Parts classification unit

Details Parts classification unit Parts classification unit

1999-12-22

2002-08-20

Black, Thomas (Department: 2121)

Data processing: generic control systems or specific application

Specific application, apparatus or process

Product assembly or manufacturing

C700S182000, C700S192000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06438437

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a parts classification unit capable of absorbing, carrying and classifying parts made by machining a sheet workpiece in a laser beam machining equipment from a classification head to a pallet.
In a conventional laser beam machining equipment, an absorption carriage unit in which the parts made by cutting and machining a sheet workpiece are absorbed and carried, making use of vacuum pads is used. The cut machined sheet workpiece is once carried to the classification head, and the respective parts included in the sheet workpiece on the classification head are classified to a predetermined pallet, using the absorption carrier unit. Usually, the control information concerning the operation of the positioning of the absorption carrier unit at the time of absorbing and carrying is set by teaching.
But, since it is necessary to execute teaching in the above-mentioned conventional absorption carrier unit, the time necessary for classifying the parts is longer as much as the time for teaching.
Besides, in order to classify various shapes of parts on the pallet, it is necessary to determine the classification position for each shape of the parts on the pallet. In a conventional method, the classification position of each shape of the parts on the pallet is determined by actually locating these parts with hands, then this hands operation takes much time and much labor.
Besides, teaching is necessary every each parts of all of the parts concerning a plurality of parts included in one sheet workpiece loaded on the classification head even if these parts are the same shape of the parts, so much time is necessary.
Then, taking the above-mentioned circumstances into consideration, the object of the present invention is to provide a parts classification unit capable of extremely shortening the machining.classification operation time without teaching.
Preferably, adding to the above-mentioned object, the object of the present invention is to provide a parts classification unit capable of extremely shortening the classification operation time without locating actual parts on the pallet with hands, that is, without much labor.
Besides, preferably, adding to the above-mentioned objects, the object of the present invention is to provide a parts classification unit capable of executing the operation concerning information setting of a unit in a short time and executing parts classification operation in a short time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the 1st proposal of the present invention is a parts classification unit for absorbing parts made by cutting and machining a sheet workpiece through absorbing means and carrying from a first position to a second position and classifying, said parts classification unit comprising:
a shape information storing portion for storing parts shape information of the parts to be classified and absorbing means shape information of said absorbing means;
an image display portion for displaying said parts and said absorbing means on the basis of said parts shape information and said absorbing means shape information stored in said shape information storing portion;
an absorbing position instructing means, capable of instructing absorbing position of said absorbing means with respect to the parts displayed on said image display portion, operable by an operator;
an absorbing means position computing portion for computing the absorbing position of said absorbing means with respect to said parts, instructed by said absorbing position instructing means, as absorbing means position information;
an absorbing means position information storing portion for storing the absorbing means position information computed by said absorbing means position computing portion;
a parts location information storing portion for storing location information in said first position with respect to said parts;
a classification information storing portion for storing classification information in said second position with respect to said parts; and
a program composing portion for composing and outputting an absorption carriage program with respect to said parts in such a manner that moving.positioning instruction of said absorbing means from said first position to said second position is composed on the basis of said absorbing means position information stored in said absorbing means position information storing portion, said location information stored in said parts location information storing portion and said classification information stored in said classification information storing portion.
With this structure, the parts and the absorbing means are displayed, the absorbing position of the absorbing means with respect to the parts is instructed by an operator watching this display through the absorbing position instructing means, then the instructed absorbing position is computed as absorbing means position information. That is, since the positioning information of the absorbing means with respect to the parts at the time of actual absorbing and carrying is computed on the basis of the operation by an operator according to the display and the moving.positioning command of the absorbing means is composed on the basis of the positioning information made in this way, it is not necessary to execute teaching using actual parts, different from a conventional way, and machining.classification operation time can be shortened more extremely. Besides, since teaching is not necessary, smooth classification operation is realized without operation interruption for teaching during classification operation.
Besides, the 2nd proposal of the present invention is the parts classification unit as set forth in the 1st proposal wherein a standard position is provided with said absorbing means, and said image display portion displays said parts and said absorbing means, corresponding a gravity position of said parts and said standard position of said absorbing means with each other.
That is, a standard position is provided with the absorbing means. This standard position is the rotational axis CT
1
which is the center of the suspension frame
35
suspending the four absorption head aggregates
550
through the arms
47
, and is the balance position of the absorbing means on a machine side (gravity or the position near this) in the present embodiment, for instance. And, since the image display portion displays the parts and the absorbing means, corresponding the gravity position of the parts and the standard position of the absorbing means (C-axis in the present embodiment) with each other, the absorbing means can be appropriately located with respect to the parts by designating the absorption position in the state an image is displayed by the image display portion. That is, the location of the actual absorbing means corresponding to this state is the location where the corresponding parts can be supported through the absorbing means with well balance. Since the appropriate designation of absorbing position can be easily executed in the state an image is displayed by the image display portion in the second proposal, the time and labor necessary for the designation of the absorbing position can be saved, and it's very convenient, in addition to the effects of the 1st proposal.
Besides, the 3rd proposal of the present invention is the parts classification unit as set forth in the 1st proposal wherein said image display portion displays said parts and said absorbing means on two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to a level movement direction of said absorbing means.
Then, since the parts and the absorbing means are displayed on the two-dimensional coordinates corresponding to the level movement direction of the absorbing means, the absorbing position of the absorbing means with respect to the parts can be designated by moving on the display by the moving pattern corresponding to the level moving direction of the actual absorbing means, in addition to the 1st proposal. So, an operator can correctly and easily grasp t

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