece is characterized in that the one-way rotation of the feed shaft is capable of continuous radial flexible machining system. The method of claim 2, A one-touch hydraulic coupling (17) or a rotary joint is configured on the pallet (10) to provide the hydraulic pressure required for the hydraulic clutch (15). The method of claim 1, The upper and lower conveying means 25 is a radially flexible processing system capable of continuous one-way rotation of the feed shaft, characterized in that configured via a hydraulic device or a gear device. The method of claim 1, The angle dividing means is connected to the rotary drive source 26 and the feed shaft 24 directly by the rotary drive source 26 is characterized in that the direct rotation of the feed shaft 24 is rotated by a certain angle radial flexible flexible Processing system. The method of claim 1, The angle dividing means is composed of a gear train 27 or a gearbox 40 or a driver cam 50 up-down with the feed shaft 24 is connected to the rotary drive source 26 through the universal joint 60. Radial flexible processing system capable of continuous one-way rotation of the feed shaft, characterized in that the configuration. The method of claim 6, The gear train 27 is composed of all spur gears; An idler 27b is formed between the gear 27a fixed to the feed shaft and the gear 27c connected to the rotation drive source; The idle 27b is a radially flexible machining system in which one-way rotation of the feed shaft is continuous, characterized in that the gear 27a fixed to the feed shaft up-down is always engaged with the idle 27b by increasing the tooth width. . The method of claim 6, The gearbox 40 is a radial flexible machining system capable of continuous one-way rotation of the feed shaft, characterized in that using a spur gear or helical gear or bevel gear or Geneva gear. The method of claim 1, The table (30) is a radially flexible machining system capable of continuous rotation in one direction of the feed shaft, characterized in that consisting of an index table (30a) or a fixed table (30b) according to the processing performed at the station.