Processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604331-B2
Application number	US-201314019610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 14, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A replacement device of a processing apparatus includes a gripping device having a single first support member positionally fixed, a first gripping portion provided on the first support member to grip a holder not to rotate in a releasing direction when the processing member is removed from the holder, and a second gripping portion provided on the first support member apart from the first gripping portion to grip the holder not to rotate in a restricting direction when the processing member is attached to the holder, and a holding device having a single movable second support member, plural first holding portions provided on the second support member to respectively accommodate the processing member removed from the holder, and plural second holding portions provided on the second support member apart from the first holding portions to respectively accommodate the processing member that is to be attached to the holder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processing apparatus, comprising:
a processing tool that includes a drive mechanism, a processing member that is vertically movable to a processing-target member and rotatable relative to the processing-target member by utilizing a driving force of the drive mechanism, and a holder that detachably holds the processing member through a restricting portion;
a moving mechanism that includes an arm to which the processing tool is attached, and that can freely move the processing tool to the processing-target member by moving the arm; and
a replacement device that can freely replace the processing member, wherein the replacement device comprises,
a gripping device that includes a single first support member, the single first support member being immovably fixed relative to a floor, a first gripping portion that is immovably fixed relative to the floor and is provided on the first support member, and can freely grip the holder so as to prevent rotation of the holder in a loosening direction when the processing member is removed from the holder, and a second gripping portion that is immovably fixed relative to the floor and is provided on the first support member apart from the first gripping portion, and can freely grip the holder so as to prevent rotation of the holder in a fastening direction when the processing member is attached to the holder, the fastening direction being opposite to the loosening direction; and
a holding device that includes a single movable second support member, a plurality of first holding portions that are provided on the second support member, and can freely and respectively accommodate the processing member removed from the holder, and a plurality of second holding portions that are provided on the second support member apart from the plurality of first holding portions, and can freely and respectively accommodate the processing member to be attached to the holder,

wherein when the processing member is detached from the holder during replacement of the processing member, the second support member of the holding device is moved relative to the gripping device, thereby positioning the first support member of the gripping device to extend across both a corresponding one of the plurality of first holding portions and a corresponding one of the plurality of second holding portions, arranging the corresponding one of the plurality of first holding portions vertically below the first gripping portion, and arranging the corresponding one of the plurality of second holding portions vertically below the second gripping portion.

2. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion of the gripping device, and the processing-target member placed on a placement member are disposed within a movable range of the processing tool, the movable range of the processing tool being defined by movement of the arm by the moving mechanism.

3. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing apparatus is a friction stir welding apparatus, and the fastening direction is a rotation direction of the friction stir welding apparatus at a time of friction stir welding.

4. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second support member of the holding device is rotatable about a center axis thereof and is disk-shaped,
wherein the plurality of first holding portions are disposed on a first concentric circle to form a first circular line, the first concentric circle being disposed at a first radial distance from the center axis of the second support member,
wherein the plurality of second holding portions are disposed on a second concentric circle to form a second circular line, the second concentric circle being disposed at a second radial distance from the center axis of the second support member, the first and second radial distances being different, and
when the processing member is detached from the holder during replacement of the processing member, the second support member is rotated in a state where the first line is positioned vertically below the first gripping portion, and where the second line is positioned vertically below the second gripping portion, thereby feeding each of the plurality of first holding portions successively to be positioned vertically below the first gripping portion, and feeding each of the plurality of second holding portions successively to be positioned vertically below the second gripping portion.

5. The processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a straight line, connecting the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion, does not pass through a center axis of the second support member.

6. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion grips the holder according to an operation of a ratchet.

7. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping device is elastically supported.

8. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressing device that presses the processing member when the processing member is released from the holder, and that presses the processing member when the processing member is attached to the holder.

9. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanism is an industrial robot.

10. The processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first gripping portion comprises a first hole formed on the first support member and a first ratchet disposed within the first hole, and
the second gripping portion comprises a second hole formed on the first support member and a second ratchet disposed within the second hole.

Assignees

• F-Tech Inc
• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Noma Naohiro
• Shoji Yukio
• Kobayashi Tsutomu
• Sayama Mitsuru

Classifications

• Y10T483/1726

  Direct tool exchange between tool support and matrix · CPC title

• B23K37/0229 Primary

  the guide member being situated alongside the workpiece · CPC title

• B23K20/1245 Primary

  characterised by the apparatus · CPC title

• B23K28/02

  Combined welding or cutting procedures or apparatus · CPC title

• B25J11/005

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title