JPH0739067B2 - Vacuum fixing device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vacuum fixing device for suction-fixing a workpiece having an arbitrary shape at a predetermined position by a vacuum force.

[Prior Art] With the trend toward FA in recent years, M /
The conversion of group C to FMS is underway. However, in the woodworking industry, although the processing machine itself is being converted to NC recently, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated jig for each processing item, and there are still problems with the old equipment and processing method. .

In the woodworking industry, a work piece is generally fixed to a bed of a machine tool by a vacuum suction device.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 100 is a table movably provided on a bed 101 of a machine tool. The inside of the table 100 is hollow and is connected to an external vacuum device via a hose 102. A large number of suction holes 103 are formed on the upper surface of the table 100 so that a work 104 placed on the table 100 can be fixed by suction. Work 104 on this table 100
In order to maintain the suction force, a jig plate 105 for closing the extra suction hole 103 at a position protruding from the outer shape of the work 104 is required in order to maintain the suction force. Also, as shown in the figure, it is a work such as the top plate of a table as furniture.
When machining the peripheral surface of 104, the cutter 106
0 or the jig plate 105
It is necessary to provide a jig frame 107, which is one size smaller than the outer shape, between the work 104 and the table 100.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the above-described vacuum suction device, a dedicated jig plate or jig frame that matches the shape of the workpiece is required for each processed item,
Therefore, there are the following problems.

(B) Since it is necessary to manufacture a dedicated jig each time a new product is released, the jigs cannot be shared.

(B) The number of jigs is large, and jig management is complicated and costly.

(C) It takes a long time for setup work such as jig preparation and jig set adjustment for each lot change. For this reason,
It was extremely difficult to perform unmanned operation or to carry several processing machines by one operator.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention provides a plurality of units provided on a table (6) of a processing machine (1) and provided with a vertically movable fixing unit (13) for sucking and fixing a placed work. In the vacuum fixing device, the vacuum fixing means and the control means for selectively activating the respective vacuum fixing means in accordance with the shape of the workpiece to be fixed are provided on the table (6). A closed cylinder (14), a piston (20) that moves up and down in the cylinder (14), a rod (21) standing on the piston (20), and a cylinder (14) of the rod (21). ) Is provided at the upper end of the cylinder (14), the air introduction path (17) is formed at the lower end of the cylinder (14), and the upper end of the cylinder (14) is provided. A passage (15) for introducing and discharging air is formed in the opening, and inside the rod (21) Rod (21) said passage (15) and vent the lower end opening communicates (22) is formed when the rose, vent pores (2
The upper end of 2) is the large diameter valve hole (23) above the rod (21).
A guide hole (26) communicating with the valve hole (23) and a guide hole (larger in diameter) than the guide hole (26) are opened in the fixed portion (13) connected to the upper end of the rod (21). A spring chamber (27) communicating with 26) and a hole (28) opening in the upper surface of the fixed portion (13) are formed in communication with each other, and the valve hole (23), the guide hole (26) and the spring chamber (27). ) Is provided with a dustproof valve (29) slidably up and down, and the dustproof valve (29) is provided between the flange (31) on the outer periphery of the upper end of the dustproof valve (29) and the step in the spring chamber (27). ) To close the hole (28), and the control means selects the vacuum fixing means located inside the outer shape of the workpiece to be fixed, and the selected vacuum fixing Air is sent from the introduction path (17) of the means to raise the fixing portion (13) of the vacuum fixing means, and the workpiece is sucked and held by the raised fixing portion (13) of the vacuum fixing means. It has a structure to have.

[Operation] The control means operates only the necessary vacuum fixing means according to the shape of the workpiece to be fixed. That is, only the vacuum fixing means located inside the outer shape of the work at the set position raises the fixing portion and sucks and fixes the work at the upper position.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a processing machine driven and controlled by an NC device 2 or the like. A plurality of heads 4 are provided in parallel on the column 3 of the processing machine 1 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction as shown in the figure. A table 6 to which the work W is fixed is provided on the bed 5 of the processing machine 1 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. And processing machine 1
An automatic loader 7 for transporting the work W is provided above
Is provided. The main body 8 of the autoloader 7 is a rail
The suction unit 8c of the main body 8 for fixing the work W is vertically movable along the planes 8a and 8b in two orthogonal directions in a plane. In the figure, 9 is a table on which the work W before processing is placed, and 10 is a table on which the work W after processing is placed.

Next, the vacuum fixing device 11, which is a main part of this embodiment, will be described. The vacuum fixing device 11 is the table 6 of the processing machine 1.
It is provided in. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (a), the table 6 has a box shape with an open upper surface. A large number of vacuum fixing cylinders 12 (hereinafter, referred to as cylinder devices 12) which are vacuum fixing means are provided on the bottom surface of the work W.
Are arranged regularly in the vertical and horizontal directions with the fixing portion 13 facing upward.

Next, the structure of the cylinder device 12 will be described with reference to FIG. Air is introduced into the upper end surface of the cylindrical cylinder 14.
A block 16 in which a passage 15 for discharging is formed is provided, and the passage 15 is connected and communicated with a suction means or the like such as a vacuum source which is not shown. A block 18 in which an air introduction path 17 is formed is provided on the lower end surface of the cylinder 14 and is connected and communicated with an air supply means (not shown). The lower block 18 is attached to the bottom surface 6a of the table 6 via a spacer 19 so that the axis of the cylinder 14 is perpendicular to the table 6. Next, a piston 20 is provided inside the cylinder 14 so as to be vertically slidable. The rod 21 provided on the upper surface of the piston 20 is hermetically inserted through the upper block 16, and the upper end thereof projects to the outside. A vent hole 22 is formed at the center of the rod 21, the lower end of which opens to the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the rod 21, and the upper end of which is a large-diameter valve hole formed at the upper end of the rod 21.
It opens at the bottom of 23. Next, the fixed portion 13 of the work W is attached to the upper end of the rod 21. Fixed part 13
Is composed of a cylindrical base portion 24 connected to the upper end of the rod 21 and a funnel-shaped pad portion 25 provided on the base portion 24 and having an upper surface opening. A guide hole 26 having the same diameter as the valve hole 23 of the rod 21 and communicating with the valve hole 23, and a spring chamber 27 having a larger diameter and communicating with the guide hole 26 are provided in the base portion 24. The spring chamber 27 of the base portion 24 communicates with and is opened to the pad portion 25 through a hole 28 having substantially the same inner diameter as the guide hole 26. Next, in the guide hole 26 of the base 24 and the valve hole 23 of the rod 21, a cylindrical dustproof valve 29 that prevents chips from entering the cylinder 14 is provided so as to be vertically slidable. A through hole 30 is provided at the center of the dustproof valve 29, and the through hole 30 is open at the lower end surface and the upper peripheral surface. The hole is provided at the upper end of the dustproof valve 29.
A flange 31 for closing the 28 is provided in a protruding manner, and the flange 31 is provided with a minute cut 32 for communicating the hole 28 and the spring chamber 27. A compression coil spring 33 as an applying means is interposed between the flange 31 and the bottom surface of the spring chamber 27, and the dustproof valve 29 is pushed upward to bring the flange 31 into contact with the periphery of the hole 28. 28 is always closed. At the upper end of the pad portion 25, a neoprene rubber 34 is used as an airtight holding member or a cushion member for the work W.
Are provided circumferentially. Further, in the cylinder device 12 provided at the center of the table 6, the pad portion 25 of the fixing portion 13 has a particularly large diameter to enhance the stability of the work W.
As described above, according to the cylinder device 12, the fixing portion 13 connected to the piston 20 via the rod 21 is raised by the introduction of air into the cylinder 14 and the vacuum suction, and the work W is placed at the upper position. It can be fixed by vacuum suction.

Next, a work W provided around the vacuum fixing device 11
The positioning devices 40 and 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 (a) and (b).

In FIGS. 1 and 2A and 2B, 40 is a positioning device for the work W in the X-axis direction. This device 40
Has a feed screw 42 parallel to the X axis on the table 6. The feed screw 42 is rotationally driven by a servo motor 43 provided on the table 6, and the amount of rotation can be detected by an encoder 44 provided on the servo motor 43. Then, the feed screw 42 has a nut member.
The nut member 45 is meshed with the guide member 45 and is guided by guide means (not shown) along the X-axis direction so as to move in the X-axis direction as the feed screw 42 rotates. A drive cylinder 46 is installed on the nut member 45 so as to face the inside of the table 6 along the X-axis direction. Also,
A positioning pin 47 is swingably supported at the lower end of the nut member 45 via a bracket member (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2B, one end of a link 49 is fixedly attached to the swing shaft 48 of the positioning pin 47 at a predetermined angle with respect to the positioning pin 47, and the other end of the link 49 is It is rotatably connected to the rod of the drive cylinder 46. That is, when the drive cylinder 46 is extended, the positioning pin 47 becomes horizontal, and when the drive cylinder 46 is retracted, the positioning pin 47 becomes vertical, and its peripheral surface 47a comes into contact with the end surface of the work W. There is.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 (a), 41 is a positioning device for the work W in the Y-axis direction. This device 41 is fixed to the bed 5 of the processing machine 1 and has a mechanism that moves in the Y-axis direction near the table 6 on the bed 5. In the figure, reference numeral 50 is a servomotor fixed to the bed 5 side, and has an encoder 51. The pinion 52 provided on the drive shaft of the servomotor 50 meshes with a rack 54 fixed to the moving plate 53 and parallel to the Y axis. This moving plate 53
Is guided by two guide rods 55 fixed to the bed 5 side, and can be moved in the Y-axis direction by driving the servomotor 50. On the moving plate 53, a drive cylinder 56, a swingable positioning pin 57, and a link 58.
Two sets of positioning mechanisms are provided. The structure is almost the same as that of the positioning device 40 in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. However, Y
The axial positioning device 41 is different in that the end surface of the work W is positioned by the tip 57a of the positioning pin 57.

Next, a connection system between the various device groups described above and a control means for controlling them will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 60 is a DNC computer as a control means. The DNC computer 60 controls the movement of the processing machine 1, and does not need to use a tape like a conventional NC device, and can directly input a processing program for each work having a different shape. Next, 61 is an FMS computer as a control means. The FMS computer controls the autoloader 7 and the vacuum fixing device 11 according to the work shape data and the work positioning data. And 62 is both computers 60,61
Is a controller that controls and distributes communication from. Both computers 60, 61 and controller 62 described above
Should be installed in an office, for example, separately from a processing machine on site.

Next, the controller 62 is connected to a parent controller 63 installed on site. The parent controller 63 has an operation panel 64 and a terminal display device 65, and the various device groups connected to the parent controller 63 are centrally controlled and operated by the parent controller 63. The NC device 2, the processing machine 1, the autoloader 7, and the vacuum fixing device 11 are connected to the parent controller 63 via dedicated child controllers 66, respectively. Each child controller 66
Has a dedicated control panel 67 and an operation panel 68, respectively, and each child controller 66 can independently operate each device 1, 7, 11. Although omitted in this embodiment, one or more sets of various device groups may be provided and connected in parallel to the parent controller 63 so as to be controlled simultaneously with the device groups of other sets.

Next, focusing on the operation of the vacuum fixing device 11, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

In FIG. 4, a DNC computer 60 having a processing program sends a control signal of the processing machine 1 to a controller 62.
Has work shape data and work positioning data
The FMS computer 61 includes an autoloader 7 and a vacuum fixing device 1
Send control signal to 1. Control signals from both computers 60 and 61 are appropriately distributed by the controller 62 and sent to the parent controller 63. The various device groups are operated synchronously based on these control signals and instructions input from the operation panels 64 and 68.

First, according to an instruction from the FMS computer 61 or the like, among the many cylinder devices 12 included in the vacuum fixing device 11, only those necessary for fixing the work W having a predetermined shape are selectively operated. That is, only the cylinder device 12 located inward of the outline of the plate-shaped work W positioned at a predetermined position on the table 6 is activated to raise the piston 20, and in FIG. As shown by the imaginary line, each fixing portion 13 is set to the upper limit position. The extent to which the work W is supported inside the outline is determined based on the distance between the fixed portion 13 of the cylinder device 12 and the cutter 69 when machining the outer circumference of the work W, and is determined to be sufficiently safe. Good. In order to raise the piston 20 of the cylinder device 12, air may be sent from the air supply means to the lower part of the cylinder 14 via the introduction path 17. The pressurization from below by the air continues until the piston 20 is lowered. If the chips generated during the previous processing are accumulated in the pad portion 25 of the fixed portion 13, air is introduced into the cylinder 14 from the passage 15 before starting the next step, and the dust control valve Air is blown into the pad portion 25 from the notch 32 in the flange 31 of 29 to blow off the chips.

Work W by instructions from FMS computer 61 etc.
The positioning devices 40 and 41 are moved to the required positions and the positioning pins 47 and 57 are in the positioning state. Next, according to an instruction from the FMS computer 61 or the like, the autoloader 7 conveys the unprocessed work W and places it on the table 6 at a required position. The work W is supported at a predetermined position by the pad portion 25 of the cylinder device 12 set to the upper limit position according to the shape of the work, and the periphery thereof is surely positioned by the positioning pins 47, 57 of both the positioning devices 40, 41. It Note that the auto loader 7 roughly performs positioning on the cylinder device 12, then both positioning devices 40 and 41 are operated, and the work W supported by the pad portion 25 of the cylinder device 12 is pushed by the positioning pins 47 and 57. The positioning may be precise.

Next, the suction means such as a vacuum source (not shown) is activated to suck the air in the upper part of the cylinder 14 from the passage 15 to the outside. The dust-proof valve 29 contracts the compression coil spring 33 by this suction force and moves downward. The air in the pad portion 25 blocked by the lower surface of the work W is sucked and discharged from the passage 15 to the outside of the cylinder 14 through the hole 28, the through hole 30 of the dustproof valve 29, and the ventilation hole 22 of the rod 21. It As a result, the work W is securely held by the fixed portion 13 of each cylinder device 12.

Next, according to an instruction from the DNC computer 60 or the like, the processing machine 1 operates to process the fixed work W. As described above, the work W is set at the upper limit position only by the cylinder device 12 selected according to its outer shape. Therefore, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, even when the outer peripheral edge of the work W is processed, the cutter 69 does not contact the fixed portion 13 of the cylinder device 12 supporting the work W, and the lower limit position. It does not interfere with other unselected cylinder devices 12 in. Further, even if the cutting chips generated during processing spatter on the unused cylinder device 12 around and accumulate in the pad portion 25, the pad portion 25 and the cylinder
Since the hole 28 communicating with the inside of the cylinder 14 is closed by the dustproof valve 29, chips do not enter the cylinder 14.

When machining is complete, the passage 15 above the cylinder 14
By stopping the vacuum suction from, the suction fixing of the work W in the fixing portion 13 is released. However, cylinder 14
The pressurization from the introduction path 17 located below is continued. In addition, if the spraying of the pad portion 25 is not released even if the vacuum suction above the cylinder 14 is stopped, the passage from the passage 15 to the cylinder 14
It is only necessary to draw some air into the upper part of the.

The auto-loader 7 carries out the pressurized work W, and then carries in the next unprocessed work W. When the lot is picked up and the work having a different shape is started, the chips accumulated in the unused cylinder device 12 are blown off as described above.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the vacuum fixing device of the present invention, the control means selects the vacuum fixing means located inside the outer shape of the workpiece to be fixed, and the lower end introducing path 17 of the selected vacuum fixing means is selected. Air is sent from the above to raise the fixing portion 13 above the vacuum fixing means, and the workpiece is attracted and held by the rising fixing portion 13 of the vacuum fixing means.
Is held in a raised state above the
As shown in the drawing, when the outer peripheral edge of the work is machined by the cutter 69 or the like, there is no fear that the cutter 69 or the like interferes with the table 6, and there is an effect that the machining work can be performed safely with a margin.

Further, in the vacuum fixing means, the inner surface of the suction hole 27 formed on the upper surface of the fixing portion 13 is closed by the elastic pressure of the dustproof valve 29, and when the workpiece is sucked and held by the fixing portion 13, dust is prevented by the internal negative pressure. Since the valve 29 is lowered to suck and hold the work, chips do not enter the hole 27 during the working operation.

Therefore, the outer peripheral edge of the work is often processed, which is an excellent effect as a work fixing device for a processing machine in which chips are often generated during the processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is a partial plan view of a table of a processing machine provided with a vacuum fixing device, and FIG. 2 (b). Is a front view of a positioning device in the X-axis direction, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder device constituting a vacuum fixing device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a conventional vacuum suction device. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of an apparatus. W ... Work, 11 ... Vacuum fixing device, 12 ... Vacuum fixing cylinder (cylinder device) as vacuum fixing means, 13 ...
Fixed part, 60 ... DNC computer as control means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of vacuum fixing means, which are arranged on a table (6) of a processing machine (1) and have a vertically movable fixing part (13) for sucking and fixing a mounted work, and fixing means. A vacuum fixing device comprising a control means for selectively activating each of the vacuum fixing means in accordance with the shape of the work to be processed, wherein the vacuum fixing means is a closed cylinder (standing on a table (6). 14), a piston (20) that moves up and down in the cylinder (14), a rod (21) erected on the piston (20), and an upper end portion of the rod (21) protruding from the cylinder (14) And a fixed portion (13) provided therein, an air introduction path (17) is formed at the lower end of the cylinder (14), and air is introduced and discharged at the upper end of the cylinder (14). A passage (15) for opening is formed, and when the rod (21) rises in the rod (21). A vent hole (22) communicating with the passage (15) and the lower end opening is formed in the vent hole (22), and the upper end of the vent hole (22) has a large diameter valve hole (2) above the rod (21).
3) A guide hole (26) communicating with the valve hole (23) and a guide hole with a larger diameter than the guide hole (23) are opened in the fixed portion (13) which is opened inside and is connected to the upper end of the rod (21). A spring chamber (27) communicating with the hole (26) and a hole (28) opening on the upper surface of the fixed portion (13).
And the valve hole (23) and the guide hole (26).
Also, a dustproof valve (29) is provided in the spring chamber (27) so as to be vertically slidable, and a flange (3
A spring (33) that pushes up the dustproof valve (29) to close the hole (28) is interposed between 1) and the step in the spring chamber (27), and the work to be fixed by the control means. Vacuum fixing means located inside the outer shape of the vacuum fixing means is selected, and air is sent from the introduction path (17) of the selected vacuum fixing means to raise the fixing portion (13) of the vacuum fixing means to raise the vacuum. A vacuum fixing device having a structure in which a fixing portion (13) of a fixing means sucks and holds a work.