Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Unstacking apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-21
2001-01-30
Hess, Douglas (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Unstacking apparatus
C414S222110, C414S797000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179549
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a loading and unloading device for sheet metals and relates, more particularly, to a loading and unloading device for sheet metals for automatically loading and unloading sheet metals to and from a sheet metal working machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a related art, there exists a sheet metals loading and unloading device for loading sheet metals to be worked to and unloading worked sheet metals from a turret punch press respectively, for example, as a sheet metal working machine.
This loading and unloading device for sheet metals includes a vacuum chucking unit for lifting a sheet metal by vacuum-chucking the sheet metal corresponding to a position of a movable table of a turret punch press, a loading unit for moving the vacuum chucking unit which has vacuum-chucked the sheet metal to the turret punch press, and an unloader for carrying worked sheet metal from the turret punch press.
At a lower side of the vacuum chucking unit, a pallet for a sheet metal to be worked loaded with a sheet metal to be worked is set, and a pallet for a worked sheet metal for loading a worked sheet metal is mounted on a lifter at a lower side of this vacuum chucking unit.
A supporting table is provided at a height position almost at the same height position as the movable table which is at a lower position of the vacuum chucking unit. This supporting table is capable of freely moving in both lateral directions from a lateral position of the movable table. Particularly, the supporting table can move in a direction orthogonal with a direction of loading and unloading a sheet metal to be worked to and from the turret punch press.
Based on the above-described structure, the vacuum chucking unit lifts a sheet metal loaded on the pallet for a sheet metal to be worked, in the state that the supporting table is moved back to a neutral position for loading and unloading a sheet metal to be worked from the turret punch press. The supporting table is returned to the neutral position to support the vacuum-chucked sheet metal, and the vacuum-chucked sheet metal is carried to the turret punch press by the loading unit.
Further, a worked sheet metal W is carried to the unloader and then the worked sheet metal W is unclamped and loaded on the supporting table. The supporting table is moved back again to move the worked sheet metal. The worked sheet metal is clamped by supporting clampers, the supporting table is advanced, and then the worked sheet metals are separated into individual worked sheet metals by a separation hammer. The separated individual worked sheet metals are dropped and loaded on the pallet for worked sheet metals.
According to the above-described relevant art, however, there is a problem that the loading unit itself has an increased weight which results in a high cost. Further, since the positions for carrying out the vacuum chucking of a sheet metal and the position for loading the sheet metal are the same, there is a problem that the sheet metal working machine has to stop its operation during a period while a next sheet metal is being vacuum-chucked after one sheet metal has been loaded to the sheet metal working machine, in order to avoid an interruption of the sheet metal being worked with the vacuum chucking unit.
Further, when the sheet metal working machine is to be used as a single unit, there is a problem that either the loading unit for sheet metals must be moved or the work must be done from an unnatural position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved with such points in mind.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a loading and unloading device for sheet metals which can carry out loading and unloading sheet metals with a simple and low-cost device and which can prepare loading sheet metals without interrupting the working.
To achieve the object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a loading and unloading device for sheet metals to and from a sheet metal working machine, comprising: a chucking unit lifting a sheet metal by chucking the sheet metal; a loading and unloading clamping unit disposed adjacent to the chucking unit, the loading and unloading clamping unit moving in a direction of approaching to and leaving from the sheet metal working machine; and a sheet metal carrying unit carrying the sheet metal lifted by the chucking unit to the position of the loading and unloading clamping unit.
Accordingly, a first one top sheet metal out of loaded sheet metals is lifted by chucking this sheet metal by the chucking unit as a vacuum chucking unit, and this vacuum-chucked sheet metal to be worked is carried to the loading and unloading clamping unit provided adjacent to the vacuum chucking unit by the sheet metal carrying unit. This loading and unloading clamping unit loads and unloads sheet metals carried by the sheet metal carrying unit to and from the sheet metal working machine. Since the vacuum-chucked sheet metal to be worked is carried to the loading and unloading clamping unit provided adjacent to the vacuum chucking unit by the sheet metal carrying unit, the position for vacuum-chucking one sheet metal and the position for loading and unloading the sheet metal to and from the sheet metal working machine are different. Accordingly, it is possible to carry out vacuum chucking of one sheet metal without interrupting the working of a sheet metal during the working, so that the working efficiency can be improved. Further, since the device can be simplified, the cost of the device can be lowered.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, as it depends from the first aspect, the sheet metal carrying unit comprises a supporting table moving between a position corresponding to the chucking unit and a position corresponding to the loading and unloading clamping unit.
Accordingly, the sheet metal carrying unit can freely make a reciprocating move for supplying to the loading and unloading clamping unit the sheet metals loaded to the vacuum chucking unit by the supporting table. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a moving mechanism in the vacuum chucking unit. As a result, the overall structure of the device becomes simple, which enables a cost reduction of the device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, as it depends from the second aspect, the supporting table has a brush table; and the loading and unloading clamping unit has a lower jaw moving upwards and downwards.
Accordingly, the brush table supports sheet metals when the sheet metals are carried by being loaded on the brush table or when the sheet metals are loaded and unloaded to and from the sheet metal working machine by the loading and unloading clamping unit. Further, in the loading and unloading clamping unit, a sheet metal is set between an upper jaw and a lower jaw and the lower jaw is moved upwards to clamp the sheet metal in co-operation with the upper jaw. Therefore, the sheet metal can be supported without being hurt and the sheet metal can be moved on the upper surface of the brush table. Further, according to the loading and unloading clamping unit, since the sheet metal is set between the upper jaw and the lower jaw and the lower jaw is moved upwards to clamp the sheet metal in co-operation with the upper jaw, it becomes unnecessary to lift the clampers after clamping the sheet metal unlike the prior-art technique. As a result, the loading and unloading of sheet metals by the loading and unloading clamping unit becomes simple for an improved working efficiency.
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patent: 5728229 (199
Amada Metrecs Company, Ltd.
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
Hess Douglas
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