Loading mechanism and machine tool system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10525534-B2
Application number	US-201615772127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A workpiece is conveyed from a first fixed point to a second fixed point by a conveyor in a chucked state. A phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor is detected by a detector. The workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor is seated on a seating part. A workpiece seating phase of the seating part is adjusted by an adjustor to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A loading mechanism comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon; and
an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
wherein the detector comprises:
a workpiece passage confirming sensor including a pattern reading sensor configured to read an ON-OFF pattern, the workpiece passage confirming sensor being turned on in a workpiece detection state in which the workpiece is detected and being turned off in a workpiece non-detection state in which the workpiece is not detected; and
a calculator configured to calculate the phase of the workpiece based on the ON-OFF pattern read by the workpiece passage confirming sensor.

2. The loading mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the workpiece comprises a flange having cutout portions formed at a predetermined pitch along a circumferential direction, and
wherein the workpiece passage confirming sensor is configured to detect passage of a flange division piece portion between the cutout portions of the flange.

3. The loading mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the conveyor comprises:
an arm that is turned about a rotary shaft; and
a chuck mechanism for conveyance, which is arranged at a distal end of the arm, and is configured to chuck the workpiece.

4. A machine tool system comprising the loading mechanism of claim 2 ,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.

5. The machine tool system according to claim 4 , wherein the seating confirming part comprises:
an air supply mechanism including an air supply passage for discharging air from an air discharge port to the workpiece; and
an air pressure detection sensor configured to detect an air pressure in the air supply passage of the air supply mechanism.

6. The loading mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises:
an arm that is turned about a rotary shaft; and
a chuck mechanism for conveyance, which is arranged at a distal end of the arm, and is configured to chuck the workpiece.

7. A machine tool system comprising the loading mechanism of claim 6 ,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.

8. A machine tool system comprising the loading mechanism of claim 1 ,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.

9. The machine tool system according to claim 8 , wherein the seating confirming part comprises:
an air supply mechanism including an air supply passage for discharging air from an air discharge port to the workpiece; and
an air pressure detection sensor configured to detect an air pressure in the air supply passage of the air supply mechanism.

10. The loading mechanism comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon; and
an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
wherein the detector comprises a workpiece passage confirming sensor,
wherein the workpiece comprises a flange having cutout portions formed at a predetermined pitch along a circumferential direction, and
wherein the workpiece passage confirming sensor is configured to detect passage of a flange division piece portion between the cutout portions of the flange.

11. The loading mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein the conveyor comprises:
an arm that is turned about a rotary shaft; and
a chuck mechanism for conveyance, which is arranged at a distal end of the arm, and is configured to chuck the workpiece.

12. A machine tool system comprising the loading mechanism of claim 11 ,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.

13. A machine tool system comprising the loading mechanism of claim 10 ,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.

14. The machine tool system according to claim 13 , wherein the seating confirming part comprises:
an air supply mechanism including an air supply passage for discharging air from an air discharge port to the workpiece; and
an air pressure detection sensor configured to detect an air pressure in the air supply passage of the air supply mechanism.

15. A machine tool system comprising a loading mechanism comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon; and
an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
wherein the seating part comprises:
a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor; and
a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the

Assignees

• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• YAMAUCHI Shouhei
• Tsuji Nobuhiko

Classifications

• B65G2203/0225

  Orientation of the article · CPC title

• B23Q17/2241

  Detection of contact between tool and workpiece · CPC title

• B23Q17/006

  for indicating the presence of a work or tool in its holder (B23Q17/002, B23Q17/09 take precedence) · CPC title

• B23Q17/003

  by measuring a position · CPC title

• B23Q7/04 Primary

  by means of grippers {(B23Q7/1494 takes precedence)} · CPC title