WO2014026838A1

WO2014026838A1 - Rotating mechanism for conveying sheet metal shaped parts

Info

Publication number: WO2014026838A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/065731
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ahmet Civan
Original assignee: Durmazlar Makina Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-08-17
Filing date: 2013-07-25
Publication date: 2014-02-20
Also published as: EP2885092B1; EP2885092A1

Abstract

A carrying mechanism used in sheet metal feed in the sheet metal processing machines, composed of a stationary chassis (10) and a mobile plate group (20), characterized by comprising a rotation shaft (33) provided between said chassis (10) and said mobile plate group (20), an arm mechanism (32) that rotates the mobile plate group (20) around said rotation shaft (33) axis (a) between a loading (I) and unloading (II) position and a drive unit in contact with said arm mechanism (32).

Description

SPECIFICATION

ROTATING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYING SHEET METAL SHAPED PARTS TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to carrying mechanism providing the rotation of plate shaped parts during the carrying operation. PRIOR ART

As known, in the production facilities, operations such as cutting, drilling, twisting are being performed on sheet metals. In such production facilities, the cutting of sheet metals are being performed with laser cutting work stations, whereas the twisting process is being done at work stations called press brakes. Generally, the part transfer between those two said systems is being realized via conveyors. However, in some special cases, the position of the part may differ at the outlet of laser work station and at the inlet of the twisting. In that case, the position of the part should be changed somehow. The hardest case of changing the position is when the operation surface remaining upwards at the laser cutting work station has to be downwards at the twisting.

When the part is small and production speed is low, that rotation operation is done manually. However, in case of a big part, usage of a trailer or another lifting tool becomes necessary for the realization of the process. Thus, the operation becomes a difficult and time consuming process. The solution for said process is the robotic systems. However, such systems have a high cost.

Consequently, all of the aforementioned problems necessitate a novel innovation in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

For eliminating the disadvantages mentioned above and bringing novel innovations to the related technical field, the present invention is related to a mechanism providing the flipping the parts having sheet metal shape during the carrying operation. The main purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism providing the flipping of the sheet metal shaped parts during the carrying operation.

Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism which can adapt itself to the production flow speed.

Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism which can operate with parts having different sizes. For fulfilling the purposes explained above and to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a carrying mechanism being used in sheet metal feed in the sheet metal processing machines, composed of a stationary chassis and a mobile plate group. According to this, the present carrying mechanism comprises a rotation shaft provided between said chassis and said mobile plate group, an arm mechanism that rotates the mobile plate group around said rotation shaft axis between a loading and unloading position and a drive unit in contact with said arm mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a rotation shaft provided between the stationary chassis and mobile plate group and the rotation shaft is positioned on at least one shaft bedding fixed on the stationary chassis.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arm mechanism comprises a main arm in contact with the stationary chassis and a support arm in contact with the mobile plate group.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, mobile plate group comprises a mobile chassis and a vacuumed carrier provided on said mobile chassis and pneumatically in contact with a vacuum source. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said vacuum carrier comprises a carrier frame and at least one vacuum pad provided on said carrier frame.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said carrier frame comprises a rotating connection pin for allowing the vacuum pad to rotate along its own axis.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is an impact damping unit provided between the carrier frame and mobile chassis. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said impact damping unit is a spring.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a vacuum collector group positioned under the mobile chassis for providing the air flow into the vacuum pad.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a mechanical inhibitor structured on the stationary chassis and reducing the force coming on the arm mechanism as the mobile plate group comes to unloading position.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said mechanical inhibitor comprises a cylindrical spring housing, a tong protruding outwards from said spring housing and a cylindrical reel provided at the tip of said tong. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one connection flange provided at the tip of the rotation shaft. Said connection flange allows the operation with longer parts by means of joining more than one mechanism to each other.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said drive unit is a hydraulic piston.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis comprises at least one chassis leg and at least one fixing flange structured for fixing said chassis leg to the ground. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis a loading support section supporting the mobile plate group at the loading position and at least one leaning chock positioned at said loading support section.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis comprises a front section. Said front section is located at the opposite side of rotation shaft and prevents the mechanism's loss of balance when the mechanism comes to unloading position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the Figure 1 , a general view of the mechanism at the loading position is given (I).

In the Figure 2, a general view of the mechanism at the unloading position is given (II). In the Figure 3, a general view of the mobile plate group is given.

In the Figure 4, a general view of the mechanism is given. In the Figure 5, general views of the movement transfer group and mechanical inhibitor are given.

REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 Stationary Chassis

11 Fixing Flange

12 Chassis Front Section

13 Chassis Leg

14 Chassis Profile

15 Chassis Loading Support Section

16 Leaning Chock

20 Mobile Plate Group

21 Mobile Chassis

22 Spring

23 Vacuum Carrier

231 Carrier Frame

232 Vacuum Pad

233 Rotating Connection Pi

24 Vacuum Collector Group

30 Movement Transfer Group

31 Hydraulic Piston

32 Arm Mechanism

321 Main Arm

322 Support Arm

33 Rotation Shaft

34 Shaft Bedding

35 Connection Flange

40 Mechanical Inhibitor

41 Spring Housing

42 Tong

43 Reel DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject of innovation mechanism providing the flipping rotation of plate shaped parts during the carrying operation is described only with examples that lead to no limiting effect in the better comprehension of the subject. This description explains the invention's usage in a sheet metal processing facility.

In the sheet metal processing facilities, it is necessary that the bottom surfaces of the sheet metals to be cut in the laser cutting work station have to be turned upwards before going into the twisting process. Said mechanism realizes that task. The invention is a mechanism comprising a stationary chassis (10), a mobile plate group (20), movement transfer group (30) providing the movement of said mobile plate group (20) and mechanical inhibitor (40). Said stationary chassis (10) is composed of chassis legs (13) capable of being fixed to the group by means of fixing flanges (1 1 ), chassis profiles (14) making the system more sturdy, chassis loading support section (15) and a chassis front section (12) structured for making the system more balanced. On said chassis loading support section (15), leaning chocks (16) are positioned at two corners.

Mobile plate group (20) is connected onto the rotation shaft (33) bedded to the shaft bedding (34) from four points by being two at corner and two in the middle, also lying along the entire length of the stationary chassis' (10) long frame. Said mobile plate group (20) is composed of mobile chassis (21 ), two vacuum carriers (23) positioned on said mobile chassis (21 ), vacuum collector group (24) and the connection components of those. Said vacuum carriers (23) are composed of a carrier frame (231 ) and vacuum pads (232) provided on them. Said carrier frame (231 ) is connected onto said mobile chassis (21 ) via connection pins (not shown in figures) and springs (22) positioned adjacently to said pins. Said springs (22) provide a controlled elasticity to the system during the loading and unloading. Said vacuum pads (232) are provided as three subsequent couples provided on the carrier frame (231 ) settled facing each other.

Via rotating connection pins (233) connecting the vacuum pads (232) to the frame, the rotation of vacuum pads (232) around said pin axis. By that means, maximum interaction area is obtained according to the shape of part to be loaded on the mechanism. The air is given to the vacuum pads (232) from the vacuum collector groups (23) placed under the mobile chassis (21 ) and each of them is connected to a vacuum carrier (23). Vacuum collector group (23) is being fed by the main vacuum collector group (not shown in figures) positioned inside the stationary chassis (10). When more than one mechanism is connected serially, a simultaneous movement is obtained by means of using a main vacuum collector. Between the stationary chassis (10) and mobile plate group (20), an arm mechanism (32) is positioned. Said arm mechanism (32) is composed of a main arm (321 ) and a support arm (322). There is a 90 degree connection between said main arm (321 ) and support arm (322). The main arm (321 ) side of arm mechanism (32) is connected to a stationary chassis (10) with a rotating joint connection. Support arm (322) is connected to the mobile plate group (20) from around the two vacuum carriers (23) with a rotating joint connection. Moreover, there is a hydraulic piston (31 ) connected via rotating joint to the connection point of main arm (321 ) and support arm (322). Said hydraulic piston's (31 ) other end is connected onto the stationary chassis (10) by means of rotating joint, and its fixation is achieved. When the hydraulic piston (31 ) opens, said arm mechanism (32) provides a rotation movement to the mobile plate group (20) between one loading position and one unloading position, around said rotation shaft (33) axis. At the position of mechanism in the Figure 1 , the hydraulic piston (31 ) is closed. At this position, the mechanism is ready to loading and the mobile plate group (20) is settled on the leaning chocks (16) provided on the stationary chassis (10). After the loading is done, the vacuum operates and provides the part to stay stationary. Afterwards, the hydraulic piston (31 ) rotates the mobile plate group (20), thus the part, with a pushing movement and brings it to the unloading position at Figure 2. During said movement, the mobile plate group (20) leans onto the mechanical inhibitor (40) provided on the stationary chassis for reducing the force exerted on the arm mechanism (32) when approaching to the unloading position. Said mechanical inhibitor (40) comprise a cylindrical spring housing (41 ), a tong (42) protruding outwards from said housing (41 ) and a cylindrical reel (43) provided at said tong (42). When approaching to the unloading position, with the force exerted on the mechanism, the spring (not shown in the figures) inside the spring housing (41 ) is subjected to pressure. When the part is released as the vacuum pads (232) stop vacuuming, the spring demonstrates an elongating tendency with the lowered weight on the system. By those means, the spring gives the mobile plate group (20) its first movement to rotate back to the position on Figure 1. At that point, hydraulic piston (31 ) starts the closing movement and brings the mechanism back to loading position. By means of the connection flanges (35) provided at two ends of rotation shaft (33), more than one mechanism can be serially connected and working with longer parts is allowed. Said connection flanges (35) are connected to each other with at least one gasket (not shown in figures) and a protrusion (not shown in figures). In an alternative embodiment of the invention, pneumatic piston or servo motor-like drive systems can be used instead of hydraulic pistons, for giving movement. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, for fixing the part onto the mobile plate, systems such as magnetic plate and magnetic lock can be used.

The scope of the protection of the invention is described in the claims located in the appendix, by being absolutely unable to be limited to the exemplary explanations mentioned in this detailed explanation. It is obvious that an expert in the technical field may propose similar embodiments under the light of the aforementioned explanations without digressing from the invention's main subject.

Claims

1. A carrying mechanism being used in sheet metal feed in the sheet metal processing machines, composed of a stationary chassis (10) and a mobile plate group (20) characterized by comprising a rotation shaft (33) provided between said chassis (10) and said mobile plate group (20), an arm mechanism (32) that rotates the mobile plate group (20) around said rotation shaft (33) axis (a) between a loading (I) and unloading (II) position and a drive unit in contact with said arm mechanism (32).

2. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized by comprising a rotation shaft (33) provided between the stationary chassis (10) and mobile plate group (20) and the rotation shaft (33) is positioned on at least one shaft bedding (34) fixed on the stationary chassis (10).

3. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that the arm mechanism (32) comprises a main arm (321 ) in contact with the stationary chassis (10) and a support arm (322) in contact with the mobile plate group (20).

4. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that the mobile plate group (10) comprises a mobile chassis (21 ) and a vacuumed carrier (23) provided on said mobile chassis (21 ) and pneumatically in contact with a vacuum source.

5. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 4, characterized in that said vacuum carrier (23) comprises a carrier frame (231 ) and at least one vacuum pad (232) provided on said carrier frame (231 ).

6. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 5, characterized in that said carrier frame (231 ) comprises a rotating connection pin (233) for allowing the vacuum pad (232) to rotate along its own axis.

7. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 4, characterized by comprising an impact damping unit provided between the carrier frame (231 ) and mobile chassis (21 ).

8. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 7, characterized in that said impact damping unit is a spring (22).

9. A carrying mechanism in accordance with any of the claims mentioned above, characterized by comprising a vacuum collector group (24) positioned under the mobile chassis (21 ) for providing the air flow into the vacuum pad (232).

10. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized by comprising a mechanical inhibitor (40) structured on the stationary chassis (10) and reducing the force coming on the arm mechanism (32) as the mobile plate group (20) comes to unloading position.

11. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 10, characterized in that said mechanical inhibitor (40) comprises a cylindrical spring housing (41 ), a tong (42) protruding outwards from said spring housing (41 ) and a cylindrical reel (43) provided at the tip of said tong (42).

12. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized by comprising at least one connection flange (35) provided at the tip of the rotation shaft (33).

13. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that said drive unit is a hydraulic piston (31 ).

14. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that the stationary chassis (10) comprises at least one chassis leg (13) and at least one fixing flange (1 1 ) structured for fixing said chassis leg (13) to the ground.

15. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that the stationary chassis (10) a loading support section (15) supporting the mobile plate group (20) at the loading position and at least one leaning chock (16) positioned at said loading support section (15).

16. A carrying mechanism in accordance with Claim 1 , characterized in that the stationary chassis (10) comprises a front section (12).