Automatic fixing device for processed objects

Abstract

An automatic workpiece clamping device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a jig base provided on one side of an equipment table and defining a location where a workpiece is placed and fixed and machined into a finished product; hole clamps coupled to the jig base and inserted into holes formed in the workpiece placed on the jig base to selectively clamp the holes; and a clamp driver provided on the equipment table and connected to the hole clamps to drive the hole clamps to clamp or unclamp holes in the workpiece.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic workpiece fixing device, and more particularly to an automatic workpiece fixing device that can automatically perform the workpiece fixing operation of fixing a workpiece at a processing position, which is a conventional manual operation, thereby enabling the entire workpiece processing process to be automated in cooperation with a machine tool, thereby contributing to improved productivity. [Background technology]

[0002] A machine tool is a general term for a machine that uses a predetermined cutting tool to cut, mill, dig, drill, thread, grind, etc. a workpiece, such as a metal workpiece. A typical machine tool is a lathe, but recently, there has been an increasing trend in the use of machine tools such as machining centers that provide a variety of functions.

[0003] Using a machine tool, it is possible to produce a processed product 20, for example a rack with a pin-type screw portion 21 formed on one side, as shown in FIG. 1(b). In order to produce such a processed product 20, the raw material, workpiece 10, as shown in FIG. 1(a), must first be placed and fixed in the processing position of the machine tool and then processing begins.

[0004] When placing and fixing the workpiece 10 at the processing position of the machine tool, the workpiece 10 must be placed and fixed while taking into consideration various conditions such as accuracy, straightness, parallelism, etc., and thus a rack, which is a high-precision product, as shown in FIG. 1(b) can be manufactured.

[0005] Meanwhile, in the past, the workpiece 10 as shown in Fig. 1(a) was placed and fixed at the processing position, i.e., the workpiece 10 was placed and fixed by manual labor, but in this case, there was a problem that the work time was excessively long. Of course, if a skilled worker works, the time required for the workpiece 10 to be placed and fixed can be reduced somewhat, but even so, it is difficult to completely overcome the limitations of manual labor.

[0006] In fact, in order to improve the productivity of the processed product 20 as shown in FIG. 1(b), it is expected that the entire process, such as placing and fixing the workpiece 10 at the processing position and then proceeding with the processing, needs to be automated. However, if the work of placing and fixing the workpiece 10 must be done manually as in the past, it will not be easy to realize automation. Even if automation is realized, the overall tact time will increase and productivity will decrease. Considering these points, it is necessary to develop a new concept technology for an automatic workpiece fixing device that has not been known in the past. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an automatic workpiece fixing device that can automatically perform the workpiece fixing operation of fixing a workpiece at a processing position, which is a conventional manual operation, thereby enabling the entire workpiece processing process to be automated in cooperation with a machine tool, thereby contributing to improved productivity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there can be provided an automatic workpiece fixing device comprising: a jig base provided on one side of an equipment table to form a place where a workpiece is placed and fixed and processed into a finished product; a hole clamp connected to the jig base and inserted into a hole formed in the workpiece placed on the jig base to selectively clamp the hole; and a clamp driver provided on the equipment table and connected to the hole clamp to drive the hole clamp so that the hole clamp clamps or unclamps the hole of the workpiece.

[0009] The hole clamp may include a clamp shaft arranged in a direction in which the workpiece is placed on the jig base and having a cross-sectional area that varies along a longitudinal direction; and a multi-jaw arranged in a circumferential direction of the clamp shaft and moving radially outward or inward according to an up / down movement of the clamp shaft by the action of the clamp driving unit, and fixing the position of the workpiece when moving radially outward.

[0010] The clamp shaft includes a reduced diameter section having a relatively narrow cross-sectional area; an expanded diameter section arranged apart from the reduced diameter section along the longitudinal direction of the clamp shaft but having a wider cross-sectional area than the reduced diameter section; and an inclined connecting section connecting the reduced diameter section and the expanded diameter section at an incline. The inner wall of the multi-segment jaw includes a straight line wall section with which the reduced diameter section contacts; and an inclined line wall section with which the inclined connecting section contacts. When the clamp shaft moves up by the action of the clamp driving section and the expanded diameter section of the clamp shaft enters the inclined line wall section of the multi-segment jaw, the workpiece can be fixed in position.

[0011] The hole clamp may further include a guide cap provided at an end of the clamp shaft to guide the clamp shaft so as to be inserted into the hole of the workpiece, and a clamp end cap opposite the guide cap to movably support the split jaw.

[0012] The hole clamp is disposed radially outward of the multi-split jaw and may further include a clamp housing that is fixed to the jig base and movably supports the multi-split jaw together with the clamp end cap; an O-ring that is disposed between the multi-split jaw and the clamp housing; and an adaptor that detachably connects the clamp shaft and the clamp drive unit.

[0013] The jig may further include a positioning pin coupled to the jig base around the hole clamp, for positioning the workpiece relative to the jig base when the workpiece is placed on the jig base.

[0014] The apparatus may further include a guide pin disposed around the hole clamp so as to be movable up / down on the jig base, for guiding the movement of the workpiece relative to the jig base, and a guide driving unit provided on the apparatus table, connected to the guide pin, and driving the guide pin up / down.

[0015] The workpiece may further include an adhesion detector disposed in the jig base area for detecting adhesion of the workpiece to the jig base before a machining operation of the workpiece is started.

[0016] The adhesion detector may include an air leakage hole formed in the jig base along a direction in which the workpiece is placed on the jig base; an air supply unit for supplying air to the air leakage hole; and an air discharge amount detector for detecting an amount of air discharged through the air leakage hole.

[0017] The adhesion detector may further include a controller that controls a machine tool for machining the workpiece to be forcibly stopped based on a sensing signal from the air discharge sensor.

[0018] The apparatus may further include a workpiece pressing unit disposed on one side of the apparatus table for pressing the workpiece against the jig base before the workpiece is clamped and fixed on the jig base.

[0019] The workpiece pressing unit may include a workpiece pressing block that is substantially in contact with the workpiece and presses the workpiece toward the jig base; and a block up / down drive unit that is connected to the workpiece pressing block and drives the workpiece pressing block up / down.

[0020] The machine may further include a workpiece cleaning unit disposed adjacent to the workpiece pressing unit for injecting air toward the workpiece or a processed product formed by the workpiece to clean it.

[0021] The workpiece cleaning unit is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the jig base and may include an air supply pipe for supplying the air, and a plurality of air nozzles provided in the air supply pipe for spraying the air flowing in the air supply pipe onto the workpiece.

[0022] The apparatus may further include a unit mounting stage on which both the workpiece pressing unit and the workpiece cleaning unit are mounted; and a mounting stage moving section that is provided on the apparatus table and connected to the unit mounting stage and moves the unit mounting stage on the apparatus table.

[0023] The cleaning apparatus may further include a unit separation support stage having one end fixed to the unit mounting stage and the other end connected to the workpiece cleaning unit, the unit separation support stage supporting the workpiece cleaning unit at a distance such that the workpiece pressing unit is disposed therebetween.

[0024] The mounting platform movement unit is provided on the equipment table in the direction in which the unit mounting platform moves, and may include: a rail to which the unit mounting platform is movably connected; a moving block connected to the unit mounting platform; and a forward / backward drive cylinder that is coupled to the equipment table, connected to the moving block, and provides a driving force for moving the unit mounting platform on the rail.

[0025] The machine may further include a base cover that covers an upper portion of the machine table except for the jig base, and a plurality of side covers that are disposed on both sides of the base cover and form a processing space together with the base cover.

[0026] Both sides of the base cover can form inclined surfaces, and the device table is mounted on a bed of a machine tool. Effect of the Invention

[0027] According to the present invention, the work of loading and fixing a workpiece at a processing position can be automated, which is a conventional manual operation. This enables the entire workpiece processing process to be automated in conjunction with a machine tool, thereby contributing to improved productivity. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is an example diagram of a processed object and a processed product; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of an automatic workpiece clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 3 is a view showing FIG. 2 from another angle with the workpiece cleaning unit separated; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the jig base area. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the hole clamp and clamp driver area of ​​FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on the jig base. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 8, illustrating the unclamped state of the workpiece; [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-piece jaw region of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8, illustrating a clamping state of the workpiece. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-segment jaw region of FIG. [Figure 13] 2 is a control block diagram of the automatic workpiece fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 16] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 17] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 18] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 19] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 20] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 21] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 22] 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of an automatic workpiece fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] For a fuller understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the objects attained by its practice, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and the contents thereof.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals in different drawings refer to like elements.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic workpiece clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 from another angle with the workpiece cleaning unit separated, FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the jig base area, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the hole clamp and clamp drive part area of ​​FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 7, showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on the jig base, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8, showing a state in which the workpiece is unclamped, FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the multi-segment jaw area of ​​FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8, showing a state in which the workpiece is clamped, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the multi-segment jaw area of ​​FIG. 11, FIG. 13 is a control block diagram of the automatic workpiece clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14 to 22 are views showing an operation sequence of the automatic workpiece clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Referring to these drawings, the automatic workpiece fixing device according to the present embodiment can automatically implement the workpiece 10 mounting and fixing task of mounting and fixing the workpiece 10 at the processing position, which is a conventional manual task, thereby enabling the entire workpiece 10 processing process to be automated in conjunction with a machine tool, thereby contributing to improved productivity.

[0033] Here, as described above, the workpiece 10 is a bar-type metal structure as shown in Fig. 1(a), and a finished product 20 as shown in Fig. 1(b) can be manufactured using this workpiece 10. In this embodiment, the finished product 20 is a rack, which is a high-precision product having a pin-type screw portion 21 formed on one side.

[0034] Of course, the automatic workpiece clamping device according to the present embodiment is not a device for directly machining the workpiece 10 as shown in Fig. 1(a) into a machined product 20 as shown in Fig. 1(b). In other words, the actual machining operation of the workpiece 10 is performed by a machine tool equipped with the automatic workpiece clamping device according to the present embodiment, such as a machining center.

[0035] As a result, the automatic workpiece fixing device according to this embodiment corresponds to a unit-based device mounted on the bed of a machine tool such as a machining center.

[0036] Meanwhile, as mentioned briefly above, in order to improve the productivity of the processed product 20 as shown in FIG. 1(b), it is expected that automation of the entire process, such as placing and fixing the workpiece 10 at the processing position and then proceeding with the processing process, will be necessary.

[0037] However, if the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed at the processing position, that is, if the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed manually as in the past, it takes an excessively long time and it is not easy to realize a full automation.

[0038] However, unlike the conventional case, when the automatic workpiece clamping device according to the present embodiment is applied, the workpiece 10 can be easily and quickly placed and fixed on the jig base 120 of the automatic workpiece clamping device. Therefore, since it is possible to provide a great effect in realizing the overall automation linked with the machine tool, the automatic workpiece clamping device according to the present embodiment can play a very important role in automating processing.

[0039] For reference, in this embodiment, the workpiece 10 is a bar-type metal structure as shown in Fig. 1(a) and the finished product 20 is a rack, which is a high-precision product, as shown in Fig. 1(b), but the workpiece 10 and the finished product 20 are structures different from those shown in the drawings. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the shapes shown in the drawings.

[0040] 2 to 22, the automatic workpiece fixing device according to the present embodiment is for placing and fixing the workpiece 10 as shown in FIG. 1(a) at a processing position, and may include an equipment table 110, a jig base 120 installed on the equipment table 110 on which the workpiece 10 to be processed is placed and fixed, and a hole clamp 130 installed on the jig base 120 for clamping the workpiece 10 in order to fix the workpiece 10 placed on the jig base 120.

[0041] The equipment table 110 supports units such as a mounting platform moving unit 180 including a jig base 120. The equipment table 110 is mounted on the bed of a machine tool.

[0042] The device table 110 is provided with a base cover 111 and a side cover 112 .

[0043] The base cover 111 covers the upper part of the equipment table 110 except for the jig base 120. Both sides of the base cover 111 may form inclined surfaces. Therefore, it is possible to prevent particles such as processing fluid injected during processing and chips peeled off from the workpiece 10 during processing from accumulating on the equipment table 110.

[0044] The side covers 112 are shielding plates disposed on both sides of the base cover 111. Such side covers 112 form a machining space together with the base cover 111. That is, they prevent the scattering of machining fluids and particles generated during work.

[0045] The jig base 120 is provided on one side of the equipment table 110 and forms a place where the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed and processed into the finished product 20. That is, after the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed on the jig base 120, the workpiece 10 is processed into the finished product 20 on the jig base 120 by the operation of the machine tool. After the processing is completed, it is removed and a new workpiece 10 is placed and fixed on the jig base 120.

[0046] Since the workpiece 10 must be placed and fixed on the jig base 120, structures such as hole clamps 130, positioning pins 141, and guide pins 143 are mounted on the jig base 120 to place and fix the workpiece 10. A plurality of hole clamps 130, positioning pins 141, and guide pins 143 are provided at different positions on the jig base 120. The jig base 120 is supported on a plurality of base supporting blocks 115 provided on the apparatus table 110.

[0047] The hole clamp 130 will be examined first. The hole clamp 130 is connected to the jig base 120 and is inserted into holes 11 formed in the workpiece 10 placed on the jig base 120 to selectively clamp the holes 11. A plurality of holes 11 are formed in the workpiece 10 for making a rack, and the workpiece 10 is fixed in position on the jig base 120 using these holes 11.

[0048] A plurality of hole clamps 130 may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the jig base 120. Only the appropriate one of the plurality of hole clamps 130 may be used depending on the size of the workpiece 10. The hole clamp 130 may include a clamp shaft 131 and a multi-split jaw (3-jaw) 132.

[0049] The clamp shaft 131 is disposed along the direction in which the workpiece 10 is placed on the jig base 120, and is formed so that its cross-sectional area varies along the longitudinal direction.

[0050] The multi-split jaws 132 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the clamp shaft 131, and move radially outward or inward based on the up / down movement of the clamp shaft 131 caused by the action of the clamp drive unit 139, and when moving radially outward, fixes the position of the workpiece 10.

[0051] That is, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, when the clamp shaft 131 moves up, the multi-segment jaw 132 moves radially outward to clamp the wall surface of the hole 11 in the workpiece 10, and as shown in Figures 9 and 10, when the clamp shaft 131 moves down, the multi-segment jaw 132 moves radially inward to unclamp the wall surface of the hole 11 in the workpiece 10.

[0052] For this operation, the clamp shaft 131 is connected to a clamp driver 139. The clamp driver 139 is provided on the apparatus table 110 and is connected to the clamp shaft 131 of the hole clamp 130, and serves to drive the hole clamp 130 so that the split jaws 132 of the hole clamp 130 clamp or unclamp the wall surface of the hole 11 in the workpiece 10.

[0053] In this embodiment, the clamping drive unit 139 is applied with a hydraulic cylinder that provides a strong force, so that the multi-split jaw 132 can provide a strong force, thereby enabling the multi-split jaw 132 to clamp the wall surface of the hole 11 of the workpiece 10 with a strong force.

[0054] An adapter 137 is used to connect the clamp shaft 131 and the clamp driver 139. The adapter 137 is a kind of medium that connects the clamp shaft 131 and the clamp driver 139 detachably.

[0055] Meanwhile, as described above, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, when the clamp shaft 131 moves up, the multi-split jaws 132 move radially outward to clamp the wall surface of the hole 11 in the workpiece 10. The clamp shaft 131 and the multi-split jaws 132 are manufactured in the following structure.

[0056] The clamp shaft 131 includes a reduced diameter section 131a having a relatively narrow cross-sectional area, an expanded diameter section 131c which is arranged apart from the reduced diameter section 131a along the longitudinal direction of the clamp shaft 131 but has a wider cross-sectional area than the reduced diameter section 131a, and an inclined connecting section 131b which connects the reduced diameter section 131a and the expanded diameter section 131c at an angle.

[0057] The inner wall of the multi-split jaw 132 includes a straight line wall portion 132a with which the reduced diameter section 131a contacts, and an inclined line wall portion 132b with which the inclined connecting portion 131b contacts.

[0058] 9 and 10, the clamp driver 139 operates to drive the clamp shaft 131 upward. Then, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the inclined connecting portion 131b and the enlarged diameter section 131c of the clamp shaft 131 are forcibly moved toward the inner straight line wall portion 132a of the multi-split jaw 132, and as a result, the multi-split jaw 132 moves radially outward to clamp the wall surface of the hole 11 in the workpiece 10. Thus, the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed on the jig base 120.

[0059] In addition to the structures previously described, hole clamp 130 further includes a guide cap 133 , a clamp end cap 134 , and a clamp housing 135 .

[0060] The guide cap 133 is provided on the end of the clamp shaft 131 and guides the clamp shaft 131 to be inserted into the hole 11 of the workpiece 10. That is, the tip of the guide cap 133 is inclined, which helps the clamp shaft 131 to be inserted into the hole 11 of the workpiece 10.

[0061] The clamp end cap 134 is a structure that movably supports the split jaw 132 on the opposite side to the guide cap 133 .

[0062] The clamp housing 135 is disposed radially outward of the multi-split jaw 132, but is fixed to the jig base 120, and is a structure that movably supports the multi-split jaw 132 together with the clamp end cap 134. An O-ring 136 is provided between the multi-split jaw 132 and the clamp housing 135 to prevent the structures from colliding with each other.

[0063] Next, the positioning pin 141 is coupled to the jig base 120 around the hole clamp 130 and serves to position the workpiece 10 relative to the jig base 120 when the workpiece 10 is placed on the jig base 120 .

[0064] Unlike the hole clamp 130 and the guide pin 143 which move up and down, the positioning pin 141 positions the workpiece 10 relative to the jig base 120. Therefore, a plurality of positioning pins 141 may be applied on the jig base 120. The positioning pin 141 may have a shape that is sharper toward its end.

[0065] Next, the guide pin 143 is arranged to be movable up / down on the jig base 120 around the hole clamp 130 and serves to guide the movement of the workpiece 10 relative to the jig base 120 .

[0066] The workpiece 10 or the machined product 20 is raised / lowered by the guide pin 143. That is, the workpiece 10 is placed on the guide pin 143 while it is in an up state, and then the workpiece 10 is placed on the jig base 120 by the down movement of the guide pin 143. Also, as shown in Fig. 22, the guide pin 143 can be raised to remove the machined product 20 after the machining is completed. Of course, during the operation of Fig. 22, the hole clamp 130 must be in an unclamped state.

[0067] A guide driver 145 is provided for such a function of the guide pin 143. The guide driver 145 is provided on the device table 110, is connected to the guide pin 143, and serves to drive the guide pin 143 up and down. Unlike the clamp driver 139, which requires a large force, the guide pin 143 does not require a large force to be driven up and down, so the guide driver 145 can be applied to an air cylinder.

[0068] Meanwhile, if actual machining work is to be carried out using a machine tool, the workpiece 10 must be placed and fixed on the jig base 120 and in close contact with it, otherwise a highly precise machined product 20 cannot be obtained.

[0069] Accordingly, the automatic workpiece fixing device according to the present embodiment is further provided with an adhesion detector 150. The adhesion detector 150 is provided in the area of ​​the jig base 120 and serves to detect the adhesion of the workpiece 10 to the jig base 120 before the processing operation of the workpiece 10 begins.

[0070] The adhesion detection unit 150 includes an air leakage hole 151 formed in the jig base 120 along the direction in which the workpiece 10 is placed on the jig base 120, an air supply unit 152 that supplies air to the air leakage hole 151, an air discharge amount detection sensor 153 that detects the amount of air discharged through the air leakage hole 151, and a controller 155.

[0071] The air leakage hole 151 may be formed by hole processing in the jig base 120. The air supply unit 152 and the air discharge sensor 153 are disposed on the apparatus table 110 adjacent to the jig base 120.

[0072] The controller 155 controls the operation of the machine tool for machining the workpiece 10 to be forcibly stopped based on the sensing signal of the air discharge sensor 153. For example, if the workpiece 10 is correctly placed and fixed on the jig base 120, the amount of air discharged into the air leakage hole 151 is less than a reference value or is non-existent. However, if the workpiece 10 is clamped on the jig base 120 but not correctly placed and fixed, the amount of air discharged into the air leakage hole 151 will be greater than the reference value. In such a situation, the machine tool must be controlled not to operate. This is the responsibility of the controller 155.

[0073] The controller 155 performing these functions may include a central processing unit (CPU) 155a, memory (MEMORY) 155b, and support circuits (SUPPORT CIRCUIT) 155c.

[0074] In this embodiment, the central processing unit 155a is one of various industrially applicable computer processors for controlling the operation of a machine tool for machining the workpiece 10 to be forcibly stopped based on the sensing signal of the air discharge amount detection sensor 153.

[0075] The memory 155b is coupled to the central processing unit 155a. The memory 155b is a computer-readable storage medium, which may be provided locally or remotely, and may be at least one readily available memory, such as a RAM, a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or any other form of digital storage.

[0076] The support circuits 155c are coupled to the central processing unit 155a to support the typical operation of a processor. Such support circuits 155c may include cache, power supplies, clock circuits, input / output circuits, subsystems, etc.

[0077] In this embodiment, the controller 155 can control the machine tool for machining the workpiece 10 to be forcibly stopped based on the sensing signal of the air discharge sensor 153, and such a series of control processors can be stored in the memory 155b. Typically, a software routine can be stored in the memory 155b. The software routine can also be stored or executed by another central processing unit (not shown).

[0078] Although the processor according to the present invention has been described as being executed by a software routine, at least a portion of the processor according to the present invention may be executed by hardware. Thus, the processor according to the present invention may be embodied as software executed on a computer system, as hardware such as an integrated circuit, or as a combination of software and hardware.

[0079] Meanwhile, as described above, the workpiece 10 is clamped and fixed on the jig base 120 by the action of the hole clamp 130, and at this time, the workpiece 10 must proceed in a state of being in close contact with the jig base 120. To this end, when the hole clamp 130 acts, it is necessary to pressurize the workpiece 10 toward the jig base 120. For this purpose, a workpiece pressing unit 160 is provided.

[0080] The workpiece pressing unit 160 is disposed on one side of the apparatus table 110 and serves to press the workpiece 10 against the jig base 120 before the workpiece 10 is clamped and fixed on the jig base 120 .

[0081] The workpiece pressing unit 160 may include a workpiece pressing block 161 that is in contact with the workpiece 10 and presses the workpiece 10 toward the jig base 120, and a block up / down driver 162 that is connected to the workpiece pressing block 161 and drives the workpiece pressing block 161 up / down. The block up / down driver 162 may be an air cylinder.

[0082] The automatic workpiece fixing device is further equipped with a workpiece cleaning unit 165. The workpiece cleaning unit 165 is disposed adjacent to the workpiece pressing unit 160 and serves to spray air toward the workpiece 10 or the processed product 20 formed by the workpiece 10 for cleaning.

[0083] That is, as shown in Fig. 22, when the workpiece 10 is processed by the action of a machine tool to produce a finished product 20, foreign matter such as chips or machining liquid accumulates on the finished product 20, and in order to remove these, a workpiece cleaning unit 165 is provided. Of course, the workpiece 10 can also be cleaned before machining, but this is optional.

[0084] Such a workpiece cleaning unit 165 is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the jig base 120 and may include an air supply pipe 166 for supplying air, and a plurality of air nozzles 167 provided in the air supply pipe 166 for spraying the air flowing within the air supply pipe 166 onto the workpiece 10 or the processed product 20.

[0085] The workpiece cleaning unit 165 can inject air in the normal position as shown in Fig. 22, or can approach the jig base 120 side and inject air to the area of ​​the workpiece 10. In this embodiment, an embodiment in which air is injected in the normal position as shown in Fig. 22 is disclosed.

[0086] In this way, the workpiece cleaning unit 165 can inject air either at the normal position or by approaching the jig base 120, but the workpiece pressing unit 160 must pressurize the workpiece 10 at that position after approaching the jig base 120. To do this, a means for moving the workpiece pressing unit 160 is required, and for this purpose, a unit mounting table 170 and a mounting table moving section 180 are provided.

[0087] The unit mounting table 170 is structured to mount both the workpiece pressing unit 160 and the workpiece cleaning unit 165. The mounting table moving part 180 is provided on the equipment table 110 and is connected to the unit mounting table 170 to move the unit mounting table 170 on the equipment table 110.

[0088] The workpiece cleaning unit 165 can be fixed in a certain position and only the workpiece pressing unit 160 can be moved, but in this case, the equipment may become complicated. Therefore, in this embodiment, a unit mounting table 170 is provided, and after both the workpiece pressing unit 160 and the workpiece cleaning unit 165 are mounted on the unit mounting table 170, the unit mounting table 170 is moved.

[0089] A unit spacing support table 171 is further provided on the unit mounting table 170. One end of the unit spacing support table 171 is fixed to the unit mounting table 170 and the other end is connected to the workpiece cleaning unit 165, and serves to support the workpiece cleaning unit 165 at a distance with the workpiece pressing unit 160 disposed therebetween. The unit spacing support table 171 is a type of bracket, and a plurality of units are provided to support the air supply pipe 166 of the workpiece cleaning unit 165.

[0090] The mounting platform movement unit 180 is installed on the equipment table 110 in the direction in which the unit mounting platform 170 moves, and may include a rail 181 to which the unit mounting platform 170 is movably connected, a moving block 182 connected to the unit mounting platform 170, and a forward / backward drive cylinder 183 coupled to the equipment table 110, connected to the moving block 182, and providing a driving force to move the unit mounting platform 170 on the rail 181.

[0091] The forward / backward driving cylinder 183 is a hydraulic cylinder. The forward / backward driving cylinder 183 has a cylinder body 183a that is fixed on the device table 110, and a cylinder body 183a connected to the cylinder body 183a so that the length of the cylinder body 183a can be extended or shortened, and an end of the cylinder body 183a is connected to the moving block 182.

[0092] In the automatic workpiece fixing device of this embodiment, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is used in various places, so a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure distributor 118 can be installed on the device table 110 adjacent to the forward and backward driving cylinder 183.

[0093] Hereinafter, a series of steps in which the workpiece 10 is placed and fixed on the jig base 120 and then processed into the finished product 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0094] First, in the initial state as shown in Fig. 14, the workpiece 10 is supplied to the jig base 120 as shown in Fig. 15. At this time, the guide pins 143 are in an up state, and in this state, the workpiece 10 is placed on the guide pins 143 by a robot or the like.

[0095] 16, the workpiece 10 is placed on the jig base 120 by the downward movement of the guide pin 143. At this time, a part of the hole 11 of the workpiece 10 is guided by the positioning pin 141, and a part of the hole clamp 130 is inserted into another hole 11. Of course, the hole clamp 130 is still in an unclamping state.

[0096] 17, the mounting table moving part 180 operates. That is, the unit mounting table 170 moves backward by the action of the forward / backward driving cylinder 183. Then, the workpiece pressing block 161 of the workpiece pressing unit 160 is placed on the workpiece 10.

[0097] Next, the block up / down driver 162 of the work pressing unit 160 operates so that the work pressing block 161 presses the work 10 toward the jig base 120, while the clamp driver 139 operates the hole clamp 130 to clamp the work 10. That is, in the unclamping state as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the clamp driver 139 operates to drive the clamp shaft 131 up. Then, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the inclined connecting portion 131b and the enlarged diameter section 131c of the clamp shaft 131 are forcibly moved toward the inner straight line wall portion 132a of the multi-split jaw 132, and the multi-split jaw 132 moves radially outward to clamp the wall surface of the hole 11 of the work 10. In particular, the clamping operation of the work 10 proceeds in a state in which the work pressing block 161 presses the work 10 toward the jig base 120, so that the work 10 can be precisely clamped.

[0098] 19, the mounting table moving part 180 operates, and the unit mounting table 170 advances and moves to the original position by the action of the forward / backward driving cylinder 183. At this time, the workpiece 10 continues to be clamped by the hole clamp 130.

[0099] Next, a machining operation is performed on the workpiece 10 as shown in Fig. 20. As described above, the machining operation is performed by a machine tool equipped with the automatic workpiece fixing device according to this embodiment.

[0100] Next, the cleaning process is performed as shown in Fig. 21. When the workpiece 10 is processed into the finished product 20 by the action of the machine tool in the previous process, foreign matter such as chips or machining liquid accumulates on the finished product 20, and the workpiece cleaning unit 165 operates to remove them. That is, the finished product 20 can be cleaned by spraying air from the air nozzle 167 of the workpiece cleaning unit 165.

[0101] 22, the hole clamp 130 is unclamped by the action of the clamp driver 139, and then the guide pin 143 moves up. Then, the machined product 20 is separated upward from the jig base 120, and in this state, the robot takes out the machined product 20. After the workpiece 10 is taken out, a new workpiece 10 is supplied and the above-mentioned operations are repeated.

[0102] According to this embodiment, which operates with the structure described above, the work of placing and fixing the workpiece 10 at the processing position can be performed automatically, rather than manually as in the past. This makes it possible to fully automate the processing process of the workpiece 10 in conjunction with a machine tool, thereby contributing to improved productivity.

[0103] Thus, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, such modifications and variations should be considered to fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0104] The present invention can be used in the field of machine tool manufacturing.

Claims

1. a jig base provided at one side of the machine table to define a place on which a workpiece is placed and fixed to be machined into a finished product; a hole clamp coupled to the jig base and adapted to be inserted into a hole formed in the workpiece mounted on the jig base to selectively clamp the hole; a clamp driving unit provided on the apparatus table and connected to the hole clamp, for driving the hole clamp so that the hole clamp clamps or unclamps the hole of the workpiece; a workpiece pressing unit disposed on one side of the apparatus table for pressing the workpiece against the jig base before the workpiece is clamped and fixed on the jig base; a workpiece cleaning unit disposed adjacent to the workpiece pressing unit and configured to inject air toward the workpiece or a completed product formed by the workpiece for cleaning; a unit mounting table on which both the work pressing unit and the work cleaning unit are mounted; a mount moving section that is provided on the device table and is connected to the unit mount and moves the unit mount on the device table; 1. An automatic workpiece fixing device comprising:

2. The hole clamp is a clamp shaft disposed along a direction in which the workpiece is placed on the jig base and having a cross-sectional area that varies along a longitudinal direction; a multi-segment jaw (3-jaw) that is arranged along the circumferential direction of the clamp shaft, moves radially outward or inward according to the up / down movement of the clamp shaft by the action of the clamp drive unit, and fixes the workpiece in position when it moves radially outward; 2. The automatic workpiece fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The clamp shaft is a tapered section having a relatively narrow cross-sectional area; an expanded diameter section that is disposed apart from the reduced diameter section along the longitudinal direction of the clamp shaft and has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the reduced diameter section; an inclined connecting portion that inclines and connects the reduced diameter section and the expanded diameter section, The inner wall of the multi-split jaw is a straight line wall portion to which the reduced diameter section is in contact; a sloped line wall portion to which the sloped connecting portion is in contact; 3. The automatic workpiece fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the clamp shaft is moved upward by the action of the clamp drive unit, and the workpiece is fixed in position when the enlarged diameter section of the clamp shaft enters the inclined line wall portion of the multi-split jaw.

4. The hole clamp is a guide cap provided on an end of the clamp shaft for guiding the clamp shaft so that the clamp shaft is inserted into the hole of the workpiece; a clamp end cap that movably supports the multi-split jaw on the opposite side of the guide cap; 3. The automatic workpiece clamping device according to claim 2, further comprising:

5. The hole clamp is a clamp housing disposed radially outward of the multi-split jaw and fixed to the jig base, the clamp housing movably supporting the multi-split jaw together with the clamp end cap; an O-ring disposed between the multi-split jaw and the clamp housing; an adapter that detachably connects the clamp shaft and the clamp drive unit; 5. The automatic workpiece clamping device according to claim 4, further comprising:

6. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a positioning pin coupled to the jig base around the hole clamp for positioning the workpiece relative to the jig base when the workpiece is placed on the jig base.

7. a guide pin disposed on the jig base around the hole clamp so as to be movable up and down, and configured to guide the movement of the workpiece relative to the jig base; a guide driving unit provided on the device table and connected to the guide pin for driving the guide pin up and down; 2. The automatic workpiece clamping device according to claim 1, further comprising:

8. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a contact sensor disposed in the jig base area for sensing a contact degree of the workpiece with the jig base before a processing operation of the workpiece is started.

9. The contact degree sensing unit is an air leakage hole formed in the jig base along a direction in which the workpiece is placed on the jig base; an air supply unit that supplies air to the air leakage hole; an air leakage detection sensor for detecting an amount of air discharged through the air leakage hole; 9. The automatic workpiece clamping device according to claim 8, further comprising:

10. The contact degree sensing unit is 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a controller for controlling a machine tool for machining the workpiece to forcibly stop operation based on a sensing signal from the air discharge sensor.

11. The workpiece pressing unit comprises: a workpiece pressing block that substantially contacts the workpiece and presses the workpiece toward the jig base; a block up / down driving unit connected to the workpiece pressing block and driving the workpiece pressing block up / down; 2. The automatic workpiece fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

12. The workpiece cleaning unit comprises: an air supply pipe arranged along the longitudinal direction of the jig base for supplying the air; a plurality of air nozzles provided in the air supply pipe for spraying air flowing through the air supply pipe onto the workpiece; 2. The automatic workpiece fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

13. 2. The automatic workpiece fixing device of claim 1, further comprising a unit separation support table having one end fixed to the unit mounting table and the other end connected to the workpiece cleaning unit, the unit separation support table supporting the workpiece cleaning unit at a distance such that the workpiece pressing unit is disposed therebetween.

14. The mounting table moving unit is a rail provided on the device table along a direction in which the unit mounting platform moves, the rail being movably connected to the unit mounting platform; A moving block connected to the unit mounting base; a forward / backward driving cylinder coupled to the device table and connected to the moving block to provide a driving force for moving the unit mounting base on the rail; 2. The automatic workpiece fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

15. a base cover that covers an upper portion of the apparatus table except for the jig base; a plurality of side covers disposed on both sides of the base cover and forming a processing space together with the base cover; 2. The automatic workpiece clamping device according to claim 1, further comprising:

16. Both sides of the base cover form inclined surfaces, 16. The automatic workpiece clamping apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus table is mounted on a bed of a machine tool.

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