JP2008142754A - Workpiece positioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workpiece positioning apparatus for positioning even a special-shaped workpiece having an oblique side part without damaging it. <P>SOLUTION: The workpiece positioning apparatus includes a supporting means forming a workpiece supporting face 10 for loading a plate-like workpiece W thereon, a transfer means for transferring the workpiece W along the workpiece supporting face 10 and a positioning means for stopping the workpiece W during the transfer by the transfer means at a predetermined position on the workpiece supporting face 10. The positioning means is equipped with stoppers 14, 15 which are protruded onto the workpiece supporting face 10 and brought into contact with an end face of the workpiece, a first traveling table 16 which is arranged below the workpiece supporting face 10 and movable in the workpiece transfer direction and a second traveling table 30 which is movable in the direction orthogonal to the workpiece transfer direction in a plane parallel to the workpiece supporting face 10. The stoppers 14, 15 are provided as accessories of upper parts of the first traveling table 16 and the second traveling table 30 respectively. The stoppers 14, 15 have polygonal contours, and are rotatably supported around the axis orthogonal to the workpiece supporting face 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece positioning device used in a press working line or the like, and more particularly to a workpiece positioning device that can position a plate-like workpiece conveyed from a previous process without damaging it.

  When plate-like workpieces are pressed using a transfer press or tandem press line, the stacked workpieces are supplied to the line one by one, and then transferred to the press machine where shearing, punching, molding, etc. are performed in sequence. Done.

  Here, since the position of the work flowing through the line changes due to vibration, etc., if it is loaded into the press with the loader in the position and posture when transferred, the work is set in an inappropriate state with respect to the mold. This will cause defective molding. For this reason, when a work is carried into the press machine, the work is temporarily stopped at the preceding stage and positioning by the work positioning device is performed.

  In general, the workpiece positioning device has a configuration in which a plurality of stoppers are attached to fixed positions of a conveyor for transferring workpieces, and the workpieces are positioned by bringing the stoppers into contact with the front end surface and the left and right side end surfaces in the workpiece transfer direction. (For example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-316235 (paragraph 0024, FIG. 2)

  However, since the conventional workpiece positioning device has a configuration in which a stopper made of a square block is simply fixed at a reference position, the workpiece may be damaged during positioning depending on the shape of the workpiece.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the work W is sheared in the previous step and is a blank having a hypotenuse portion a, the ridge angle of the stopper S hits the hypotenuse portion a and the hypotenuse portion a is depressed. There was a case.

  Although a round shaft type pin may be used as a stopper, this type of stopper comes into contact with an end point of the workpiece regardless of the shape of the workpiece. Acts, and there is a problem that the workpiece is plastically deformed in the vicinity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable positioning of a deformed workpiece having a hypotenuse portion without damaging the workpiece.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
Support means for forming a workpiece support surface on which a plate-like workpiece is placed, transfer means for transferring the workpiece along the workpiece support surface, and stopping the workpiece being transferred by the transfer means at a fixed position on the workpiece support surface Positioning means,
The positioning means includes a plurality of stoppers that protrude on the workpiece support surface and come into contact with the end surface of the workpiece, and each stopper has a polygonal outline and rotates about an axis orthogonal to the workpiece support surface. Provided is a workpiece positioning device that is freely supported.

  In addition, the positioning means is disposed below the workpiece support surface and is movable in the workpiece transfer direction, and is disposed below the workpiece support surface and parallel to the workpiece support surface. A second traveling platform that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the workpiece transfer direction within the surface to be moved, and the stoppers are provided on the upper portions of the first traveling platform and the second traveling platform, respectively. To do.

  The stopper attached to the second platform can be changed from an upright posture protruding on the workpiece support surface to an inclined posture that tilts in the movable direction of the second platform and immerses under the workpiece support surface. It is said that it is said.

  The stopper has only to have a polygonal outline and can be rotatably supported around its axis, but is preferably a regular hexagonal prism.

  According to the workpiece positioning apparatus according to the present invention, it is provided with a plurality of stoppers that protrude on the workpiece support surface and come into contact with the workpiece end surface, and each of the stoppers has a polygonal outline and is orthogonal to the workpiece support surface. Since the ridge angle of the stopper is not pressed against the end surface of the workpiece with excessive pressure, any one surface of each stopper is in contact with the end surface of the workpiece. Since the positioning is performed, it is possible to prevent the workpiece from being depressed at the contact portion of the stopper.

  In addition, a first carriage that is disposed below the workpiece support surface and is movable in the workpiece transfer direction, and the workpiece is transferred in a plane that is disposed below the workpiece support surface and parallel to the workpiece support surface. A second traveling platform that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and stoppers are provided on the upper portions of the first traveling platform and the second traveling platform, respectively. Can be easily arranged at an appropriate position, and the setup accompanying the change of the workpiece can be performed in a short time.

  Further, the stopper attached to the second platform can be changed from an upright posture protruding on the workpiece support surface to an inclined posture that tilts in the movable direction of the second platform and immerses under the workpiece support surface. Thus, the workpiece can be reliably transferred to a fixed position on the workpiece support surface without interfering with the stopper.

  Furthermore, since the stopper is a regular hexagonal cylinder, the area of contact with the end face of the workpiece is set large, the crossing portion of each surface is obtuse, and even when the obtuse ridge angle hits the workpiece, the workpiece is damaged. Can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a pressing line, and FIG. 2 shows the same plane.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaning machine for cleaning a plate-like workpiece W made of a steel plate or the like. Reference numeral 2 denotes a press machine provided on the downstream side (post process) of the cleaning machine. A workpiece positioning device 3 according to the present invention is installed between the two.

  In addition, on the upstream side (pre-process) of the cleaning machine 1, there is provided a destacker (not shown) for discharging the stacked works W onto the feeder one by one, and attached to the press machine 2 above the work positioning device 3. A loader 4 is provided. The loader 4 sucks and lifts the workpiece W positioned by the workpiece positioning device 3 and carries it into the press machine 2. The loader 4 is provided with a vacuum cup 4 </ b> A for sucking the workpiece W.

  Then, according to the press working line, the workpiece W paid out by the unillustrated destacker is cleaned by the cleaning machine 1 and then positioned by the workpiece positioning device 3, and is then carried into the pressing machine 1 by the loader 4. Then, the workpiece W is molded.

  Here, the workpiece positioning apparatus 3 includes support means for forming a flat workpiece support surface 10 on which the workpiece W carried out from the cleaning machine 1 is placed. In this example, the supporting means includes a plurality of bars 11 arranged in parallel near the outlet of the washing machine 1, a bar 12 arranged in parallel on the downstream side, and an upstream bar. The belt conveyor 13 also serves as a transfer means for transferring the workpiece W along the workpiece support surface 10 to the press machine 2 side.

  The bars 11 and 12 are metal round shafts arranged in the same plane. A stopper 14 which will be described later is disposed between the downstream bars 12, and a narrow gap that bisects the workpiece support surface 10 is provided between the upstream and downstream bars 11 and 12. A pair of left and right stoppers 15 are also formed in the gap.

  The stoppers 14 and 15 constitute positioning means for projecting on the work support surface 10 and stopping the work W being transferred by the belt conveyor 13 at a fixed position on the work support surface 10. It can be changed according to the size and shape of W.

  A configuration example of the positioning means will be described in detail. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 16 denotes a first traveling base disposed below the work support surface 10, and a U-shaped shaft holder 17 is provided on the upper part thereof. A spindle 18 that forms the center of rotation of the stopper 14 is fixed to the shaft holder 17, and the stopper 14 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 18. In particular, the support shaft 18 is orthogonal to the work support surface 10, and a portion of the stopper 14 provided on the outer periphery of the support shaft 18 always protrudes on the work support surface 10. The stopper 14 and the support shaft 18 may be integrated, and the support shaft 18 may be rotatably supported by the shaft holder 17.

  A slide shaft 19 is fixed to the rear surface of the shaft holder 17, and the slide shaft 19 is slidably supported by a bracket 20 fixed to the upper surface of the first traveling platform 16. A compression spring 21 is provided between the shaft holder 17 and the bracket 20 on the outer periphery of the slide shaft 19, and the shaft holder 17 holding the stopper 14 with the compression spring 21 is moved to the left (transferred) in FIG. It is biased in the direction facing the workpiece.

  On the other hand, a slide 22 is fixed to the bottom surface of the first traveling platform 16, and the slide 22 is slidably engaged with a guide rail 23 laid along the length direction of the bar 12.

  A nut (not shown) is fixed to the first carriage 16 and a screw shaft 24 is screwed into the nut. Both ends of the screw shaft 24 are oriented in the same direction as the guide rail 23 (one end side is not shown) are supported by the bearing unit 25, and one end thereof is not shown via a gear 26. The power of the motor is transmitted. Thus, the first traveling platform 16 can move along the guide rail 23 by the rotational drive of the screw shaft 24. The moving direction coincides with the length direction of the bar 12, that is, the transfer direction of the workpiece W by the conveyor 13. Therefore, the position of the stopper 14 provided on the upper part of the first platform 16 can be changed along the transfer direction of the workpiece W by the movement of the first platform 16.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 27 denotes an arm fixed to the first platform 16, and a sensor 28 close to the workpiece on the workpiece support surface 10 is attached to the tip thereof so that the presence or absence of the workpiece can be detected by the sensor 28. It is.

  Next, in FIG. 4, 30 is the 2nd traveling stand which comprises a positioning means, and this traveling stand 30 is comprised by the base 31 and the top stand 32 provided in the upper part of this base. Note that the second traveling platform 30 is also disposed below the workpiece support surface 10.

  The upper base 32 includes a guide rail 33 fixed to the upper surface of the base 31, and a slide 34 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 33. Reference numeral 35 denotes a slide table having the slide 34 fixed to the bottom surface, and an extendable rod 36A of a fluid pressure (hydraulic or pneumatic) cylinder 36 is connected to the slide table 35. A support shaft 38 that forms the center of rotation of the stopper 15 is fixed to the slide table 35 via a swing link 37, and the stopper 15 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 38. Note that the support shaft 38 is also orthogonal to the workpiece support surface 10, and a part of the stopper 15 provided on the outer periphery thereof protrudes on the workpiece support surface 10.

  Here, a guide pin P2 is fixed to the swing link 37 separately from the swing support point P1, and the guide pin P2 is engaged with a cam groove 39 formed on the side wall 32A of the upper base 32. Then, when the slide table 35 is moved along the guide rail 33 by the operation of the fluid pressure cylinder 36, the swing link 37 performs swing motion along the cam groove 39. Accordingly, the stopper 15 attached to the swing link 37 via the support shaft 38 is not only in the standing posture protruding on the workpiece support surface 10 but also in the movable direction of the second platform 30 (the lower region of the workpiece) from the standing posture. It is possible to change to an inclined posture that tilts more outward) and immerses under the workpiece support surface 10. In FIG. 4, the inclined posture of the stopper 15 is represented by an imaginary line.

  On the other hand, a slide 40 is fixed to the bottom surface of the base 31, and the slide 40 is slidably engaged with a guide rail 41 laid along a direction perpendicular to the bar 11 in a plane parallel to the workpiece support surface 10. Are combined. A nut 42 is fixed to the second carriage 30 and a screw shaft 43 is screwed into the nut 42.

  The screw shaft 43 is supported at both ends (one end side is not shown) by a bearing unit 44 while being oriented in the same direction as the guide rail 41, and one end thereof is not shown via a gear 45. The power of the motor is transmitted. Therefore, the second traveling platform 30 can move along the guide rail 41 by the rotational drive of the screw shaft 43. The moving direction coincides with the direction orthogonal to the workpiece transfer direction in the orthogonal direction of the bar 11, that is, in a plane parallel to the workpiece support surface 10. Therefore, the stopper 15 provided on the upper part of the second platform 30 changes the position along the direction perpendicular to the workpiece transfer direction within the plane parallel to the workpiece support surface 10 by the movement of the second platform 30. be able to.

  Next, the structure of the stoppers 14 and 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and FIG. 6 show one stopper 14 (front stopper) and its structure will be described. The other stopper 15 (side stopper) has the same basic structure as the stopper 14.

  Here, the stopper 14 is a prismatic body made of a hard metal that is not easily plastically deformed, and its outer periphery is a polygon, which is also a regular hexagon as shown in FIG. That is, in this example, the stopper 14 is a prismatic body (regular hexagonal cylinder) having a regular hexagonal outline, and this is rotatably attached to the support shaft 18 via the bearings 46 and 47 as shown in FIG. One bearing 46 is a bush and the other bearing 47 is a rolling bearing. As described above, the support shaft 18 is rotatably supported by the shaft holder 17, and the stopper 14 is attached to the support shaft 18. It may be fixed.

  Next, the operation of the workpiece positioning device 3 configured as described above will be described. The workpiece W carried out from the cleaning machine 1 in FIG. 1 is transferred onto the workpiece support surface 10 to form the workpiece support surface 10. It is transferred toward the press machine 2 by the belt conveyor 13. At this time, the stopper 15 is immersed below the workpiece support surface 10 and is in a positioning standby state.

  Then, when the workpiece W is transferred to a predetermined position, the end surface (front end surface) abuts against the stopper 14 protruding on the workpiece support surface as shown in FIG. Front-rear positioning is performed. Further, at this time, when the workpiece W is detected by the sensor 28 shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 15 protrudes on the workpiece support surface, and the stopper 15 comes into contact with the left and right end surfaces of the workpiece W, so Positioning is performed.

  In particular, when each of the stoppers 14 and 15 comes into contact with the end surface of the workpiece W, the stoppers 14 and 15 are pushed by the workpiece W and rotate, and any one of the six surfaces contacts the end surface of the workpiece W. It becomes stable at the time. For this reason, the ridge angles of the stoppers 14 and 15 are not pressed against the end surface of the workpiece W with excessive pressure, and positioning is performed in a state where any one surface of each of the stoppers 14 and 15 is in contact with the end surface of the workpiece W. Therefore, the work W does not sink at the contact portion between the stoppers 14 and 15.

  Then, the workpiece W after positioning is pulled up onto the workpiece support surface 10 by the loader 4 shown in FIG. 1, and then carried into the press machine 2 to be molded.

  The configuration example of the workpiece positioning device according to the present invention has been described above. However, such a device is not limited to be provided between the cleaning machine 1 and the press machine 2, and may be interposed between two types of press machines or may be pressed. The workpiece can be positioned by interposing it in a line other than the processing line.

  In the above example, the stoppers 14 and 15 are prismatic bodies having a regular hexagonal outline, but they may be triangular prisms, quadrangular prisms, or other polygonal prisms. However, in the triangular prism and the quadrangular prism, the ridge angle is too sharp, but when it is larger than the hexagon, the area of each surface is reduced and the contact pressure to the workpiece becomes excessive. Therefore, the stoppers 14 and 15 are most preferably regular hexagonal columns.

Schematic side view of a pressing line provided with a workpiece positioning device according to the present invention Schematic plan view of the press line Explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of a positioning means Explanatory drawing which shows the other structural example of a positioning means. Longitudinal section showing the stopper mounting part Cross section of stopper Explanatory drawing showing the state during workpiece positioning Illustration of conventional example

Explanation of symbols

3 Work positioning device 10 Work support surface 11, 12 Bar 13 Belt conveyor (transfer means)
14,15 Stopper (Positioning means)
16 First traveling base 22 Slide 23 Guide rail 24 Screw shaft 30 Second traveling base 36 Fluid pressure cylinder 37 Swing link 39 Cam groove 40 Slide 41 Guide rail 43 Screw shaft

Claims (4)

Support means for forming a workpiece support surface on which a plate-like workpiece is placed, transfer means for transferring the workpiece along the workpiece support surface, and stopping the workpiece being transferred by the transfer means at a fixed position on the workpiece support surface Positioning means,
The positioning means includes a plurality of stoppers that protrude on the workpiece support surface and come into contact with the end surface of the workpiece, and each stopper has a polygonal outline and rotates about an axis orthogonal to the workpiece support surface. A workpiece positioning device characterized by being freely supported. The positioning means is disposed below the workpiece support surface and is movable in the workpiece transfer direction, and is positioned below the workpiece support surface and parallel to the workpiece support surface. A second carriage that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece transfer direction.
2. The workpiece positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stoppers are respectively attached to upper portions of the first traveling platform and the second traveling platform.   The stopper attached to the second platform can be changed from an upright posture protruding on the workpiece support surface to an inclined posture tilting in the movable direction of the second platform and immersing under the workpiece support surface. The workpiece positioning apparatus according to claim 2.   The work positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is a regular hexagonal column.

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