JPH03287355A - Intermediate transfer device in flexible manufacturing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out various unmanned processes to a work continuously night and day by providing an intermediate delivery device which reciprocates between a stacker crane and a processing machine, group, and delivers a pallet while maintaining its positioning condition. CONSTITUTION:An intermediate delivery device 7 furnishes a truck 163 to reciprocate on a base 160 between a processing machine group and a running passage of a stacker crane to reciprocate while loading a pallet, a receiving member 173 formed at the upper end of a frame 164 to load the pallet, a lifter frame 165 which can project upward farther than the receiving member 173, a lifter 100 to move the lifter frame 165 up and down, and a pushing/drawing arm 101 which can reciprocate to the lifter frame 165 so as to carry in and out the pallet to the processing machines. As a result, the height to carry in and out the pallet can be regulated not only to the stacker crane, but also responding to the processing machines, and the pallet can be carried in and out securely and accurately.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to a wire electrical discharge machine, a fine electrical discharge machine, a barre 7) on which a workpiece is installed, in order to perform various desired processing on the workpiece. The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer device in a flexible manufacturing system that automatically carries a workpiece into and out of a predetermined processing machine of a group of processing machines such as a die-sinking electrical discharge machine, a laser processing machine, and a water jet processing machine to process a workpiece.

[Conventional technology]

In general, a wire electrical discharge machine uses a vertically running portion of a wire electrode to generate electrical discharge between the workpiece and the wire electrode, thereby machining the workpiece using electrical discharge energy. The wire electrode is guided by various rollers such as a tension run roller and a brake roller in an automatic wire supply device, and is supplied to a wire head having a wire guide with appropriate tension applied thereto. In this wire electric discharge machine, the X-Y table on which the workpiece is attached moves in the X direction and the Y direction according to the machining status of the workpiece according to commands from the NC device, and the movement of both is controlled.
Machining progresses between the electrode and the X-Y table. During machining, the electrode and the X-Y table repeat servo movement, and the workpiece is electrically discharge-machined into a predetermined machining shape by the relative movement of the two.

In addition, for small and large electrical discharge machines, electrical discharge machining is performed to create a small or small hole at a predetermined position on the workpiece, or
In order to perform electrical discharge machining on a workpiece using a wire electrical discharge machine, a starting hole is made at a predetermined position on the workpiece through which a wire electrode is passed through electrical discharge machining, and electrical discharge is generated between the workpiece and the pipe electrode to generate electrical discharge energy. This is used to machine workpieces into small pieces.

In addition, a die-sinking electric discharge machine machine processes the workpiece by generating electric discharge between the workpiece and an electrode of various shapes such as a rod shape, and using the electric discharge energy.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various apparatuses have been disclosed regarding electric discharge machines to accomplish machining such as machining of large workpieces, progressive machining, and unmanned machining through automation. When such electric discharge machining is performed automatically, if the wire electrode is cut or lost during electric discharge machining, or if the pipe electrode or rod-shaped electrode is worn out, the wire electrode, pipe electrode, or An electrode exchange device for automatically exchanging die engraving electrodes is provided.
No. 6 discloses a wire electrode exchange device.

In addition, the automatic wire electrode feeding method for a wire electrical discharge machine is
For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-13, which is an application filed by the present applicant.
No. 9616. Furthermore, a wire electrical discharge machine that automatically takes out a core, that is, a workpiece from a workpiece, is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-98878 filed by the present applicant.
Disclosed in the issue.

In addition, regarding small and large electrical discharge machines, for example,
246021 Publication, Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-143321,
Some of these are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-143321. JP-A-1-246021 discloses a pipe electrode exchange device.

Further, as an FM varnish for wire electric discharge machines, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 120960/1983.

The FMNIS has a circular workpiece moving station in the center, and around it are various types of wire-cut electrical discharge machining stations, die-sinking electrical discharge machining stations, laser processing stations, electrical discharge coating processing stations, and water jet machining stations. establish. When machining is performed using FM Niss, the most suitable processing station is first selected, and a series of operations are performed using a program input into the computer of the control device that controls the entire FM Niss at once.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-193125 discloses a processing machine equipped with an unloading device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, none of the above-mentioned conventional electrical discharge machines automatically sets and attaches the workpiece to the X-Y table in the electrical discharge machine, and it is difficult to completely automate the electrical discharge machine. This has become an obstacle.

Therefore, various processing machine groups such as wire electrical discharge machines, narrow and large electrical discharge machines, die-sinking electrical discharge machines, etc. are arranged, and workpieces are transferred from stock locations such as racks that store workpieces to one of the processing machine groups. The process of automatically loading the workpiece into the processing machine, setting it, processing the workpiece, and then transporting the workpiece from the processing machine is completely automated, and the workpiece can be handled unmanned day or night. It is desired to perform various types of processing continuously.

In addition, the FMNIS disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 120960/1983 has a limit to the number of workpieces that can be mounted on the circular station, and in order to prepare a large number of workpieces,
As the diameter of the circular station increases, there is a loss of floor space dedicated to the equipment itself for FM varnishing, and processing times differ between various processing machines, resulting in process waiting time. When a machine is present, there is a problem in that a time loss occurs in loading the workpiece onto the processing machine, and the cycle efficiency decreases.

In particular, it does not have any technical concept of automatically and accurately positioning a workpiece with respect to a processing machine.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the above problems,
A pallet with pre-set workpieces is placed on various processing machines such as a wire electrical discharge machine, a large and narrow electrical discharge machine, and a die-carving and fine-hole electrical discharge machine.
A processing machine group with a large number of EDMs (hereinafter referred to as EDM) and a stocking area such as racks are placed at the intersection of a stacker crane that reciprocates along a pallet traveling system, and the stacker crane is used to carry out loading and unloading operations of vallets to and from the EDM. To provide an intermediate transfer device that reciprocates between the stacker crane and the processing machine group to maintain the positioning of the pallet and enable delivery in order to extremely smoothly carry the pallet in and out of the stacker crane. By installing the intermediate transfer device in each processing machine, various types of processing on workpieces can be completely automated, and various types of processing on workpieces can be continuously performed unmanned day and night. This enables a flexible manufacturing system that can

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is designed as follows. That is, the present invention moves a pallet with a workpiece set in a predetermined position between a group of processing machines in which a large number of various types of processing machines are installed and a running path of a stacker crane that carries the pallet and moves back and forth on the base. A trolley that moves back and forth,
A frame fixed to the trolley, a receiving member formed at the upper end of the frame on which pallets are carried in and out by the stacker crane, movable up and down with respect to the frame and protruding upward from the receiving member. a lifter that moves the lifter frame up and down, and a push-pull arm that can support the pallet and that can reciprocate with respect to the lifter frame to carry the pallet into and out of the processing machine. The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer device in a flexible manufacturing system.

Further, in this intermediate transfer device, the receiving member has a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to maintain the positioning state of the pallet and transfer it to the stacker crane. .

Further, in this intermediate transfer device, the push-pull arm has a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to transfer the pallet while maintaining the positioning state with respect to the receiving member. be.

In particular, this intermediate transfer device is used for a wide variety of processing machines,
A pallet with workpieces is processed by a pallet transport device that moves back and forth between a rack equipped with multiple shelves for storing pallets, a processing station where workpieces are treated to prevent rust, and a pallet loading/unloading station. The present invention is applied to a flexible manufacturing system in which workpieces on the pallet are delivered to and delivered to machines while maintaining their positioning, and the workpieces on the pallet are automatically subjected to electric discharge machining by the respective processing machines.

(Function) Since the intermediate transfer device in the flexible manufacturing system according to the present invention is configured as described above, it functions as follows. In other words, this intermediate transfer device transfers a pallet with a workpiece set at a predetermined position onto a base between a processing machine group in which many types of processing machines are installed and a running path of a stacker crane that carries the pallet and moves back and forth. a frame fixed to the trolley; a receiving member formed at the upper end of the frame on which balents to be carried in and out by the stacker crane are placed; a receiving member movable up and down with respect to the frame and the receiving member; A lid frame that can protrude upward from the member, a lifter that moves the lifter frame up and down, and a lifter that can support the pallet and can reciprocate with respect to the lifter frame to carry the pallet into and out of the processing machine. Since it has a push-pull arm, the pallet loading/unloading height can be adjusted not only for the stacker crane but also for each of the processing machines, and the pallet loading/unloading operation can be carried out reliably and accurately. I can do it. Furthermore, the stacker crane only needs to run along the path facing the intermediate transfer device, and only needs to transport pallets to and from the intermediate transfer device, so that the set time for each processing machine can be reduced. It is possible to shorten the time and improve the efficiency of transport and loading/unloading to and from each processing machine, workpiece processing device, etc.

Therefore, the pallet can be carried into the processing machine by the stacker crane and the intermediate transfer device, and the workpiece can be automatically set at a predetermined position on the processing table of the processing machine reliably, quickly, and unattended. After the workpiece has been processed, it can be automatically and unmanned from the processing machine, carried out by the intermediate transfer device, and then by the stacker crane from the processing machine group to an appropriate location.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a flexible manufacturing system (hereinafter referred to as FMS) incorporating an intermediate transfer device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this example of FMS, the processing machine group is applied to a group of electrical discharge machines such as a wire electrical discharge machine, a small and large electrical discharge machine, and a die-sinking electrical discharge machine. However, the present invention is not limited to the present invention, and can be used in processing machines such as laser processing machines and water jet processing machines that process workpieces. Further, the machining tank device includes a machining tank that stores the machining fluid, a machining tank cover device that prevents the machining fluid, machining debris, etc. from scattering, and a guard for safety. In addition, the workpiece here refers not only to the workpiece but also to the finished workpiece, and the processing machine itself is capable of not only processing but also assembly, final finishing, etc. be.

First, an outline of an embodiment of an FMS using an intermediate delivery device according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in the figure, this FMS includes a processing machine group in which a wire electrical discharge machine 1, a fine electrical discharge machine 2, and a die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 are installed, and a valent P in which a workpiece W is set at a predetermined position. a rank 4 equipped with a plurality of shelves 19 for storage; a stacker crane 6 that reciprocates along a running path 5;
It also has an intermediate transfer device 7 that moves back and forth between the stacker crane 6 and the group of processing machines. Furthermore, this FMS includes a setup indexing device 9 equipped with a pallet mounting table 11 for mounting and positioning the pallet P, a rust prevention treatment device 10 for applying rust prevention treatment to the workpiece W, and a rust prevention treatment device 10 for applying rust prevention treatment to the workpiece W. A fluid spraying device 12 is provided for removing deposits such as machining fluid, foreign matter, and dust.

In this FMS, wire electrical discharge machining 11 is shown in Fig. 1 as a processing machine (EDM) in which a large number of various types of processing machines are installed.
1. One fine and large electrical discharge machining 112 and one die sinking electrical discharge machining 113 are shown. Note that each processing machine has a filter bag 221 having a different function for each processing machine in order to filter and clean the processing liquid used in the processing machine.

In addition, in this FMS, in order to control the system with a controller (not shown), there is also a control panel 13 for setup, indexing, and rust prevention treatment, an inventory management 1!14, and a relay 111.
15, a spinch box 16, and a control device 22 provided in each of the processing machines 1, 2, and 3. Control device 22
is controlled by the controller by inputting and outputting detection information to the controller. The travel path 5 of the stacker crane 6 is provided with a mole rail 18 for the stacker crane 6 to reciprocate, and a safety shelf 17 for ensuring safety.

Furthermore, the controller (not shown) contains information on what kind of workpiece W is set in advance on the pallet P carried in and out through the setup indexing device W9, and the setup indexing device 9.
Information on the loading/unloading order of pallets P loaded/unloaded through
Information on the valent P accommodated in each column 19, information on loading and unloading to and from the processing machine, information on the workpiece W being processed, etc. are stored. In addition to the above-mentioned information, the controller is inputted in advance with information on what kind of machining machine is used to process the workpiece W.

In the operation of this FMS, for example, the steps from the planning schedule to the preparation of the setup schedule are configured as shown in FIG. 53. First, a planned schedule is created in the host computer, and the next planned schedule is also created. The planned schedule created by the higher-level computer is transmitted from the higher-level computer to the control computer in the FMS. The planned schedule received by the control computer is displayed on a display or the like, and changes or additional settings are made to the planned schedule.Next, for example, a daily schedule is created from the planned schedule. Here, as a simulation, a schedule on a -day basis is simulated, the load factor of each processing machine 1, 2.3, a processing machine side schedule, a setup schedule are created, and a work instruction sheet is created. After performing each of the above processes, the setup indexing device 9 starts the setup indexing work.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, another example of FMSO in a group of processing machines incorporating the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention will be outlined. In this FMS example, compared to the above FMS example, wire electric discharge machining 1 in the processing machine group
111, the systems perform the same functions except that the number of installed small-hole electrical discharge machines 2 and die-sinking electrical discharge machines 3, the layout of these machines, and the layout of each device are different. In this example, the pipe electrode PE is used for the workpiece W.
Fine and large electric discharge machining lI2 to machine a predetermined start hole in
One unit is installed at a position opposite to the setup indexing device 9. On the other hand, in the figure, five wire electrical discharge machines 1 are installed, which machine the workpiece W into a predetermined shape by passing the wire electrode WE through a start hole formed in the workpiece W. In addition, four die-sinking electric discharge machines 3 are installed in the figure for machining a workpiece W with die-sinking electrodes RE of various shapes such as rod shapes. In other words, fine and large electrical discharge machining I! 2, the time required to machine the start hole in the workpiece W is short, whereas the wire electric discharge machine 1 passes the wire electrode WE through the start hole of the workpiece W to machine a predetermined machining shape. It takes a long time to do so. Moreover, the time required for machining with the die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 is not the same as that with the wire electric discharge machine 1, but it takes a certain amount of time. Therefore,
By installing the number of machines according to the time required for processing the workpiece W using various processing machines, the cycle time from the time when the workpiece W is loaded into the processing machine until the time when the workpiece W is removed and carried out can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the process waiting time of the processing machine and improve cycle efficiency.

Next, regarding the intermediate delivery device according to the present invention, the fourth
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the entire intermediate transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a front view of the upper part of the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a front view of the lower part of the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9.

The intermediate transfer device 7 according to the present invention is provided for each processing 111.2.3 in order to transfer the pallet P between each processing machine 1.23 and the stacker crane 6 in the FMS in the processing machine group. It has been established.

This intermediate transfer device 7 mainly consists of a cart 163 equipped with rollers 162 that can reciprocate on a slide rail 161 laid on a base 160, and a frame 16 of the cart 163.
4, and has a push-pull arm 101 provided on the lid 100 and the lifter 100. At the upper end of the frame 164 of the truck 163, a locking pin 168 that engages with a recess 32 formed in the pallet P is provided on the front end side, and a pallet seat portion 168S on which the lower surface of the pallet P is seated is provided on the rear end side. ing.

The base 160 includes a trolley 16 fixed to the base 160.
Cylinder 159 serving as the drive device of No. 3, the cylinder 59
A piston loft 172 that reciprocates therein, a truck 163 with rollers 162 fixed to the piston rod 172, and a slide rail 161 laid on a base 160 for the truck 163 to run under the action of a cylinder 159 are provided. This slide rail 161 extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the traveling path 5 of the stacker crane 6, that is, the traveling direction.

The truck 163 includes a truck frame 164 that reciprocates on the base 160, a receiving member 173 of a baren (P) formed on the upper surface of the truck frame 164, a locking pin 168 protruding from the upper surface of the receiving member 173, and a locking pin 168 that protrudes from the upper surface of the frame. It has a lifter 100 that is mounted on and can move up and down. Two receiving members 173 are arranged above and parallel to the slide rail 161. The upper surface of the Zenai member 173 is finished, and the surface formed by the Zenai member 173 is configured to be on the same level, and also parallel to the moving surface formed by the slide rail 161. It is composed of

The lifter 100 is arranged between receiving members 173,
A cylinder 166 fixed to the frame 164, a piston rod 169 reciprocating within the cylinder 166, a piston rod 169 fixed to the piston loft 169, and a lid frame 165 fixed to the piston loft 169.
and a push-pull arm 101 mounted on the lifter frame 165. Therefore, the push-pull arm 10
1 provides a slide mechanism in which a fork-like arm 171 can be moved back and forth by a slide rail 180 with respect to the base of the lifter 100, that is, the lifter frame 165, by the operation of a cylinder 166.

The push-pull arm 101 of the lifter 100 has a cylinder 167 fixed to a lifter frame 165, a piston rod 172 that reciprocates within the cylinder 167, and a fork-like arm 171 fixed to the piston rod 172.

At the tip of the fork-shaped arm 171 of this push-pull-out arm 101, that is, the tip on the processing machine 1, 2.3 side, there is a ball (P).
Actuating pins 170 are formed on both sides to engage the recesses 33 of.

This intermediate transfer device 7 is constructed as described above and operates as follows. In the intermediate transfer device 7, the reciprocating movement of the cart 163 on the slide rail 161 is performed by a cylinder 159, the vertical movement of the lifter 100 is performed by a cylinder 166, and the forward and backward movement of the push-pull arm 101 is performed by a cylinder 167. However, each drive is interlocked.

First, the cylinder 159 is actuated to move the truck 163 toward the stacker crane 6 side, that is, toward the travel path 5 side. A stacker crane 6 carrying a predetermined valent P stops on the side facing the intermediate transfer device 7. By the operation of the fork device 50 of the stacker crane 6, the tip fork 60 of the fork device 50 extends onto the intermediate transfer device 7, and the pallet P placed on the tip fork 60 is transferred to the intermediate transfer device f7.
The pallet P is placed so that the recess 32 of the pallet P is engaged with the locking pin 168 provided at the upper end of the frame 164 of the cart 163.

Next, the cylinder 166 of the lifter 100 of the intermediate transfer device 7 is activated, and the lifter frame 165 is raised.
An operating bin 170 formed on the push-pull arm 101 provided on the lifter 100 engages with a recess 33 provided on the pallet P. Furthermore, as the lifter 100 rises,
The locking pin 168 provided at the upper end of the frame 164 separates from the recess 32 of the pallet P. Therefore, the pallet 7)P is placed on the push-pull-out arm 101 with the operating bin 170 and the recess 33 engaged, and in this state, the cylinder 167 is operated and the push-pull-out arm 101 is processed.
2. Move forward to the 3rd side. As the push-pull arm 101 advances, the pallet P is moved to the processing table 75 for processing 111.2.3.
It is carried into the upper valent support member. cylinder 166
With this operation, the lifter 100 is slightly lowered, and the operating bin 170 provided on the push-pull arm 101 is removed from the recess 33 of the pallet P. Here, the cylinder 167 is actuated to retract the push-pull arm 101 toward the intermediate transfer device 7 and move it backward. Carriage 16 in intermediate transfer device 7
3 waits on the processing machine 12.3 side until the processing machines 1 and 2.3 finish electrical discharge machining on the workpiece W.

Next, when the electric discharge machining on the workpiece W is completed in the processing machine 1.2.3, a signal indicating the completion of the machining is received from the controller, and the slide cover 80. which is the opening/closing door of the EDM is opened.
After opening/closing 1980D is completely opened, push and pull out arm 1
The cylinder 167 of 01 operates, and the push-pull arm 101
moves forward to the machining 111.2°3 side. Push-pull arm 1
01 is inserted below the pallet P, the lifter 10
The cylinder 166 of No. 0 operates to raise the push-pull arm 101 mounted on the lifter 100. The operating pin 170 of the push-pull-out arm 101 engages with the recess 33 of the pallet P, and the pallet P becomes mounted on the push-pull-out arm 101. Here, the cylinder 167 is actuated and the push/pull arm 101 is retracted toward the intermediate transfer device 7 and retreated. When the push-pull arm 101 reaches a predetermined position on the truck frame 164 of the intermediate transfer device N7, the cylinder 166 is activated and the lifter 100 is lowered. As the lifter 100 is lowered, the push-pull arm 101 is lowered, and the pallet P mounted on the push-pull arm 101 is lowered, and the locking pin 168 provided on the trolley frame 164 engages with the recess 32 of the bar (P). is trolley frame 1
At the same time, the operating pin 170 of the push/pull arm 101 is disengaged from the recess 33 of the pallet P.

The push-in and pull-out arm 101 further descends to become the push-in and pull-out arm 1.
01 stops at a predetermined lower position of the truck frame 164.

Furthermore, the cylinder 159 is operated and the truck 163 is moved to the rail 1.
61 to the stacker crane 6 side. The fork device 50 of the stacker crane 6 operates and the tip fork 6
0 begins to extend, and the tip fork 60 is positioned below the barre 7)P. As the tip fork 60 rises slightly, the tip fork 60 lifts the pallet P, and the locking pin 67A provided on the tip fork 60 engages the recess 3 of the pallet P.
1, and the lower surface of the baren) P is engaged with the support pin 67.
2, and the locking pin 168 of the truck frame 164 is released from the recess 32 of the pallet P.

The fork device 50 is operated and the tip fork 60 is retracted to move the pallet P onto the stacker crane 6.

Furthermore, although the FMS in this processing machine group is configured as described above, the fluid circuit that operates each cylinder in this FMS is configured as follows, for example.

To explain an example of each cylinder of the wire electrical discharge machine 1 and the intermediate transfer device 7, on the wire electrical discharge machine 1 side, fluid from a fluid pressure supply source such as a pump is supplied to a fluid pressure adjusting device, a fluid switching valve, etc. through each cylinder 78
Fluid pressure is supplied to C, 86, 88, and 92 (the cylinder 92 of the slide cover 80 may be an air cylinder). Regarding the intermediate transfer device 7 side, fluid from a fluid pressure supply source such as a pump is passed through a fluid pressure adjustment device, fluid switching pulp, etc. to each cylinder 159, 166, 16.
7 is supplied with fluid pressure. Fluid is supplied to each cylinder, and the piston within each cylinder reciprocates, whereby the operating state of each cylinder is detected by each sensor.

The detection signals detected by each sensor are manually input to the controller, and the controller responds to each detection signal and issues commands according to the operation process inputted in advance as a sequence to the wire electrical discharge machine l and the intermediate transfer device. W7 is activated to carry the pallet 10 in and out of the wire electrical discharge machining at, and also to carry it in and out of the intermediate transfer device 7.

An example of the fluid circuit for the wire electrical discharge machine 1 and the intermediate transfer device 7 has been described above. A similar fluid circuit can be applied to the device 12 as well.

In addition, in the flexible manufacturing ring system in this processing machine group, it is of course possible to provide a reference surface cleaning device for cleaning the reference surface of the reference member of each processing table and the reference surface of the baren P. It is. If the reference surface cleaning device is provided, the reference surface of each processing table on which the pallet P is set and the reference surface of the baren) P can be cleaned every time the pallet is set or at a predetermined period, and the baren) P can be cleaned accurately and reliably at all times. The processing accuracy of the workpiece can be improved.

Next, each device available on each side of this FMS, namely Valent P1 rack 4, stacker crane 6,
Setup indexing device 9, rust prevention treatment device 10, fluid spraying W12, wire electric discharge machine ■ and small hole electric discharge machining I! 2 processing table device, workpiece removal device W for wire electrical discharge machining s11
130 and the machining tank device 79, the pipe electrode exchange device 2C1 of the small-hole electric discharge machine 2, the work table device of the die-sinking electric discharge machining 813, the machining tank device 79, etc. will be explained.

In this FMS, the pallet P is used to preset various workpieces W at predetermined positions, and is made of a material such as stainless steel that has mechanical rigidity, electrical conductivity, and rust resistance. It is equipped with mounting reference means such as reference fittings having a common reference surface for various processing ills and 2.3, and locking means such as recesses. An example of the pallet P will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a pallet that can be commonly used in this FMS, Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vl-Vl in Fig. 11. It is a diagram.

This pallet P has a cutout hole 24 in the center of the pallet body 8, which is wider than the machining area of the wire electric discharge machine 1, in order to allow the wire electrode WE to run. A workpiece holder 25, which is a fixing means for setting the workpiece W in a predetermined position, is fitted into the cutout hole 24 of the pallet body 8. There are many workpiece holders 25! The workpiece holders 25 are provided with various cutout holes 34 that match the shape of the workpiece W at the center thereof. A workpiece setting jig 26 can be replaceably attached to the cutout hole 34 of the workpiece holder 25. Therefore, after the workpiece W is fitted into the cutout hole 34 of the workpiece holder 25, the workpiece W can be fixed to the pallet P by tightening the clamp 27 provided on the workpiece centration jig 26. The workpiece setting jig 26 is prepared in various shapes that match the shape of the workpiece W.

The mounting reference means for the baren) P is 1.2゜3
- It functions to set the pallet P at a predetermined position in the height direction, that is, the X direction, and the horizontal direction, that is, the X direction and the Y direction, with respect to a reference plane provided on the processing platform on the Y table. It can be constructed from two finished surfaces 28 formed on both sides of the lower surface of the pallet main body 8 in the height direction, and a reference fitting 29 provided on the front end surface 29F of the pallet P and a reference fitting 30 provided on one side 30S in the horizontal direction. . The finished surfaces 28 are parallel to each other and have the same height. Further, the reference fittings 29 and 30 are preferably made of a rust-resistant material such as ceramics or carbide and are highly wear-resistant, and are replaceably attached to the pallet body 8. ing. A reference metal fitting 290 provided on the front end surface 29F and a reference metal fitting 3 provided on the reference surface 29 and one side surface 30S.
0 reference plane 30, and each reference plane 2
The finished surfaces 2B at 9 and 30 are orthogonal to each other.

Further, the rotation center axis of the through hole 24 is perpendicular to each finished surface 28 . For example, on the front end surface 29F of the pallet main body 8 on the side facing the wire electric discharge machining machine, wire electric discharge machining I! A reference surface 29K is formed as a reference means that matches a positioning stopper having a reference surface as a processing reference positioning means provided at 1. It should be noted that each positioning stopper provided in the processing machine group 1.23 is preferably made of a rust-resistant material such as ceramics or carbide and a material with high wear resistance, and should be replaced with respect to the processing table. installed as possible.

The locking means of the barrel P are a plurality of recesses formed on the back surface of the pallet body 8. That is, multiple (in the figure, two)
The recess 31 is engaged with a common locking pin provided on the fork of the stacker crane 6. Multiple (in the figure,
The two recesses 33 are bottle holes, and the intermediate transfer device 7
A common actuation pin provided on the lifter of the machine is engaged, and by engaging the actuation pin with the bottle hole, the baren) P can be pushed into or pulled out of each processing machine 1.2.3. I can do it. Also, multiple (two in the figure)
The recessed portion 32 includes the setup indexing device W9 and the rust prevention treatment device 10.
A common locking pin provided on the intermediate transfer device 7 engages with the locking pin.

This FMS is provided with a rack 4.

The rack 4 has a large number of openings 20 along the longitudinal direction of the travel path 5 of the stacker crane 6 for the entry and exit of the barrels P.
Inside the opening 20, a large number of shelves 19 are vertically arranged to store pallets P or pallets P on which workpieces W are set in advance. Therefore, the pallet P is stored on the shelf 19 or taken out from the shelf 19 to the stacker crane 6 by the operation of the stacker crane 6.

In an appropriate opening 20 of the rack 4, a rust prevention treatment device 10 and a fluid spraying device W12 are arranged.

An upper rail 48 is attached to a frame protruding from the upper part of the rank 4 toward the traveling path 5 side for guiding the upper part of the stacker crane 6.

Furthermore, this FMS includes figures 14, 15 and 16.
As shown in the figure, a setup indexing device 9 is provided on the base 36 of the setup listee silane. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an example of a setup indexing device that can be used in this FMS, FIG. 15 is a front view of FIG. 14, and FIG.
It is a front end side view of a figure.

In this setup process, as shown in Fig. 55,
As a setup indexing operation, a setup schedule is created, and setup to attach a workpiece W to a baren P is started. First, the stacker crane 6 is operated to take out the empty pallet P from the rank 4 shelf 19 to the setup station, and the workpiece W is attached to the pallet P. Ballen l
- When the installation work for setting the workpiece W in a predetermined position on P is completed, the stacker crane 6 is operated again and the workpiece W is
Then, the pallet P with the workpiece W attached thereto is carried into a predetermined processing machine 1, 2.3 by the operation of the stacker crane 6 and subjected to electrical discharge machining. will be applied. The pallet P on which the workpiece W that has been subjected to electrical discharge machining is mounted is again stored on the shelf 19 of a predetermined rack 4 by the operation of the stacker crane 6, or is carried out to the setup station. At the setup station, a command is issued to unload the pallet P on which the workpiece W that has been subjected to electrical discharge machining, which is stored in a predetermined shelf 19, is attached, and the stacker crane 6 is operated to transport the pallet P to the setup station. Carry it out. The workpiece W is removed from the pallet bar P, and the removed workpiece W, that is, the product, is carried to a predetermined location. However, the pallet P from which the workpiece W has been removed is operated by the stacker crane 6 again. The above operations are repeated at the 0 setup stage 5 which is stored on the shelf 19 of the rack 4.

In order to be distantly related to each of the above-mentioned operations, this setup indexing device 9 is capable of mounting and positioning a workpiece W on a pallet P, and making it possible to carry the pallet P into and out of the stacker crane 6 in a predetermined positioning state. It is. In the figure, two setup indexing devices 9 are provided. For example, one setup indexing device 9 is configured exclusively for carrying in pallets P, and the other setup indexing device 9 is configured for carrying in pallets P. Can be configured exclusively. Traveling trolley 37 of setup indexing device 9
The stacker crane 6 is reciprocated by a moving device 41 on a rail 35 arranged perpendicularly to the mole rail 18 of the travel path 5 along which the stacker crane 6 travels. In the figure, the moving device 41 includes a motor, a speed reducer, a sprocket 41 S fixed to the base 36, and a sprocket 41 fixed to the base 36.
Although it is composed of a chain 4IC connected to S, etc., it is not limited to this, and the bottom of the tank may be connected to a hydraulic cylinder or the like. A pallet mounting base 11 is disposed on the traveling carriage 37 so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 43 via rotatable rollers 40 disposed around the periphery. The pallet mounting base 11 is supported by a circular track member that rotates on the rollers 40 and a support member on the track member, and can rotate over 360° on the rollers 40. Furthermore, a pallet mounting stand 11
The rotational movement is configured such that the bottom of the tank can be rotated into four equal parts by manual indexing or automatic indexing, and the origin of the rotational movement is confirmed by a limit switch or the like.

Further, a stopper pin 39 is provided on the traveling carriage 37, and the stopper pin 39 is fixed to the bottom of the tank so that it can be locked to a locking member 42 provided on the pallet mounting base 11. Therefore, if the stopper pin 39 is locked to the locking member 42, the traveling bogie 3
The rotational movement of the pallet mounting base 11 on the pallet mounting base 7 can be stopped. The pallet mounting base 11 is provided with a locking pin, which locks into a recess 32 formed in the pallet P.
Therefore, the positional relationship between the valent mounting base 11 and the pallet P is positioned at a predetermined position. A pallet P is mounted on the pallet mounting base 11 via a cradle 38. A predetermined workpiece W is set at a predetermined position on the baren) P.

Since the setup indexing device 9 is installed at the bottom of the tank as described above, the barent P is loaded onto the pallet mounting base 11 using a forklift or the like, and the pallet mounting base 11 is moved onto the traveling trolley 37 by hand or with an appropriate rotating device. When rotated, the pallet mounting base 11 is rotated to a predetermined position with respect to the traveling carriage 37, and the locking member 42 of the pallet mounting base 11 is attached to the traveling carriage 3.
7, and the pallet mounting base 11 is stopped at a predetermined position X on the traveling carriage 37.

Next, the moving device 41 is driven to move the traveling carriage 37 toward the traveling path 5 side. Therefore, the traveling trolley 37 waits,
When the stacker crane 6 moves along the travel path 5 and comes to the setup station, the pallet P on the pallet loading platform 11
is carried in by the forks of the stacker crane 6.

This FMS has a stacker crane 6 that reciprocates on a mole rail 18 on a travel path 5.

This stacker crane 6 has almost the same structure as the conventionally used one except for the structure of the fork.
Description of the same points as the conventional one, such as the hoisting device, will be omitted. The stacker crane 6 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17 to 26. Fig. 17 is a schematic front view showing the stacker crane as a whole, Fig. 18 is a side view of Fig. 17, Fig. 19 is a perspective view schematically showing the stacker crane, and Fig. 20 is mounted on the stacker crane. Fig. 21 is a front view showing the lower part of the stacker crane, Fig. 22 is a front view showing the upper part of the stacker crane, and Fig. 23 is a cross section showing the transmission mechanism of the fork device of the stacker crane. 24 is a front view of the fork device, FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing the fork device in an extended state, and FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing the fork device in a contracted state.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the stacker crane 6 includes a traveling cart 44 that reciprocates on a mole rail 18 provided with stoppers 6s at both ends of a traveling path 50 by driving a traveling device 57, and It has a mast 45 erected in the direction, an upper saddle 46 hanging over the upper end of the mast 45, and a hoisting device 47 attached to the mast 45.

In order to prevent the upper saddle 46 of the stacker crane 6 from swinging, guide rollers 49 provided on the front, rear, left and right sides of the upper saddle 46 are guided by the upper rail 48 provided on the rack 4 (FIG. 19).

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, on the traveling cart 44 of the stacker crane 6, there is a baren (P) that is movable to extend and contract on the left and right sides of the traveling path 5. A fork device W50 is provided.

The fork device 50 is arranged on a fork base 51,
A carriage 52 is erected on the fork base 51 in the front-rear direction. Guide rollers 55 are rotatably attached to the upper part of these gear ranges 52, and chains 54 are respectively hung on the guide rollers 55. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a guide roller 56 is rotatably attached to the upper part of the carriage range 52, the guide roller 56 is guided on the mast 45, and the carriage 52 swings as the carriage 52 moves up and down. to prevent The chain 54 is wound up and rewound by a hoisting device 47, has one end attached to the upper saddle 46, and is guided by a guide roller 53 attached to the upper saddle 46.

Therefore, when the chain 54 is hoisted or rewound by the operation of the hoisting device 47, the barrel lever 52 moves up and down, and the fork device 50 on the fork base 51 moves up and down.

Next, the fork device I! 50 will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 23-26. The fork device 50 is a pallet P
The structure is expandable and retractable so that it can be loaded and carried in and out. That is, the fork mounting 250 is connected to the fork base 51.
A proximal fork 58 fixed to the proximal fork 58, an intermediate fork 59 slidable on the proximal fork 58, a distal fork 60 slidable on the intermediate fork, and the intermediate fork 59 and the distal fork 60 slidably extendable. It has a driving bag 263 for moving. In particular, this fork device 50 includes a locking pin 67A and a support pin 67 at both ends of the distal fork 60.
This is because B was established. The locking pin 67A engages with a recess 31 formed in the barrel P, and the support pin 67B supports the lower surface of the pallet to maintain the horizontal state of the pallet P.

By engaging the locking pin 67A of the tip fork 60 with the recess 31 of the pallet P, the pallet P can be accurately and reliably positioned on the tip fork 60 of the stacker crane 6. Therefore, when the fork device 50 moves up and down and extends and contracts in the stacker crane 6,
The barrel P can be moved to a predetermined position together with the distal fork 60 without moving on the distal fork 60, maintaining an accurately and reliably positioned state.

Furthermore, a forward chain receiving member 62F and a backward chain receiving member 62R are fixed to the base end fork 58, respectively. One end of the forward chain 64F is connected to the forward chain receiving member 62F, and one end of the forward chain 64F is connected to the backward chain receiving member 6.
One end of the rearward side chain 64R is fixed to each of the chains 2R and 2R. The forward chain 64F is hooked on the forward sprocket 65F provided at the tip of the intermediate fork 59, and the other end of the forward chain 64F is attached to the proximal end 66 of the forward fork 600.
It is fixed at F. In addition, the retreating side chain 64R has a retreating side sprocket 65 provided at the tip of the intermediate fork 59.
R, and the other end of the retreating side chain 64R is fixed to the tip side end 66R of the tip fork 60. Also,
The drive device 63 rotationally drives a pinion 70 rotatably attached to the fork base 51 through a transmission device 71. Furthermore, a rank 61 is fixed to the lower surface of the intermediate fork 59 in a state extending in the longitudinal direction. This rack 6
1 is engaged with a pinion 70 attached to the fork base 51. Furthermore, guide grooves 72 and 73 are formed on both side surfaces of the intermediate fork 59. A guide roller 68 is rotatably attached to the distal fork 60, and a guide roller 69 is rotatably attached to the proximal fork 58. Since the guide roller 68 loosely fits into the guide groove 72 and guides the guide roller 68 through the guide groove 72, the tip fork 60 smoothly extends and contracts with respect to the intermediate fork 59. Further, since the guide roller 69 is loosely fitted into the guide groove 73 and is guided by the guide groove 73, the intermediate fork 59 smoothly extends and contracts with respect to the base end fork 5.

As described above, the fork device 50 is configured and operates as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 25, when extending the tip fork 60 of the fork device 50, the drive device 63 is rotationally driven in one direction, and the pinion 70 is rotated in the forward direction through the transmission device 71. . The rotational movement of the pinion 70 moves the rack 61 forward in the longitudinal direction. When the rank 61 moves forward in the longitudinal direction, the intermediate fork 59 moves to the forward side, that is, to the side where it extends relative to the proximal fork 58. When the intermediate fork 59 extends, the sprocket 65F attached to the intermediate fork 59 is rotated by the chain 64F, thereby increasing the distance between the forward chain receiving member 62F and the sprocket 65F.
The distance between the base end portion 66F and the base end portion 66F becomes shorter. Therefore, the tip fork 60 moves toward the forward side, that is, the side where it extends, relative to the intermediate fork 59. Therefore, the fork device 50 will extend the tip fork 60.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, when retracting the tip fork 60 of the fork device 50, the drive unit 63 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above, and the pinion 70 is moved in the backward direction through the transmission device 71. Make a rotational movement. Binion 7
A rotational movement of 0 causes the rack 61 to move toward the rearward side in the longitudinal direction. When the rack 61 moves to the rearward side in the longitudinal direction, the intermediate fork 59 moves to the rearward side, that is, the proximal fork 5
Move to the side that pulls in against 8. The retraction of the intermediate fork 59 is performed by the sprocket 6 attached to the intermediate fork 59.
5R is rotated by the chain 64R, thereby increasing the distance between the retreating side chain receiving member 62R and the sprocket 65R, and the distance between the sprocket 65R and the proximal end 6
The distance to 6R becomes shorter. Therefore, the tip fork 60 moves toward the retreating side, that is, the retracting side, relative to the intermediate fork 59.

Therefore, the fork device 50 will retract the tip fork 6o.

Therefore, if the stacker crane 6 is provided with a fork device 50 that telescopically moves with respect to one side of the traveling path 5 and a fork device 50 that telescopically moves with respect to the other side, the stacker crane 6 can move along the traveling path 5. A fork device 50 is provided that can extend and retract from both sides.

Alternatively, for the stacker crane 6, instead of providing the two telescoping fork devices 50, a fork device that rotates on the fork base 51 (not shown) may be provided, so that one fork device 50 can be used not only in both directions. , it is also possible to orient the fork device in a desired direction.

Therefore, the stacker crane 6 moves the fork device 5o up and down by the hoisting device 47, and also moves the fork device 5o up and down the traveling path 5.
By having a fork device 50 that can extend and contract in the left-right direction, the tip fork 60 of the fork device 50 can be extended to below the baren (P) located at a predetermined location,
Next, when the tip fork 60 is slightly raised, the locking pin 67A of the tip fork 60 engages with the recess 31 of the pallet P, and the lower surface of the barrel P is placed on the support pin 67B. If the tip fork 60 is contracted in this state, the pallet P can be positioned on the fork base 51.Next, the traveling device 57 is driven to move the traveling cart 44 of the stacker crane 6 to a predetermined position according to instructions from the controller. , for example, setup indexing device 9, various processing 1
111.2°3, the intermediate transfer device 7, the rust prevention treatment device 10, and the fluid spraying device are moved to the device f12 or the shelf 19 of the rack 4. The fork device 50 is operated again to extend the tip fork 60 and move it to the location where the pallet P is placed. When the tip fork 60 is extended to the mounting position of the barrel P, if the tip fork 60 is moved slightly downward, the locking pin 67A of the tip fork 6o, which was engaged with the recess 31 of the barrel P, is released. do. In this state, the tip fork 60 is retracted, the fork device 5o is contracted to the state shown in FIG. 26, and the stacker crane 6 is moved to the next target location.

Therefore, this stacker crane 6 processes the barrels (P) received by the setup indexing device 9 through the rust prevention treatment device 10, the fluid spraying device 12, the rack 4, or various processing I! 1.2.3
It can perform the function of conveying the material to the intermediate transfer device 7. Alternatively, the stacker crane 6 can be used for various processing machines 1
, 2.3, the pallet P is received from the intermediate transfer device 7 that received the pallet P carried out from the intermediate transfer device 7, and is carried into the intermediate transfer device 7 of another processing machine, or carried out to the rack 4 or the setup indexing device 9. can perform the functions of

Further, in this FMS, the rust prevention treatment device 1° is installed at a rust prevention station provided in the pallet traveling system in order to apply rust prevention treatment to the workpiece W. Although the rust prevention stations may be installed anywhere in the pallet travel system, in the figure, two rust prevention stations are installed at two openings 20 of the tank 4. Regarding this rust prevention treatment equipment 1o, especially the second
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. 27th
The figure is a front view of a rust prevention treatment device that can be used in this FMS, and FIG. 28 is a side view of FIG. 27.

This rust prevention treatment device 10 has a pallet support member 23 that moves up and down guided by a support column 4P installed in the rank 4, and the pallet support member 23 has a pallet support member 23 in which a barent P from a stacker crane 6 is in a predetermined position. It is provided with a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet P so that the pallet P can be maintained. A frame 4F is fixed to the upper part of the support column 4P, and a drive device ioD that moves the pallet support member 23 up and down is set on the frame 4F. Also, rack 4
At the bottom of the tank, a tank IOT with an upper opening is placed.
The tank IOT contains a solution for rust prevention treatment. For example, one tank IOT contains a rust remover solution that removes rust that has formed on the workpiece W, and the other tank IOT contains a rust preventive solution that prevents rust from forming on the workpiece W. ing. Further, in order to promote the rust removal effect, it is preferable to provide a means for applying ultrasonic vibration to the solution in the tank IOT containing the mackerel removal solution.The guide roller 23G of the pallet support member 23 is It is guided by guide means provided on the support column 4P of the station and moved up and down.

In addition, in this FMS, fluid spraying is performed by the device 12 to remove deposits such as machining fluid, foreign matter, and dust attached to the surface of the workpiece W.
It is installed in the valent travel system to spray and eliminate fluid such as high-pressure air or high-temperature water. Although the fluid spraying device 12 may be provided at any location, in the figure, it is provided at the opening 20 of the rack 4 next to the rust prevention treatment device 10. This fluid spraying device 12 is used to clean the workpiece W carried into the FMS sufficiently to perform anti-corrosion treatment or electric discharge machining, and uses means for blowing out fluid such as high-pressure air or high-temperature water. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a shutter means for closing the opening 20 in order to prevent the fluid from scattering. The shutter means is controlled to operate according to commands from the controller. When the pallet P is carried from the stacker crane 6 into the fluid spraying device 12, the shutter means is activated to open the shutter, and the pallet P is placed on the pallet support member 25P provided in the fluid spraying device 12. . This pallet support member 25P is provided with a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet P so that the barrel P can maintain a predetermined positioning state. When the pallet P is placed on the pallet support member 25P, the shutter is closed, and then fluid is blown out from the fluid blowing nozzle 12N of the device 12, and the workpiece W is cleaned. When the cleaning process for the workpiece W is completed, the shutter is opened again and the pallet P is carried out from the pallet support member 25P by the stacker crane 6.

As mentioned above, the rust prevention treatment device 10 and the fluid spraying device 1
2 is configured as an example, but the action of the device 10.12 is, for example, by operating the drive device flOD to remove the rust by moving the pallet P carried from the stacker crane 6 to the pallet support member 23 of the rust prevention treatment device 10. Pour it into a tank IOT containing a removing solution to remove rust that has occurred on the workpiece W. Next, the pallet P is moved by the stacker crane 6 from the rust prevention treatment device 10 to the fluid spraying device 12, and the fluid spraying device 12 sprays high pressure air onto the surface of the workpiece W to remove the rust removing solution attached to the surface. The pallet P is again moved by the stacker crane 6 from the fluid spraying device 12 to the rust prevention treatment device 10, and is put into the tank LOT containing the rust prevention solution in the rust prevention treatment device 10, and the fluid is sprayed onto the workpiece W. In this case, the workpiece W
When performing electric discharge machining immediately after the rust prevention treatment, the pallet P is moved by the stacker crane 6 from the rust prevention treatment device 10 to the fluid spraying device 12, and the fluid spray is applied to the surface of the workpiece W under high pressure. Air is blown to blow away the antirust solution adhering to the surface, and the stacker crane 6 transports it to the intermediate transfer device W7 of the processing machine group. Alternatively, after the anti-rust treatment, the pallet P on which the anti-corrosion treated workpieces W are placed is stored on the rank 4 shelf 19 by the stacker crane 6, or processed in III.

2.3.

Next, the wire electric discharge machine 1 among the group of processing machines in this FMS will be explained with reference to FIGS. 29 to 38. Fig. 29 is a side view of the processing table part of the wire electric discharge machine, Fig. 30 is a front view of Fig. 29, Fig. 31 is a plan view of the processing table part of the wire electric discharge machine, and Fig. 32 is a side view of the processing table part of the wire electric discharge machine. 33 is a side view of the working table of the wire electric discharge machine, FIG. 34 is a partial sectional view of the clamp device, FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the machining tank cover device, and FIG. The figure is number 35
37 is a plan view of the processing tank cover device, and FIG. 38 is a side view of the processing tank cover device.

In this FMS, the wire electrical discharge machine 1 includes an automatic wire electrode supply device, a wire electrode exchange device, and a workpiece removal device (51st 52), etc. can be provided. The wire electric discharge machine 1 in this FMS has a mechanism for loading and unloading the pallet P onto the processing table 75, and a mechanism for loading and unloading the pallet P onto the processing table 75, compared to the conventional one.
Since the construction is almost the same except for the fixing mechanism and the processing tank 76, the above-mentioned differences will be explained in particular.

The machining operation of this wire electric discharge machine 1 is performed by, for example, the 56th
It can be done as shown in the figure. Wire electrical discharge machine 1
When preparations for machining are completed, the controller issues a signal to the NG program and also issues a command to the stacker crane 6, and the stacker crane 6 finishes machining the start hole accommodated in the shelf 19 of the wire electric discharge machine 1 and the rack 4. The work is carried out to carry in the workpiece W set therein) P, or the workpiece W set up with the workpiece W whose start hole has been machined by the small and large electrical discharge machine 2 set therein. When the pallet P is set in the "wire electrical discharge machine", the wire electrical discharge machine 1 is operated to perform electrical discharge machining on the workpiece W into a predetermined machining shape. When the wire electrical discharge machining is completed on the workpiece W, the pallet P carrying the workpiece W is stored on a predetermined shelf 19 of the rack 4 by the stacker crane 6, or is carried out to the base, that is, the setup station run 36. Ru.

In the wire electric discharge machine 1, the workpiece W has each ball l-
P is set in advance, and the pallet P is placed on a processing table 75 fixed to a jig base 74 electrically insulated on an X-Y table. 7, it is automatically carried in and out.

This wire electric discharge machine 1 includes a filtration device 21 for filtering the machining fluid used during electric discharge machining, and a pallet press for carrying the baren P from the intermediate transfer device 7 to the machining table 75 and pushing it into the machining table 75. A device 77, a clamp device 78 provided on the processing table 75 to fix the baren) P on the processing table 75, and an openable/closable device provided in the processing tank 76 attached to the jig base 74 to prevent scattering of processing fluid. A processing tank cover VTLF79 with a slide cover 80, which is an opening/closing door, is provided. A jig base 74 is fixed on the X-Y table of the wire electric discharge machine 1 in an electrically disconnected state, a machining tank 76 is attached to the jig base 74, and a machining tank cover is installed in the machining tank 76. A device 79 is provided.

Furthermore, a pair of processing tables 75 serving as position reference means are fixed to the upper surface of the jig base 74. These processing tables 7
5 is located on both sides of the jig base 74, and a clamp device 78 and a pallet pressing device 77 are attached.

The machining table 75 in this wire electric discharge machine 1 is
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. The processing table 75 extends corresponding to both ends of the pallet P and is fixed to the jig base 74 so as to be able to support both ends of the pallet P. The mounting structure between the processing table 75 and the jig base 74 is not particularly limited. The processing table 75 is
It is configured to move along with the horizontal movement of a table that is servo-moved by an NC device, and its positional relationship with respect to the travel path along which the wire electrode WE travels is determined in advance. A guide roller 83A is provided at the entrance/exit portion of the processing table 75.

The connecting bars 82 on both sides, which are attached to the processing table 75 so as to be movable up and down relative to the processing table 75, have a large number of guide rollers 83 facing both sides of the pallet P in order to guide the pallet P when the pallet P is pressed. Each is fixed and rotatable. These guide rollers 83 function to smoothly move the pallet P with respect to the processing table 75. In other words, the connecting bar 82 is connected to the guide rollers 8 provided at both ends.
It is supported by 6A and can be moved up and down by the operation of cylinder 78C. In addition, at the upper end of the processing table 75,
A reference metal fitting 81, which is a positioning member, is set. The upper surface of the reference fitting 81 functions as a reference surface 81S. When the pallet P is carried in and out, the connecting bar 82 is moved upward by the operation of the cylinder 78C, and the upper surface of the guide roller 83 protrudes above the reference surface 813 of the reference fitting 81 to guide the pallet P when it is carried in and out. .

Further, on each reference surface 29 and 30 of the reference fittings 29 and 30 attached to the pallet p, a pallet pressing device 77.77A is provided.
The positioning stopper 84.8 provided on the processing table 75 by
Pressed to 7. In this wire electric discharge machining Ill, the pallet pressing device 77 that presses the baren (P) to a predetermined position in the forward direction of the processing table 75 presses the reference surface 29K of the pallet P against the positioning plate (7) 84 provided on the processing table 75. Therefore, cylinders 86 provided on the processing table 75 are provided on both sides of the processing table 75. Also, put Valent P on processing table 7.
A pallet pressing device that presses it into a predetermined position on the side of 5? &77A has a cylinder 88 provided on the processing table 75 in the front-back direction of the processing table 75 in order to press the reference surface 30K on the side surface of the pallet P against the positioning stopper 87 provided on the processing table 75. These cylinders 86, 88 are double-acting cylinders in which fluid chambers are formed on both sides of the piston that reciprocates within the cylinder, and by introducing fluid into the fluid chamber on either side, the piston moves into the cylinder. 86
．． Move back and forth within 88.

Position the front end of the pallet P on the processing table 75 using the positioning stop 7 bar 8
4, one end of a cylinder 86 is rotatably attached to the processing table 75 at a pivot point 86P, and a pressing arm 91 is attached to the end of a piston rod 90 fixed to a piston in the cylinder 86. is mounted rotatably around a rotating shaft 65. Further, the pressing arm 91 is rotatably attached to a rotating shaft 66 attached to the processing table 75. Therefore, when the piston rod 90 extends from the cylinder 86, the end 94 of the pressing arm 91 pivots upward around the rotating shaft 66 and presses the end of the pallet P, as shown by the solid line in FIG. It turns out. On the other hand, if the piston rod 90 is retracted into the cylinder 86, the pressing arm 91
The end portion 94 of the pallet 7 pivots downward about the rotating shaft 66 and
) P can be carried in and out.

In addition, in the balent pressing device 77A that presses the side end of the balen) P against the positioning stopper 87 of the processing table 75,
Piston rod 8 fixed to piston inside cylinder 88
The end portion 9 is configured to be able to come into contact with one side of the valent P. Therefore, when the cylinder 88 operates and the piston loft 89 starts to extend, the tip end surface of the piston rod 89 comes into contact with the side surface of the balent P, presses the pallet P in the lateral direction, and pushes the reference metal fitting 30 provided on the side surface of the pallet P. Reference plane 3
By bringing the 0K into contact with a positioning stopper 87 provided on the processing table 75, the baren) P can be positioned at a predetermined position on the side.

In addition, the finished surface of the lower surface of the pallet P, that is, the reference surface 28, is brought into contact with the reference surface 815 of the reference fitting 81 of the processing table 75,
When positioning the pallet P on the processing table 75, the cylinder 78C is operated in the opposite direction to the above, and the connecting bar 82
is moved downward, the upper surface of the guide roller 83 is lowered below the reference surface 813 of the reference fitting 81, and the guide roller 83 is moved downward.
to prevent it from becoming an obstacle to positioning. Therefore, the finished surface of the lower surface of the ballen P, ie, the reference surface 28, is the reference metal fitting 81.
By coming into contact with the reference surface 813, the pallet P is accurately and reliably positioned in a predetermined height direction with respect to the processing table 75.

Furthermore, in this wire electrical discharge machine 1, the pallet P is mounted on the processing table 75 of the wire electrical discharge machine 1 by the clamping device 11.
It is fixed by multiple clamps 85 of F7B,
It has edges on both sides that are pressed by the clamps 85. Regarding this clamp device 78, especially the second
3, FIG. 24, FIG. 26, and FIG. 27. This clamp device 78 is attached to the side of each processing table 75 via a bracket 78B, and
Processing table 7
It has the function of fixing on top of 5. The clamping device 7B includes a cylinder 7sc arranged on the side of the center of the connecting bar 82 and fixed to the processing table 75 with a bracket 78B, a piston loft 78R1 fixed to a piston 78P that moves up and down by the operation of the cylinder 78C, and the piston. A clamp 85 is attached to the upper end of the door 8H and located above the connecting bar 82.

Further, the clamping device 78 is provided with a pallet fixing sensor and a pallet release sensor (not shown) in order to detect whether the cylinder 78C is activated and the baren) P is fixed or released on the processing table 75. There is. The upper end of the piston loft 78H is a through hole 8 provided in the clamp 85.
The clamp 85 is fixed to the piston door 8H by passing through the piston rod 5H and screwing the screw 7) 85N into the threaded portion formed at the upper end of the piston rod 78R.

Therefore, when fluid is introduced into the cylinder 78C through the fluid passage, the piston 78P moves downward and the piston door 8R moves downward. Therefore, the clamp 85 fixed to the piston door 8H moves downward. The downward movement of the clamp 85 presses the pallet P onto the processing table 75 and fixes the pallet P to the processing table 75. Furthermore, in order to move the clamp 85 of the clamp device 78 upward to release the fixation of the barrel l-P to the processing table 75,
This can be achieved by operating cylinder 78C in the opposite direction.

In this wire electric discharge machine 1, the machining tank cover device 7
9 is particularly shown in FIGS. 35, 36, 37 and 38.

This machining tank cover W79 is attached to the jig mousse 74 on the X-Y table of wire electric discharge machining Ill. !
76, and functions as a guard for preventing machining fluid, machining debris, etc. from scattering during wire electric discharge machining of the workpiece W, or for safety. Processing tank cover device 7
One is the air cylinder 92, a cover 93 attached to the processing tank 76, a manual opening/closing cover 94C1 disposed on the side surface of the cover 93 and pivotally connected to the cover 93, and a valve (baren) P that is slidable with respect to the cover 93. It is composed of a slide cover 80 that constitutes a loading/unloading entrance. Processing tank cover device 7
Reference numeral 9 includes an air cylinder 92 that is an actuator that slides a slide cover 80 for opening and closing the entrance/exit of the pallet P on which the workpiece W is set. Air cylinder 92 is a double-acting cylinder, and the cylinder is made of non-magnetic material. A piston 95 made of magnetic material is disposed within the cylinder of the air cylinder 92, and the piston 95 reciprocates within the air cylinder 92 when air is supplied to either side of the piston 95 within the air cylinder 92. It is something to do. The slide cover 80 of the processing tank cover device 79 is located on the surface facing the valent loading/unloading side of the intermediate transfer device 7. slide cover 80
Regarding the reciprocating arm, the processing tank cover device 79
An air cylinder 92 and a piston 95 that reciprocates within the air cylinder 92 are arranged below the air cylinder 92, and the reciprocating movement of the piston 95 is controlled by the air i! This is achieved by supplying air to either one of the L paths 97. A cover guide 96 is fixed to the cover 93, and a cover guide 9G and a guide roller 9B are attached thereto. Also, the slide cover 80 has a guide 1.
A rule 99 is fixed, and the guide roller 9B fits into the guide rail 99ζ. Furthermore, slide cover 8
A bracket (80B) is fixed to the lower end of the bracket (80B), and a bracket (80B) is attached to the end of the bracket (80B) to protect it from magnets.
0M is fixed. The bracket 80B attracts the piston 95 from the magnetic material reciprocating within the air cylinder 92, and reciprocates along the outer surface of the air cylinder 92. Therefore, when the piston 95 reciprocates within the cylinder, the bracket 80M adsorbing the piston 95 moves in accordance with the movement of the piston 95. When the bracket 80M reciprocates, the bracket 80B reciprocates. The reciprocating movement of the bracket 80B is achieved by the guide roller 98 provided on the cover guide 96 by the slide cover 80.
You will be guided there and back.

In this processing tank cover assembly 279, the slide cover 8
0, an open end sensor 80F detects the open state of the slide cover 80 and a closed end sensor 80B detects the closed state of the slide cover 80. The open end sensor 80F and the closed end sensor 80E can be provided on the cover 93, the slide cover 80, or the air cylinder 92 as shown. Therefore, the slide cover 80 is detected by the open end sensor 80F.
Upon receiving the detection signal, the controller controls the ball I-P located in the intermediate transfer device 7 to move onto the processing table 75 of the wire electric discharge machine 1. Alternatively, the controller controls the movement of the pallet P on the processing table 75 from the processing table 75 to the intermediate transfer device 7, and detects the closed state of the slide cover 80 with the closed end sensor 80E, and the controller receives the detection signal. The wire electric discharge machine 1 is controlled to operate.

Furthermore, regarding the wire electric discharge machine 1 in the FMS according to the present invention, in particular, the finish formed on the reference surface 815, which is the upper surface of the reference metal fitting 81, which is the positioning member disposed on the processing table 75, and the back surface of the barre 7)P. A reference surface 28 which is a surface,
Reference surface 2 of reference fitting 29 arranged on the front end surface of ballen) P
9F, a reference surface 30K of the reference metal fitting 30 placed on the side end surface of the pallet P, and a reference surface 84S formed on the positioning rod provided on the processing table 75, that is, the reference metal fittings 84 and 87.

In order to clean 873, a reference surface cleaning device is provided. This reference surface cleaning device can be configured with a water jet nozzle that sprays water on the cleaning surface and an air spray nozzle that sprays air to eliminate fine machining debris generated during wire electrical discharge machining by the wire electrical discharge machine 1. do. Therefore, each reference surface can be cleaned every time the knoblet P is set or at every predetermined period, so the setting of the pallet P on the processing table 75 is always highly reliable and does not adversely affect the processing accuracy.

As described above, the device for positioning the ball P onto the processing table 75 in this wire electric discharge machine 1 is constructed, so that it can operate as follows. That is, wire electrical discharge machine 1
The slide cover 80 of the processing tank cover device 79 provided in the processing tank cover device 79 is opened, the cylinder 78C of the clamp device 78 is activated to raise the clamp 85, and the cylinder 86A is activated to raise the connecting bar 82. The rise of the connecting bar 82 causes the guide roller 83 to rise. In this state, the lifter 100 of the intermediate transfer device 7 sends the valent P onto the processing table 75. At this time, the upper surface level of the guide roller 83 is lower than the lifter 10 of the intermediate transfer device 7, which will be described later.
It is preferable that the level is the same as the top surface level of each roller provided at 0. Thereafter, the push-pull arm 101 of the lifter 100 operates and moves forward to push the pallet P onto the processing table 75.Then, the lifter 1 of the intermediate transfer device 7
00 is slightly lowered, the actuating pin 170 provided on the push-pull-out arm 101 separates from the recess 33 formed in the pallet P, and then the push-pull-out arm 101 is retracted. At this time, the solenoid valve of the cylinder 86A goes to the neutral position according to a command from the controller, and as the pallet P descends under its own weight, the connecting bar 82 and guide roller 83 move to the neutral position.
It descends with a load of P. As a result, the lower surface of the pallet P comes into contact with the reference surface 813 of the reference fitting 81 of the processing table 75.

In this state, the pallet pressing device 77 is operated to rotate the pressing arm 91 around the rotating shaft 66, and as shown by the solid line in FIG. 29, the pressing arm 91 presses the rear end of the pallet P for processing. It is pressed against the reference surface 84S of the positioning stopper 84 of the stand 74.

The front end surface of the pallet P is set in position by the action of the pallet pressing device i77, and then the cylinder 88 of the barre/7 presser device 77A is actuated to push the side end surface of the pallet P laterally with the piston rod 89, and the pallet is The side end surface of the pallet P is pressed against the reference surface 30K of the reference metal J130 provided on the processing table 75, and the side end surface of the pallet P is positioned on the processing table 75.

After positioning the baren (P) on the processing table 75 in this way, the clamp device 78 is activated to press the baren (P).
The reference surface 28 on the lower surface of the balent P is brought into contact with the reference surface 813 of the reference fitting 81 of the processing table 75 in a pressed state, and the balent P is pressed.
If the pallet P is fixed on the processing table 75, the pallet P can be fixed on the processing table 75.
can be set at a predetermined processing position. Of course, all of these operating steps are configured to input each detection signal of each sensor to the controller, and based on the input signal, the controller issues an operating signal for the next step to operate a predetermined device. . Next, the processing table 75
When the position setting of the pallet P is completed, the slide cover 80 of the processing tank cover device 79 slides to close the loading/unloading entrance for the pallet P.

In this state, the wire electrical discharge machine 1 operates and the pallet P
After the automatic wire feeding device inserts the wire into the workpiece W set in advance, wire electrical discharge machining is started.

Electric discharge machining is performed on the workpiece W, a predetermined machining shape is machined on the workpiece W, and when the electric discharge machining is completed, the automatic wire supply device cuts the wire, and then the machining tank cover device 7
9 operates, the slide cover 80 slides, and the pallet P
Open the loading/unloading entrance. Next, the pallet pressing device 77
is operated in the opposite direction to move the pressing arm 91 backward as shown by the chain line in FIG. 26, and the pallet pressing device 77A
is inactivated to eliminate the pressing force of the piston rod 89. Furthermore, the clamp device 78 is actuated to clamp the clamp 85.
and the guide roller 83 to lift the pallet P.
is mounted on the guide roller 83. Next, the intermediate transfer device 7 is operated to move the baren) P from the processing table 75 to the intermediate transfer device 7.

Regarding wire electric discharge machining Ill, when wire electric discharge machining is performed on a workpiece W, machining waste separated from the workpiece W or a product machined into a machined shape is generated. Unless these workpieces are automatically removed during electrical discharge machining in the wire electrical discharge machine 1, subsequent discharge 1i machining cannot be performed. Here, an example of a work piece removing device will be described with reference to FIGS. 51 and 52. FIG. 51 is a schematic front view showing an example of a work piece removing device attached to a wire electric discharge machine, and FIG.
The figure is a side view of FIG. 51.

This machined piece removing device 130 is used for wire electric discharge machining III.
Upper mounting member 131 and lower mounting member 13 are attached to the head IH of
It is fixed by 2. The upper mounting member 131 includes
A dog 133 is attached that passes through and guides a ball screw rod 135 that moves up and down. A ball spline groove 141 and a screw 142 are formed in this ball net loft 135 . The lower mounting member 132 is provided with a sliding member 62 that engages with the ball spline groove 141, is fixed in the rotational direction, and slides in the vertical direction. A gear 145 is fixed to this sliding member 62. This gear 45 has a gear 146 that meshes with the gear 145 and rotates around the outer circumference of the gear 145 over 270 degrees.
are engaged.

This gear 146 is fixed to a rotating shaft 148 rotatably supported by a support member 147 attached to the lower mounting member 132. Rotation of the rotating shaft 148 is performed by the operation of the servo motor 137, which is a second servo motor. Therefore, when rotation #I48 is rotated by the servo motor 137, the gear 146 meshes with the gear 145.
or by rotating the gear 146, the gear 145 is rotated to rotate the ball rat rod 135.

Further, a ball screw 143 that engages with a screw 142 is attached to the lower attachment member 132.

A nut 149 is fixed to the nut rotation support holder 53 attached to the lower mounting member 132 and fixed to the sliding member 62, and a worm wheel 144 is fixed to the napft 149 by meshing with the screw 141. The worm wheel 144 is rotated by the operation of a servo motor 136, which is a first servo motor attached to the lower mounting member 132. Therefore, when the worm wheel 144 is rotated by the operation of the servo motor 136, the sliding member 62 moves the ball screw rod 135 up and down. Furthermore, the servo motor 137 and the servo motor 136 operate, and the gear 1
When the ball screw rod 135 and the worm wheel 144 rotate in synchronization, their rotational movements cancel each other out, resulting in a stopped state, and only the ball screw rod 135 rotates.

Furthermore, an electromagnetic holder case 138 is attached to the lower end of the ball-sleeping rod 135. A ball screw 150 is attached to this electromagnetic holder case 138, and a ball screw rod 139, which is a second ball screw rod, includes a screw 151 that meshes with the ball screw 150, and extends through the electromagnetic holder case 138. A ball spline 152 is formed on this ball screw rod 139. Furthermore,! Magnetic holder case 1
3B is provided with a servo motor 153, which is a third servo motor, in order to rotate the worm wheel attached to the ball screw 150. Therefore, servo motor 1
53 is activated and the worm wheel of the ball hitch 159 rotates, the ball hitch loft 139 reciprocates in the horizontal direction with respect to the 'KTill holder case 138. An electromagnetic holder 140 is attached to the tip of the ball screw loft 139, and the electromagnetic holder 140! A magnet such as a magnet is attached.

Since this workpiece removal device 130 is configured as described above, the ball screw rod 139 attached to the lower end of the ball screw rod 135 that moves vertically and rotates is integrally connected to the ball screw loft 135. Since the ball screw wand 139 itself can move horizontally with respect to the ball screw loft 135, the electromagnetic holder 140 attached to the tip of the ball screw loft 139 can perform three-dimensional movement. Be able to move through space.

Therefore, the electromagnetic holder 14 of this work piece removing device 130
If the electromagnet attached to 0 is configured to protrude from this workpiece removal device 130, it will come into contact with the upper surface of the workpiece W positioned on the pallet P of the wire electric discharge machine 1. You will be able to do this. Therefore, if the workpiece removal device 130 is activated to bring the electromagnet into contact with the workpiece and attract the workpiece immediately before the workpiece is separated from the workpiece W according to a command from the controller, the workpiece will be removed. Then, the workpiece attracted to the electromagnet 140 can be moved upward and stored in a predetermined workpiece storage location without falling, and the workpiece separated from the workpiece W will not damage the machined surface. The work piece can be eliminated.

Next, the small and large electrical discharge machine 2 in the processing machine group will be explained with reference to FIGS. 39 to 43.

Fig. 39 is a plan view of the small and large electrical discharge machine, Fig. 40 is a side view of the pipe electrode exchange device, and Fig. 41 is the line mx- of Fig. 39.
42 is a plan view of the index table, and FIG. 43 is a sectional view taken along line 1B-B in FIG. 42.

Compared to the wire electrical discharge machine 1, this fine electrical discharge machine 2 uses pipe electrodes PR to machine a workpiece W preset on a pallet P using wire electrical discharge machining. This is for machining a start hole for penetrating the WE, and for the device for positioning the pallet P on the processing table and the processing tank cover device, the same device as the wire electric discharge machine 1 described above can be used. It is something.

Therefore, here, we will omit the redundant explanation of the tank bottom and operation of the above device, and will only explain the pipe electrode PE exchanging device and the pipe electrode PE setting device. Further, although it is possible to use the pipe electrode exchange device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-246021 for this FMS, the pipe electrode exchange device described below is preferable.

The machining work of this fine and large electrical discharge machining 112 is performed, for example, at the 55th
It can be done as shown in the figure. When the fine and large electrical discharge machine 2 is ready for machining, the controller issues a signal to the NC program and also issues a command to the stacker crane 6.
The stacker crane 6 transfers the pallet P loaded with the workpiece W to be machined into a predetermined shape by wire electrical discharge machining stored in the rack 4 [19] to the fine and large electrical discharge machining 612 for machining a start hole. When the baren) P is set in the small and large electrical discharge machine 2 that performs the work of transporting the workpiece to the large electrical discharge machine 2, the small and large electrical discharge machining 16! Perform electrical discharge machining of the hole.

When the electric discharge machining of the start hole for the workpiece W is completed, the pallet P carrying the workpiece W is stored in a predetermined shelf 19 of rank 4 by the stacker crane 6, or is carried to the wire electric discharge machining Ill. be done.

This fine and large electric discharge machining 112 is equipped with a pipe electrode exchange device 2C. This pipe electrode exchange device &2C is
A conventionally used pipe electrode PE can be used, and in order to index a large number of pipe electrodes PE, one index f
It has an index table 102 in which a li-certification notch 102C is formed and a chunk pallet 105 that supports the pipe electrode PE. This chuck pallet 105
is configured to be replaceable with respect to the index table 102. The chuck pallet 105 has support holes 10 for supporting the chuck portion PEC of the pipe electrode PE.
3 are formed on concentric circles at equal distances in the circumferential direction from the rotation center point. The support hole 103 has a cutout groove 104 that opens outward in the radial direction to allow the pipe electrode PE to enter and exit. The notch groove 104 of the support hole 103 is formed at a distance from a line connecting the center point of the chuck pallet 105 and the center point of the support hole 103. The diameter of the support hole 103 is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe electrode PEO bag (PEN). The chuck pallet 105 has an attachment reference hole 108 in the center for attaching the chunk pallet 105 to the index table 102, and an equally divided clamping hole for tightening the chuck pallet 105 to the index table 102 on the outer periphery of the attachment reference hole 108. Hole 1
06 (four in the figure), and the indexing origin of the pipe electrode PE as f! An index origin confirmation hole 107 is formed for confirmation. Also, one tightening hole 10 is located on the line connecting the center point of the chuck pallet 105 and the center point of the support hole 103.
6 and the index origin confirmation hole 107 are located. The indexing origin confirmation hole 107 is configured so that the indexing origin can be confirmed by matching with the indexing confirmation notch 102C of the 7-inch staple 102.

This pipe electrode exchange device 2C has a chuck pallet 1
It has an indexing mechanism that indexes 05.

The cutting mechanism is composed of a stepping motor 109 and a reduction transmission device 110 installed between the stepping motor 109 and the chuck pallet 105.

Furthermore, the small hole electric discharge machining 112 includes a mechanism for inserting an electrode holder of a pipe electrode PE supported in the support hole 103 of the chuck pallet 105 into the upper shaft 111, and a mechanism for inserting the electrode holder of the pipe electrode PE supported in the support hole 103 of the chuck pallet 105.
It has a mechanism for moving from the standby position of No. 3 to the center position of the main shaft 111 of the fine and large electrical discharge machining 112. This main shaft 111
The center of is the center of the pipe electrode PE and is the center point during processing. The insertion mechanism includes a vertically moving cylinder 112 that vertically moves a chuck pallet 105 provided in the pipe electrode exchange device 2C. Further, a movement mechanism for moving the chuck pallet 105 to the center position of the main shaft 111 is provided by a longitudinal movement cylinder 113. This back-and-forth moving cylinder 1/3 moves the indexed pipe electrode PE to the center position of the main shaft 111 at the forward end, and retreats the chuck pallet 1o5 to the standby position at the backward end.
have the ability. Furthermore, this pipe electrode exchanging device 2C has means for identifying the index origin N of the chuck pallet 105 and presence/absence checking means for checking whether or not the pipe electrode PE is present in the support hole 103. The indexing origin confirmation means is composed of a photoelectric switch 114 attached to a frame 116 that supports the stepping motor 109. Further, the presence/absence checking means includes a photoelectric switch 115 that is attached to the frame 116 that supports the stepping motor 109 and that detects whether or not the pipe electrode PE is supported in the support hole 1034 facing the center of the main shaft 111. There is.

Since this pipe electrode exchange gt2C is configured as described above, it can operate as follows. Fine electrical discharge machine 2
When attaching the pipe 'tipE to the main shaft center 111 of 10
Determine 3, then 0, then presence or absence! The support hole 10 facing the spindle center 111 is operated by a photoelectric switch 115 as a recognition means.
3, and if the pipe electrode PR exists in the support hole 103, move the pipe electrode PE to the main axis center 111 by operating the longitudinal movement cylinder 113.
move it to the position. Since a pipe electrode holder is provided on the main shaft of the small and large electrical discharge machine 2, the vertical motion cylinder 1
12 to raise the indexed pipe electrode PE of the chuck balent 105 and insert it into the pipe electrode holder 2H of the main shaft 111. When the pipe electrode PE is inserted into the pipe electrode holder 2H, the pipe electrode PE is automatically held in the pipe electrode holder 2H.

After inserting and fixing the pipe electrode PE into the pipe electrode holder 2H, the vertical movement cylinder 112 is operated to lower the chuck balent 105, and then the chuck balent 105 is lowered.
is moved back to the standby position of the pipe electrode exchange device 2c by operating the forward and backward movement cylinder 113.

In addition, when the pipe electrode PE is used to machine a start hole on the workpiece W and the pipe electrode PR is consumed, when removing the consumed pipe electrode PE from the main shaft 111 of the small and large electrical discharge machine 2, a chuck pallet is used. 105 support holes 10
3 confirms that the pipe electrode PE is not present using a photoelectric switch 115 serving as a presence confirmation means, and moves the support hole 103 to the center of the main shaft 111 to align the center of the support hole 103 with the center of the main shaft 111. , the exhausted pipe electrode PE is received in the support hole 103. At this time, the electrode holder P
Pass the pipe electrode PR remaining on the EH through the notch groove 104 of the support hole 103, and position the support hole 103 below the pipe electrode PR.Next, move the electrode holder PE of the main shaft 111
Release the holding state of H and insert the electrode holder PEH into the support hole 10.
drop it to 3. Next, the chuck balent 105 of the pipe electrode exchange device 2c is retreated to the standby position.

This small hole electrical discharge machining I! 2, the above-mentioned pipe electrode exchange operation is automatically repeated to remove the chuck pallet 105.
A large number of pipe electrodes PE loaded in the pipe electrode P
By replacing the pipe electrode PE with a new one, it is possible to automatically and continuously perform fine and large electrical discharge machining on the workpiece W. .

Note that the automatic attachment and detachment mechanism for the pipe electrode holder and pipe electrode PE in the fine and large electrical discharge machine 2 can use a conventional pipe electrode exchange mechanism, but for example, the mechanism disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-143321 It is preferable to utilize a pipe electrode holding device which has a structure similar to that shown in FIG. Since the pipe electrode holding device is described in detail in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-143321, its explanation will be omitted here.

(Hereinafter, this page margin) Next, the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 among the group of processing machines in this FMS will be explained with reference to FIGS. 44 to 50. Fig. 44 is a plan view of the processing table part of the die-sinking electric discharge machine, Fig. 45 is a front view of Fig. 44, Fig. 46 is a side view of the processing table part of the die-sinking electric discharge machine, and Fig. 47 is the machining table part of the die-sinking electric discharge machine. A plan view of the tank device, FIG. 48 is a front view of FIG. 47, FIG. 49 is a sectional view showing a part of the wall of the processing tank of FIG. 47, and FIG.
It is an explanatory view showing a part of mechanism of the opening/closing door of the processing tank.

In this FMS, the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 can be equipped with an automatic electrode exchange device, etc., as in the conventional machine. The die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 in this FMS is almost the same as the conventional one, except for the mechanism for loading and unloading the pallet P onto the processing table, the fixing am of the pallet P on the processing table, and the processing tank. Therefore, the different devices described above will be explained in particular. In addition, in the drawing, die engraving electric discharge machining l! The same reference numerals are given to parts having the same functions as those in the wire electric discharge machine 1.

The machining operation of this die sinking electric discharge machine 3 can be performed as shown in FIG. 57, for example. When the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 is ready for machining, the controller issues a signal to the NC program and also issues a command to the stacker crane 6, so that the stacker crane 6 moves the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 to the machine 4.
A die-sinking electric discharge machine for carrying in a pallet P on which a workpiece W stored in a shelf 19 of When the pallet 7) P is set to 3, the die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 is activated to perform electric discharge machining on the workpiece W into a predetermined machining shape. When die-sinking electrical discharge machining is completed on the workpiece W, the pallet P carrying the workpiece W is stored on a predetermined shelf 19 of the rack 4 by the stacker crane 6, or is carried out to the setup station 36. .

In this die-sinking electric discharge machine 3, the workpieces W are set in advance on each pallet P, and the workpieces P are set on a jig base 74 that is electrically insulated on the X-Y table.
The intermediate transfer device 7 and lifting bag 2122 automatically carry the workpiece into and out of the processing table 75 fixed to the worktable 75 . This die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 includes a filtration device 21 that circulates and filters the machining fluid used during electric discharge machining, and a pallet support member 120 that supports the pallet P from the intermediate transfer device 7. , the pallet support member 1
20 in the processing tank 76 to move the pallet P up and down, a clamp device f78 provided on the lifting device 122 to fix the pallet P on the pallet support member 120, and a pallet lowered by the lifting device 122. P
A pallet pressing device 77.77A that places the pallet P on the processing table 75 and presses the end of the pallet P to set the position, and a processing tank 76K attached to the jig base 74 for storing processing liquid. A processing tank device 79K having an opening/closing fa80D that can be opened and closed is provided. A jig mousse 74 is fixed on the XY table of the die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 in an electrically cut-off state, and a machining tank 76K is attached to the jig base 74.

Further, a pair of processing tables 75 serving as reference means are fixed to the upper surface of the jig base 74 or the bottom wall 67.

The jig base 74 is provided with clamp devices 78 located on both sides of the processing table 75. A pallet pressing device 77° 77A is attached to the processing table 75 in order to fix the carried pallet 7)P in a predetermined position. The pallet support member 120 is a support roller (three on each side is shown in the figure) attached to a connecting bar 82 fixed to a piston rod 82P that moves up and down inside the cylinder 121. , barre 7) Guide rollers 126 are provided to guide the side and top surfaces of the pallet P when positioning the pallet P with the pallet pressing device 77, 77A.

The processing table 75 in this die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 is fixed to the jig base 74 so as to extend corresponding to both ends of the pallet P so as to support both ends of the pallet P. The mounting structure between the processing table 75 and the jig base 74 is not particularly limited. The processing table 75 is an NC
It is configured to move in the horizontal direction along with the horizontal movement of the table that is servo-moved by the device, and the positional relationship with respect to the travel path along which the engraving electrode RE moves up and down is determined in advance. Connecting bars 8 on both sides attached to the lifting device 122 so as to be movable up and down with respect to the processing table 75
2, when pressing the baren) P, the pallet P is placed on the processing table 75.
In order to fix the pallet 10 upwardly, clamps 85 facing each other are fixed to both sides of the pallet 10 so as to be movable up and down.

This elevating device 122 has two cylinders 121 provided in the front-rear direction and two cylinders 121 provided in the left-right direction. Connection bars 82 arranged on both sides are attached to each cylinder 121 on both sides via brackets 82B.

Each connection bar 82 has cylinders 121 provided at both ends.
It can be moved up and down by the operation of . The vertical stroke of the connecting bar 82 is configured to be large,
This ranges from the height at which the baren (P) is carried in and out of the intermediate transfer device 7 to the height at which the die-sinking process is set on the processing table 75. At the rear of the connecting bar 82, a shaft 82S is rotatably attached to the connecting bar 82 via a bracket 82C. Pinions 124 are attached to both ends of the shaft 82S.

On the other hand, ranks 82R are provided at both bases of the processing table 75 extending upward on both sides. A pinion 124 that moves up and down is engaged with each rack 82R. Therefore, when the connecting bar 82 moves up and down due to the operation of the four cylinders 121, the pinion 124 engages on the rack 82R and moves up and down, so the bracket 82B, which moves up and down due to the operation of the four cylinders 121, operates synchronously. However, the connecting bar 82 can now move up and down in a horizontal state.

In this die-sinking electric discharge machine 3, when loading and unloading the barren P, the connecting bar 82 moves slightly upward by the operation of the cylinder 121, releases the fixed state of the baren P of the clamp 85, and transfers the barren P to the intermediate transfer device 7. The state is such that it can be carried out or the pallet P from the intermediate transfer device 7 can be carried in. Furthermore, a reference fitting 81 for vertical position setting, which is a positioning stopper, is attached to the upper end of the processing table 75, that is, on the base (FIG. 45). The upper surface of the reference fitting 81 functions as a reference surface 81S. The pallet P is lowered onto the processing table 75 using the lifting device 122, and the reference surface 28 on the lower surface of the pallet P is aligned with the processing table 750 reference metal fitting 8.
10 reference plane 81S and position it on the processing table 75, the cylinder 121 is actuated, the clamp device 78 is actuated, and the pallet P is pressed downward by the clamp 85. Therefore, the finished surface of the lower surface of the pallet P, that is, the reference surface 28, comes into contact with the reference surface 81S of the reference fitting 81, and the pallet P is accurately and reliably positioned in a predetermined height direction with respect to the processing table 75. That will happen. Further, a magnet 125 is attached to a portion of the connecting bar near the reference surface 28, which is pressed against the pallet P by the spring force of a spring and can sink down against the spring force when pressed in the forward direction. The magnet 125 is attached to the cylinder 12
1 and the clamp device 78 is activated, it has a function of preventing the position of the pallet P from moving.

Furthermore, in this die-sinking electrical discharge machining Wi3, pallet pressing devices 77 and 77 are provided on the reference plane 29 and 30 of the balent P.
A positioning stopper 84 provided on the processing table 75.
87 is pressed. The pallet pressing device 77 that presses the pallet P to a predetermined position in the forward direction of the processing table 75 presses the reference surface 29 of the pallet P against the positioning stopper provided on the processing table 75, that is, the reference surface 843 of the reference fitting 84. There are cylinders 86C provided on the processing table 75 on both sides of the processing table 75. Also, a pallet pressing device 77 that presses the pallet P to a predetermined position in the side direction of the processing table 75
A is a reference surface 87 of a positioning stopper provided on the processing table 75, that is, a reference surface 30K of the side surface of the baren) P, that is, a reference metal fitting 87.
The processing table 7 is moved in the front and back direction of the processing table 75 in order to press the
It has a cylinder 88 provided at 5. These cylinders 86C and 88 have fluid chambers formed on both sides of the piston that reciprocates within the cylinder, and when fluid is introduced into the fluid chamber on either side, the piston moves into the cylinder 86.
Move back and forth within C, 88.

In the pallet pressing device 77 that presses the side end of the baren (P) against the reference fitting 84 of the processing table 75, the end of the piston loft 90 fixed to the piston in the cylinder 86C can come into contact with one side of the baren (P). It is composed of Therefore, when the cylinder 86C is actuated and the piston rod 90 starts to extend, the tip end surface of the piston rod 90 comes into contact with the rear end surface of the pallet P, and presses the baren P in the front direction. The pallet P can be positioned at a predetermined position in front by bringing the reference surface 29S of the metal fitting 29 into contact with the reference surface 84S of the reference metal fitting 84 provided on the processing table 75.

In addition, the reference plane 30K of the side end of the baren LP is set on the processing table 75.
In the pallet pressing device fi77A, which is pressed against the positioning stopper, that is, the reference fitting 87, the end of the piston rod 89 fixed to the piston in the cylinder 88 is a baren).
It is configured so that one side of P can come into contact with it. Therefore, if the cylinder 88 operates and the piston rod 89 begins to extend,
The tip surface of the piston loft 89 contacts the side surface of the pallet P, presses the baren P in the lateral direction, and connects the reference surface 30K of the reference fitting 30 provided on the side surface of the baren P to the positioning stopper 87 provided on the processing table 75. The pallet P can be positioned at a predetermined position on the side by making contact with the pallet P.

In this die-sinking electrical discharge machining 113, the pallet P is fixed to the processing table 75 of the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3 by a plurality of clamps 85 of the clamping device 78, and the pallet P is It has edges.

The clamp device 78 has four cylinders 121 . A piston rod 82P that moves up and down by the operation of the i cylinder 121,
Connection bars 82 on both sides fixed via brackets 82B attached to the piston rod 82P and the connection bars 82
It consists of a clamp 85 attached to the center of the.

Further, in order to smoothly move the connecting bar 82 up and down, a guide column 82G is fixed to the processing table 75. The clamp device 78 has a cylinder 121 which is operated to release a baren) P.
Although not shown, a pallet fixing sensor and a pallet release sensor are provided to detect whether the pallet is fixed on or released from the processing table 75.

To fix the pallet 71P on the reference fitting 81 of the processing table 75 using the clamp 85, fluid is introduced into the cylinder 121 through the fluid passage and the piston is moved downward.
Piston rod 82P moves downward. Therefore, the clamp 85 attached to the piston rod 82P via the platen 82B and the connecting bar 82 moves downward. When the clamp 85 is moved downward, the pallet P is fixed to the processing table 75 by pressing the baren (P) onto the processing table 75. In addition, in order to move the clamp 85 of the clamp device 78 upward to release the fixation of the balent P to the processing table 75,
This can be achieved by operating the cylinder 121 in the opposite direction.

In this die-sinking electric discharge machining 813, the machining tank device 79K is particularly shown in FIGS. 47, 48, 49, and 50.

This machining tank device 79 has a machining device attached to a jig base 74 on the X-Y table of the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3. 76K, and is filled with machining fluid when die-sinking electrical discharge machining is performed on the workpiece W. The machining tank 76 is formed in a sealed structure to be filled with machining fluid, and has an open upper part, and has a cutout opening 80A for carrying in and out a pallet P with a workpiece W set on the upper part. Front wall 76F, rear wall 76
It is composed of R1 side walls 76S and a bottom wall 67 which is a sub-base attached to the jig base 74. Front wall 7
The notch 80A on the 6F is configured to be closed by an openable/closeable door 80D. Processing tank device 79
, the above-mentioned walls forming the processing tank 76K, the front wall 76
An opening 80A formed in F for loading and unloading the pallet P,
In order to seal or open the opening 80A, there is an opening/closing door 80D that is movable downward when opening with respect to the front wall 76F, a cylinder 92A for vertically moving the opening/closing door 80D, and an opening/closing door 80D that is operated by the operation of the cylinder 92A. It has a vertical movement mechanism that moves it up and down. In the processing tank device 79K, the vertical movement mechanism of the opening/closing door 80D is connected to the opening 80. An opening/closing door 80D for opening and closing A, a guide post 127 and a guide post 12 installed on both sides of the opening/closing door 80D and fixed to the front wall 76F.
Cylinder 92A attached to the upper end of 7, if cylinder 9
It consists of a piston rod 95P fixed to a piston that reciprocates in the vertical direction inside 2A, and a bracket 92B attached to the lower end of the piston rod 95P and fixed to the lower part of the opening/closing R80D.

That is, the cylinder 92A and the piston loft 95P function as an actuator that moves the opening/closing door 80D up and down.

Furthermore, in the vertical movement mechanism of the opening/closing door 80D, the guide post 127 functions as a guide for opening/closing 1880D, and the guide 11$118 formed on the guide post 127 includes guide rollers provided at the top and bottom of both sides of the opening/closing door 1R80D. 11
7 is engaged (Fig. 50). In addition, the guide column 12
A bracket 76B is fixed to the bladder 7) 76.
B is a cylinder 80C that operates a piston rod 80P.
is fixed (FIG. 49), and when the piston rod 80P protrudes due to the operation of the cylinder 80C, the tip of the piston loft 80P functions to press the opening/closing door 80D against the front wall 76F. That is, when the opening/closing door 80D is raised by the actuation of the cylinder 92A and the opening 80A of the front wall 76F is closed by the opening/closing door 80D, the cylinder 80C is actuated and the opening/closing door 180D is raised by the piston rod 80P.
Press it against the front of F. In addition, the opening/closing door 80D and the front wall 7
A sealing material 803 is arranged between the 6th floor and the opening/closing door 80.
Since D and the front wall 76F contact each other in a sealed state, it is possible to prevent the machining fluid in the machining tank 76 from scattering or leaking.

This processing tank device 79K includes an open end sensor that detects the open state of the door 80D and a closed end sensor that detects the closed state of the door 80D in order to detect the open/closed state of the door 80D.

The open end sensor and the closed end sensor can be provided on the front wall 76F, the opening/closing part 1i80D, the cylinder 92A, or the like. Therefore, the opening/closing door 80 is
Detecting that D is in the open state, the controller receives the detection signal and transfers the ball P located in the intermediate transfer device 7 to the pallet support member 12 of the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3.
0, or control is performed to move the barrel P on the processing table 75 from the pallet support member 120 to the intermediate transfer device 7. In addition, opening/closing door 80D
The closed state of the machine is detected by a closed end sensor, and upon receiving the detection signal, the controller injects machining fluid into the machining tank 76K and controls the die-sinking electric discharge machining 1 to 3 to be performed.

As mentioned above, this die-sinking electric discharge machining l! The device for positioning the pallet P onto the processing table 75 in No. 3 is constructed so that it can operate as follows. First, in order to open the opening/closing 5t80D of the machining tank device 79 provided in the die-sinking electrical discharge machine 3, the cylinder 92A is actuated to extend the piston rod 95P downward, and the opening/closing IB80D is lowered to open the opening 80.
Release A.

On the other hand, operate the lifting device f122 to lift the pallet support member 1.
20, the cylinder 1 of the clamping device 78
21 to extend the piston rod 82P and raise the connecting bar 82. The rise of the connecting bar 82 moves the pallet P to the pallet support member 1 located above the processing table 75.
20 so that it can be transported. The pallet P is sent onto the pallet support member 120 by the lifter 100 of the intermediate transfer device 7. Push-pull arm 1 of lifter 100
01 moves forward and pushes the pallet P onto the pallet support member 120. Next, the lifter 100 of the intermediate transfer device 7 is slightly lowered, and the locking pin 7P of the push-pull-out arm 101 is disengaged from the recess 33 formed in the baren) P, and then the push-pull-out arm 1 of the lifter 100
01 to the intermediate transfer device 7 side. Thereafter, the cylinder 121 of the lifting device 122 is operated to lower the pallet support member 120 on which the pallet P is mounted onto the processing table 75. When the pallet support member 120 moves up and down, the magnet 125 attached to the connecting bar 82 is pushed out toward the barresole I-P by the force of the spring, and prevents the baren P from moving on the pallet support member 120. As a result, the reference surface 28 formed on the lower surface of the pallet P is aligned with the processing table 7.
It is placed in contact with the reference surface 815 of the reference metal fitting 81 of No. 5.

In this state, the pallet pressing device 77 is activated to extend the piston rod 90 and press the rear end of the pallet P against the positioning stopper of the processing table 75, that is, the reference surface 84S of the reference fitting 84.

The front end surface of the barrel I-P is positioned by the action of the pallet pressing device 77. Next, the cylinder 88 of the pallet pressing device 77A is operated to push the side end surface of the pallet P laterally with the piston rod 89, and the reference surface 30S of the reference fitting 30 on the side end surface of the pallet P is aligned with the reference provided on the processing table 75. The pallet P is pressed against the reference surface 873 of the metal fitting 87 to set the position of the side end surface of the pallet P on the processing table 75. After the pallet P is positioned on the processing table 75 in this way, the clamp device 78 is operated to lower the clamp 85 slightly, and the clamp 85 is lowered slightly.
Press the pallet P against the processing table 75 and align the reference surface 28 of the lower surface of the pallet P with the reference surface 8 of the reference fitting 81 of the processing table 75.
1S is brought into contact with the pressed state, and the baren) P is fixed on the processing table 75. Therefore, the pallet P can be set at a predetermined processing position on the processing table 75. Of course, all of these operating steps are configured to input each detection signal of each sensor to the controller, and based on the input signal, the controller issues an operating signal for the next step to operate a predetermined device. . Next, when the positioning of the balent P on the processing table 75 is completed, the cylinder 92A of the processing tank device 79 is activated, the opening/closing HOOD is raised, and the opening 80A of the front wall 76F is closed with the opening/closing door 80D. , the pallet P loading/unloading entrance is closed.

In this state, the machining tank 76 is filled with machining fluid, and the die-sinking electric discharge machine 3 is operated to start die-sinking electric discharge machining on the workpiece W set in advance on the pallet P. Electric discharge machining is performed on the workpiece W, a predetermined machining shape is machined on the workpiece W, and when the electric discharge machining is completed, the machining fluid inside is discharged into the machining tank 76, and then the cylinder 92A of the machining tank device 79A is operates to lower the opening/closing door 80D and open the opening 80A.
to open the loading/unloading entrance for baren) P. Then,
Piston rond 90 of pallet pressing device 77.77A.
89 is made inactive and moved backward.

Furthermore, the cylinder 121 of the lifting device 122 is operated to raise the pallet support member 120, thereby raising the pallet P. Next, the lifter 100 of the intermediate transfer device 7 operates to move the pallet P from the pallet support member 120 to the intermediate transfer device W7 side.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the intermediate transfer device in the flexible manufacturing system according to the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. In other words, this intermediate transfer device transfers a barent with a workpiece set to a predetermined position onto a base between a group of processing machines in which a large number of various types of processing machines are installed and a running path of a stacker crane carrying a pallet and moving back and forth. a frame fixed to the trolley; a receiving member formed at the upper end of the frame on which pallets to be carried in and out by the stacker crane are placed; a receiving member movable up and down with respect to the frame; A lid frame that can protrude upward from the member, a lifter that moves the lifter frame up and down, and a lifter that can support the pallet and can reciprocate with respect to the lifter frame to carry the pallet into and out of the processing machine. Since it has a push-in and pull-out arm, the loading and unloading height of the pallet 7) can be adjusted not only for the stacker crane but also for each of the processing machines, and the pallet loading and unloading operation can be carried out reliably and accurately. It can be carried out. Moreover, since the intermediate transfer device is equipped with a push-pull arm, even if the pallet on which the workpiece is installed has a considerable weight, the balent can be reliably and accurately transferred to and from the processing table of each processing machine. I can do something.

Therefore, by providing each processing machine with this intermediate transfer device, it is possible to fully automate various types of processing on workpieces, and to continuously perform various types of processing on workpieces unmanned day and night. This enables a flexible manufacturing system that can

In addition, in the loading/unloading operation of the barre 7), by providing an intermediate transfer device, the loading/unloading operation of the pallet to/from the processing machine and the loading/unloading operation of the pallet to/from the stacker crane can be performed extremely smoothly. The pallet is moved back and forth between the processing machines and the pallet is maintained in a positioned state to enable delivery. Furthermore, the stacker crane only needs to run along the path facing the intermediate transfer device, and only needs to transport pallets to and from the intermediate transfer device, so that the setting time for each processing machine can be reduced. It is possible to shorten the time and improve the efficiency of transport and loading/unloading to and from each processing machine, workpiece processing device, etc.

Therefore, the pallet can be carried into the processing machine by the stacker crane and the intermediate transfer device, and the workpiece can be automatically set at a predetermined position on the processing table of the processing machine reliably, quickly, and unattended. After the workpiece has been processed, it can be automatically and unmanned from the processing machine, carried out by the intermediate transfer device, and then by the stacker crane from the processing machine group to an appropriate location.

Further, in this intermediate transfer device, the receiving member has a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to transfer the pallet to the stacker crane while maintaining the positioning state. The pallet can be loaded and unloaded reliably and accurately without the position setting being disturbed by the intermediate transfer device itself.

Further, the push-pull arm of this intermediate transfer device is provided with a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to maintain the positioning state of the pallet with respect to the receiving member and transfer the pallet. Therefore, even if the pallet is heavy, it can be reliably placed in a predetermined position, and it can also be reliably pulled out from the pallet support member processed by the processing machine.

In particular, this intermediate transfer device is used for a wide variety of processing machines,
The pallets with workpieces are processed using a rack equipped with multiple shelves for storing pallets, a processing station where workpieces are treated to prevent rust, and a pallet transport device that moves back and forth between pallet loading/unloading stations. This is extremely preferable for application to a flexible manufacturing system in which workpieces on the pallet are delivered to and delivered from machines while being maintained in a positioning state, and workpieces on the pallet are automatically electrically discharge-machined by each of the processing machines.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an F using the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of FMSO using the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a front view of the upper part of the intermediate transfer device of this invention, and FIG. 7 is a front view of the intermediate transfer device of FIG. 6. 8 is a side view of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a front view of the lower part of the intermediate transfer device according to the present invention, FIG. 10 is a plan view of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is common to this FMS. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line ■-V in Fig. 11.
14 is a plan view showing an example of a setup indexing device that can be used in this FMS, and FIG. 15 is a sectional view at 1
Figure 4 is a front view, Figure 16 is a front end side view of Figure 14, and Figure 1 is a front view of Figure 14.
Fig. 7 is a schematic front view showing the stacker crane as a whole, Fig. 18 is a side view of Fig. 17, Fig. 19 is a perspective view schematically showing the stacker crane, and Fig. 20 is a fork head mounted on the stacker crane. Fig. 21 is a front view showing the lower part of the stacker crane; Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the outline of the stacker crane;
Figure 23 is a front view showing the upper part of the stacker crane, Figure 23 is a sectional view showing the transmission mechanism of the fork device of the stacker crane, Figure 24 is a front view of the fork device, and Figure 25 shows the fork device in an extended state. An explanatory diagram, FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the fork device in a contracted state, FIG. 27 is a front view of the rust prevention treatment device that can be used in this FMS, FIG. 28 is a side view of FIG. 27, and FIG. Figure 30 is a side view of the processing table of a wire electrical discharge machine, and Figure 30 is a front view of Figure 29.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the processing table of a wire electrical discharge machine, Figure 32
The figure is a partial plan view of Figure 31, Figure 33 is another side view of the processing table of the wire electric discharge machine, Figure 34 is a partial sectional view of the clamp device, and Figure 35 is a perspective view of the machining tank cover device. Figure 36 is a sectional view of Figure 35, Figure 37 is a plan view of the machining tank cover device, Figure 38 is a side view of Figure 37, and Figure 39 is a view of the fine electrical discharge machine and pipe electrode exchange device. A plan view, FIG. 40 is a side view of the pipe electrode exchange device, FIG. 41 is a sectional view taken along line mx■X in FIG. 39, FIG. 42 is a plan view of the index table, and FIG. A cross-sectional view taken along line B-B, Fig. 44 is a plan view of the worktable part of the die-sinking electrical discharge machine, Fig. 45 is a front view of Fig. 44, and Fig. 46 is a side view of the workbench part of the die-sinking electrical discharge machine. 47 is a plan view of the processing tank apparatus, FIG. 48 is a plan view of FIG. 47, FIG. 49 is a sectional view showing a part of the wall of the processing tank of FIG. 47, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing part of the mechanism of the opening/closing door of the processing tank in Figure 47,
Fig. 51 is a schematic front view showing an example of a workpiece removal device attached to a wire electric discharge machine, Fig. 52 is a side view of Fig. 51, and Fig. 53 shows the process from planning schedule to setup schedule creation in this FMS. FIG. 54 is a block diagram showing an example of setup work in this FMS, FIG. 55 is a block diagram showing an example of machining with a fine electric discharge machine in this FMS, and FIG. 57 is a block diagram showing an example of machining using a wire electric discharge machine, and FIG. 57 is a block diagram showing an example of machining using a die sinking electric discharge machine in this FMS. 1-----1.Wire electrical discharge machine, 2-1--Small hole electrical discharge machine, 3-----1 die cutting electrical discharge machine, 4-
・-Rack, 4F--Frame, 5--One passageway, 6---Stacker crane, 7--
-----Intermediate delivery device, 79-----1 processing tank cover assembly W (processing tank assembly f), 79 A--processing tank apparatus, 9----- setup indexing device , 10-・-
・-Anti-corrosion treatment equipment, 12--Fluid spraying equipment, 1
9--Shelf, 20--Sekiguchi part, 24--Cutout hole, 29.30--Reference fitting, 28.29, 30
In, 81S. 84 S, 87 S--one reference plane, 31.32.
33--Recess (locking means), 36--Moose, 37-Dolly, 62 F, 62 R--Receiving member, 100--Lifter, 101--Pushing/drawing arm , 165 lifter frame, 168・--1-
--Locking bin (locking means), 170--operating bin (locking means), P.--Pallet, w'----One workpiece,
W E--wire electrode, PE・----1-vibrator electrode, RE-・-embossed electrode.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A trolley that reciprocates a pallet with a workpiece set in a predetermined position on a base between a processing machine group with a large number of various types of processing machines installed and a running path of a stacker crane that carries the pallet and moves back and forth. , a frame fixed to the trolley, a receiving member formed at the upper end of the frame on which pallets to be carried in and out by the stacker crane are placed, and a receiving member that is movable up and down with respect to the frame and protrudes upward from the receiving member. a lifter frame capable of moving the lifter frame up and down, and a push-pull arm capable of supporting the pallet and movable reciprocally relative to the lifter frame to carry the pallet into and out of the processing machine. An intermediate transfer device in a flexible manufacturing system. (2) The flexible manifold according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member has a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to maintain the positioning state and deliver the pallet to the stacker crane. An intermediate delivery device in a facturing system. (3) The flexible device according to claim 1, wherein the pushing/drawing arm has a locking means that engages with a locking means provided on the pallet in order to deliver the pallet while maintaining the positioning state with respect to the receiving member. An intermediate transfer device in a manufacturing system. (4) A large number of processing machines, a rack with multiple shelves for storing pallets, a processing station where workpieces are treated to prevent rust, and a pallet transport device that moves back and forth between pallet loading/unloading stations. A claim applied to a flexible manufacturing system in which a pallet on which workpieces are set is delivered to each of the processing machines while maintaining a positioning state, and the workpieces on the pallet are automatically electrical discharge machined by each of the processing machines. 1. The intermediate delivery device according to 1.