DEVICE FOR COLLECTING PARTS AT THE OUTPUT OF A MACHINE TOOL

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optimizing the productivity of machine tools, in particular the management of parts at the output of such a machine tool. More particularly, machined parts of modest size, which can be conveyed by belt, are mainly concerned here.

[0002] Machine tools are an integral part of the mass production of parts by machining. In particular, a machine tool can produce machined parts continuously and at potentially high rates.

[0003] Parts include screws, nuts, gears, rods, etc. A machine tool automatically produces parts at a predetermined rate, usually within a few seconds between each part. The machined parts must then be divided into batches for packaging and shipping, or for further processing. Prior art

[0004] For this purpose, devices known as "separators" are known, which separate the continuous flow of parts coming out of a machine tool into batches of a predetermined number, in receptacles such as standardized baskets. The batches are then handled and packaged for shipping or storage.

[0005] For the distribution of parts between several receptacles filled in parallel, the use of switchers arranged on a belt conveyor is known. The parts are placed on the conveyor belt at the outlet of the machine tool that produces them.

[0006] The switchers have an inclined stop surface, against which the movement of the conveyor presses the parts. The conveyor exerts a frictional force in the direction of travel of the parts, which normally slide laterally off the conveyor along the inclined stop surface.

[0007] A problem arises when the parts have a generally tubular or spherical shape. This can cause the parts to be positioned against the inclined stop surface in an orientation that causes them to roll onto the conveyor belt. Their ejection to the side of the belt is then no longer guaranteed, particularly their ejection before the next part in the flow reaches the switch.

[0008] This can result in uneven and unpredictable distribution of parts between batches. Documents CN106743457, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, US2002 / 125101 and CN107380872 describe separators, having complicated and bulky separation mechanisms. Thus, there is a need for a separator for managing parts, especially those with properties allowing them to roll, at the output of a machine tool and having fewer errors in the distribution of parts between batches. Statement of the invention

[0009] In order to meet this need, the invention proposes a part separator configured to receive and separate parts at the output of a machine tool, comprising: a belt conveyor, on which the parts leaving the machine tool are received, at least two locations for receptacles in which the received parts are intended to be distributed, characterized in that it comprises at least one ejector, comprising: * at least one stirrup with two substantially longitudinal side walls perpendicular to the conveyor belt, * actuators, configured to translate the stirrup transversely between a central rest position, in which the side walls of the stirrup are located on either side of the conveyor belt, and two ejection positions, in which the stirrup is located laterally out of line with the conveyor belt, so as to drive by means of its side walls a part during its translation between the rest position and an ejection position, and to eject the part to the side of the conveyor belt, coins ejected from one side of the conveyor belt can be collected in one of the receptacles, coins ejected from the other side of the conveyor belt can be collected in the other receptacle.

[0010] The resulting separator is compact in the longitudinal direction, and can process rounded pieces without fear of them rolling away.

[0011] The separator may further have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0012] The separator may comprise a plurality of stirrups, arranged in series along the conveyor belt, each stirrup being able to be associated with a pair of different receptacles.

[0013] The longitudinal compactness of the separator is then even greater compared to the prior art.

[0014] Actuators may include: a carriage, set in transverse translational motion by an electric motor, a plurality of electromagnets carried by the carriage, one electromagnet per stirrup, a control unit, configured to selectively power the different electromagnets, each electromagnet passing, during a translation of the carriage above a stirrup, the stirrups each comprising, on their upper end, a magnetic member configured to interact with the electromagnet of the carriage passing above the stirrup when the latter is powered.

[0015] This actuation eliminates the need for a compressed air supply compared to pneumatic pistons, and limits the inertial stresses exerted on elements such as the carriage and the stirrups.

[0016] The carriage can be set in motion by means of a cam, set in rotation by means of the motor, having a peripheral groove, and the carriage comprising a finger, engaging with the peripheral groove, and rails, limiting the movement of the carriage to a transverse translation.

[0017] Only a power supply is then required.

[0018] The separator may include at least one part detector located at the level of the conveyor belt, upstream of one of the stirrups.

[0019] The risk of a part rolling on the conveyor and thus escaping separation by the stirrups is reduced.

[0020] The carriage or stirrups may include centering means, configured to engage the stirrups when in the rest position.

[0021] The centering means may comprise piston detectors, which carry an elastically constrained finger, engaging with a withdrawal of the stirrups or the carriage when they are in the central rest position.

[0022] The centering means may comprise fingers elastically constrained by springs, which engage with a withdrawal of the stirrups or the carriage when they are in the rest position.

[0023] In fact, the central position must be regularly adopted for optimal management of the coupling between the stirrups and the carriage.

[0024] The side walls of the stirrups advantageously have a contact surface with the parts made of polymer material.

[0025] The parts then undergo fewer shocks which could harm their machining.

[0026] In particular, the side walls of the stirrups can be made in the form of a plate based on a polymer material, interchangeably attached to a base of the stirrups.

[0027] The plates forming the side walls are in fact wearing parts, which must be regularly replaced.

[0028] The side walls of the stirrups may be arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal direction, with an angle of between 1 and 10°, more particularly between 3 and 5°, and approaching in the direction of progression of the conveyor belt, so as to recenter a part passing through the stirrup.

[0029] This avoids the chance of the parts getting stuck against the side walls of the next stirrup in the direction of travel.

[0030] The separator may comprise, at the downstream end of the belt conveyor, an outlet with at least one terminal receptacle.

[0031] The terminal receptacle may be a sample collector for part evaluation, in which one part per batch is received, each batch corresponding to one of the receptacles associated with the receptacles, in particular to undergo quality tests. Brief description of the figures

[0032] Other characteristics and advantages of the fixing according to the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the figures below, figures among which: There figure 1 is a side view representation of a room divider according to the invention, The figure 2 is a side view representation of the separator ejector of the figure 1 , There figure 3 is a schematic perspective representation of an ejector bracket and conveyor belt, The figure 4 is a schematic representation in front view of the ejector caliper and carriage, The Figure 5is a schematic representation in top view of the stirrup and its centering means, The figure 6 is a schematic representation in top view of the stirrup with an alternative embodiment of centering means, The figure 7 is a bottom view of a stirrup with sloping side walls. Detailed description of the figures

[0033] There figure 1 is a side view of a separator 1 of parts 10 at the outlet of a machine tool (not shown).

[0034] The separator 1 has an inlet 3, in the form of a receiving cone into which parts 10 from the machine tool fall at regular intervals. The parts 10 are, for example, turned, machined or milled parts using computer-aided machining. In particular, the parts 10 may have a rounded, tubular, conical or spheroidal shape, which may make their automated conveyance and distribution into batches difficult.

[0035] The parts 10 are guided by gravity onto a belt conveyor 5, which conveys the parts 10 to an ejector 7.

[0036] For orientation, the belt of the conveyor belt 5 gives a longitudinal direction. The vertical is given by gravity considering the conveyor belt 5 flat. The third direction corresponds to the transverse direction.

[0037] The ejector 7 is shown in more detail in figure 2 .

[0038] The separator 1 comprises a plurality of receptacles 20, for example baskets, which are arranged in dedicated locations, with reversible fixing means. The parts 10 separated by the separator 1 are conveyed to the receptacles 20. When a receptacle 20 has received a predetermined number of parts 10, thus forming a batch of parts 10, the separator 1 begins to fill another receptacle 20 it is removed from the separator 1.

[0039] The chassis 100 of the separator 1 is mobile, in particular equipped with casters to be able to be more easily positioned at the outlet of one or more different machine tools.

[0040] The frame 100 further comprises height adjustment means to adapt to the height of the output of the parts from the machine tool.

[0041] The ejector 7 comprises a carriage 9, set in motion in transverse translation by an electric motor 11 and a cam 13, here in particular a cam with an oval groove. The carriage 9 comprises a finger 91, engaging with the oval groove, and rails 12, constraining the movement of the carriage 9 to a transverse translation. As an alternative not shown, the shape of the cam 13 can be chosen to be of any other shape to ensure optimized kinematics of the carriage 9 during rotation of the motor 11.

[0042] Stirrups 15 are arranged under the carriage 9. The stirrups 15 have a U-shaped section with two transverse longitudinal side walls 17, with a transverse distance between them corresponding to the width of the belt of the belt conveyor 5. The stirrups 15 are movable between a central rest position, and two ejection positions, in which the walls of the stirrup are located on either side of the belt of the conveyor, and two ejection positions, in which the stirrups 15 are laterally outside the belt of the conveyor 5.

[0043] Conduits cause the parts 10 ejected from one side of the conveyor belt 5 to fall into a first receptacle 20, while the parts 10 ejected from the other side fall into a second receptacle 20.

[0044] Each stirrup 15 is thus associated with a pair of receptacles 20. With three stirrups 15, the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2can therefore distribute the parts 10 into six receptacles. Other embodiments may have more or fewer stirrups 15, and thus support a corresponding and different number of receptacles.

[0045] The side walls 17 of the stirrups are in the form of plates of polymer material, fixed by means of screws in slots in a base of the stirrups 15. The slot is vertical. The height of the lower edge of the side walls 17 is then adjustable, and the side walls 17 are then quickly and easily interchangeable.

[0046] The lower edge of the side walls 17 is in particular at a distance from the conveyor belt 5 less than the smallest external dimension of the parts 10.

[0047] Thus, the stirrup 15 drives, by means of its side walls 17, a part 10 during its translation between the rest position and an ejection position, so as to eject the part 10 to the side of the conveyor belt 5.

[0048] Since the translation of the stirrup 15 is rapid, the side walls 17 and the parts 10 are likely to collide violently. The side walls 17 made of polymer material absorb the shocks and deform instead of the part 10 without damaging them.

[0049] The parts 10 can in particular be machined with very low tolerances or surface finishes sensitive to degradation. The side walls 17 made of polymer material ensure that said parts 10 are not degraded by the stirrup 15.

[0050] Alternatively, only the inner contact surface of the side walls 17 can be covered with a layer of polymer material.

[0051] The carriage 9 and the stirrups 15 comprise coupling means in the form of electromagnets 19 carried by the carriage 9 and the stirrups 15. Alternatively, one of the carriage 9 or the stirrups 15 may comprise permanent magnets, in particular neodymium magnets. According to another variant, the stirrups 15 may carry a ferromagnetic element attracted by the electromagnets 19 of the carriage 9.

[0052] The electromagnets 19 carried by the carriage 9 pass, during the transverse translational movement of said carriage 9, above the magnets or electromagnets 19 carried by the stirrups 15, on the upper part of said stirrups 15.

[0053] A control unit (not shown) selectively powers the electromagnets 19 to selectively couple the movement of the carriage 9 and one or more of the stirrups 15, when a part 10 arrives on the belt conveyor 5 at the level of the stirrup(s) 15 in question. The control unit has in particular a set of static switches or transistors to stop or allow electric current to pass through the electromagnets 19.

[0054] Thus, the carriage 9 can make continuous back-and-forth movements, and the stirrups 15 only follow the movement of the carriage 9 if the corresponding electromagnets 19 are powered.

[0055] The electric motor 11 then does not have to be reversed in its direction of operation, which limits the risks of damaging either the motor 11 or the cam 13 if the inertia of the carriage 9 and the stirrups 15 is too great, in particular if a high rate involves rapid movements of the carriage 9.

[0056] Other embodiments provide, for example, that the electromagnets 19 and the carriage 9 are replaced by piston-type actuators, two per caliper 15, oriented transversely and in opposition.

[0057] Pistons can be electromagnetic or pneumatic.

[0058] THE figures 3 And 4 show in more detail a 15 caliper and its operation.

[0059] There figure 3 shows the belt conveyor 5 carrying parts 10, here summarily represented in the form of cylinders, for example bearing parts.

[0060] The parts 10 advance on the conveyor belt 5. In the event that the parts 10 roll on the conveyor belt 5, thus having an uncontrolled total speed, detectors 21 are arranged upstream of each of the stirrups 15, at the level of the conveyor belt 5.

[0061] These detectors 21 are, for example, optical detectors with a beam interrupted by the passage of a part 10. Alternatively, if the parts 10 are metallic and sufficiently massive, the detectors 21 can be capacitive or magnetic detectors.

[0062] Carriage 9, not shown in figure 3 but present in figure 4 , moves back and forth above the stirrup 15. When a part 10 is detected, and if the detected part 10 must be conveyed into one of the receptacles 20 associated with the stirrup 15 in question, the control unit powers the electromagnet 19 of the carriage and / or of the stirrup 15 to couple their movement.

[0063] The stirrup 15 is then driven in transverse translation, and its side walls 17 push the part 10 transversely out of the conveyor belt 5.

[0064] By energizing the electromagnet 19 when the carriage 9 is translating in the desired direction, the part 10 can be ejected specifically to one side of the conveyor belt 5 or the other.

[0065] In figure 4 , the stirrup 15 shown has a telescopic magnetic element 191 on its upper face. The telescopic magnetic element 191 is for example a ferromagnetic element or a permanent magnet, capable of translating vertically in an annular base 193.

[0066] The carriage 9 and the stirrup 15 are shown in solid lines in the uncoupled state by the electromagnet 19, and in dotted lines in the coupled state, with the stirrup 15 offset in the ejection position to the right relative to the conveyor belt 5.

[0067] In the uncoupled state, the telescopic magnetic element 191 is retracted into the annular base, and a gap is present between said telescopic magnetic element 191 and the electromagnet 19 of the carriage 9 which can then easily pass over it. In the coupled state, the telescopic magnetic element 191 protrudes from the annular base 193, and comes into contact with the electromagnet 19 of the carriage 9.

[0068] If the part 10 is not to be conveyed to one of the containers 20 associated with the stirrup 15 in question, it passes under said stirrup 15 which is not set in motion, to continue either towards the next stirrup 15 or towards an exit 23 (see figure 1 ) located at the downstream end of the belt conveyor 5 opposite the inlet 3, where there is a terminal receptacle 20.

[0069] The outlet 23 and the terminal receptacle 20 may in particular form a sample collector for evaluation of the parts 10, in which one part 10 per series of a predetermined number is received, in particular to undergo tests.

[0070] In particular, one part 10 for each receptacle 20 can be taken from the sample collector of the outlet 23. Thus, if one of the parts 10 of a sample has a defect due to an incorrect adjustment of the machine tool, the batch of parts 10 of the corresponding receptacle 20 (as well as the batch of the previous and / or following receptacle 20) can be discarded or examined in more detail to discard the parts 10 of insufficient quality.

[0071] THE figures 5 And 6 illustrate means of centering the stirrups 15. In fact, the stirrups 15 must have a rest position centered on the belt of the conveyor 5 and stable.

[0072] In particular, elastic means of the transverse spring type cause oscillations around the central position which can harm the precision of the movement induced by the carriage 9 of the stirrup 15. In particular, if the carriage 9 and the stirrup 15 are in phase opposition, the coupling by the electromagnets 19 can be compromised.

[0073] The stirrups 15 have an upper part, to which the side walls 17 are attached, substantially flat, for example a metal base.

[0074] The upper part of the stirrups 15 has a V-shaped, triangular recess 25 with a rounded bottom.

[0075] Centering means 27 are provided to engage with the recess 25. In Figure 5, the centering means 27 are produced in the form of a finger 29 located at the end of a spring 31, which engages with the recess 25 when the stirrup 15 is in the central rest position. The central position is then stabilized with little or no oscillation of the stirrups 15.

[0076] In figure 6 , the spring 31 is replaced by a piston detector 33 which also pushes the finger 29 elastically against the caliper 15. When the finger 29 is engaged with the recess 25, the detector sends a signal to the control unit to indicate to it that the caliper 15 is in the central rest position.

[0077] The carriage 9 can of course also have comparable or identical centering means 27, with withdrawal 25 and a piston detector 33 or a spring 31.

[0078] The centering means 27 make it possible to remove the uncertainties in the position of the carriage 9 and the stirrups 15 in order to trigger their magnetic coupling, in particular for example due to the play of the cam 13.

[0079] There figure 7 is a bottom view of a stirrup 15. We can notably see in figure 7 that the side walls 17 are inclined to each other and to the longitudinal direction. In particular, the side walls 17 have an angle of between 5 and 15° to the longitudinal axis, and move closer together in the direction of progression of the conveyor belt 5 and the parts 10.

[0080] Thus, the parts 10 are re-centered on the conveyor belt 15 when they pass through a stirrup 15, and are less likely to get stuck against the upstream edge of the side walls 17 of the next stirrup 15.

[0081] The separator 1 according to the invention allows rapid and reliable distribution of the parts 10 into batches in receptacles 20 at the outlet of a machine tool.

[0082] The ejector 7 with stirrups 15, with the possible ejection from both sides of the belt conveyor 5 corresponding to different receptacles 20, is furthermore longitudinally compact.

[0083] The coupling by the electromagnets 19 makes it possible to use only an electrical supply, without the supply of pressurized air, as in the case of mechanical actuators. In addition, with the carriage 9 oscillating continuously or almost continuously, with the stirrups 15 selectively coupled or not, shocks and damage due to the inertia of the components (carriage 9, cam 13 etc.) when an actuation direction has to be reversed, are reduced.

Claims

1. A pieces separator configured to receive and separate pieces (10) at the output of a machine tool, comprising: - a belt conveyor (5), on which the pieces (10) are received at the outlet of the machine tool, - at least two locations for receptacles (20) in which the received pieces (10) are intended to be distributed, characterised in that it comprises at least one ejector (7), comprising: * at least one bracket (15) with two side walls (17) substantially longitudinal and perpendicular to the belt conveyor (5), * actuators (9, 11, 13, 19), configured to translate the bracket (15) transversely between a central rest position, in which the lateral walls (17) of the bracket (15) are located on either side of the belt of the conveyor (5), and two ejection positions, in which the bracket (15) is located laterally out of plumb of the belt of the conveyor (5), so as to drive by means of its lateral walls (17) a piece (10) during its translation between the rest position and an ejection position, and to eject the piece (10) on the side of the belt of the conveyor (5), the pieces (10) ejected from one side of the belt of the conveyor (5) being able to be collected in one of the receptacles (20), the pieces (10) ejected from the other side of the conveyor belt (5) being able to be collected in the other receptacle (20).

2. The separator according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of brackets (15), arranged in series along the belt of the conveyor (5), each bracket (15) being able to be associated with a pair of different receptacles (20).

3. The separator according to claim 2, characterised in that the actuators comprise: a carriage (9), moved in transverse translation by an electric motor (11), a plurality of electromagnets (19) carried by the carriage (9), one electromagnet (19) per bracket (15), a control unit, configured to selectively power the different electromagnets (19), each electromagnet (19) passing, during a translation of the carriage (9), above a bracket (15), and in that the brackets (15) each comprise, on their upper end, a magnetic member (19) configured to interact with the electromagnet (19) of the carriage (9) passing over the bracket (15) when the latter is powered.

4. The separator according to claim 3, characterised in that the carriage (9) is moved by means of a cam (13), rotated by means of the motor (11), having a peripheral groove, and the carriage comprising a finger (91), engaging with the peripheral groove, and rails (12), limiting the movement of the carriage (9) to a transverse translation.

5. The separator according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that it comprises at least one detector (21) of the piece (10) located at the belt of the conveyor (5), upstream of one of the brackets (15).

6. The separator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the carriage (9) or the brackets (15) comprises centring means (27), configured to engage with the brackets (15) or the carriage (9) when they are in the rest position.

7. The separator according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the centring means (27) comprise piston detectors (33), which carry an elastically stressed finger (29), engaging with a recess (25) of the brackets (15) or the carriage (9) when they are in the rest position.

8. The separator according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the centring means (27) comprise fingers (29) elastically stressed by springs (31), which engage with a recess (25) of the brackets (15) or the carriage (9) when they are in the rest position.

9. The separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side walls (17) of the brackets (15) comprise a surface for a contact with the pieces (10) made of polymeric material.

10. The separator according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the side walls (17) of the brackets are made in the form of a plate based on a polymer material, attached interchangeably to a base of the brackets (15).

11. The separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side walls (17) of the brackets (15) are arranged inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction, at an angle of between 1 and 10°, more particularly between 3 and 5°, and approaching each other in the direction of advance of the belt of the conveyor (5), so as to redirect a piece (10) passing through the bracket (15).

12. The separator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises, at the downstream end of the belt conveyor (5), an outlet (23) to at least one terminal receptacle (20).

13. The separator according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the end receptacle (20) is a sample recuperator for evaluating the pieces (10), configured to recover a piece (10) per batch, each batch of pieces (10) corresponding to one of the other receptacles (20) associated with the brackets (15) being received in particular to undergo quality tests.