Work Stocker

Abstract

To provide a workpiece stocker having a workpiece conveyance base of a lock mechanism having a reduced number of components.SOLUTION: A workpiece stocker has a workpiece feeding mechanism in which a plurality of workpiece conveyance bases enabling piling-up of workpiece are aligned in line on an elliptic track, are simultaneously moved in a circumferential direction, and are stopped at a predetermined position, and the workpiece conveyance base includes a transmission gear pivotally supported on a center with which a plurality of adjustment gears pivotally supported around the transmission gear are engaged, a guide rod fixed to each of the adjustment gears in the standing state, a palette in which a slit through which the guide rod penetrates is radially formed, and a lock mechanism for inserting and removing a tip of a pin member to / from a gear mechanism of an adjustment gear for lock that is one of the plurality of adjustment gears.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work stocker that moves a plurality of work transport tables, on which workpieces are stacked, to a predetermined position along a circular track. [Background technology]

[0002] The work transport table of the work stocker is designed so that the outer periphery of the work is restrained by three guide rods to align the multiple workpieces stacked up and down. The work transport table has three rotatable adjustment gears that mesh with a central transmission gear, and the guide rods are fixed to the adjustment gears with stud bolts. When the worker applies a radial force to the guide rods to adjust their position, the force is transmitted to the transmission gear via the adjustment gear, and the three guide rods move simultaneously in the radial direction, positioning them on the same circumference according to the size of the workpiece.

[0003] The workpiece conveying table is provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the guide rod that restrains the workpiece from moving. In the locking mechanism of Patent Document 1, when an operating member is rotated, the rotation is transmitted from a first rotation operating gear to a second rotation operating gear, and then from a central gear that rotates integrally with the second rotation operating gear to three clamping members. The synchronous rotation of each clamping member changes the amount of threading of the second male thread portion of the clamping male thread member into the female thread portion of the clamping member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-10146 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the locking mechanism in the above-mentioned conventional example has a complex configuration that requires multiple gears to mesh and uses screw members. This increases the number of parts, which not only increases costs but also makes the mechanism more susceptible to breakdowns. A work stocker may have as many as a dozen work transport tables, so if the cost of each table increases, the cost of the work stocker itself also increases. Furthermore, while the workpieces are loaded into the work stocker on the supply side by workers, some workers may roughly load the workpieces onto the work transport tables, making a configuration prone to damage to parts undesirable.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a work stocker having a work transport table with a locking mechanism that reduces the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The work stocker according to the present invention has a work transport mechanism in which a plurality of work transport tables capable of stacking workpieces are arranged in a row on an elliptical track, and which moves in unison in a circumferential direction and stops at a predetermined position, the work transport table comprising a transmission gear journaled at the center and meshing with a plurality of adjustment gears journaled around the circumference, guide rods fixed in an upright position to each of the adjustment gears, a pallet with radially formed slits through which the guide rods pass, and a locking mechanism for inserting and removing the tip of a pin member into and from a gear groove of a locking adjustment gear which is one of the plurality of adjustment gears, The locking mechanism includes a cylindrical guide member fixed in a horizontal position, the pin member slidably inserted into the guide member, a biasing member that biases the pin member toward the lock adjustment gear, and an operating means for switching the position of the pin member in the biasing direction of the biasing member between a lock position and an unlock position at the tip of the pin member, and the guide member is threaded on its outer circumferential surface and is threaded into a tapped mounting hole of a bracket fixed to a base plate, and is fastened and fixed by a nut. It is something. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the above configuration, for example, the workpieces stacked on the workpiece conveying table are moved in a line on an oval track by the workpiece feeding mechanism, and the workpieces on the workpiece conveying table are stopped at a predetermined position and transferred to the autoloader. On the workpiece conveying table, the surrounding adjustment gears meshed with the central transmission gear rotate synchronously, so that the position of the guide rod fixed to the adjustment gear can be adjusted to match the size of the workpiece. Then, the tip of the pin member is inserted into the gear groove of one of the locking adjustment gears to restrict rotation, and the positioned guide rod is set without deviation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a work stocker. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of a work stocker. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an internal plan view showing one embodiment of a work stocker. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the workpiece transport table. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the locking mechanism in an unlocked state. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the locking mechanism in a locked state. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism in a locked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of a work stocker according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the work stocker, with Figure 1 being a perspective view, Figure 2 being a side view, and Figure 3 being an internal plan view. The work stocker 1 of this embodiment is installed in a processing machine line in which a plurality of machine tools and the like are arranged side by side, and is located at a supply end that supplies workpieces to the processing machine line, and at a recovery end that recovers machined workpieces that have been processed in the processing machine line.

[0011] The work stocker 1 is entirely covered by an exterior cover 2, within which a work feed mechanism 5 is configured. The work feed mechanism 5 has a plurality of work transport tables 3 on which works W can be stacked, and is configured to move a predetermined work transport table 3 and position it at a work delivery position P. In this embodiment, 18 work transport tables 3 are arranged in a line on an oval track, and are connected by an endless roller chain 13 shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, and are configured to move simultaneously in the circumferential direction and stop at a predetermined position.

[0012] A pair of sprockets 15, 16 are supported at the front and rear of the work stocker 1, and a roller chain 13 is stretched between them. A movement motor (not shown) is connected to the sprocket 15 on the rear side of the machine body, and the drive of this motor rotates the roller chain 13, causing the 18 work transport tables 3 to move simultaneously. The work stocker 1 at the supply side end has multiple works W stacked on the work transport table 3 as shown in Figure 2, and moves to the work transfer position P where the works W are transferred to and from the autoloader.

[0013] 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the workpiece conveying table 3. Three long guide rods 21 that penetrate the pallet 11 are projected vertically into the workpiece conveying table 3. Three slits 22 are formed radially at intervals of 120 degrees in the disk-shaped pallet 11, and the three guide rods 21 are erected so as to pass through the three slits 22. The three guide rods 21 can be moved within the slits 22 to adjust their radial positions to match the size of the workpiece W.

[0014] The workpiece conveying table 3 has one transmission gear 25 journaled on a base plate 23, and three adjustment gears 26 journaled around the transmission gear 25 engage with the transmission gear 25. The pallet 11 is positioned so that its center coincides with the rotation center of the transmission gear 25, and the three adjustment gears 26 are positioned so that their rotation centers are spaced 120 degrees apart from the central transmission gear 25. Guide rods 21, each aligned with the three adjustment gears 26, are fixed in a vertically upright position.

[0015] The position of the workpiece conveying table 3 can be adjusted by an operator by moving the guide rods 21 radially along the slits 22. That is, the three adjustment gears 26 rotate simultaneously by the same angle via the transmission gear 25, and accordingly, the three guide rods move simultaneously by the same distance in the radial direction. Therefore, when the operator adjusts the workpiece conveying table 3, the three guide rods 21 protruding from the pallet 11 are positioned on the same circumference in accordance with the size of the workpiece W.

[0016] The workpiece conveying table 3 is provided with a locking mechanism 28 for the freely rotatable transmission gear 25 and adjusting gear 26 to prevent the positioned guide rod 21 from shifting position. This locking mechanism 28 is provided for one adjusting gear 26 (locking adjusting gear 26a) and restricts the rotation of not only that locking adjusting gear 26a but also the transmission gear 25 and the other two adjusting gears 26 that are directly or indirectly meshed with it. Figures 5 and 6 are plan views showing the locking mechanism 28, with Figure 5 particularly showing the unlocked state and Figure 6 showing the locked state. Also, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the locking mechanism in the locked state.

[0017] The lock mechanism 28 includes a bracket 31 having two perpendicular surfaces that is screwed to the base plate 23 with bolts 32, and a tapped mounting hole 315 formed in an upright surface 311 of the bracket 31. A cylindrical guide member 33 that passes through the mounting hole 315 is fixed in a horizontal position to the vertical upright surface 311. A thread is cut on the outer periphery of the guide member 33 and passes through the mounting hole 315 so as to be screwed into the mounting hole 315. The guide member 33 is attached to the mounting hole 315 facing the lock adjustment gear 26a, and is fixed to the upright surface 311 by tightening a nut 34 that threads onto it.

[0018] A lock pin 35 is slidably inserted into the hollow portion of the guide member 33. A truncated cone-shaped stopper portion 351 is formed at the tip of the lock pin 35 so as to protrude from a flange portion 352. The lock pin 35 is biased toward the lock adjustment gear 26a by a coil spring 36 sandwiched between the flange portion 352 and the guide member 33. The lock pin 35 is provided with an operating lever 37 that switches the position of the biasing direction of the coil spring 36 (the straight arrow shown in FIG. 6) between a locked position and an unlocked position.

[0019] The operating lever 37 is a rod member that penetrates the rear end of the lock pin 35 so as to be perpendicular to the center line of the lock pin 35 and is formed to be integral with the lock pin 35. U-shaped grooves 331 and 332 that position the operating lever 37 are cut out at the end of the guide member 33. The two types of grooves 331 and 332 are formed alternately at 90-degree intervals, and the operating lever 37 is fitted into two grooves 331 or two grooves 332 formed at 180-degree positions on each side. The groove 332 used when locking is formed deeper than the groove 331 used when unlocking, allowing the position of the tip of the lock pin 35 to be changed.

[0020] In the work stocker 1, an autoloader (not shown) delivers the workpieces W to a predetermined workpiece transport table 3 that has moved to the workpiece delivery position P. Since the workpieces W are delivered by the autoloader at the same height, the height of the pallet 11 on the workpiece transport table 3 needs to be adjusted depending on the number of works W loaded. For this reason, the stocker 1 is provided at the workpiece delivery position P with a pallet lifting device 18 that raises and lowers the pallet 11.

[0021] The workpiece transfer position P is the position where the workpiece transport table 3 turns back at the front side of the workpiece stocker 1, and the pallet lifting device 18 is configured to correspond to that position. A support column 41 is fixed vertically to the front of the workpiece stocker 1, and a lifting platform 42 is slidably attached to a slide rail formed on the support column 41. The lifting platform 42 has a bifurcated support plate 43 fixed thereto that supports the pallet 11 from below, and an elevator that moves the lifting platform 42 up and down is configured inside the support column 41. In the elevator, the lifting platform 42 is fixed to an elevator chain that is hung between upper and lower sprockets, and the height of the lifting platform 42 is adjusted by driving an elevator motor connected to one of the sprockets.

[0022] Next, when the work stocker 1 of this embodiment is placed on the supply side of a processing machine line, the unprocessed workpieces W are sorted by type and stacked on each workpiece conveying table 3. At this time, the guide rods 21 of the workpiece conveying table 3 are aligned according to the different target workpieces W. This alignment is performed by an operator moving the three guide rods 21 within the slits 22. Specifically, the operator applies force to the guide rods 21, which causes the three adjustment gears 26 meshing with the transmission gear 25 to rotate synchronously, and the three guide rods 21 are moved while always maintaining a relationship in which they are positioned on the same circumference, thereby performing the adjustment.

[0023] If the workpieces W stacked on the workpiece transport table 3 are misaligned, they cannot be transferred by the autoloader. Therefore, the locking mechanism 28 limits the rotation of the locking adjustment gear 26a to prevent misalignment of the three guide rods 21. When adjusting the guide rods 21, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking mechanism 28 is pulled rearward to the left of the drawing against the biasing force of the coil spring 36, and the operating lever 37 is fitted into the groove 331. Because the groove 331 is shallow, the locking pin 35 is positioned by retreating to the left of the drawing, and the stopper 351 is separated from the locking adjustment gear 26a.

[0024] After the position of the guide rod 21 has been adjusted, the locking mechanism 28 is switched to the state shown in Fig. 6. That is, the operating lever 37 is removed from the groove 331 against the biasing force of the coil spring 36 and its orientation is changed by 90 degrees. As a result, the operating lever 37 is aligned with the position of the groove 332, and the biasing force of the coil spring 36 moves the operating lever 37 forward to the right in the drawing and fits into the groove 332. Because the groove 332 is formed deep, the locking pin 35 moves forward by that amount, and the stopper portion 351 is inserted into the gear groove 261 of the locking adjustment gear 26a.

[0025] In the work stocker 1, the guide rods 21 are positioned for the 18 work transport tables 3 and locked by the locking mechanism 28, and the corresponding work W is stacked on the pallet 11 on each of these work transport tables 3. After the work stocker 1 is ready, the work W is taken out in order by the autoloader and transported to machine tools on the processing machine line, etc. Therefore, in the work stocker 1, the work transport table 3 carrying the target work W is positioned at the work delivery position P.

[0026] The movement of the workpiece transport table 3 is determined by the feed amount of the roller chain 24 being determined by the rotation control of the movement motor, and a predetermined one of the multiple workpiece transport tables 3 moving simultaneously stops at the delivery position P. Then, the pallet 11 placed at the delivery position P is lifted by the pallet lifting device 18 so that the top workpiece W is positioned at a predetermined height, and thereafter the height of the pallet 11 is adjusted so that it rises one by one as the autoloader removes the workpieces W.

[0027] According to this embodiment, the position of the guide rod 21 adjusted by the locking mechanism 28 can be maintained. In particular, since the stopper portion 351 of the locking pin 35 is inserted into the gear groove 261 of the locking adjustment gear 26a, the locked state can be stably maintained by increasing the spring force of the spring 36. The locking mechanism 28 can be switched between the locked state and the unlocked state by simply pulling the operating lever 37 and rotating it 90 degrees, a simple operation that does not require any tools.

[0028] The locking mechanism 28 has a simple structure and a small number of parts, making it less susceptible to damage, and even if it does become damaged, it can be easily replaced or repaired, and can be provided at low cost. For a work stocker 1 with a large number of work transport tables 3, the easy operation of the locking mechanism 28 increases work efficiency, and its low cost reduces overall costs. The guide member 33, which has threads on its outer periphery, can be adjusted in position relative to the bracket 31, and by tightening and fixing it with a nut 34, it can flexibly accommodate the size of the locking adjustment gear 26a and the mounting position of the bracket 31.

[0029] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the stop portion 351 of the lock pin 35 that is inserted into and removed from the gear groove 261 of the lock adjustment gear 26a is made in a truncated cone shape, but the tip may also be in a mountain shape that matches the shape of the gear groove 261. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1...Work stocker 3...Work transport table 5...Work feed mechanism 11...Pallet 21...Guide rod 22...Slit 23...Base plate 25...Transmission gear 26...Adjusting gear 26a...Lock adjusting gear 28...Lock mechanism 31...Bracket 33...Guide member 35...Lock pin 36...Coil spring 37...Operating lever 315...Mounting hole 331, 332...Groove portion 351...Stop portion P...Work transfer position

Claims

1. A work transport mechanism is provided in which a plurality of work transport tables capable of stacking work pieces are arranged in a line on an oval track, and move simultaneously in the circumferential direction and stop at a predetermined position; The workpiece transport table includes a transmission gear journaled at the center and meshing with a plurality of adjustment gears journaled around the transmission gear, guide rods fixed in an upright state to each of the adjustment gears, a pallet having radially formed slits through which the guide rods pass, and a locking mechanism for inserting and removing a tip of a pin member into and from a gear groove of a locking adjustment gear, which is one of the plurality of adjustment gears, the locking mechanism includes a cylindrical guide member fixed in a horizontal position, the pin member slidably inserted into the guide member, a biasing member that biases the pin member toward the locking adjustment gear, and an operating means that switches the position of the pin member in the biasing direction of the biasing member between a lock position and an unlock position, The guide member has a thread on its outer periphery, which threads into a tapped mounting hole in a bracket fixed to the base plate, and is fastened and fixed by a nut.

2. 2. The work stocker according to claim 1, wherein the operating means of the locking mechanism is formed by forming an operating lever at the rear end of the pin member perpendicular to the center line, and forming grooves of different depths at the end of the guide member into which the operating lever fits.

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