Untitled record

The invention relates to a workpiece conveyor system with receptacles for the orderly storage of several workpieces, for providing and supplying workpieces to one of a gripper od. Like., Which supplies at least one workpiece of a machine tool, reachable point or for receiving and discharging at least one of a gripper od. Like. from a machine tool removed workpiece at the depositing point of the gripper, wherein the images relative to the machine tool according to the working cycle the latter are gradually movable by a conveyor (Werkstattstechnik and Maschinenbau, 1957, H. 9, p 481, Figure 116).

In the filling and packaging technology, devices for the automatic filling of boxes or trays or of containers arranged in or on them are known (US Pat. Nos. 859,772, 2,821,825, German Patent 878,019).

In these facilities, the boxes or trays are gradually moved to the filling point, filled boxes or trays are removed, unfilled abandoned. In a device or a method, which preferably serve the manufacture of boxes and filling them with cigarettes, similar conditions are present (German Patent 526453). Again, crate-like containers are first filled into boxes with cartons and the container is then conveyed to a cigarette filling machine. The stack of boxes are removed from the container one after the other and the individual boxes are filled. In all the above-mentioned cases, the stepping stroke which box, container or tray makes against the filling device is determined by the packaging or filling machine.

In connection with machine tools, automatically operating devices for loading and unloading of the workpieces to be machined are increasingly being used today. Such loading means consist essentially of an automatically operating gripper or similar loading mechanism which removes a workpiece from a feeder and places in the clamping device of the machine, as well as from the feeder, which presents the inserting mechanism one workpiece after another in a specific position. The processed workpieces are brought into a discharge device in a corresponding manner by a removal mechanism or simply ejected.

As feeder or Discharge devices for loading devices on processing machines are used depending on the shape of the workpieces: guide rails or gutters, which feed the workpieces mostly by their own weight to the loading mechanism; Belt or chain conveyor, which either continuously deliver the workpieces without special recordings to the loading mechanism, whereby the positional orientation of the workpieces at the transfer point, or provided with recordings for the orderly storage of the workpieces and these in fixed cycle steps according to the working cycle of the machine the loading mechanism respectively; Stepping bars, which are provided with receptacles for the orderly storage of workpieces and these at specified intervals, according to the working cycle of the machine, the inserting mechanism, or other, designed according to the workpiece shape magazines.

All these facilities are permanently assigned to the processing machine in question, and as far as they are provided with recordings for the orderly storage of workpieces, these recordings of the respective device are permanently assigned.

The ability to replace the shots for differently shaped workpieces, is irrelevant in this context. In these devices, the workpieces must be given to the respective machine tool of the feeder by hand, as far as it is not pourable parts simple form such. B. rivets, screws or bolts that od by vibrators. Ä. Can be promoted. Likewise, the workpieces of the discharge must be removed again, as far as you can not eject them. In mass production, this need is avoided by setting up the machine tools mostly in the order of processing a workpiece and linking them so that the discharge device of one machine cooperates with the feed device of the following.

In a very large area of ​​production, however, parts are processed whose number does not allow the installation of machine tools in the order of manufacture of a workpiece due to low utilization and which can not be abandoned as bulk material. The workpieces are here using transport aids, such. As boxes or pallets, brought from one machine tool or machine group to another. There they are removed from the transport aid by hand and placed in the same when using a machine with automatic charging device in the same. After completion of processing, they are removed from the discharge of the machine, placed in transport aids and z. B. transported by forklift trucks to the next processing machine. In this area of ​​production, therefore, work is carried out in the manner described above with the supply and discharge devices known today.

The invention has for its object to ensure that workpieces that usually have to go through a whole series of different processing stations on their way through a machine tool equipped with manufacturing equipment, no longer need to be individually detected by hand.

This object can be achieved if machine tools are used, which are equipped with gripping devices for detecting the workpieces and moving them to the processing point or from the processing point to a deposit, and if instead of the known supply and discharge means for providing or Receiving the workpieces a workpiece handling system with respect to the machine tool according to the working cycle the latter is gradually movable by a conveyor recordings for the orderly storage of several workpieces is used, which is characterized in that several receptacles for the workpieces, similar to the filling of containers in the packaging industry . grouped together on a removable from the step-by-step conveyor support unit provided and the conveying steps of the conveyor in their stroke length according to the distances of the recordings or

Workpieces are controllable. The removable support units are at the beginning of the passage through the production z. B. loaded with workpiece blanks and transported according to the intended processing sequence to the various processing stations, where they are applied to the associated conveyor. The workpieces located on the support unit are automatically fed by the workpiece conveyor of the gripping device of the machine tool and resumed after processing. After completed processing of all workpieces a support unit it is removed from the conveyor and transported to the conveyor of the next processing station. The workpiece conveyor system thus serves the provision and feeding of workpieces or the reception and removal of workpieces for automatic gripping devices on machine tools. The detachable carrying units serve as transport aids for in-plant transport instead of boxes or pallets.

Although the recordings for the workpieces can be fixed to the support units, it is advisable to reduce the storage of such support units, releasably arrange these recordings, so that you can provide in a relatively short time any support unit with recordings for differently shaped workpieces.

Since the workpiece support units are needed in larger numbers piece, it is advantageous for their simpler design to arrange them on a relative to the machine tool slidably guided and provided with centerings for the support unit pedestal. In this case, the guide elements for the conveying movement are arranged on the always remaining in the conveyor subset, and the removable support unit can be made cheaper, especially with regard to their role as a transport aid for the workpieces.

It is also expedient, the workpiece conveyor system in such a way that the altitude of the support unit and the associated subset can be adjusted relatively nir machine tool or its gripping device.

The invention will be explained schematically with reference to several embodiments below. 1 shows a front view of a machine tool with gripping device, which feed workpieces arranged on inventively designed carrying units of the machine tool and deposit them on another carrying unit, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III of FIG. 1, Figure 4 is a front view of a arranged on a movable base support unit with workpieces, F i g. 5 is a side view of the Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 4, F i g. 7 the carrying unit in fully loaded condition in side view, F i g. 8th a plan view of a support unit on which workpieces are arranged parallel to each other and aligned in a plurality of rows side by side with means that allow a successive processing of the arranged in rows workpieces, F i g. 9 position elements for fixing the position of a support unit on the displaceably guided subset on the example of a lockable in an index plate index pin, in the unlocked state, Fig. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9, Fig. 11 Index pin and index plate from F i g. 9, but in the locked state, Fig. 12 is a plan view of FIG. 11th

In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, it is assumed that a lathe 1 is provided as a machine tool. In the case of this exemplary embodiment, the machine tool is assigned two gripping devices 2 and 3 which can be displaced in a controlled manner along a traverse 4. On both sides of the lathe 1, two racks 5 and 6 are arranged which serve to guide one carrying unit 7 and 8, respectively. As a guide means for the support units 7 and 8 are prism guides 9, 10 and 11, 12 provided, which of course od by other guide means, such as rollers and rails. Like. Can be replaced. Each support unit has releasably arranged receptacles 13, 14 and 15, 16, which are also associated with releasable limiting rails 17, 18 and 19, 20, which prevent a displacement of the workpieces 21 in the direction of their longitudinal axes. Each frame 5 or 6 is assigned a control device 22 or 23.

The control device 22 has the task, after removal of a lying in their effective range workpiece, the support unit 7 to move so that the next workpiece comes into the provisioning position. The control device 23 has the task. to ensure that the support unit 8 is moved after placing a workpiece on it in a position in which the next workpiece can be stored on the support unit. While the control device 22 is shown as a kind of scanning device which causes switching operations by engagement with the workpiece, the control device 23 scans marks 24 on the support unit 8. Of course, the control device 22 and the support unit 8 and the control device 23 and the support unit 7 are assigned; how these control devices are designed is indifferent in itself.

Drive means for moving the carrying units are indicated by the parts 25 and 26.

If the frame 5 is assigned a support unit equipped, for example, with six workpieces 21, for example with a forklift placed on the frame 5, then the first workpiece runs on the control device 22, this actuates the gripping device 3, ie, it detects the first workpiece 21, raise it in the sense of arrow 27 and move it in the direction of arrow 28 to the position in which in fig. 1, the gripping device 2 is. The gripping device is then lowered and thus the workpiece 21 of the rotary kiln 1 is supplied. The gripping device then returns to its initial position on the support unit 7. The gripping device 2 was during this time on the not yet loaded support unit. 8 As the gripping device 3 was moved counter to the direction of the arrow 28, the gripping device 2 is moved over the lathe 1 and the actual gripper lowered, and the workpiece clamped in the lathe is finished. The gripping device 2 then detects the workpiece, lifts it and drives it over the support unit 8 and puts it on this. During this transverse movement of the gripping device 2, the gripping device 3 detects the next workpiece 21, which was provided by moving the support unit 7 in the direction of the arrow 29. The support unit thus carries out a step, which is equal to the distance between the longitudinal axes of two adjacent workpieces. The detected workpiece is then, as previously explained, supplied to the lathe and also stored after completed Abeitsgang on the support unit 8, which has now also, for example in the direction of arrow 30, moved by one step, which corresponds to the distance, always between two must be present adjacent workpieces.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 - for the sake of clarity, the delimiting strip 20 has been removed - each receptacle 13, 14 or 15, 16 has cutouts 31 into which the workpieces 21 are inserted.

Of course, you can assign a machine tool, such as the lathe 1, even a frame 5 and remove from a arranged on this frame support unit a workpiece, perform the lathe and then put back on the support unit in the same place and only then the support unit to a Move step, if you care about saving on racks.

The arrangement of only one frame next to a machine tool is recommended when the contour shapes of the machined workpiece correspond approximately to those of the not yet machined workpiece. If a machine tool assigned two racks, then the shots of these racks associated carrying units are to be designed according to the shape of the workpiece.

If pallet-like parts are used as carrying units, then it is advisable to assign the machine tool racks 5 or 6, on each of which a pedestal 32 is slidably guided. Such a pedestal has means which allow the same or similar support units 33 to be held in respectively congruent positions so that a support unit 33 with its pedestal 32 performs the same movements. These support units 33 have recesses 31 provided with receptacles 34 and 35 and boundary strips 36 and 37. In the case of the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 6 it is assumed that the movement of the pedestal 32 is effected by a stepper drive, which is designed here as a pawl drive 38. A pawl 39 cooperates with teeth 40 fixed to the pedestal 32; the pawl is moved by means of a guided in a cylinder 41 piston 42, which executes a stroke of the length h. As a result, the base 32 is also moved by this stroke h, which corresponds to the distance between the longitudinal axes of two on the receptacles 34 and 35 juxtaposed workpieces 21. Of course, you can also use any other drive device that causes this stepwise movement of the pedestal. The stroke length is adjustable because it changes according to the workpiece shape dependent distance of stored workpieces.

If the size of the workpieces 21 or the size of the carrying units 43 to be used permits the arrangement of the receivers 44, 45 and boundary strips 46, 47 in several rows next to one another, as shown in FIG. 8, then the carrying unit or the pedestal is guided, on which the support unit is releasably secured in a certain position, both in the direction of the rows of workpieces as well as in the direction in which the rows of workpieces are arranged side by side. In Figure 8, for example, seven workpieces in a row and three rows of workpieces are arranged side by side in parallel. The support units or the subset with the support unit is, for example, by a step drive in the direction of the arrow 48 by Wegbeträgek, which correspond to the distance of the workpieces in a row moves.

As a result, the workpieces 21 of the left row on the support unit are brought one after another, for example, into the removal position of a gripper. The carrying unit is in F i g. 8 drawn in a position in which the four dot-dash subscribed workpieces of the left row are already processed and the fifth workpiece of this series is in the removal position. Are all workpieces of this series processed, then the support unit or the pedestal with the support unit by another stepper drive in the direction of the arrow 49 by the Wegbetragl, which corresponds to the distance of the rows of workpieces from each other moves. The support unit or the pedestal with the support unit moves against the direction of the arrow 48 in the starting position and then again performs movements in the direction of the arrow 48 by Wegbeträge k, so that successively the workpieces of the middle row are presented to the gripper. After all workpieces of the middle row are processed. in turn, a movement step of size l in the direction of arrow 49, also goes the support unit or the subset with the support unit against the direction of the arrow48 back to its original position and then performs again step movements of the size k in the direction of arrow 48 to now the workpieces of the right Row successively feed the gripper. The two stepper drives are in F i g. 8th shown as pawls drives, consisting of the racks 50 and 51, the lifting cylinders 52 and 53 and the piston rods with pawl 54 and 55th

For the determination of the position of the support unit on the pedestal position elements can be used, as shown for example in Fig. 9 to 12. The pedestal has, for example, three abge-Licher index pins 56 which are rotatable about its axis. At the bottom of the support unit index plates 57 are arranged in a corresponding manner, in which can be easily inserted in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 when placing the support unit on the pedestal the index pin. Twist the index pins by 900 as in Fig. 11 and 12, the support unit is secured against displacement in the direction of the double arrow 58 and against lifting. Assigning now a pair of position elements, consisting of index pin and index plate, so that the direction 58, in the locked state, a displacement is prevented, is perpendicular to the corresponding direction of the other two pairs of position element, the support unit is in position on the pedestal perfect certainly. Of course, there are many other forms of positional elements that can be used for the same purpose.