JP2007168038A - Free flow type workpiece transfer device and workpiece transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To be able to respond flexibly even if there is a design change and production work needs to be increased or decreased, enabling work at an arbitrary position and high-speed rotation of a rotary table, and space and cost A free flow type workpiece transfer device that is also advantageous in terms of the above is provided.
A free flow type work transfer apparatus and method for carrying a pallet P by a transfer body and processing or assembling parts to a work W attached to the pallet P at a plurality of stations S. The pallet holding means 2 that is configured by the rotary table 1 and holds the pallet P at a position separated from the rotary table 1 can be set at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table 1. To do.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a free flow type workpiece transfer device and a workpiece transfer method for processing or assembling parts on a workpiece placed on a pallet in a state where a pallet conveyed by a movable body is separated from the movable body.

  For example, when mass-producing a product by performing various processing on a workpiece or assembling various components, there is a method in which the workpiece is placed on a pallet and moved by a moving body such as a conveyor.

  In such a pallet transfer method, the pallet is fixed to the conveyor and the type is repeatedly moved and stopped at regular intervals, and the pallet is only placed on the conveyor and only when the pallet flows in front of the operator. There is a free flow type that lifts the pallet from the conveyor. In the free flow type, the conveyor is always in a moving state.

Patent Document 1 below proposes a component assembling apparatus in which a rotating table is intermittently rotated by a predetermined rotation angle and components are assembled. Patent Document 2 below proposes an automatic assembly apparatus in which a robot is arranged on a base machine, which is a linear flow conveyor, and various components are attached to a pallet on the base machine using this robot.
JP-A-6-114655 (abstract, paragraph number “0011”, see FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-253771 (Summary, see FIG. 1)

  However, in the type in which the conveyor that is a moving body is repeatedly moved and stopped at regular intervals, it is extremely difficult to change the initially assigned stop position, and it is not possible to flexibly cope with an increase or decrease in the number of processes. There is a bug. In the free flow type, the pallet is lifted from the moving body at a predetermined position, so there is no such problem, but the pallet is transported linearly, which is disadvantageous in terms of space, and the pallet to be transported is terminated. There is also a problem that when it reaches, it must be returned to its original position.

  Since the device of Patent Document 1 is a rotary table, there is no space problem or pallet return problem, but there is no flexibility when changing the work process, similar to the type that repeats moving and stopping at the above-mentioned fixed intervals, It is not easy to deal with changes in design.

  Since the apparatus of Patent Document 2 is linearly conveyed, it is disadvantageous in terms of space and is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost and workability.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems associated with the above-described prior art, and even if there is a design change to the product and it is necessary to increase or decrease the number of production work processes, the production equipment can be flexibly handled. An object of the present invention is to provide a free flow type work transfer device and a work transfer method which can be operated at an arbitrary position and are advantageous in terms of space and cost.

  To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a free-flow type work in which a pallet is conveyed by a transfer body, and a work attached to the pallet or a part is assembled at a plurality of stations. A transfer device, wherein the transfer body is constituted by a rotary table, and pallet holding means for holding the pallet at a position separated from the rotary table can be set at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table. This is a free flow type workpiece transfer device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 10 is a free-flow type work in which a pallet is conveyed by a transfer body, and processing or assembly of parts is performed on the work attached to the pallet at a plurality of stations. In the transfer method, the pallet holding means set at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table as the transfer body stops the pallet rotating together with the rotary table at a desired position by a stopper member, The pallet is held at a position spaced apart from the rotary table.

  According to the first and tenth aspects of the present invention, the transfer body that conveys the pallet is constituted by the rotary table, and the pallet holding means for holding the pallet at a position spaced from the rotary table is provided at an arbitrary outer peripheral portion of the rotary table. Therefore, a predetermined operation can be performed by interrupting the conveyance of the pallet by the rotary table at an arbitrary position. Therefore, even when there is a design change and it is necessary to increase or decrease the production work, it is possible to flexibly cope with it.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pallet holding means stops the pallet by the stopper member, and the pallet is separated from the rotary table by the separation means in conjunction with the stopper member. The pallet can be stopped smoothly.

  According to invention of Claim 3, 4, a separation means uses the cross-section C-shaped straddle member straddling the outer peripheral part of a rotary table, A pallet is attached to one arm of this straddle member, Since the lifter and cam mechanism are connected to the other arm, the operation of the lifter and cam mechanism can be directly transmitted to the pallet, the pallet can be separated smoothly, and the lifting operation is performed at the bottom of the rotary table. Since there are few parts protruding outside, it is advantageous in terms of space.

  According to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, since the pallet holding means is provided with positioning means for holding the pallet so as not to be displaced, the pallet stopped at the approximate position by the stopper member. Can be accurately stopped at a desired position by the positioning means. If a locating pin is provided at the tip of the lifter as this positioning means, it becomes an extremely compact means, and if the position of the locating pin is displaced in the radial direction or the circumferential direction of the rotary table, the accuracy of the position for stopping and fixing is further improved. . If it is a recessed part which a cam floor fits, fixation of a pallet will become more reliable and it will be advantageous also in terms of the smoothness of work.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the pallet and the rotary table are concavo-convexly fitted with the groove and the convex portion, there is no possibility that the pallet will come off even if the rotary table is rotated. It is smooth and advantageous.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a free flow type workpiece transfer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a pallet holding means. 4 is a perspective view of the stopper member, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

  First, the free flow type workpiece transfer apparatus will be outlined. As shown in FIG. 1, a transfer body for conveying a pallet is constituted by a rotary table 1, and a plurality of stations S1 to S7 (S Is a general term for stations). In each station S, predetermined work (for example, predetermined processing on the work W, assembly of parts, etc.) is performed on the work W placed on the pallet P.

  These pallets P1 to P7 (P is a generic name for pallets) are lifted from the upper surface of the rotary table 1 by the pallet holding means 2 provided in each station S, and are not affected by the rotary table 1 that is always rotating. It is held in the separated position.

  In this work transfer device, in each station S, processing and assembling work basically proceed at the same time, and when completed, the pallet P is returned to the turntable 1, but from the turntable 1 of the pallet P, Lifting and returning can be performed at each station S. Accordingly, the position and interval of each station S can be set at an arbitrary position in consideration of various conditions such as the working time and the rotation speed of the turntable 1, and this is represented by the central angle θ as shown in FIG. In addition, for example, θ1 to θ7 which are mutually different angles are obtained.

  Further details will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece transfer device of the present embodiment has a flat disk-shaped rotary table 1 installed horizontally, and the central axis D of the rotary table 1 is connected to a reduction gear G. A motor M is connected. An annular groove 3 is formed on the surface of the turntable 1, and a protrusion 4 provided on the lower surface of the pallet P is fitted into the groove 3 so that the pallet P can be removed even if the turntable 1 rotates at high speed. There is no.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pallet holding means 2 has a stopper member 5 that stops when the pallet P conveyed by the rotary table 1 reaches a desired position, and a pallet P that is stopped in conjunction with the stopper member 5. There is a separating means 6 which is lifted from the rotary table 1 and put in a separated position.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stopper member 5 is formed by dividing the stopper shaft 7 into an upper shaft 8 and a lower shaft 9, and is integrated with the upper shaft 8 within a notch 10 formed on the lower shaft 9 side. The provided moving piece 8a moves so that the bar 11 that protrudes horizontally from the upper shaft 8 rotates between a protruding position (displayed with a solid line) and a retracted position (displayed with an alternate long and short dash line). Therefore, when the sensor A (see FIG. 1) in the vicinity of the station S senses the flowing pallet P, the operating device (not shown) is operated, the bar 11 protrudes, engages with a straddle member 12 described later, and the pallet The conveyance of P can be stopped.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the separation means 6 of the present embodiment includes a straddle member 12 having a C-shaped cross section disposed with a predetermined gap between the outer periphery of the turntable 1 and The pallet P is attached to the upper arm 12a of the straddle member 12, the lifter 13 is detachably connected to the lower arm 12b, and the pallet P is held at a position separated from the turntable 1 by the lifting and lowering operation of the lifter 13. Thus, when the straddle member 12 having a C-shaped cross section is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the turntable 1, not only can the operation of the lifter 13 be directly transmitted to the pallet P and the pallet P can be separated smoothly, Since the raising / lowering operation is performed at the lower part of the rotary table 1, there are few parts protruding outside, which is advantageous in terms of space.

  However, since the stop accuracy is not sufficient only by stopping the pallet P by the stopper member 5, in the present embodiment, the positioning means 15 for holding the pallet so as not to be displaced is provided. The positioning means 15 is provided with a locating pin 16 at the tip of the lifter 13 and is fitted into a plurality of through holes 17 provided in the lower arm 12b so that the lower arm 12b is not displaced. Such positioning means 15 is very compact and advantageous.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the straddle member 12 as viewed from below. As shown in FIG. 6, when the position of the locate pin 16 and the through hole 17 is displaced with respect to one by the displacement amounts x and y in the radial direction and the circumferential direction of the rotary table, the support becomes more reliable, and the fixing is stopped. The accuracy of the position to be improved is further improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the separating means 6 is provided with a stop member 18 between the arm 12 b below the straddle member 12 and the lower surface of the turntable 1. This is to regulate the lift position by the lifter 13. The stop member 18 may not necessarily be provided as long as the stroke restriction of the lifter 13 or a limit switch is used.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a modification of the annular groove formed on the surface of the rotary table. As shown in FIG. 2, the annular groove 3 formed on the surface of the turntable 1 has one side surface 3a inclined and the other side made vertical. Detachment can be prevented. However, in order to allow the pallet P to move easily along the groove 3, the side surfaces 3a may be inclined as shown in FIG. Needless to say, the concave and convex fitting between the groove 3 and the convex 4 may form a groove on the pallet P and a convex on the surface of the rotary table 1.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, a pallet P on which a work W is set is prepared, and the bulge 4 of the pallet P is inserted into the turntable 1 one after another while fitting the convex portion 4 of the pallet P into the annular groove 3. Then, the motor M is driven to rotate the turntable 1, and the processing on the workpiece W and the assembly of parts are performed at each station S.

  Thus, during normal production, if there is a design change for a product, it may be necessary to increase or decrease even in the production work process, and the interval between the stations S may need to be adjusted.

  Adjustment of the interval between the stations S can be easily handled by adjusting the position of the pallet holding means 2. In the present embodiment, for example, it is possible to easily cope with a design change only by adjusting the positions of the stopper member 5, the separating means 6, the positioning means 15, and the like.

  The operation of the pallet holding means 2 is as follows. First, when the sensor A in the vicinity of the station S senses that the pallet P has flowed, the actuating device of the stopper member 5 is actuated, and the bar 11 protrudes to the protruding position. Stop.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the separating means raises the pallet. As shown in FIG. 8, the lifter 13 of the separating means 6 rises in conjunction with the stop of the pallet P and lifts until the arm 12 b below the straddle member 12 contacts the stop member 18. Along with this, the pallet 1 attached to the upper arm 12a rises, and the projection 4 of the pallet P and the groove 3 of the rotary table 1 are disengaged, so that the pallet P is separated from the rotary table 1. Stop and hold.

In this state, the workpiece W is processed and parts are assembled. When the work is completed, the lifter 13 of the separating means 6 is lowered again, and the arm 12b below the straddle member 12 is lowered. Along with this, the pallet P attached to the upper arm 12 a is also lowered, the pallet P is returned onto the rotary table 1, and the convex portion 4 is fitted into the groove portion 3 of the rotary table 1. As a result, the pallet P is sent to the next station by the rotary table 1.
<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the separating means according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the rising state of the separating means, and FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cam member and the positioning means. FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member which is common in the member shown to FIGS. 1-8, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the separation means 6 of the first embodiment, since positioning is performed by fitting the locate pin 16 and the through-hole 17, if used for many years, there is a possibility of positional deviation due to backlash and gaps, which may reduce accuracy. In this embodiment, a cam mechanism is used.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the separation means 6 </ b> A of the present embodiment includes a straddle member 12 having a C-shaped cross section disposed with a predetermined gap between the turntable 1 and the outer peripheral portion. The pallet P is provided on the upper arm 12a of the member 12, the cam floors 20a and 20b are provided on the lower arm 12b, and the pallet P is stopped by the positioning means 15A at a position separated from the rotary table 1 by the cam member 21 provided in a fixed position. And hold. The positioning means 15A of the present embodiment is configured by a recess 22 formed in the cam member 21 into which the cam floor 20a and / or 20b is fitted as shown in FIG.

  Also in the separation means 6 configured in this way, if there is a design change, for example, the positions of the pallet holding means 2 can be easily adjusted only by adjusting the positions of the stopper member 5, the separation means 6A, the cam member 21, and the like. It can be adjusted and can easily cope with design changes.

  The operation of the pallet holding means 2 is the same as that described above except that the straddle member 12 is moved up and down by the cam floor 20a and the cam member 21, and the description thereof will be omitted. However, since positioning is performed using the cam floor 20a and the cam member 21, the accuracy is improved compared to the separating means 6 of the previous embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pallet is lifted and lowered by the lifter or the cam mechanism, but not only this but also various other alternative means can be used.

  The present invention is a free-flow type work transfer device that uses a rotary table to transfer work when assembling or processing automobile parts by flow work, and the position of the station is easily changed with respect to product design changes And can be dealt with.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the free flow type workpiece transfer apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the 2-2 line of FIG. It is a side view of a pallet holding means. It is a perspective view of a stopper member. It is sectional drawing which follows the 4-4 line of FIG. It is the front view which looked at the straddle member from the lower surface. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the cyclic | annular groove part formed in the surface of a turntable. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which the separation means raised the pallet. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the separation means which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the raise of the said separation means. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a cam member and a positioning means.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Rotary table (transfer body),
2 ... pallet holding means,
3 ... groove,
4 ... convex part,
5 ... stopper member,
6 ... separation means,
12 ... straddle member 12a ... upper arm,
12b ... lower arm,
13 ... Lifter,
15, 15A ... positioning means,
16 ... Locate pin,
17 ... through hole,
20a, 20b ... cam floor,
21 ... Cam member,
22 ... recess,
P ... pallet,
S ... Station,
W ... Work.

Claims (10)

It is a free flow type work transfer device that conveys a pallet by a transfer body and performs processing or assembly of parts on a work attached to the pallet at a plurality of stations,
The transfer body is constituted by a rotary table, and the pallet holding means for holding the pallet at a position separated from the rotary table can be set at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table. Free flow type work transfer device. The pallet holding means has a stopper member that stops when the pallet rotating together with the rotary table reaches a desired position, and a separating means that moves the stopped pallet away from the rotary table in conjunction with the stopper member. The free flow type workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The separation means has a straddle member having a C-shaped cross section disposed with a predetermined gap between the rotary table and the outer peripheral portion, and the pallet is placed on one arm of the straddle member, and the other 3. A free flow type work transfer device according to claim 2, wherein a lifter is connected to the arm of the lifter, and the pallet is stopped and held at a position separated from the rotary table by the operation of the lifter. The separation means has a straddle member having a C-shaped cross section disposed with a predetermined gap between the rotary table and the outer peripheral portion, and the pallet is placed on one arm of the straddle member, and the other The arm is provided with either a cam member or a cam floor, and the pallet is stopped and held at a position separated from the rotary table by the other of the cam member or the cam floor provided in a fixed position. Item 3. The free flow type workpiece transfer device according to Item 2. The free flow type work according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pallet holding means includes positioning means for holding the pallet so as not to be displaced at a stop position separated from the rotary table. Transfer device. The positioning means is a locating pin provided at a tip of the lifter, wherein the locating pin is connected to a plurality of through holes provided in the arm, and the arm is in a connected state in which the position is not displaced. Item 6. The free flow type workpiece transfer device according to Item 3 or 5. The free-flow type workpiece transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the locate pins are provided so as to be displaced from each other in a radial direction and / or a circumferential direction of the rotary table. 6. The free flow type workpiece transfer device according to claim 4, wherein the positioning means is configured by a recess formed in the cam member, into which the cam floor is fitted. The pallet and the rotary table have a groove portion on one of them and a convex portion that fits on the other groove portion, and the free flow type according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Work transfer device. It is a free flow type work transfer method in which a pallet is conveyed by a transfer body, and processing or assembly of parts is performed on a work attached to the pallet at a plurality of stations,
The pallet holding means set at an arbitrary position on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary table serving as the transfer body stops the pallet rotating together with the rotary table at a desired position by a stopper member, and the stopped pallet is moved to the rotary table. A free flow type workpiece transfer method, characterized in that the workpiece is held at a position separated from the workpiece.

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