Slider transfer structure

Abstract

To provide a transfer structure of a slider capable of smoothly transferring the slider from a conveyor device to a linear module.SOLUTION: In a transfer structure of a slider 4 from a conveyor device to a linear module 5b, the linear module 5b includes stators 11 of a linear motor and rails 12 of a linear guide, and the slider 4 includes a mover of the linear motor and blocks 22 of the linear guide. The linear module side 5b is provided with a guide support 15 for suppressing the inclination of the slider 4 by coming into contact with the slider 4 when the slider 4 is transferred from the conveyor device to the linear module side 5b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slider transfer structure that transfers from a conveyor device to a linear module. [Background technology]

[0002] A known conveying device (see Patent Document 1) includes at least one linear module and a slider that moves along the linear module. The linear modules are combined as appropriate to match the conveying path of the slider. An actuator that processes a workpiece in cooperation with the slider is disposed near the linear module. For example, when the slider stops in front of an actuator that processes the workpiece, the actuator processes the workpiece. When the slider stops in front of an actuator that inspects the workpiece, the actuator inspects the workpiece.

[0003] The linear module comprises a linear motor stator and a linear guide rail. The slider comprises a linear motor mover and a linear guide block. When current is applied to the linear motor stator, a thrust is applied to the linear motor mover, causing the slider to move along the linear module. The linear movement of the slider is guided by the linear guide.

[0004] In conventional conveying devices, constructing the entire conveying path with linear modules is expensive, so part of the conveying path may be replaced with a conveyor device such as a belt conveyor. Also, in some cases, a conveyor device is connected to a linear module to change the conveying direction of the slider or to supply the slider to the linear module. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7292819 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in a transport device in which a conveyor device is connected to a linear module, when the slider transfers from the conveyor device to the linear module, the magnetic attraction force acting between the stator and mover of the linear motor causes the slider to tilt, preventing the slider block from smoothly entering the rail.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a slider transfer structure that allows a slider to smoothly transfer from a conveyor device to a linear module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a slider transfer structure from a conveyor device to a linear module, wherein the linear module comprises a stator of a linear motor and a rail of a linear guide, the slider comprises a mover of the linear motor and a block of the linear guide, and the linear module is provided with a guide support that contacts the slider when the slider transfers from the conveyor device to the linear module to suppress tilting of the slider. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the guide support prevents the slider from tilting, allowing the slider block to smoothly enter the rail, thereby enabling the slider to smoothly transfer from the conveyor device to the linear module. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a transport device to which a slider transfer structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider and a linear module. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a resin portion of the guide support. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main body of the guide support. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are side views showing the transfer of the slider from the conveyor device to the linear module (FIG. 7A shows the state before the transfer, FIG. 7B shows the state during the transfer, and FIG. 7C shows the state after the transfer). [Figure 8] 8A and 8B are perspective views showing the transfer of the slider from the conveyor device to the linear module (FIG. 8A shows the state before the transfer, FIG. 8B shows the state during the transfer, and FIG. 8C shows the state after the transfer). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, a slider transition structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the slider transition structure of the present invention can be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present embodiment is provided with the intention of enabling those skilled in the art to fully understand the invention by providing sufficient disclosure in the specification.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveying device 1 to which a slider transfer structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. The conveying device 1 circulates a slider 4 along a conveying path 2. A plurality of actuators (not shown) are arranged near the conveying path 2 to perform processing or the like on a workpiece mounted on the slider 4. The conveying device 1 may circulate the slider 4 horizontally or vertically. The conveying path 2 may be closed or open.

[0013] The transport path 2 includes multiple linear modules 5, a conveyor device 6, and circulating axes 7a and 7b. The multiple linear modules 5 form the outgoing path of the transport path 2. The conveyor device 6 forms the returning path of the transport path 2. The conveyor device 6 may form part of the outgoing path of the transport path 2. The circulating axis 7a includes a linear module 5a, and receives the slider 4 from the linear module 5 on the outgoing path and hands it over to the conveyor device 6. The circulating axis 7b includes a linear module 5b, and receives the slider 4 from the conveyor device 6 and hands it over to the linear module 5.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the linear module 5b includes a linear motor stator 11 and linear guide rails 12. The stator 11 is attached to a frame 13 of the linear module 5b. The stator 11 includes a plurality of coils and a plurality of cores around which the coils are wound. The stator 11 extends in the longitudinal direction of the linear module 5b. The coils are made up of a plurality of sets (for example, four sets) of U-, V-, and W-phase coils. Power is supplied to the stator 11 by a drive circuit such as a PWM inverter.

[0015] The rail 12 of the linear guide is attached to a frame 13. The rail 12 is arranged parallel to the stator 11. A rolling groove 12a extending along the rail 12 is formed in the rail 12. The rolling elements of the block 22 (see FIG. 3) of the linear guide roll in the rolling groove 12a. The linear module 5b is provided with a position sensor 14 that detects the position of the slider 4.

[0016] Reference numeral 15 denotes a guide support that comes into contact with the slider 4 to prevent the slider 4 from tilting when the slider 4 transfers from the conveyor device 6 to the linear module 5b. Reference numeral 16 denotes a guide spacer that is provided at the end of the rail 12 in the longitudinal direction and guides the block 22 of the slider 4 to the rail 12. The guide support 15 and guide spacer 16 will be described later. The configuration of the linear modules 5a and 5b is approximately the same as that of the linear module 5b.

[0017] 3, the slider 4 includes a linear motor mover 21 and a linear guide block 22. The mover 21 is attached to a slider body 20 of the slider 4. The mover 21 includes a plurality of magnets. The plurality of magnets are aligned in the direction of movement of the slider 4.

[0018] The linear guide block 22 is attached to the underside of the slider body 20. The block 22 is formed with a rolling groove 22a that faces the rolling groove 12a of the rail 12, and is provided with a return path connected to one end of the rolling groove 22a to allow the rolling elements to circulate. A large number of rolling elements are arranged in the rolling groove 22a and return path of the block 22. Reference numeral 23 denotes a stopper. Reference numeral 24 denotes a scale for detecting the position of the slider 4.

[0019] 1, the circulation shaft 7b includes a linear module 5b and a drive mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear motor that moves the linear module 5b in the vertical direction in the figure. The circulation shaft 7a has a similar configuration and includes a linear module 5a and a drive mechanism such as a ball screw or a linear motor that moves the linear module 5a in the vertical direction in the figure.

[0020] The conveyor device 6 is, for example, a belt conveyor. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the conveyor device 6 includes a drive pulley 31, a driven pulley 32, and a belt 33 wound around the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32. When the drive pulley 31 is rotated by a motor, the belt 33 circulates, and the slider 4 on the belt 33 moves toward the linear module 5b. As shown in FIG. 8(a), a pair of side walls 34 that guide the slider 4 are provided above the belt 33. Note that the conveyor device 6 may be a slat conveyor, a roller conveyor, a chain conveyor, a vibration conveyor, or the like, in addition to a belt conveyor.

[0021] As shown in Figure 7(a), the transfer structure for the slider 4 in this embodiment comprises a conveyor device 6, a linear module 5b, and a guide support 15, and suppresses tilting of the slider 4 when transferring from the conveyor device 6 to the linear module 5b.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide support 15 is attached to the frame 13 or the stator 11 of the linear module 5b. The guide support 15 is provided at an end of the linear module 5b in the longitudinal direction and does not protrude from the linear module 5b in the longitudinal direction. The guide support 15 includes a resin portion 17 that can contact the slider 4 and a main body portion 18 that supports the resin portion 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the resin portion 17 has a generally L-shaped cross section and includes a horizontal surface 17a and a vertical surface 17b. As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal surface 17a of the resin portion 17 can contact the bottom surface 4a of the slider 4. The vertical surface 17b of the resin portion 17 can contact the side surface 4b of the slider 4. As shown in FIG. 4, an inclined surface 17a1 that slopes downward toward the tip is formed at the end of the horizontal surface 17a of the resin portion 17. An inclined surface 17b1 that slopes away from the slider 4 toward the tip is formed at the end of the vertical surface 17b of the resin portion 17.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 18 is formed with a substantially L-shaped cross section so as to support the resin part 17. The main body 18 includes a horizontal support part 18a and a vertical support part 18b. The main body 18 is made of metal. The resin part 17 is fixed to the main body 18 by a fastening member such as a screw. The resin part 17 is formed with a through-sunk countersunk hole 17a2 through which the fastening member passes. The main body 18 is formed with a threaded hole 18a2 into which the fastening member screws. The main body 18 is fixed to the stator 11 or the frame 13 of the linear module 5b by a fastening member such as a screw. The resin part 17 is formed with a notch 17a3 through which the fastening member passes. The main body 18 is formed with a through-hole 18a1 through which the fastening member passes.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, a guide spacer 16 is provided at each end of the rail 12 in the longitudinal direction to guide the block 22 of the slider 4 to the rail 12. Although Fig. 2 shows the guide spacer 16 at one end of the rail 12 in the longitudinal direction, the guide spacer 16 is provided at both ends of the rail 12 in the longitudinal direction (see Fig. 8(a)).

[0025] When the slider 4 is inserted from the conveyor device 6 into the linear module 5, the block 22 of the slider 4 must be precisely aligned with the rail 12 before being inserted. Because accurate positioning of the slider 4 is not possible on the conveyor device 6, the linear module 5 is provided with a guide spacer 16 (see FIG. 2) to accommodate horizontal and vertical positioning errors of the slider 4. The guide spacer 16 is attached to the frame 13 of the linear module 5b by fastening means such as screws and is connected to the rail 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide spacer 16 has a connecting portion 16b with a cross section substantially identical to that of the rail 12 and a tapered portion 16a whose width narrows toward its tip. The connecting portion 16b and the tapered portion 16a are integrally molded from resin. The cross section of the tapered portion 16a on the connecting portion 16b side is substantially identical to the cross section of the connecting portion 16b. The tapered portion 16a also decreases in height toward its tip. An inclined surface 16a1 is formed on the upper surface of the tapered portion 16a. A groove 19 is formed in the connecting portion 16b and the tapered portion 16a, connecting to the rolling groove 12a of the rail 12. The length of the guide spacer 16 in the longitudinal direction of the rail 12 is set to ½ or less, preferably ¼ or less, of the length of the block 22 in the longitudinal direction of the rail 12. This is because the guide spacer 16 cannot bear the load acting on the slider 4, and therefore the section of the guide support 15 is shortened.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 8(a), when the slider 4 moves on the conveyor device 6, the slider 4 is guided by a pair of side walls 34 provided on the conveyor device 6. As shown in FIGS. 7(b) and 8(b), when the slider 4 transfers from the conveyor device 6 to the linear module 5b, the guide spacer 16 cannot receive the magnetic attractive force F acting between the stator 11 and the mover 21 of the linear motor, so the magnetic attractive force F causes the slider 4 to tilt around the horizontal axis of the rail 12. The magnetic attractive force F acts both when power is supplied to the stator 11 and when power is not supplied (the magnetic attractive force F acts between the magnet and the core). When the slider 4 tilts, the block 22 of the slider 4 gets caught on the rail 12, preventing it from smoothly entering the rail 12.

[0027] However, with the slider 4 transfer structure according to this embodiment, when the slider 4 tilts, the guide support 15 comes into contact with the slider 4 to prevent the slider 4 from tilting. As a result, the block 22 of the slider 4 is guided within the tolerance of the guide spacer 16, and as shown in Figures 7(b) and 8(b), the block 22 of the slider 4 can smoothly enter the rail 12. As a result, as shown in Figures 7(c) and 8(c), the slider 4 can smoothly transfer from the conveyor device 6 to the linear module 5b. The slider transition structure according to this embodiment further provides the following effects.

[0028] The guide spacers 16, which have tapered portions 16a and guide the blocks 22 onto the rails 12, are provided at the ends of the rails 12 in the longitudinal direction, so the guide spacers 16 allow for positional errors of the blocks 22 and guide the blocks 22 within the allowable error. This allows the blocks 22 to smoothly enter the rails 12.

[0029] The guide support 15 is provided at the longitudinal end of the linear module 5b so as not to protrude from the linear module 5b in the longitudinal direction, so that when the linear module 5b is moved by the circulation shaft 7b, the guide support 15 can be prevented from hitting the linear module 5b or the conveyor device 6.

[0030] Since the guide support 15 has a horizontal surface 17a that can come into contact with the bottom surface 4a of the slider 4, it is possible to suppress tilt of the slider 4 around the horizontal axis caused by the magnetic attraction force of the linear motor.

[0031] Since the guide support 15 has the vertical surface 17b that can come into contact with the side surface 4b of the slider 4, it is possible to suppress tilt of the slider 4 around the vertical axis caused by the magnetic attractive force of the linear motor.

[0032] The guide support 15 is provided with a resin part 17 that can come into contact with the slider 4 and a main body part 18 that supports the resin part 17, so that the slider 4 can be prevented from being damaged and the resin part 17 can be firmly supported. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1...Transportation device 4...Slider 4a...Bottom of slider 4b...Side of slider 5b...Linear module 6...Conveyor device 11...Linear motor stator 12...Linear guide rail 15...Guide support 16...Guide spacer 16a...Tapered section 16b...Connection part 17...Resin part 17a…Horizontal surface 17b…Vertical plane 18...Main body 21...Linear motor mover 22...Linear guide block

Claims

1. A slider transfer structure from a conveyor device to a linear module, the linear module includes a stator of a linear motor and a rail of a linear guide; the slider includes a mover of the linear motor and a block of the linear guide, The slider transfer structure includes a guide support provided on the linear module that contacts the slider when the slider transfers from the conveyor device to the linear module to suppress tilt of the slider.

2. 2. The slider transfer structure according to claim 1, wherein a guide spacer having a tapered portion is provided at an end of the rail in the longitudinal direction to guide the block onto the rail.

3. 3. The slider transfer structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide support is provided at an end of the linear module in the longitudinal direction so as not to protrude from the linear module in the longitudinal direction.

4. 3. The slider transfer structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide support has a horizontal surface that can come into contact with the bottom surface of the slider.

5. 3. The slider transfer structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide support has a vertical surface that can come into contact with a side surface of the slider.

6. 3. The slider transfer structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide support comprises a resin portion that can come into contact with the slider, and a main body portion that supports the resin portion.

Images