Waste removal device for wire EDM machines

Abstract

A waste removal device for a wire EDM machine includes a conveying unit and a suction unit. The conveying unit includes a moving component assembly and a linear drive module for driving the moving component assembly. The suction unit includes a housing movably disposed within the moving component assembly, an electromagnet module movably disposed within the housing and within the moving component assembly, and a buffer between the moving component assembly and the electromagnet module. The housing has a shell movably disposed within the moving component assembly and a cover fixed to the lower side of the shell. The electromagnet module is used to approach the cover to suction a piece of workpiece waste. By configuring the moving component assembly, the electromagnet module, and the buffer, direct impact of the electromagnet module with the moving component assembly is avoided, thereby improving the durability of the electromagnet module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a waste discharge device, and more particularly to a waste discharge device applied to a wire cutting machine. Prior Technology

[0002] Currently, existing wire EDM machines generate a certain amount of workpiece waste after cutting. If this waste is removed manually, firstly, personnel need to be trained on the waste removal process; secondly, the wire EDM machine must be stopped during waste removal to prevent accidents. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also reduces the operating efficiency of the wire EDM machine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a waste discharge device for use in wire cutting machines.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention is applied to a waste removal device for a wire EDM machine, suitable for absorbing or placing a workpiece waste. The waste removal device includes a conveying unit and a suction unit. The conveying unit includes a moving component assembly and a linear drive module for driving the moving component assembly to move in a vertical direction. The suction unit includes a housing movably disposed in the moving component assembly in the vertical direction, an electromagnet module movably disposed in the moving component assembly in the vertical direction and located within the housing, and a buffer member disposed between the moving component assembly and the electromagnet module. The housing extends in the vertical direction and has a shell movably disposed in the moving component assembly in the vertical direction, and a cover fixed to the lower side of the shell in the vertical direction. The electromagnet module is used to approach the cover to absorb the workpiece waste.

[0005] The advantage of this invention is that by setting up the movable component assembly, the electromagnet module, and the buffer, the electromagnet module is prevented from directly impacting the movable component assembly, thereby improving the durability of the electromagnet module. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0006] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the waste discharge device of the present invention applied to a wire cutting machine; Figure 2 is an incomplete partial side sectional view of this embodiment; Figure 3 is an incomplete partial side sectional view from another perspective of this embodiment; Figure 4 is an incomplete partial side sectional view of this embodiment, showing a workpiece and a support platform, illustrating that the outer shell of a suction unit in this embodiment moves to a raised position relative to an outer tube; Figure 5 is an incomplete partial side sectional view of the embodiment, the workpiece, and the support platform, illustrating that an inner rod of the suction unit in this embodiment moves to a compressed position relative to a cavity; Figure 6 is an incomplete partial side sectional view of the workpiece and the support platform in this embodiment, illustrating that an electromagnet body of the suction unit in this embodiment suctions a workpiece waste; and Figure 7 is an incomplete partial side sectional view of the embodiment, the workpiece, and a waste table, illustrating that the electromagnet body of the suction unit in this embodiment stops suctioning the workpiece waste. Implementation

[0007] Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, an embodiment of the waste discharge device of the present invention applied to a wire cutting machine includes a conveying unit 1, a suction unit 2, a sensing unit 3 and a control unit 4.

[0008] The conveying unit 1 includes a movable component assembly 11, a linear drive module 12 for driving the movable component assembly 11 to move along a vertical direction D1, and an auxiliary linear drive module (not shown) for driving the movable component assembly 11 and the linear drive module 12 to move along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction D1. Since the details of the auxiliary linear drive module can be further deduced by those skilled in the art, and it is not a feature of this invention, it is omitted in the figures.

[0009] The movable component assembly 11 has a base 111 and an outer tube 112 fixed to the lower side of the base 111 along the vertical direction D1. The outer tube 112 defines a cavity 113 extending along the vertical direction D1.

[0010] The suction unit 2 includes a housing 21 movably disposed in the moving component group 11 along the vertical direction D1, an electromagnet module 22 movably disposed in the moving component group 11 along the vertical direction D1 and located inside the housing 21, a buffer 23 disposed between the moving component group 11 and the electromagnet module 22 and located inside the housing 21, and an inner cover 24 fixed to the moving component group 11 and located inside the housing 21.

[0011] The outer casing 21 extends along the vertical direction D1 and has a housing 211 movably disposed along the vertical direction D1 on the movable component assembly 11, and a cover 212 fixed along the vertical direction D1 to the lower side of the housing 211. The outer casing 21 can move relative to the outer tube 112 along the vertical direction D1 between a raised position and a lower position.

[0012] The electromagnet module 22 is used to approach the cover 212 and has an inner rod 221 slidably disposed in the cavity 113 along the vertical direction D1, a pressing part 223 fixed to the surface of the inner rod 221, and an electromagnet body 224 fixed to the lower side of the inner rod 221 along the vertical direction D1. In this embodiment, the electromagnet body 224 is a de-energized electromagnet, which eliminates magnetism when energized and restores magnetism when de-energized.

[0013] The abutment 223 is located inside the inner cover 24 to limit the inner rod 221, so that the inner rod 221 can move relative to the cavity 113 in the vertical direction D1 between a compressed position and an extended position.

[0014] The buffer 23 is located inside the inner cover 24 and is disposed between the abutment part 223 and the outer tube 112. In this embodiment, the buffer 23 is a compression spring.

[0015] The sensing unit 3 is used to detect the position of the outer casing 21 relative to the moving component assembly 11 and generate a corresponding sensing signal. In this embodiment, the sensing unit 3 is a distance sensor.

[0016] The control unit 4 is electrically connected to the linear drive module 12, the electromagnet module 22, and the sensing unit 3. In this embodiment, the control unit 4 is implemented using an integrated circuit with signal processing capabilities, and illustratively includes hardware components such as a processor, memory, communication circuit, input interface, and output interface (not shown in the figures).

[0017] In actual operation, the control unit 4 controls the linear drive module 12, the electromagnet module 22, and the sensing unit 3 to pick up a piece of workpiece waste 911 cut from a workpiece 91 on a support platform 92 and place the workpiece waste 911 on a waste platform 93. The above process is as follows:

[0018] First, referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the control unit 4 controls the linear drive module 12 to drive the moving component group 11 and the suction unit 2 to move downward toward the workpiece 91 along the vertical direction D1. After the housing 21 of the suction unit 2 contacts the workpiece 91, it continues to move downward. The housing 21 of the suction unit 2 is then lifted from the descending position to the rising position by the workpiece 91, so that the cover 212 of the housing 21 abuts against the electromagnet body 224 of the electromagnet module 22.

[0019] Next, referring to Figures 2, 3, and 5, the control unit 4 continues to control the linear drive module 12 to drive the moving component assembly 11 and the suction unit 2 to move downwards along the vertical direction D1. The inner rod 221 of the electromagnet module 22 is then lifted from the extended position to the compressed position by the workpiece 91 and the cover 212, causing the pressing part 223 of the inner rod 221 to approach the base 111, and together with the outer tube 112 of the moving component assembly 11, compress the buffer member 23. Clearly, the buffer member 23 is used to prevent the pressing part 223 of the inner rod 221 from directly impacting the inner cover 24 and the outer tube 112 of the moving component assembly 11, thereby improving the durability of the electromagnet module 22.

[0020] Furthermore, referring to Figures 2, 3, and 6, the control unit 4 controls the electromagnet body 224 of the electromagnet module 22 to generate magnetism to attract the workpiece waste 911. The control unit 4 also controls the linear drive module 12 to drive the moving component assembly 11 and the attracting unit 2 to move upwards along the vertical direction D1. Simultaneously, because the electromagnet body 224 and the workpiece waste 911 magnetically clamp the cover 212, the housing 211 resists gravity to remain in the rising position. In this way, the sensing unit 3 can determine whether the electromagnet body 224 is preparing to attract the workpiece waste 911 or is currently attracting it based on the position of the housing 21 relative to the outer tube 112 (i.e., the rising position or the falling position). It is worth noting that steps one to three are actually completed consecutively, allowing the attracting unit 2 to adhere to the workpiece 91 and attract the workpiece waste 911. The reason for breaking it down into the above steps is to view the relative positions of each component from different diagrams.

[0021] Finally, referring to Figures 2, 3, and 7, the control unit 4 controls the linear drive module 12 to drive the moving component group 11 to move upward along the vertical direction D1, and the control unit 4 controls the auxiliary linear drive module to drive the moving component group 11 to move along the horizontal direction to the position corresponding to the waste platform 93. Then, the control unit 4 controls the electromagnet body 224 of the electromagnet module 22 to stop generating magnetism, thereby causing the workpiece waste 911 to fall and be placed on the waste platform 93. It is worth mentioning that even if the electromagnet body 224 of the electromagnet module 22 stops generating magnetism, the electromagnet body 224 may still have a weak magnetic force and attract the workpiece waste 911. At this time, the weight of the outer shell 21 cancels the weak magnetic force, causing the workpiece waste 911 to detach from the electromagnet body 224 and fall and be placed on the waste platform 93 according to its own weight. In this way, without the need for any other external force, the workpiece scrap 911 can fall naturally and be placed on the scrap platform 93.

[0022] In summary, this embodiment has the following advantages:

[0023] (a) By setting up the movable component group 11, the electromagnet module 22 and the buffer 23, the electromagnet module 22 is prevented from directly impacting the movable component group 11, thereby improving the durability of the electromagnet module 22.

[0024] (ii) By setting the sensing unit 3 and the control unit 4 to detect the position of the outer shell 21 relative to the outer tube 112 (i.e., the rising position or the falling position), it is determined whether the electromagnet body 224 is ready to pick up the workpiece waste 911 or is picking up the workpiece waste 911, without the need for human eye judgment, thereby improving the convenience of use.

[0025] Therefore, the waste removal device of the present invention applied to the wire EDM machine can replace the manual removal of workpiece waste, and can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0026] However, the above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

[0027] 1: Conveying Unit 11: Moving component group 111: Base 112: External pipe 113: Lumen 12: Linear drive module 2: Absorption Unit 21: Outer shell 211: Shell 212: Capping 22: Electromagnet Module 221: Inner rod 222: Rod 223: Resistance Department 224: Electromagnet Body 23: Buffer 24: Inner Cover 3: Sensing Unit 4: Control Unit 91: Workpiece 911: Scrap Workpiece 92: Supporting platform 93: Scrap Table D1: Up and down direction

Claims

1. A waste removal device for a wire EDM machine, suitable for absorbing or placing a workpiece waste, the waste removal device comprising: a conveying unit including a moving component assembly and a linear drive module for driving the moving component assembly to move in a vertical direction, the moving component assembly having a base and an outer tube fixed to the lower side of the base in the vertical direction, the outer tube defining a cavity extending in the vertical direction; and a suction unit including a housing movably disposed in the vertical direction on the moving component assembly, an electromagnet module movably disposed in the vertical direction on the moving component assembly and located within the housing, an inner cover fixed to the moving component assembly and located within the housing, and a device disposed on the moving component assembly. The buffer between the electromagnet module and the outer shell extends in the vertical direction and has a housing movably disposed in the vertical direction on the moving component assembly, and a cover fixed to the lower side of the housing in the vertical direction. The electromagnet module has an inner rod slidably disposed in the cavity in the vertical direction, a pressing part fixed to the surface of the inner rod and confined within the inner cover, and an electromagnet body fixed to the lower side of the inner rod in the vertical direction. The electromagnet module is used to approach the cover to pick up the workpiece waste. The buffer is confined within the inner cover and disposed between the outer tube and the pressing part.

2. The waste removal device for a wire EDM machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The inner rod can move in the vertical direction relative to the cavity between a compressed position and an extended position. In the compressed position, the abutting part approaches the base and compresses the buffer member together with the outer tube. In the extended position, the abutting part moves away from the base and releases the buffer member.

3. The waste removal device for a wire EDM machine as described in claim 2, wherein, The outer casing can move in the vertical direction relative to the outer tube between an upward position and a downward position. In the upward position, the cover abuts against the electromagnet body, and in the downward position, the cover moves away from the electromagnet body.

4. The waste discharge device for a wire EDM machine as described in claim 1 further includes a sensing unit and a control unit electrically connected to the linear drive module, the electromagnet module and the sensing unit, wherein the sensing unit is used to detect the position of the housing relative to the moving component assembly and generate a sensing signal accordingly.

5. The waste removal device for a wire EDM machine as described in claim 1, wherein, The buffer is a compression spring.

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