Processing System

Abstract

To provide a processing system that can be installed in a smaller space and also enables operation of transferring a work-piece by a transfer device to be synchronized with operation of processing the work-piece by a processing device accurately and appropriately.SOLUTION: The processing system is provided with: a transfer device 2 that carries and carries out a work-piece W in and from placing means 1; a rack-and-pinion mechanism that moves the transfer device 2 between a carry-in position and a carry-out position; and a processing device 3 having a processing head 3a that can cut the work-piece W placed on a processing region of the placing means 1. The processing device 3 can be moved by the rack-and-pinion mechanism. The processing device 3 is moved by the rack-and-pinion mechanism to move the processing head 3a in the same direction, so as to process the work-piece W in the processing region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining system having a mounting section for loading and unloading a workpiece onto and from the mounting section, and a machining device for machining the workpiece placed on the mounting section. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, an NC processing device has a processing device with a processing head for performing a predetermined processing on a workpiece (material), and a mounting section on which the workpiece can be placed.After the workpiece is positioned and fixed on the mounting section using a clamping means or the like, the processing head of the processing device is moved in the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions, and cutting processing is performed on the workpiece using a cutting tool attached to the processing head.

[0003] In addition, a jig that holds the workpiece while positioning it is placed on the placement section, and the processing device performs the desired processing on the workpiece positioned and fixed in the processing area of ​​the placement section by the jig. Furthermore, processing systems have become widespread in which a transfer device such as an articulated robot is installed and the transfer device and NC processing device are synchronized to load and unload the workpiece and process the workpiece in cooperation, thereby automating processing. Note that this prior art does not relate to an invention publicly known in the literature, so there is no prior art literature information to be mentioned. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional processing systems, the transfer device that transfers the workpiece and the processing device that processes the workpiece were installed separately and independently, which required a relatively large installation space and made it difficult to accurately and effectively synchronize the workpiece transfer operation by the transfer device with the workpiece processing operation by the processing device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a processing system that can reduce the installation space and can accurately and effectively synchronize the workpiece transfer operation by the transfer device and the workpiece processing operation by the processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention of claim 1 is a system including a placement means on which a workpiece can be placed, a system for carrying the workpiece into and out of the placement means, and a system between a carry-in position where the workpiece is carried into the placement means and a carry-out position where the workpiece is carried out from the placement means. in the X-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the mounting means. a movable transfer device, and a transfer device between the loading position and the unloading position; In the X-axis direction, a processing system including a moving means for moving the workpiece and a processing device having a processing head capable of cutting the workpiece placed in the processing area of ​​the placing means, wherein the processing device is moved by the moving means In the X-axis direction The processing device is movable, and the processing head is moved by the moving means. The X axis The workpiece in the processing area is processed by moving the workpiece in a direction.

[0007] The invention of claim 2 is the processing system of claim 1, wherein the processing device moves the processing head relative to the processing area. The directions are perpendicular to the X-axis direction. The processing device is movable in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and the processing head is moved by the moving means. The aforementioned It is characterized by being moved in the X-axis direction.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the processing system described in claim 1, the moving means comprises a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack extended to the placement means and pinions formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively.

[0009] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the processing system of claim 1, the moving means comprises a ball screw mechanism having a ball screw extended to the placement means and nuts formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively.

[0010] The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in the processing system described in claim 4, the ball screw mechanism enables the processing device and transfer device to be moved by rotating the nut relative to the ball screw, which is in a fixed state.

[0011] The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that, in the processing system described in claim 1, the transfer devices are arranged in plurality on the placement means, and when the workpiece is transferred, they are positioned at a distance from each other according to the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece, and when processing is performed by the processing device, they are positioned close to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the invention of claim 1, the processing device is movable by the moving means, and the processing head is moved by the moving means. X axis Since the workpiece in the processing area is processed by moving it in a direction, the components of the moving means can be shared, the installation space can be reduced, and the workpiece transfer operation by the transfer device and the workpiece processing operation by the processing device can be synchronized accurately and well.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 2, the processing device is capable of moving the processing head in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction relative to the processing area, and the processing device moves the processing head in the X-axis direction by moving it using the moving means, so the movement of the processing head in the X-axis direction can be performed by moving the processing device using the moving means, and the configuration of the processing device can be simplified.

[0014] According to the invention of claim 3, the moving means comprises a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack extended from the loading means and pinions formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively, so that the rack and pinion mechanism can smoothly move the processing device and the transfer device.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 4, the moving means comprises a ball screw mechanism having a ball screw extended to the loading means and nuts formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively, so that the ball screw mechanism can smoothly move the processing device and the transfer device.

[0016] According to the invention of claim 5, the ball screw mechanism enables the processing device and the transfer device to be moved by rotating the nut relative to the fixed ball screw, so that the nuts of the processing device and the transfer device can be rotated independently, and the processing device and the transfer device can be moved separately and independently.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 6, the transfer devices are arranged in multiple units on the loading means, and when transferring the workpiece, they are positioned at a distance from each other according to the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece, and when processing is performed by the processing device, they are positioned close to each other, so that the transfer devices can be retracted compactly when processing is performed by the processing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the processing system from the rear side. [Figure 3] Plan view showing the processing system [Figure 4] Rear view of the processing system [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a transfer device in the processing system. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a transfer device in the processing system. [Figure 7]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a processing device on the processing table. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a processing device in the processing system. [Figure 9] Schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the processing device and the transfer device in the processing system (when the transfer device is loading or unloading the workpiece) [Figure 10] Schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the processing device and the transfer device in the processing system (when the processing device is processing a workpiece) [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing a processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a processing system according to still another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a transfer device in the processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The processing system of this embodiment is capable of cutting a workpiece with a desired processing tool (cutting tool), and as shown in Figures 1 to 4, is configured with a box-shaped loading means 1, a transfer device 2 consisting of an articulated robot, a processing device 3 consisting of an NC (Numeric Control milling) device, and a moving means consisting of a rack 4 and pinion 5.

[0020] The placement means 1 is capable of placing a workpiece W (raw material) carried in by the transfer device 2, and is equipped with a plurality of clamping devices 11 in the longitudinal direction. The workpiece W is made of a long metal member, and is carried into a processing position within the placement means 1 by the transfer device 2, fixed by the clamping devices 11, and then can be subjected to any desired cutting processing by the processing device 3. In addition, the placement means 1 according to this embodiment is respectively equipped with a rack 4 and a pair of upper and lower guide rails 6 along its longitudinal direction, and the transfer device 2 and processing device 3 are movably attached via the rack 4. The rack 4 is formed with teeth that mesh with the pinions 5 and 8.

[0021] The transfer device 2 loads and unloads the workpiece W onto and from the placement means 1, and is movable between a load-in position where the workpiece W is loaded onto the placement means 1 and an unload position where the workpiece W is unloaded from the placement means 1. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the transfer device 2 according to this embodiment is made up of an articulated robot having a robot section 2a and a clamping section 2b attached to a mounting base D1, and the robot section 2a and the clamping section 2b operate based on pre-stored data to clamp and transport the workpiece W, enabling it to be loaded onto and unloaded from the placement means 1.

[0022] Furthermore, mounted on the mounting base D1 are a pinion 5 that is assembled to mesh with a rack 4 formed on the mounting means 1, and a guide portion 7 that is fitted into a guide rail 6 formed on the mounting means 1 and is capable of sliding. The pinion 5 can be rotated by a motor (not shown) attached to the mounting base D1, and the pinion 5 and rack 4 form a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

[0023] The moving means is made up of a rack and pinion mechanism and is configured to move the transfer device 2 between a carry-in position and a carry-out position. That is, by driving the pinion 5 in a predetermined direction for a predetermined number of rotations based on pre-stored data, the mounting base D1 moves in the X-axis direction of the mounting means 1, and the transfer device 2 can be moved between the carry-in position and the carry-out position at any timing.

[0024] Furthermore, the guide rail 6 and the guide part 7 constitute an LM guide, and when the mounting base D1 moves in accordance with the rotational drive of the pinion 5, the guide part 7 slides while fitting onto the guide rail 6, thereby smoothly guiding the transfer device 2 in the X direction. Note that, in addition to the guide part 7 fitted into the guide rail 6 attached to the back surface of the mounting means 1, the mounting base D1 according to this embodiment is also fitted with a guide part J fitted into a separate guide rail R (see FIG. 2) formed on the upper surface of the mounting means 1, and is configured so that when the mounting base D1 moves in accordance with the rotational drive of the pinion 5, it is also guided by the guide part J.

[0025] The processing device 3 is an automatic cutting machine that can be numerically controlled based on a control program obtained from product data such as CAD data, and is capable of cutting a workpiece W placed in the processing area of ​​the loading means 1. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the processing device 3 is configured to have a processing head 3a to which any cutting tool T such as a drill can be attached, a main body 3b to which the processing head 3a is attached, and a tool stock section 10 that holds multiple types of cutting tools.

[0026] The machining head 3a is disposed on the main body 3b and is movable in the Z-axis direction based on a control program. The main body 3b is disposed on a mounting base D2 and is movable in the Y-axis direction based on a control program. Therefore, the machining head 3a is movable in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction relative to the mounting base D2 based on the control program, and the cutting tool T attached to the machining head 3a is movable in the same directions (i.e., the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction).

[0027] Furthermore, the mounting base D2 is fitted with a pinion 8 that is assembled to mesh with a rack 4 formed on the mounting means 1, and a guide portion 9 that is fitted with a guide rail 6 formed on the mounting means 1 and is slidable. The pinion 8 can be rotated by a motor (not shown) attached to the mounting base D2, and the pinion 8 and rack 4 form a rack-and-pinion mechanism.

[0028] Here, the processing device 3 according to this embodiment is movable by a moving means consisting of a rack and pinion mechanism, and is configured so that the processing device 3 is moved by the moving means to move the processing head 3a in the same direction to process the workpiece W in the processing area. That is, the processing device 3 according to this embodiment is configured so that the processing head 3a can be moved in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction relative to the processing area, and the processing device 3 is moved by the moving means to move the processing head 3a in the X-axis direction, thereby moving the cutting tool T three-dimensionally based on the control program to perform cutting processing.

[0029] Therefore, the rack 4, which is the moving means of the transfer device 2, can be used in common to move the processing device 3, and a separate drive mechanism for moving the processing device 3 in the X-axis direction is not required. In this embodiment, a tool stock unit 10 is attached to the processing head 3a to form a so-called tool changer, and the cutting tool T can be replaced at any time.

[0030] Furthermore, the guide rail 6 and the guide part 9 constitute an LM guide, and when the mounting base D2 moves in accordance with the rotational drive of the pinion 8, the guide part 9 slides while fitting onto the guide rail 6, thereby smoothly guiding the processing device 3 in the X direction. Note that, in addition to the guide part 9 fitted into the guide rail 6 attached to the back surface of the mounting means 1, the mounting base D2 according to this embodiment is also fitted with a guide part H fitted into a separate guide rail R (see FIG. 2) formed on the upper surface of the mounting means 1, and is configured so that when the mounting base D2 moves in accordance with the rotational drive of the pinion 8, it is also guided by the guide part H.

[0031] Furthermore, the processing system according to the above embodiment is configured such that a plurality of transfer devices 2 are arranged on the placement means 1, and when transferring the workpiece W, the transfer devices 2 are spaced apart from one another in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece W, and when processing is performed by the processing device 3, the transfer devices 2 are spaced apart from one another. For example, when the workpiece W is carried into the processing area, as shown in FIG. 9, the processing device 3 is positioned in the retreat area (the area in the left corner of the figure), and the transfer devices 2 are positioned so as to be spaced apart from one another in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece W, and the workpiece W is carried into the placement means 1.

[0032] 10, the transfer device 2 moves to the retreat area (the area in the right corner of the figure), and the processing device 3 moves to the processing area and performs the desired cutting processing with the cutting tool T. At this time, the transfer devices 2 located in the retreat area are arranged close to each other, which makes it possible to reduce the area they occupy and to reliably avoid interference with the processing device 3 performing the cutting processing. When the processing by the processing device 3 is completed, as shown in FIG. 9, the processing device 3 moves again to the retreat area, and the transfer device 2 moves so that the workpiece W can be carried out from the processing area.

[0033] According to the above embodiment, the processing device 3 is movable by a moving means (rack and pinion mechanism), and as the processing device 3 moves by the moving means, the processing head 3a is moved in the same direction (X-axis direction) to process the workpiece W in the processing area, so that the components of the moving means (rack 4 in this embodiment) can be shared, the installation space can be reduced, and the transfer operation of the workpiece W by the transfer device 2 and the processing operation of the workpiece W by the processing device 3 can be synchronized accurately and well.

[0034] Furthermore, the processing device 3 according to this embodiment is capable of moving the processing head 3a in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction relative to the processing area, and the processing device 3 moves the processing head 3a in the X-axis direction by moving using a moving means (rack and pinion mechanism). Therefore, the movement of the processing head 3a in the X-axis direction can be performed by moving the processing device 3 using the moving means, and the configuration of the processing device 3 can be simplified.

[0035] Furthermore, the moving means in this embodiment consists of a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack 4 extended from the loading means 1 and pinions (5, 8) formed on the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2, respectively, so that the rack and pinion mechanism can allow smooth movement of the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2.

[0036] Furthermore, a plurality of transfer devices 2 according to this embodiment are arranged on the mounting means 1, and when transferring the workpiece W, they are spaced apart from one another in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece W, and when processing is performed by the processing device 3, they are arranged close to one another, so that the transfer devices 2 can be retracted compactly during processing by the processing device 3. Note that, in this embodiment, two transfer devices 2 are arranged, but three or more transfer devices 2 or a single transfer device may be arranged on the mounting means 1.

[0037] Next, a processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The machining system according to this embodiment, like the previous embodiment, is capable of cutting a workpiece with a desired machining tool (cutting tool), and is configured to include a box-shaped mounting means 1, a transfer device 2 consisting of an articulated robot, a machining device 3 consisting of an NC (Numeric Control Milling) device, and a moving means consisting of a ball screw 12 and nuts (13, 14), as shown in Fig. 11. Note that the same components as those in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0038] The placement means 1 according to this embodiment has a ball screw 12 and a pair of upper and lower guide rails 6 attached along its longitudinal direction, and the transfer device 2 and the processing device 3 are movably attached via the ball screw 12. The ball screw 12 has male threads formed thereon that screw into nuts 13 attached to the mounting base D1 and nuts 14 attached to the mounting base D2, respectively.

[0039] Furthermore, the nuts (13, 14) according to this embodiment can be rotated by motors (not shown) arranged on the mounting bases D1, D2, respectively, and these nuts (13, 14) can be rotated independently to move the transfer device 2 and the processing device 3 based on a control program. That is, the moving means according to this embodiment is composed of a ball screw mechanism having a ball screw 12 extended to the mounting means 1 and nuts (13, 14) formed on the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2, respectively, and the ball screw mechanism can move the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2 by rotating the nuts (13, 14) relative to the ball screw 12 in a fixed state.

[0040] According to this embodiment, the moving means is composed of a ball screw mechanism having a ball screw 12 extended from the mounting means 1 and nuts (13, 14) formed on the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2, respectively, so that the ball screw mechanism can smoothly move the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2. Furthermore, the ball screw mechanism makes it possible to move the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2 by rotationally driving the nuts (13, 14) relative to the fixed ball screw 12, so that the nuts (13, 14) of the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2 can be rotationally driven independently, and the processing device 3 and the transfer device 2 can be moved separately and independently.

[0041] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transfer device is not limited to an articulated robot, but may be any device that can load and unload the workpiece W onto and from the loading means 1 and that can move between a load position where the workpiece W is loaded onto the loading means 1 and a load position where the workpiece W is unloaded from the loading means 1, and may be, for example, a transfer device 15 as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

[0042] Such a transfer device 15 consists of a loader / unloader attached to a mounting base D1, and as shown in Figure 13, is configured with a main body 15a arranged on the mounting base D1, a sliding portion 15b that can slide relative to the main body 15a, and a clamping portion 15c formed at the tip of the sliding portion 15b, and is capable of clamping the workpiece W with the clamping portion 15c moved by the sliding portion 15b and transporting it to any position. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] As long as the machining system has the same gist as this embodiment, it may be applied to a machining system with a different external shape or one with other functions added. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1. Mounting means 2 Transfer device (articulated robot) 2a Robot Club 2b Clamping part 3 Processing equipment (NC processing equipment) 3a Processing head 3b Main body 4 racks 5 Pinion 6 guide rails 7 Information Department 8 Pinion 9 Information Department 10 Tool Stock Section 11 Clamping device 12 Ball screw 13, 14 Nut 15 Transfer device (loader / unloader) D1, D2 mounting base T cutting tool H, J Information Department R guide rail

Claims

1. a placement means on which a workpiece can be placed; a transfer device that carries the workpiece into and out of the placement means and is movable in an X-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the placement means, between a carry-in position where the workpiece is carried into the placement means and a carry-out position where the workpiece is carried out from the placement means; a moving means for moving the transfer device in the X-axis direction, which is a direction between the loading position and the unloading position; a processing device having a processing head capable of cutting the workpiece placed in the processing area of ​​the placement means; A processing system comprising: The processing system is characterized in that the processing device is movable in the X-axis direction by the moving means, and the processing device is moved by the moving means to move the processing head in the X-axis direction and process the workpiece in the processing area.

2. The processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing device is capable of moving the processing head relative to the processing area in Y-axis and Z-axis directions, which are directions perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and the processing device is moved by the moving means to move the processing head in the X-axis direction.

3. 2. The processing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack extending from the placing means and pinions formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively.

4. 2. The processing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises a ball screw mechanism having a ball screw extending to the placing means and nuts formed on the processing device and the transfer device, respectively.

5. 5. The processing system according to claim 4, wherein the ball screw mechanism rotates the nut relative to the ball screw, which is fixed, to thereby move the processing device and the transfer device.

6. The processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device is arranged in plurality on the placement means, and when transferring the workpiece, the transfer devices are arranged at a distance from each other according to the longitudinal dimension of the workpiece, and when processing is performed by the processing device, the transfer devices are arranged close to each other.

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