Metal working – Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for... – Binding or covering and cutting
Patent
1989-09-15
1991-01-22
Briggs, William
Metal working
Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for...
Binding or covering and cutting
1983461, 414224, 414730, B23Q 704
Patent
active
049859714
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a pallet changer.
BACKGROUND ART
A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) comprises a pallet changer and a machining center. The pallet changer has a workstation and a robot for transferring pallets.
In the workstation, a plurality of pallets each having a workpiece are arranged in an endless type transfer means. By operating the transfer means, the robot sequentially faces the pallets. In addition, the robot has a holder for detachably holding the pallet. The robot is fixed in a predetermined position.
As an example, a pallet facing a holder is held by the holder and then a workpiece and the pallet thereof are moved from the workstation to a table of the machining center. Also, after machining the workpiece, the workpiece and the pallet on the table of the machining center are moved back to the initial position in the workstation.
After that, when machining a workpiece next to the machined workpiece, a transfer means is operated in such a manner that the workpiece faces the robot. Similarly, the workpiece and the pallet for the workpiece are transferred to machine the workpiece.
In addition, when machining a workpiece remote from the previously machined workpiece, the transfer means is moved along a long distance and then the workpiece that is currently being machined faces the robot. Thus, the workpiece and the pallet for the workpiece are transferred by the robot to machine the workpiece.
Such a transfer means has a tendency to become large, because the number of workpieces to be set in the transfer means increases so as to automatically operate the workstation for a long time. Accordingly, when exchanging the workpiece and the pallet for the workpiece, a selected workpiece is moved to the robot by operating the large transfer means. Consequently the transfer time is long and the workpiece exchanging efficiency is low.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In order to solves these problems, the object of this invention is to provide a pallet changer in which a desired workpiece and a pallet for the workpiece can be efficiently exchanged and transferred.
The gist of this invention resides in a pallet changer comprising: a workstation for arranging a plurality of pallets each having a workpiece; holders for each detachably holding the pallet; and, a robot for transferring the pallets held by the holders from the workstation and then returning the pallets to the workstation, characterized in that the holders can be moved in the direction parallel to the arrangement of the plural pallets and the holders can be positioned to the desired pallet.
According to this invention, holders can be moved in the arrangement direction of plural pallets and quickly positioned to the desired pallet. Accordingly, it is not necessary to operate a transfer means of the workstation every time the workpiece and the pallet are exchanged. The pallets each having a desired workpiece can be efficiently exchanged and transferred.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 schematically shows a flexible manufacturing system including a pallet changer according to this invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the pallet changer and a machining center.
FIG. 3 is a top view showing the pallet changer and the machining center.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with revealing an interior structure of the pallet changer.
FIG. 5 is an end view taken along the M--M line.
FIG. 6 is a side view, revealing the pallets, the mounting members, and a chain.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a robot.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the robot with a partially cutaway portion.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the robot.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an arm.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing he robot directed to the mounting member positioned in an exchange position.
FIGS. 12 to 39 show the robot operation.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FMS
FIG. 1 shows a machining center 1 and a pallet changer 2. The pallet changer 2 has a workstation 20 and a robot 100. A flexible manufacturing system (FMS) comprises th
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Briggs William
Kitamura Machinery Co. Ltd.
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