Particulate material transfer device and machine tool

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique for efficiently transferring chips generated during machining to a chip removal device. According to one embodiment, a powder / granular material transfer device 10 is provided with: a base part 20 having an inclined surface 21; a flexible sheet 30 covering the inclined surface 21; and a vibration unit that vibrates the sheet (30) in order to transfer the powder on the sheet (30) downward from the inclined surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a powder or granular material conveying device and a machine tool for conveying powder or granular material. Background Art

[0002] At present, machine tools such as lathes and milling machines that can process metals precisely have become indispensable equipment. In the metal processing performed by machine tools, cutting chips of various shapes such as spiral, ribbon, and sheet are generated, which are so-called chips. The accumulation of chips inside the machine tool may cause failure of the device and a decrease in processing accuracy. Therefore, it is necessary to discharge the chips generated inside the machine tool to the outside. Therefore, for example, a technology is known in which a chip removal device is provided inside the machine tool to discharge the chips generated inside the machine tool to the outside (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature Patent Literature Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-174372 Summary of the invention Problem that the invention aims to solve According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the chips placed on the chip removal device can be discharged to the outside, but there is still a lot of room for development of a technology for efficiently collecting the chips generated during processing to the chip removal device. Therefore, it is desired to develop a technology for efficiently transferring the chips generated during processing to the chip removal device.

[0004] Means used to solve problems The powder or granule transfer device of the embodiment includes: a base having an inclined surface; a flexible sheet covering the inclined surface; and a vibrator that vibrates the sheet to transfer the powder or granule on the sheet toward below the inclined surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the interior of a processing chamber of a numerically-controlled lathe equipped with the powder or granular material transferring device according to the first embodiment.

[0006] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 main view.

[0007] Figure 3 It shows that Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the powder and granular material transfer device in a state where a sheet is unloaded.

[0008] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged view of the vibration part.

[0009] Figure 5 It is used to illustrate Figure 1 Supplementary diagram of the operation of the powder and particle transfer device.

[0010] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing the interior of a processing room of a numerically controlled lathe equipped with the powder or granular material transferring device according to the second embodiment.

[0011] Figure 7 It shows that Figure 5 A three-dimensional view of the powder and granular material transfer device in a state where a sheet is unloaded.

[0012] Figure 8 It is shown Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the structure of the ejection port.

[0013] Fig. 9 It is used to illustrate Figure 5 Supplementary diagram of the operation of the powder and particle transfer device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Hereinafter, the powder and granule transfer device of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are attached to the components having substantially the same function and structure, and repeated description will be given only when necessary.

[0015] In the first and second embodiments, "powder and granular material" refers to cutting chips in various shapes such as spiral, ribbon, sheet, powder, etc. generated during metal processing. Of course, the objects transferred by the powder and granular material transfer device of the first and second embodiments are not limited to metal cutting chips, and chips generated during various processing such as resin processing and wood processing can be used as the transfer object.

[0016] Below, refer to Figures 1 to 5 Next, a powder or granule transfer device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described. The powder or granule transfer device 10 according to the first embodiment is installed inside a processing room 1 of a numerically controlled lathe. Figure 1 1 shows the interior of a processing chamber 1 of a numerically controlled lathe. Figure 1As shown, a spindle 70 and a tool post (not shown) are provided inside the processing chamber 1. The spindle 70 has a chuck device 71 for holding a workpiece (workpiece) to be processed, and the tool post accommodates a plurality of types of tools for processing the workpiece. The spindle 70 and the tool post operate according to the processing program, so that the workpiece held by the chuck device 71 can be processed by the tool of the tool post. A chip removal device 80 is provided inside the processing chamber 1, and the chip removal device 80 is used as a conveying device for conveying powder and granular materials generated when processing the workpiece to the outside of the processing chamber 1. The chip removal device 80 is configured such that a conveyor belt body 81 composed of an endless ring-shaped belt, chain, etc. is hung on a rotating member such as a pulley and a sprocket, and the conveyor belt body 81 is rotated through the rotating member and a driving source such as a motor.

[0017] The chip removal device 80 is provided outside the CNC lathe, and the conveyor body 81 is extended inside the processing chamber 1 to a predetermined position below the spindle 70. By driving the chip removal device 80, the conveyor body 81 rotates, and the powder and granular material accumulated on the conveyor body 81 can be transported to the outside of the processing chamber 1. In order to efficiently transport the powder and granular material to the outside of the processing chamber 1 by using the chip removal device 80, the powder and granular material scattered inside the processing chamber 1 needs to be collected on the conveyor body 81.

[0018] The powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment is a device for transferring powder and granules generated when machining a workpiece and scattered inside the machining chamber 1 to the conveyor body 81. In order to collect a large amount of powder and granules on the conveyor body 81, the powder and granule transfer device 10 is provided at a position around the main shaft 70 where a large amount of powder and granules are scattered and between the main shaft 70 and the conveyor body 81.

[0019] In order to make the description of the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment easier to understand, the rectangular coordinate system (X, Y, Z) inside the processing room 1 of the numerical control lathe in which the powder and granule transfer device 10 is installed is as follows: Figure 1 The XY plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. For example, the chip removal device 80 is configured such that the conveying surface of the conveyor belt body 81 is parallel to the XY plane, that is, horizontal.

[0020] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the powder or granule transporting device 10 includes a base portion 20 , a sheet 30 covering the surface of the base portion 20 , and a vibrating portion for vibrating the sheet 30 .

[0021] The base portion 20 is configured to have an inclined surface 21. Typically, the base portion 20 is configured as a block (a truncated quadrangular prism) having a right-angled triangle longitudinal section. By horizontally arranging the base portion 20 inside the processing chamber 1, its inclined surface can be used as the inclined surface 21 inclined relative to the Z axis. The base portion 20 is disposed at a position where the lower edge of the inclined surface 21 is close to the conveying surface of the conveyor body 81. As long as the base portion 20 has an inclined surface 21 inclined relative to the Z axis direction, its structure is not limited to the above. For example, the base portion 20 can be configured in a plate shape, and the base portion 20 itself can be inclinedly disposed inside the processing chamber 1. Thus, the surface of the base portion 20 can be used as the inclined surface 21 inclined relative to the Z axis direction. In addition, the bottom surface of the processing chamber 1 itself can be inclined relative to the Z axis direction, and the bottom surface can be used as the inclined surface 21. In this case, the bottom plate of the processing chamber 1 is equivalent to the base portion 20.

[0022] The upper edge of the sheet 30 is fixed to the upper part of the inclined surface 21 of the base 20 in a freely attachable and detachable manner, and the sheet 30 hangs down along the inclined surface 21. That is, the lower edge and the edges on both sides of the sheet are in an open state without being fixed anywhere. The sheet 30 has a size that covers at least the lower edge of the inclined surface 21 when its upper edge is attached to the upper part of the inclined surface 21. Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, as a structure for freely attaching and detaching the sheet 30 to the inclined surface 21, an elongated plate-shaped mounting fitting 51 with a plurality of threaded holes 55 is fixed to the upper part of the inclined surface 21 along the left-right direction. The sheet 30 is mounted on the mounting fitting 51 by fastening a fastener 35 such as a bolt or a screw to the threaded hole 55. The sheet 30 has at least flexibility so as to vibrate through the vibration part. Typically, a glass sheet impregnated with resin can be used as the sheet 30. Of course, as long as it has flexibility, the sheet 30 can also be made of metal, but from the perspective of safety, a glass sheet impregnated with resin is preferred over a metal sheet. In order not to suppress vibration, it is desirable that the sheet 30 has no elasticity. In addition, in order to promote the sliding of powders such as chips, the sheet 30 has a low friction coefficient, typically a friction coefficient lower than the friction coefficient of the inclined surface 21. Moreover, in order to suppress the adhesion of powders to the surface of the sheet 30, it is desirable that the sheet 30 is a non-adhesive sheet. In addition, the sheet 30 may have chemical resistance and water resistance depending on the environment in which it is used. The sheet 30 having these physical properties is typically a fluoroglass sheet.

[0023] As a vibrating portion of the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment, a spraying portion 40 is installed, and the spraying portion 40 typically sprays air as a fluid supplied from an external fluid supply device (air compressor 60) from above to below between the inclined surface 21 and the sheet 30. The sheet 30 vibrates in a wave-like manner due to the flow of the air sprayed between the sheet 30 and the inclined surface 21.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the ejection portion 40 has a cylindrical body 41 in the shape of a bottomed cylinder or a square cylinder. The cylindrical body 41 is disposed between the inclined surface 21 and the sheet 30 and disposed above the inclined surface 21 in a manner parallel to the width direction of the inclined surface 21. Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, on the cylindrical body 41, a plurality of ejection ports 43 are arranged in a straight line at equal intervals along the center line of the cylindrical body 41. The air supplied from the air compressor 60 is ejected from the ejection port 43. The direction of the cylindrical body 41 is set so that the ejection direction of the ejection port 43 is parallel to the inclined surface 21 and faces downward from the top. A connecting pipe 45 is provided at one end of the cylindrical body 41, and the connecting pipe 45 has a connector 47 for connecting an air pipe 61 extending from an external air compressor 60. The connector 47 corresponds to the air inlet for allowing compressed air to enter the inside of the cylindrical body 41.

[0025] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, in order to prevent the sheet 30 from being wound around the cylindrical body 41, a "U" or "L" shaped anti-winding accessory 53 is provided above the inclined surface 21 of the cylindrical body 41. In the first embodiment, the anti-winding accessory 53 is integrally formed with the mounting accessory 51 already described and provided as one accessory 50.

[0026] The powder or granule transferring device 10 according to the first embodiment operates as follows.

[0027] The solenoid valve provided in the air compressor 60 or between the air compressor 60 and the cylindrical body 41 is controlled in such a manner that air is continuously ejected from the ejection port 43 of the cylindrical body 41. If the air compressor 60 is driven and compressed air is started to be supplied from the air compressor 60, air is continuously ejected at high speed from the plurality of holes 43 of the cylindrical body 41 disposed above the inclined surface 21 toward the bottom of the inclined surface 21. The air ejected from the cylindrical body 41 flows along the inclined surface 21 and is discharged from between the lower edge of the sheet 30 and the inclined surface 21. By causing the air to flow at high speed between the sheet 30 and the inclined surface 21, its pressure is reduced. The air is discharged from the lower edge and the side edge of the sheet 30, and the pressure is restored. The sheet 30 vibrates in a wave-like manner from top to bottom due to the sparse and dense airflow of the air.

[0028] According to the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment, the powder and granule on the sheet 30 can be transferred to the conveyor belt body 81 by vibrating the sheet 30 at high speed in a wave-like manner. Figure 5 As shown, during the period when the sheet 30 vibrates at a high speed, the powder W repeatedly bounces off the sheet 30 and falls onto the sheet 30 due to its own weight. Since the sheet 30 covers the inclined surface 21, the powder W bounces in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 21, that is, toward the conveyor body 81. The powder W bounced by the sheet 30 falls to a position below the inclined surface 21 closer to the conveyor body 81 than before the bounce. In addition, since the sheet 30 is inclined along the inclined surface 21, the powder W slides or rolls on the sheet 30. In this way, by vibrating the sheet 30 at a high speed, the powder W is repeatedly bounced by the sheet 30, and by rolling (sliding) on ​​the sheet 30, it can be transferred little by little to the conveyor body 81 arranged at the lower edge of the inclined surface 21. The powder and granules will not accumulate on the sheet 30 and can be sequentially transferred to the conveyor body 81, thereby preventing the powder and granules from accumulating on the sheet 30 and becoming large lumps, and will not clog the conveying surface of the conveyor body 81. Therefore, by using the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment, the CNC lathe can be operated continuously for a long time without human intervention.

[0029] Since the powder W utilizes the rebound achieved by the sheet 30, the sheet 30 does not necessarily need to be a material that has a low friction coefficient and is easy to slide. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the friction coefficient, and various materials corresponding to the use environment and use conditions such as a highly durable material, a highly chemically resistant material, and a cheap material can be used as the material of the sheet 30. In addition, there is no need to make the powder W slide on the sheet 30, so the inclination angle of the base 20 can be reduced. By reducing the inclination angle of the base 20, the height of the powder transfer device 10 is suppressed, and thus the degree of freedom of installation can be improved.

[0030] Since the structure is not to vibrate the base 20 which is a large structure directly but to vibrate the sheet 30 covering the inclined surface 21 of the base 20 , it can be said that safety is higher than when the base 20 is vibrated directly.

[0031] Furthermore, since the sheet 30 is detachable from the base 20 , it can be easily replaced when the sheet 30 is damaged, becomes dirty due to aging, or has a change in physical properties, and thus the maintainability is high.

[0032] Below, refer to Figures 6 to 9, a powder or granule conveying device 90 of a second embodiment is described. In the powder or granule conveying device 90 of the second embodiment, the structure of the ejection unit 40 for vibrating the sheet 30 is different from that of the powder or granule conveying device 10 of the first embodiment. The ejection unit 40 of the powder or granule conveying device 10 of the first embodiment is configured to eject air from above the inclined surface 21 to below along the inclined surface 21 toward between the sheet 30 and the inclined surface 21. On the other hand, the ejection unit 110 of the powder or granule conveying device 90 of the second embodiment is configured to eject air from the inclined surface 101 toward the sheet 30, typically in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 101.

[0033] like Figure 6 As shown, the inclined surface 101 of the base portion 100 is covered by the sheet 30, and the sheet 30 is mounted on the inclined surface 101 at the upper edge side of the inclined surface 101 by means of a fastener 35. The sheet 30 only needs to be fixed relative to the inclined surface 101, and does not have to be directly mounted on the inclined surface 101. For example, the sheet 30 may be indirectly mounted on the inclined surface 101 via a fastening block provided on the inclined surface 101. The lower side edge and the two side edges of the sheet 30 are not fixed relative to the inclined surface 101. Of course, since there is a situation where the sheet 30 floats due to the pressure during spraying, the lower side edge and the two side edges of the sheet 30 may also be fixed relative to the inclined surface 101. As shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of fastening parts 105 for inserting fasteners 35 are provided on the inclined surface 101. In addition, a plurality of ejection ports 103 for ejecting air are arranged horizontally and vertically on the entire surface of the inclined surface 101. Typically, the center lines of the plurality of ejection ports 103 are perpendicular to the inclined surface 101. In addition, it is not denied that the center lines of the ejection ports 103 are inclined at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the inclined surface 101.

[0034] like Figure 8 As shown, a hollow air joint 104 is screwed to the discharge port 103 from the back side of the inclined surface 101. One end of the air tube 65 is connected to the air joint 104. The other end of the air tube 65 is connected to the air tube 61 extending from the external air compressor 60 via a joint member, a solenoid valve, etc.

[0035] The air supply path including the air joint 104, the connecting member, and the solenoid valve between the air compressor 60 and each of the plurality of ejection ports 103 can be appropriately configured according to how the air is to be ejected from the plurality of ejection ports 103. For example, if it is desired to control the air ejected from the plurality of ejection ports 103 separately, the air supply path is configured to have a plurality of solenoid valves corresponding to the plurality of ejection ports 103. If it is desired to control the air ejected from the plurality of ejection ports 103 for each group of the plurality of ejection ports 103, the air supply path is configured so that the plurality of ejection ports 103 that are grouped share one solenoid valve. For example, for each plurality of ejection ports 103 arranged in the left-right direction of the inclined surface 101, a common solenoid valve is provided for every nine ejection ports 103.

[0036] The powder or granule transferring device 90 according to the second embodiment operates as follows.

[0037] The air compressor 60 or the electromagnetic valve is controlled so that air is ejected intermittently in a pulsed manner from the plurality of ejection ports 103. By ejecting air intermittently in a pulsed manner from the ejection ports 103, the sheet portion covering the ejection ports 103 is repeatedly expanded and contracted. By increasing the number of sheet portions that are repeatedly expanded and contracted, the entire sheet 30 can be vibrated. In particular, the sheet 30 can be vibrated at an arbitrary frequency corresponding to the cycle of the ejection pulses.

[0038] According to the powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment are achieved. Fig. 9 As shown, the powder and granule W on the sheet portion repeatedly bounces up due to the sheet 30 and falls onto the sheet 30 due to its own weight. The sheet 30 is inclined along the inclined surface 101, so the powder and granule W bounces up in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 101, that is, toward the conveyor body 81. The powder and granule W bounced up by the sheet 30 falls to a position below the inclined surface 101 closer to the conveyor body 81 than before the bounce. In this way, by vibrating the sheet 30 at a high speed, the powder and granule W can be repeatedly bounced up by the sheet 30 while being gradually transferred toward the conveyor body 81 arranged at the lower edge of the inclined surface 101.

[0039] The powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment does not need to provide a structure on the inclined surface 101 like the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment, and the inclined surface 101 of the base portion 100 is made flat as a whole, and can be vibrated, so that the powder and granule will not get stuck in the uneven parts of the inclined surface, and can slide down along the inclined surface, and the powder and granule can be efficiently transferred to the conveyor belt body 81. Thus, from the viewpoint of efficient transfer of powder and granule, the powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment is more preferable than the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment.

[0040] In addition, in the powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment, it is necessary to open a plurality of ejection ports 103 on the inclined surface 101 of the base portion 100 and to form an air supply path on the back side of the hole, and therefore, the inclined surface 21 itself must be modified. Therefore, in order to use the bottom plate of the processing chamber 1 of the CNC lathe as an inclined surface to form the powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment, the CNC lathe must be specially modified. On the other hand, the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment does not modify the inclined surface 21, and a vibration part can be provided. Therefore, the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment can be applied to an existing CNC lathe without modifying the CNC lathe. Thus, from the perspective of utilizing the existing CNC lathe, the powder and granule transfer device 10 of the first embodiment is preferred over the powder and granule transfer device 90 of the second embodiment.

[0041] Moreover, the powder and granule conveying device 90 of the second embodiment is configured to intermittently eject air in a pulsed manner, while the powder and granule conveying device 10 of the first embodiment is configured to eject air continuously. Therefore, from the perspective of reducing the amount of compressed air used, the powder and granule conveying device 90 of the second embodiment is more preferable than the powder and granule conveying device 10 of the first embodiment.

[0042] The powder and granule transfer devices 10 and 90 of the first and second embodiments are applicable to CNC lathes, but are not limited to CNC lathes. The powder and granule transfer devices 10 and 90 can be equipped on various machine tools that produce powder and granule, such as cutting equipment and milling machines. In addition, the powder and granule transfer device can be used alone as a device for transferring powder and granule, like the chip removal device 80, or can be used in combination with other machines, devices, systems, etc.

[0043] In the powder and granule transfer devices 10 and 90 of the first and second embodiments, the powder and granule on the sheet 30 can be transferred in a bounced manner by vibrating the sheet 30 at high speed, so the sheet 30 only needs to be flexible. However, the sheet can improve the transfer efficiency of the powder and granule by having flexibility and low friction. That is, the sheet 30 itself is inclined, so by using a sheet 30 made of a material with a low friction coefficient, the powder and granule accumulated on the sheet 30 can slide (roll) down the inclined surface due to its own weight. In this way, by making the sheet 30 easy to slide, not only can the powder and granule be bounced and transferred by the sheet 30, but the powder and granule can also be transferred while sliding on the sheet 30, so the transfer efficiency of the powder and granule can be improved compared to the case where the sheet 30 is only bounced.

[0044] In the first and second embodiments, the sheet is vibrated by supplying air between the inclined surface and the sheet. However, as long as the sheet can be vibrated, the structure of the vibration part is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of vibrators may be provided between the inclined surface and the sheet as the vibration part to physically vibrate the sheet. In addition, a shaking mechanism that clamps the upper edge of the sheet and shakes in a direction orthogonal to the inclined surface may be adopted as the vibration part to physically shake the sheet in a wave-like manner.

[0045] In the first and second embodiments, the inclined surface is flat, and the inclination angle is constant at any position. However, if the height decreases from the upper edge to the lower edge, the inclined surface may not be flat. For example, the inclined surface may be curved in an arc shape, or may be composed of a plurality of inclined surfaces with different inclination angles, or may be a combination thereof.

[0046] In the first and second embodiments, the air outlets for ejecting air are described as circular holes. However, the air outlets are not limited to circular holes and may be linear fine slits (slits).

[0047] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. These embodiments can be variously added, replaced, changed, partially deleted, etc. within the scope of the main idea of ​​the invention, or within the scope of the content recorded in the claims and the idea and main idea of ​​the present invention derived from their equivalents. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the order of each action and the order of each process are only shown as an example and are not limited to this. In addition, the same is true for the case where numerical values ​​or formulas are used in the description of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0048] Description of Reference Numerals 1: processing chamber, 10: powder and granular material transfer device, 20: seat, 30: sheet material, 35: fastener, 60: air compressor, 61: air pipe, 70: spindle, 71: chuck device, 80: chip removal device, 81: conveyor belt body.

Claims

1. A powder and particle transfer device, wherein: have: A base portion having an inclined surface; a sheet material covering the inclined surface and having flexibility; and The vibrating unit vibrates the sheet material in order to move the powder or granular material on the sheet material downwardly from the inclined surface.

2. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 1, wherein: The vibrating portion includes a discharge portion configured to discharge a fluid supplied from an external fluid supply device toward a space between the sheet and the inclined surface.

3. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 2, wherein: The ejection portion has at least one ejection port, and the ejection port is configured to eject the fluid from above the inclined surface to below along the inclined surface.

4. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 3, wherein: The ejection ports are a plurality of holes arranged linearly along the width direction of the inclined surface.

5. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 3, wherein: The fluid is continuously ejected from the ejection port.

6. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 2, wherein: The ejection portion includes at least one ejection port provided on the inclined surface in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface and directed toward the sheet so that the fluid is ejected from the inclined surface toward the sheet.

7. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 6, wherein: The fluid is ejected intermittently in a pulsed manner from the ejection port.

8. The powder or granule conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The sheet material is composed of a fluorine glass sheet material.

9. The powder and granule conveying device according to claim 1, wherein: The inclined surface is bent or curved.

10. A machine tool, wherein: have: Processing room, cutting process is carried out. A powder and granule transfer device is provided in the processing chamber and transfers the chips generated in the processing chamber. a chip discharge unit for discharging the transferred chips; The powder and granular material transfer device comprises a base portion, a sheet and a vibration portion. The base portion has an inclined surface, The sheet covers the inclined surface and has flexibility, The vibrating unit vibrates the sheet material in order to move the powder or granular material on the sheet material toward a lower side of the inclined surface.

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