JPS63267138A - Workpiece exchange method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a workpiece exchange method and apparatus in which a workpiece is directly transferred between a stacker crane and a pallet changer installed in parallel with a machine tool. be.

(Prior art) Conventional technologies related to a workpiece exchange method and device include Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 57-194862 and 61-2.
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 97066 is known.

To explain the conventional technology described in the above publication, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-194862 discloses that while a stacker crane is run between the cargo handling and the machine tool,
An unmanned conveyance system is described in which an automatic transfer device is arranged between a stacker crane and a machine tool to automatically transfer workpieces and the like between the stacker crane and the machine tool.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-297066 describes a stocker device equipped with a conveying means (transport lift) that allows workpieces mounted on a jig pallet to be directly supplied to a machine tool.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned conventional technology had the following problems.

That is, the unmanned conveyance system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-194862 transfers workpieces between a stacker crane for loading and unloading and a machine tool with the help of an automatic transfer device (auto pallet changer). However, since the workpieces placed on the stacker crane are received by the automatic transfer device by vertical movement of the conveyor of the automatic transfer device, installation space for the conveyor is required. It is difficult to apply this method to factories with limited space.

Further, the stocker device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-297066 does not specifically describe or suggest a means for transferring a workpiece between a transport lift and a machine tool.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece exchanging method and device that can directly transfer the workpieces between a stacker crane and a pallet changing machine without using a conveyor or the like, and that can be applied even in a limited space. There is a particular thing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention transfers workpieces set on jig pallets between a storage shelf and a pallet changer installed in parallel with a machine tool via a stacker crane, and is transferred between the stacker crane and an index table of the machine tool via the pallet changer, and the workpiece is directly transferred between the stacker crane and the pallet changer. The above objectives are achieved by providing an exchange method.

The present invention also provides a storage shelf for storing the works set on a jig pallet, and a stacker crane for loading and unloading the works stored in the storage shelf, as a device for carrying out the above-described workpiece exchange method. and a machine tool disposed along the path of the stacker crane,
A workpiece changing device is provided, characterized in that a traveling base of the stacker crane is equipped with a lifting platform for transferring the workpieces to a pallet changer installed in parallel with the machine tool. .

(Example) Hereinafter, first, an example of the workpiece exchange device of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described.

1, 2, and 3 are a plan view, a front view as viewed from X-X, and a side view as viewed from Y-Y, respectively, showing one embodiment of the present invention, and may be omitted or simplified as appropriate. is shown. In these drawings, (1) is a storage shelf that stores workpieces (8), set jig pallets (9), etc., and (2) is a 1m storage shelf.
(Stacker crane for loading and unloading workpieces (8) stored in +1, (3) is a machine tool such as a machining center installed along the path of the stacker crane (2), (4)
is a pallet changer installed in parallel with the machine tool (3), (
5) is a setup stage for setting the workpiece (8) on the jig pallet (9).

To explain each part in the example in detail, the above ffl'
t Shelf +11 is equipped with a plurality of storage openings (1) arranged in multiple stages and rows along the path of the stacker crane (2).
), the storage shelves (1) are arranged on one side of the container, but the storage shelves (1) may be arranged on both sides. Further, the storage width +11) may be provided in only one stage, or may be stacked in three or more stages.

In addition, the stacker crane (2) has a traveling base (21)
, a mast (company), a lifting carriage (23), a lifting platform for delivery (24, etc.), and as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the mast (along A lifting carriage (23) is configured to move up and down, and a workpiece loading/unloading mechanism Q field for loading and unloading workpieces (8) to and from the storage shelf 1 is placed on the lifting carriage (23). In this example, the fixed fork (25a)
, middle stage fork (25b) and movable fork (25
A three-stage workpiece loading/unloading mechanism 01 consisting of C) is used, but a two-stage type, a four-stage type, etc. may also be used.

Furthermore, on the upper surface of the movable fork (25c), there are conical projections (2) for positioning the jig pallet (9) at four locations.
5d) is provided.

Also, on the traveling base (21) of the stacker crane (2), there is a pallet changer (4) installed in parallel with the machine tool (3).
A lifting platform for transferring the workpiece (8) to the
24 is placed on it, and a lifting platform for delivery (24 is a jig pallet support stand (24) equipped with a carrier roller (24a)
4b) and a lifter (24c) for raising and lowering the jig pallet support stand (24b). In this embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder (24d) and four guide mechanisms (24d) are used.
4e) is used, but the lifter (24c) is not limited to this. Also, on the side of the jig pallet support stand (24b), an arm (24f) and an arm (24f) are provided for positioning the jig pallet (9).
A hydraulic cylinder (24g) is provided to drive the.

Further, the traveling base (21) of the stacker crane (2) has a rod (26a) with a conical tip and a rod (26a) for positioning the stacker crane (2) at two locations.
6a) is provided.

In addition, the pallet changer (4) is equipped with a turntable (
41) Jig pallet support parts (φ) are provided at two places on the top, and by rotating 180 degrees, one jig pallet support part (44) is positioned on the stacker crane (2) side, and the other jig pallet support part (44) is positioned on the stacker crane (2) side, and The pallet support part (4 days) can be located on the index table (31) side of the machine tool (3). Also, the pallet support part (4 days) can be located on the side of each jig pallet support part (φ).
There is a locking part (4) at the tip for transferring the jig pallet (9).
3a) with rod (43b) and rod (43b
) is provided with a workpiece delivery mechanism (41) consisting of a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) that drives a hydraulic cylinder (not shown).

The lid and jig pallet (9) corresponds to the above-mentioned stacker crane (2) or pallet changer (4), and has workpiece loading/unloading mechanisms (2!9) at four locations on its bottom surface.
Positioning hole (91) with movable fork (25c)
A delivery platform (2
A hook (g4) that engages with the arm (24f) of No. 4 and a hook (target) that engages with the locking portion (43a) of the work transfer mechanism (41) are provided.

Additionally, along the path of the stacker crane (2), storage shelves +
1), stacker cranes (2
) is provided with a positioning jig (26C) for positioning the rod (26a).

Note that the stacker crane (2) of this embodiment has 1
Although it is a mole rail type supported by two rails (2M and H), it may be a type that runs on two lower rails.

Next, the workpiece exchanging method of the present invention will be explained based on an embodiment using the above-mentioned workpiece exchanging device.

First, when supplying the workpiece (8) to the machine tool tllE (31), the workpiece (8), which has been sectioned onto the jig pallet (9) at the setup station (5), is stored in the storage unit 1111 by the stacker crane (2). The machine tool pA (
Based on the supply command to the machine tool M (3), the stacker crane (2) takes out the workpiece (8) from the storage Ill (11) and carries it to the front of the machine tool (3). (4) is provided,
The stacker crane (2) is stopped so that the workpiece (8) is stopped at a predetermined position in front of the pallet changer (4). At this time, the workpiece loading/unloading mechanism (2!19) of the stacker crane (2) is in the center position.

From this state, the workpiece (8) is moved to machine tool 1 as shown in the 11th order. lt f31.

First, the workpiece loading/unloading mechanism (2) of the stacker crane (2)
9 moves forward to the pallet changer (4) side, and the workpiece (8
) with the jig pallet (9) set on the delivery platform (
24.

Next, the delivery lift table (24 jig pallet support stands (2
4b) The pallet changer (4) rises and stops at a position slightly lower than the delivery height to the pallet changer (4).

Next, the lifting carriage (21) of the stacker crane (2)
By lowering the workpiece loading and unloading mechanism (21), the upper surface of the movable fork (25c) is
The jig pallet (9) is transferred onto the jig pallet support stand (24b) by positioning it below the top surface of the jig pallet support stand (24b).

Next, the jig pallet (9) placed on the jig pallet support stand (24b) is positioned by operating the arm (24f).

Next, pallet changer (4) work transfer machine tM
(Rod 43 (43b) is connected to the stacker crane (2)
) side and attach the locking part (43a) to the jig pallet (9).
hook (located above 91).

Next, the delivery lift table (24 jig pallet support stands (2
4b) Raise it to the height for delivery to the pallet changer (4). At this time, the locking part (43a) of the workpiece delivery mechanism (43) and the hook of the jig pallet (9) engage, resulting in the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Next, the workpiece transfer mechanism (rod (43b) of 43) retreats, and the jig pallet (9) is moved to the pallet changer (43b).
) is transferred to the jig pallet support section (4'4).

Next, a lifting platform for delivery (240 jig pallet support platform (2
4b) descends to the lowest position, and the next jig pareno) (
Waits for transport command 91.

The jig pallet support part on the stacker crane (2) side (the jig pallet (9) that was recently transferred is attached to the turntable (4)
1) creates the index table (3) of the machine tool (3).
1) After being rotated to 1g, the index table (3
1).

The workpiece (8) that has been processed is taken out by an unloading operation that is the reverse procedure of the above-mentioned supply operation. In this way, the work of supplying and taking out the workpieces (8) to each machine tool (3) is repeated in sequence.

Although the embodiments of the work exchanging device of the present invention and the embodiments of the work exchanging method of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these.

For example, the workpiece delivery mechanism (41 is a jig pallet (9)
The locking part (43a) provided at the tip of the rod (43b) may be engaged with the hook (gl) of the jig pallet (9) by passing through the lower space of the rod (43b). A changer may also be used.Also, a machine tool (3)
Alternatively, only one setup list input (5) may be provided.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the workpiece exchanging method and device of the present invention have the following features:
Workpieces can be transferred directly between the stacker crane and the pallet changer installed in parallel with the machine tool without the need for a conveyor, etc. Therefore, workpieces can be automatically exchanged even in limited space, and various workpieces can be transferred. It can be processed one after another unattended, and the positioning accuracy when changing workpieces is high, so it is extremely useful for FMS etc.
It has a high value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1, 2, and 3 are a plan view, a front view as viewed from X-X, and a side view as seen from Y-Y, respectively, showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a main part thereof. An enlarged plan view, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the main part. (1): Storage shelf (2) Nistacker crane (2)
1) : Traveling base (24: Lifting platform for delivery (3)
Second machine tool (31): Index table (4): Pallet changer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A workpiece set on a jig pallet is transferred between a storage shelf and a pallet changer installed in parallel with a machine tool via a stacker crane, and the workpiece is transferred to a pallet changer installed in parallel with a machine tool. A workpiece exchange method characterized in that the workpiece is transferred between the stacker crane and the index table of the machine tool via the stacker crane and the index table of the machine tool, and the workpiece is transferred directly between the stacker crane and the pallet changer. 2) A storage shelf that stores the workpieces set on the jig pallet, a stacker crane that takes in and out the workpieces stored in the storage shelf, and a machine tool that is arranged along the path of the stacker crane. 1. A workpiece exchange device comprising: a transfer platform for transferring the workpieces to a pallet changer installed in parallel with the machine tool on a traveling base of the stacker crane. 3) The workpiece exchange device according to claim 2, wherein the transfer platform includes a jig pallet support base provided with a carrier roller and a lifter for raising and lowering the jig pallet support base.