JPH0573543B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pallet indexing device in a rotary transfer system, and more particularly to a jig body that holds a pallet with a workpiece attached and is rotatable. In addition, an arcuate guide rail for transporting the pallet along the annular conveyance path is configured to move forward and backward with respect to the jig body, thereby firmly holding the workpiece and accurately moving it against the machine tool. This invention relates to a pallet indexing device in a rotary transfer system that allows for indexing.

[Background of the Invention] In general, line production involves disposing various different machine tools along a processing line, and sequentially performing predetermined processing operations on the workpieces conveyed to the processing line via the respective machine tools. The process is known. In this case, for example, in the case of a machining line that requires a large number of different machining operations, such as cylinder heads that make up an engine, a plurality of machine tools may be installed along the machining line in a predetermined manner so that they do not interfere with each other. shall be placed at intervals of . As a result, the entire production line, including the processing line, becomes quite long, making it difficult to effectively utilize the effective space in the workplace, and it has been pointed out that the production line cannot be made more efficient. has been done.

Therefore, an indexing table that can be rotated and indexed is prepared, and jigs that are rotatable and spaced apart at predetermined angular intervals are arranged on the indexing table, and the workpiece is indexed with the workpiece clamped to the jigs. A rotary indexing device has been proposed in which the table is rotated by a predetermined angle and each jig itself is rotated by a desired angle (see Utility Model Publication No. 53-42847). Therefore, if a plurality of machine tools are arranged radially outside the indexing table, when the indexing table is rotated by a predetermined angle, each jig is rotated by the desired angle and clamped to the jig. The workpieces that have been set up will be indexed and positioned with respect to each machine tool. As a result, multiple machine tools can be installed in a narrow space, and the entire machining line can be shortened at once, making it possible to effectively utilize the effective space in the workplace. It will be done.

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the indexing table rotates, each jig itself is indexed to a predetermined angular position via a gear that meshes with a gear provided on the indexing table. Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the index table with extremely high precision. If the angular position of the indexing table shifts, the positions of all the jigs will become inaccurate, making it impossible to perform the desired machining work on the workpieces attached to each jig via each machine tool. It is. Therefore, the work of positioning the indexing table becomes complicated, and in practice, the work is processed by sequentially positioning the work with respect to each machine tool arranged radially.
It has been pointed out that there is considerable difficulty in employing the rotary indexing device in a transfer system.

Furthermore, another conventional technique of this type of rotary indexing device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-82782.
In this prior art, a main gear rotatable independently of the indexing table is provided on the center of a rotatable indexing table, and the main gears are arranged at predetermined angular intervals on the indexing table. A jig is provided with a pinion gear that meshes with the shaft. Therefore, after rotating the indexing table, by rotating the master gear by a predetermined angle, the workpieces held in each jig are indexed and positioned relative to the respective machine tools via the child gears that mesh with the master gear. You can.

However, since a plurality of workpieces are integrally positioned with respect to each machine tool under the rotational action of a single master gear via the child gears that mesh with the single master gear, the rotation control of the master gear is quite difficult. It becomes complicated. Moreover, different parts of the workpiece are actually machined by different machine tools, and with the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is completely impossible to accurately index the workpiece to a predetermined angular position for each machine tool. be.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. A clamp means for holding a workpiece in the main body and pulling a pallet transported along the annular transport path toward the jig main body, and a guide rod that holds a guide rail constituting the annular transport path and can move forward and backward. , when the pallet is displaced toward the jig body under the action of the clamping means, the guide rail holding the pallet is separated from the annular conveyance path via the guide rod; is firmly held in the jig body, and the workpiece can be accurately indexed to a desired angular position with respect to the machine tool under the rotational action of the jig body, and there is no need to separate the pallet from the guide rail. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet indexing device for a rotary transfer system that allows various processing operations on the workpiece to be performed efficiently and automatically.

[Means for achieving the object] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pallet index for holding a workpiece and indexing and positioning a pallet conveyed along an annular conveyance path with respect to a machine tool. The jig main body is rotatable under the action of an actuator, and the jig main body is provided with a guide rod that supports a guide rail constituting the annular conveyance path and is movable forward and backward. A clamping means capable of freely pulling the pallet is provided on the side of the jig body, and when the pallet is held in the jig body under the action of the clamping means, the guide rail supporting the pallet is attached to the jig via the guide rod. It is characterized by being configured to be displaced toward the main body.

[Embodiments] Next, preferred embodiments of a pallet indexing device in a rotary transfer system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1-3, reference numeral 10 designates a rotary transfer system incorporating the pallet indexing device according to the present embodiment. The system 10 is disposed on a production line 12, and the work W conveyed in the direction of the arrow on this production line 12 is changed into a desired posture via a pallet 50, and then moved to a predetermined position along an annular conveyance path. Each processing device 16a to 16c is conveyed at an angle and is arranged radially outside the system 10.
After being sequentially subjected to predetermined processing by the machine, its posture is changed again, and it is returned to the production line 12 and transported to the next working position.

That is, the system 10 includes a base 18, and a prismatic support 2 is provided approximately at the center of the base 18.
0 is set. One end portion of lower support members 22a to 22d, each of which has a bent shape and projects outward, is fixed to the lower end corner portion of the support column 20, and the other end portion of each lower support member 22a to 22d, respectively. Arc-shaped lower fixed rails 24a to 24d are supported on the same circumference with the support 20 as the center. Upper support members 26a to 26d are fixed to the upper corner portions of the column 20, and lower fixed rails 24 are attached to the upper support members 26a to 26d.
Arc-shaped upper fixed rails 28a to 28 located above a to 24d and arranged on the same circumference
d is provided. Therefore, the lower fixed rail 2
The annular conveyance path 2 is formed by displaceable lower rails 4a to 24d, which will be described later, and upper fixed rails 28a to 28d, which will be described later.
9 is formed.

Further, fixed arms 30a to 30d are held at the upper part of the support column 20, respectively, and are offset from each other by 90 degrees and protrude between the upper support members 26a to 26d. In this case, the fixed arms 30a to 30
Attached to d are elements constituting the pallet attaching/detaching means and the pallet indexing device according to the present embodiment, which will be described later.The details will be described in the explanation of the pallet attaching/detaching means and the pallet indexing device.

A conveying means 32 is then provided on the top of the column 20. The conveying means 32 has a rotating body 34 rotatably placed on the upper part of the support column 20, and the rotating body 34 has movable arms 36a to 36d that project outward and are spaced apart from each other by 90°. Integrated. The movable arm 36a and the rotating body 34
A rotary drive source 37 is erected at the boundary between the rotary drive source 37 and the rotary body 34, and gears (not shown) are respectively pivotally attached to the rotary drive source 37 and the rotating body 34 in a mutually meshed state. The movable arm 36a projects outward from the upper fixed rails 28a to 28d, and has a pair of guide bars 38a, 38 oriented vertically at its end.
b is supported so that it can be raised and lowered. The guide bar 38
A square body 40 is held extending horizontally at the lower ends of a and 38b, and locking members 42a and 42b, which will be described later, are fixed to both ends of the square body 40 and spaced apart corresponding to the width of a pallet 50. be done. The other movable arms 36b to 36d are constructed in substantially the same manner as the movable arm 36a described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent elements, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, among the fixed arms 30a to 30d, a fixed arm 3 extending toward the production line 12 side
Pallet attachment/detachment means 100 is provided at 0a. That is, as shown in FIG.
A cylinder 102 is attached to the end of the cylinder 102, and a connecting plate 106 is engaged with a piston rod 104 extending vertically downward from the cylinder 102. As shown in FIG. 2, guide bars 108a and 108b are erected on the connecting plate 106, and each guide bar 108a and 108b is fitted into the fixed arm 30a. The connecting plate 106 has an upper fixed rail 28.
An arc-shaped upper rail 110 that can be disposed integrally with the upper rails 112a and 28b on the same circumference is fixed, and below this upper rail 110 are cylinders 112a and 112.
A lower rail 114 that can be raised and lowered under the action of b is provided in the attitude changing station 200.

The posture changing station 200 is used for handling workpieces W conveyed along the production line 12 in the direction of the arrow.
is converted into a desired posture via the pallet 50 and taken into the system 10, and the processing device 16a
After performing predetermined machining by 16c to 16c, the workpieces W have the function of changing their posture again and sending them out to the production line 12. That is, the attitude changing station 200 includes a rotating table 202 that is disposed between the base 18 and the production line 12 and is rotatable under the driving action of a rotational drive source (not shown). The aforementioned cylinders 112a and 112b are fixed to the rotating table 202 at a predetermined distance eccentric from the center of rotation, and a lower rail 114 is mounted on piston rods 113a and 113b extending from the respective cylinders 112a and 112b. A pallet holder 206 is attached to one end of the rotating table 202 via support pins 204a and 204b.
is mounted so that it can swing freely in the vertical direction. The pallet holder 206 is provided with clamping means 208a and 208b capable of fixing the pallet 50, and a piston rod 212 extending from a cylinder 210 that is swingably held at the other end of the rotating table 202 holds the pallet 50. It is attached to one end of the body 206.

Next, processing stations 300a to 300c are provided on the base 18 below the fixed arms 30b to 30d and correspond to the respective processing devices 16a to 16c.
Palette index devices 302a to 302c according to this embodiment are arranged at 0a to 300c.

The pallet indexing device 302a has a disk-shaped support 304, and an indexing table 306 is mounted on the top of the support 304, which is rotatable by a predetermined angle. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a ring portion 307 is formed in the center of the support base 304 and is oriented vertically upward.
7, a substantially cylindrical drive shaft 308 is rotatably supported. A spline 310 is formed over a predetermined length on the inner peripheral surface of the upper side of the drive shaft 308, and a worm wheel 312 having a relatively large diameter is coaxially engaged with the lower side of the drive shaft 308. In this case, the rotary drive shaft 314a of the rotary drive source 314 mounted on the base 18 is connected to the support base 304.
A worm 316 extending inside the worm wheel 3 and provided on the rotary drive shaft 314a is connected to the worm wheel 3.
meshes with 12. Therefore, the rotational drive source 314
When driven, the drive shaft 308 rotates via the worm 316 and the worm wheel 312.

Next, an angle indexing means 317 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the ring portion 307 of the support base 304. The angle indexing means 317 includes a piston member 318, and the inner peripheral surface of the piston member 318 has a bulging portion 318 that protrudes radially inward and slides into contact with the ring portion 307.
a is formed. A first pressure chamber 320a and a second pressure chamber 320b are defined between the bulging portion 318a and the ring portion 307 for introducing and extracting predetermined pressure oil.

A first coupling ring 322 is fixed to the upper outer circumferential edge of the piston member 318.
The tooth profile of the coupling ring 322 has a substantially convex shape that widens at the center. On the other hand, a second coupling 324 is attached to the support base 304 in a vertically downward direction, and the second coupling 324 has a width that is approximately half the width of the first coupling ring 322 in the radial direction. and engages with the outer end of the first coupling ring 322.

Further, fixing means 326a to 326d are attached to the outer circumferential portion of the support base 304 at intervals of 90 degrees. Each of the fixing means 326a to 326d is configured similarly, and the fixing means 326 will be described below.
a in detail, and other fixing means 326b.
326d to 326d are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

That is, the fixing means 326a has a cylinder portion 328, and a piston member 332 is slidably disposed in a stepped hole portion 330 provided in the cylinder portion 328. A rod 334 extends from the piston member 332 to the outside of the cylinder portion 328, and an elastic body, e.g.
A spring member 336 is provided, and the spring member 336
The piston member 332 moves to the support base 3 through the elastic force of
It is constantly pressed in the outward direction of the radius of 04. Also,
A pair of brackets 338 are attached to the cylinder portion 328.
a, 338b are provided, and the bracket 338
A clamp arm 342 is swingably supported on a and 338b via a pin 340. One end of the clamp arm 342 engages with a rod 334 extending from the piston member 332, while a hemispherical groove 344 is formed on the lower surface of the other end of the clamp arm 342. The clamper 346 is fitted. A flat pressing surface 346a of the clamper 346 projects downward from the lower surface of the clamp arm 342, and the indexing table 306 is pressed and held via the clamper 346.

That is, the drive shaft 3 is located at the center of the indexing table 306.
A spline shaft 348 that fits into the spline 310 of 08 is provided, and this indexing table 3
A third coupling 350 is provided on the outer circumferential edge of the lower surface of 06 so as to be oriented vertically downward. Said third
The coupling ring 350 is located inside the second coupling ring 324 fixed to the support base 304 and meshes with the inner end of the first coupling ring 322 . Accordingly, the angle indexing means 317 is controlled by the piston member 318 and the first coupling ring 322 secured thereto, as well as the second and third coupling rings 324, 350 that mesh with said first coupling ring 322.
is configured.

Furthermore, a circumferential groove 352 is provided on the circumferential side of the indexing table 306.
is defined, and the upper end portions of the clamp arms 342 constituting the respective fixing means 326a to 326d enter into this circumferential groove 352. At that time, the groove 34 formed at the end of the clamp arm 342
The flat pressing surface 34 of the clamper 346 that fits into the
6a is in sliding contact with a bottom wall surface 354 defining the circumferential groove 352.

Next, a jig main body 360 is erected on the indexing table 306 in proximity to the support column 20 side. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of guide rods 362a and 362b are provided on the upper and lower sides of the jig main body 360, respectively.
364a and 364b are fitted. One end of the guide rods 362a, 362b and 364a, 364b penetrates the jig main body 360 and protrudes toward the support column 20 side, and is integrally engaged with a connecting plate 366, while the other ends of the guide rods 364a, 364b and 362a, 362b Each lower rail 3
68 and upper rail 370 are attached. In this case, both ends of lower rail 368 and upper rail 370 are connected to guide rods 362a, 362b and 36.
4a and 364b, and are formed parallel to each other.

Further, the jig main body 360 is provided with clamp means 371 for positioning and holding the pallet 50 on the jig main body 360. The clamping means 371 essentially consists of cylinders 382a to 372d, each cylinder 372a to 372d being connected to the guide rods 362a, 362b and 364.
a, 364b. Piston rods 374a to 374d project from the cylinders 372a to 372d in a direction opposite to the support column 20.
Claw members 376a to 376d are attached to the piston rods 378a that protrude from the respective cylinders 372a to 372d toward the support column 20.
The ends 378d to 378d engage the connecting plate 366.
At that time, each piston rod 378a to 37
8d is equipped with coil springs 380a to 380d, and the coil springs 380a to 38
The connecting plate 366 is pressed in a direction away from the cylinders 372a to 372d using an elastic force of 0d. Further, the jig main body 360 includes positioning pins 382 and seats 384a to 38 for positioning the pallet 50 with respect to the jig main body 360.
4d is implanted.

Therefore, a rotary joint 386 is attached to the fixed arm 30b located above the jig main body 360. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary joint 386 has a main body 388 fixed to the fixed arm 30b. The hole 390 communicates with a cutting fluid supply port 392 formed in the upper side wall. The hole 390
Circumferential grooves 394 and 396 are formed at predetermined height positions on the inner wall surface defining the circumferential grooves 39 and 396, respectively.
4,396 is a passage 39 provided in the main body 388
8,400 to a plurality of first ports 402 and second ports 404 for supplying pressure oil.

The rotating member 406 is inserted into the hole 390 of the main body 388.
are mated. The lower part of the rotating member 406 is fitted into the upper part of a jig main body 360 that is erected on the indexing table 306, and is fixed to the jig main body 360 via bolts or the like (not shown). The rotating member 40
A relatively large-diameter passage 408 is formed through the center of the jig 6, and this passage 408 communicates with the cutting fluid supply port 392 to supply the workpiece W being cut through an unillustrated passage of the jig body 360. Supply cutting fluid. Further, circumferential grooves 41 are provided on the side circumferential portions of the rotating member 406 and communicate with the circumferential grooves 394 and 396, respectively.
0,412 is formed. The circumferential groove 410 connects to the cylinder 37 disposed in the jig main body 360 via a passage 414 formed in the rotating member 406.
The circumferential groove 412 communicates with one port of the cylinders 372a to 372d through a passage 416 formed in the rotating member 406.
It communicates with the other port of 72d.

Next, positioning means 418, 418 are mounted on both sides of the main body 388. Said positioning means 418 consists essentially of a cylinder 420;
A stepped hole 42 defined within this cylinder 420
A piston 424 is slidably disposed at 2. A rod 426 extends vertically downward from one end of the piston 424, and the rod 426 can penetrate the cylinder 420 and be attached to the upper surface of the jig main body 360. In this case, a spring member 428 is disposed in the stepped hole 422, and the piston 424 is always pressed vertically downward under the biasing action of the spring member 428, and the piston 424 and the rod 4
The pressure chamber 430 defined between the pipe line 4 and the
Pressure fluid is supplied via 32.

The processing station 300a incorporating the pallet indexing device 302a is constructed as described above, and other processing stations 30
0b and 300c are the processing stations 30
The configuration is similar to that of 0a, and therefore, the same components are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, the pallet 50 holding the workpiece W conveyed along the annular conveyance path 29 is rotatable with the lower rail 114 held at one end which becomes the lower end when the pallet 50 is vertically positioned by the posture change station 200. A plurality of guide rollers 52 are supported. Further, at the other end of the pallet 50, which is the upper end side, there are a plurality of guide rollers 54 that sandwich the upper rail 110 and are rotatable, and the upper rail 1
Running rollers 55a and 55b that roll on the upper surface of the pallet 10 and suspend the pallet 50 are supported. In addition, on the back side of the pallet 50 corresponding to the surface on which the work W is placed, there are cylinders 3 constituting the pallet indexing devices 302a to 302c.
Claw members 376a provided on 72a to 372b
Locking members 56a to 56 engaged with 376d to 376d
d is fixed. In this case, the locking member 56a
The end surfaces of the locking members 56b to 56b engage with the seats 384a to 384d, and the locking member 56a has a hole 58 into which the positioning pin 382 is fitted.

The rotary transfer system incorporating the pallet indexing device according to this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

First, the work W is sequentially conveyed along the production line 12, and the work W reaches the attitude changing station 200 that constitutes the system 10. At that time, the pallet 50 is placed on the pallet holder 206 in advance.
is held, and the pallet 50 is positioned horizontally.

Therefore, after clamping the workpiece W to the pallet 50, the cylinder 210 is driven and the piston rod 2
12 toward the production line 12, the pallet holder 206, which is attached to the piston rod 212, swings vertically upward using the support pins 204a, 204b as fulcrums. Therefore, if the driving of the cylinder 210 is stopped when the pallet holder 206 stands up vertically, the pallet 50 held by the pallet holder 206 will move the workpiece W to face the column 20 side and change its posture. 90°
It will be converted. (See Figure 1). Furthermore, the rotary table 202 is driven by a rotary drive source (not shown).
When the pallet holder 206 is rotated 180 degrees, the pallet holder 206, which is supported at a position displaced from the center of rotation of the rotary table 202, is rotated 180 degrees and positioned close to the column 20 (see Fig. 3). reference). In this case, the rotary table 202 has a lower rail 1.
14 is held, and if this lower rail 114 is previously displaced vertically downward under the action of cylinders 112a and 112b, this lower rail 11
4 does not interfere with the lower fixed rails 24a, 24b when rotating together with the rotary table 202.

Next, the pallet attaching/detaching means 100 is driven.
That is, by driving the cylinders 112a and 112b provided on the rotating table 202, the piston rod 1 is rotated.
When 13a and 113b are displaced vertically upward,
The lower rail 114 mounted thereon rises and is held between a plurality of guide rollers 52 supported by the pallet 50. On the other hand, when the cylinder 102 attached to the fixed arm 30a is driven to displace the piston rod 104 vertically downward, the connecting plate 106 supported by the cylinder 106 descends under the guidance of the guide bars 108a and 108b, thereby connecting the piston rod 104. An upper rail 110 attached to the plate 106 is held between a plurality of guide rollers 54 of the pallet 50. Thereby, the lower rail 114 and the upper rail 110 are connected to the lower fixed rails 24a, 24b and the upper fixed rail 28.
a and 28b, respectively, and the pallet 50 is disposed on the annular conveyance path 29 of the system 10.

On the other hand, when lowering the upper rail 110 under the driving action of the pallet attaching/detaching means 100, the conveying means 32
For example, a square body 40 supported by a movable arm 36a constituting the square body 40 is lowered integrally with a holding body (not shown) provided on the connecting plate 106, and a locking member 42a that is engaged with the square body 40 is lowered. , 42b sandwich the upper side of the pallet 50. Therefore, the clamping means 208a and 208b are driven to remove the pallet 50.
After releasing the fixing action, the rotary drive source 37 constituting the conveying means 32 is driven.

Therefore, the rotating body 34 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
from the lower fixed rail 24b and the upper fixed rail 28b to the lower rail 368 and the upper rail 370. In this way, the movable arm 36a is rotated 90° from the posture change station 200.
Offset position, i.e. processing station 30
The drive of the rotary drive source 37 is stopped when reaching the pallet indexing device 302a provided at 0a.

In the palette indexing device 302a,
First, cylinders 372a to 372d are driven. That is, when pressure fluid, for example pressure oil, is supplied to the passage 398 through the first port 402 at the rotary joint 386, this pressure oil is introduced into the passage 414 of the rotating member 406 through the respective circumferential grooves 394, 410. Ru. Therefore, the pressure oil is supplied to one port of the cylinders 372a to 372d through a passage (not shown) in the jig main body 360, and the piston rods 374a to 374d are displaced toward the support column 20 side together with the claw members 376a to 376d. . Here, the locking members 56a to 56d provided on the back side of the pallet 50 are attached to the claw members 3.
76a to 376d, the pallet 50 is pulled toward the jig main body 360 via the claw members 376a to 376d. Therefore, the end surfaces of the claw members 376a to 376d abut on the seats 384a to 384d, and
The positioning pin 382 fits into the hole 58, and the pallet 50 is firmly and accurately positioned and held relative to the jig main body 360. At that time, the pallet 50
is displaced toward the jig main body 360, so that the pallet 50 is moved toward the jig main body 360, so that the pallet 50
a, 42b.

Furthermore, when the pallet 50 moves toward the support column 20 under the driving action of the cylinders 372a to 372d, the upper rail 370 and lower rail 368, which hold the pallet 50 from above and below, move to the guide rods 362a, 362b and 364a, 364b, respectively.
is displaced to the support column 20 side via. in this case,
The guide rods 362a, 362b, 364a and 364b are integrally attached to the connecting plate 366, so that the guide rods 362a, 364b
62b, 364a, and 364b can smoothly move toward the support column 20 side without tilting, maintaining parallel states with each other via the connecting plate 366. With this, the guide rod 362a,
The upper rail 370 and the lower rail 368 held by 362b, 364a, and 364b are displaced parallel to each other in the radial direction (toward the column 20).

Next, in the positioning means 418, the pipe line 43
2 to the pressure chamber 430, the piston 424 is displaced vertically upward against the elastic force of the spring member 428, and the rod 426 integrally provided on the piston 424 is cured. Ingredient body 3
60 at a distance from the top surface. On the other hand, the angle indexing means 317 and the fixing means 326a to 326d mounted on the support base 304 are driven.

That is, in the angle indexing means 317,
Ring portion 307 and bulging portion 3 of piston member 318
A predetermined pressure oil is supplied to the first pressure chamber 320a defined between the first pressure chamber 320a and the first pressure chamber 320a, and the pressure inside the second pressure chamber 320b is reduced, thereby displacing the piston member 318 vertically downward. For this reason, the piston member 3
The first coupling 322 provided at 18 is spaced apart from the second and third couplings 324, 350, and the indexing table 306, which engages the third coupling 350, is rotatable.

Further, pressure fluid is supplied into the stepped hole 330 of the cylinder portion 328 constituting the fixing means 326a to 326d, and the piston member 332 is moved to the spring member 33.
6 and is displaced inward of the cylinder portion 328. Therefore, the rod 334 extending from the piston member 332 is spaced apart from one end of the clamp arm 342, and the clamper 346, which fits into the groove 344 provided at the other end of the clamp arm 342, fits into the circumferential groove 352 of the indexing table 306. The pressing action on the bottom wall surface 354 defining the is released.

Therefore, when the rotation drive source 314 is driven to rotate the rotation drive shaft 314a in a predetermined direction, the worm 316 provided on the rotation drive shaft 314a
The drive shaft 308 rotates via a worm wheel 312 that meshes with the worm wheel 312 . At that time, the spline shaft 3 is attached to the spline 310 formed on the drive shaft 308.
48 are fitted together, and the drive shaft 308 and the indexing table 306 rotate integrally via the worm wheel 312.

When the indexing table 306 reaches a predetermined angular position,
The drive of the rotational drive source 314 is stopped, and the supply of pressure fluid to the cylinder 420 constituting the positioning means 418 is also stopped. Therefore, the piston 42
4 is displaced vertically downward through the elastic force of the spring member 428, and the tip of the rod 426 extending from this piston 424 elastically presses the upper surface of the jig main body 360, and this jig main body 360 performs positioning functions. Furthermore, while supplying pressure oil to the second pressure chamber 320b constituting the angle indexing means 317, the pressure oil in the first pressure chamber 320a is reduced in pressure. Therefore, the piston member 318 is displaced vertically upward, and the first coupling 322 is integrally attached to the second coupling 324 fixed to the support base 304 and the third coupling 350 fixed to the indexing base 306. engage. Thereby, the indexing table 306 can be accurately indexed and fixed to the support table 304.

Next, when the supply of pressure fluid to the cylinder portion 328 constituting the fixing means 326a to 326d is stopped, the piston member 332 is displaced toward the clamp arm 342 through the elastic force of the spring member 336, and the piston member 332 A rod 334 mounted on the clamp arm 342 presses against one end of the clamp arm 342. Therefore, the clamp arm 342
40 as a fulcrum, and a pressing surface 346a of the clamper 346 that fits into a groove 344 formed at the other end presses a bottom wall 354 defining a circumferential groove 352 of the indexing table 306. At that time, clamper 3
46 is fitted into the hemispherical groove 344 and is rotatable, so that the pressing surface 34 of the clamper 346
6a is in sliding contact with the bottom wall surface 354, and the indexing table 30
6 can be firmly pressed and held against the support base 304.

Here, the indexing table 306 is
When the jig body 360 rotates to a predetermined angular position, the jig body 360
The rotating member 406 fixed to the upper part of the main body 388
Rotates within the hole 390 of the. A circumferential groove 410 communicating with the circumferential groove 394 is formed in the rotating member 406, so that no matter which angular position the rotating member 406 is disposed, the circumferential grooves 394, 410 are connected to each other.
The first port 402 and the passage 414 are in communication via the first port 402 and the passage 414 . Therefore, the pressure oil supplied from the first port 402 is always supplied to the cylinders 372a to 372.
The pallet 50 can be held against the jig main body 360 by being supplied to one port of d.

Note that during this indexing work, the lower rail 368 and the upper rail 370 are displaced in the radial direction, so the lower rail 368 and the upper rail 370 are displaced in the radial direction.
and will not interfere with the lower fixed rails 24b, 24c and the upper fixed rails 28b, 28c.

In this way, the work W is transferred to the processing device 16a via the pallet 50 held in the jig main body 360.
After indexing to a predetermined angular position, the rotary
Cutting fluid is supplied into the hole 390 from a cutting fluid supply port 392 provided in the joint 386. This cutting fluid is led out to the work W through the passage 408 of the rotating member 406, and
The machining operation of the workpiece W by step a can be carried out smoothly.

When the machining operation of the workpiece W is completed by the machining device 16a, the supply of cutting fluid to the cutting fluid supply port 392 is stopped, and the aforementioned operation is performed in reverse to position the jig main body 360 at the attachment/detachment angle position of the pallet 50. . To explain this roughly, the positioning means 418 is driven to move the rod 426 to the jig main body 3.
60 and the fixing means 3
26a to 326d to drive each rod 334.
is displaced in a direction away from the clamp arm 342 to release the pressing action of the clamper 346 on the indexing table 306.

Further, the piston member 318 is lowered under the driving action of the angle indexing means 317, and the first coupling 322 is moved to the second and third couplings 324, 3.
50, the worm 316 and the worm wheel 31 are driven by the rotational drive source 314.
2, the drive shaft 308 is rotated in the opposite direction to that described above. This allows the indexing table 306 to move to the pallet 5.
After reaching the attachment/detachment angle position of 0, the indexing base 306 is positioned and fixed to the support base 304 via the angle indexing means 317, the fixing means 326a to 326d, and the positioning means 418.

Next, while stopping the supply of pressure oil to the first port 402, pressure oil is supplied to the second port 404, and the pressure oil is passed through the passage 400 and the circumferential groove 396 from the circumferential groove 412 of the rotating member 406 to the passage 416. introduced in
It is supplied to the other ports of cylinders 372a to 372d. Therefore, the piston rods 378a to 378d pull the connecting plate 366 toward the jig main body 360, and the guide rods 362a, 362b, and 36 which are integrally attached to the connecting plate 366
4a and 364b, the upper rail 370 and the lower rail 368 are displaced in the radial outward direction (in the direction away from the support column 20) together with the pallet 50. Therefore, the lower rail 368 is aligned with the lower fixed rails 24b, 24c, and the upper rail 370 is aligned with the upper fixed rails 28b, 28c, so that the annular conveyance path 29 is formed.
Further, since the pallet 50 moves in the radial outward direction, the upper side of the pallet 50 fits between the locking members 42a and 42b provided on the movable arm 36a.

Therefore, the rotary drive source 37 is driven to rotate the rotating body 34.
If the pallet 50 is rotated by 90 degrees, the pallet 50 is moved to the processing station 300b integrally with the movable arm 36a.
leading to. Therefore, the processing station 30 described above
Similarly to 0a, a predetermined machining operation is performed on the work W held on the pallet 50 at the machining station 300b via the machining device 16b.

Further, the pallet 50 is conveyed to the processing station 300c under the driving action of the conveyance means 32, subjected to a predetermined process by the processing device 16c, and then conveyed to the attitude changing station 200. In the attitude changing station 200, the pallet holder 2
06 is in an upright state under the driving action of the cylinder 210, and holds the pallet 50 via clamp means 208a, 208b provided on the pallet holder 206. The cylinders 112a and 112 constituting the pallet attachment/detachment means 100
b to lower the lower rail 114, while raising the upper rail 110 under the driving action of the cylinder 102 provided on the fixed arm 30a, separating the lower rail 114 and the upper rail 110 from the pallet 50. let At this time, the locking members 42a and 42b are separated from the pallet 50 by raising the square body 40 via the upper rail 110.

With the pallet 50 being held only by the pallet holder 206 in this manner, the rotary table 202 is rotated 180 degrees under the driving action of a rotational drive source (not shown), and further, the pallet holder 206 is held under the driving action of the cylinder 210. is swung vertically downward to orient and position the pallet 50 horizontally. Then, the holding action of the workpiece W by the pallet 50 is released, and the workpiece W is sent out along the production line 12 to the next working position.

In this case, in the abutment embodiment, the annular conveying path 29
The pallet 50 conveyed along the
The pallet 50 is pulled toward the jig main body 360 via the jig main body 360, and the pallet 50 is positioned via the positioning pins 382 and seats 384a to 384d provided on the jig main body 360. Furthermore, the indexing table 306 is rotated by a rotational drive source 314.
After being rotated to a predetermined angular position via the worm 316 rotating under the drive action of the worm 316 and the worm wheel 312 meshing with the worm wheel 312, the indexing table is 306 is positioned relative to the support base 304. As a result, the work W held in the jig main body 360 via the pallet 50 can be indexed and positioned with high precision with respect to the processing devices 16a to 16c, respectively, and various processing operations on the work W can be performed. The effect is that it can be executed with high precision. Moreover, the indexing table 306
The support base 3 is attached via the fixing means 326a to 326d.
04, and the upper part of the jig main body 360 is pressed by the positioning means 418. As a result, it becomes possible to hold the jig main body 360 considerably firmly against the support base 304, and prevent the workpiece W from being displaced during the processing operation of the workpiece W by each of the processing devices 16a to 16c. I can do it.

Furthermore, in the abutment embodiment, the jig body 36
0, guide rods 364a, 364b and 36
The guide rods 364a, 364b and 362a, 36 are arranged so as to be movable forward and backward.
2b, a lower rail 36 forming an annular conveyance path 29
8 and an upper rail 370. Therefore, the lower rail 368 and the upper rail 37
It is possible to integrally hold the pallet 50 supported at 0 on the jig main body 360 without separating it from the lower rail 368 and upper rail 370. Therefore, it is possible to perform the indexing operation of the pallet 50 quickly and easily, and there is an advantage that the entire processing operation for the work W can be made more efficient. At that time, the lower rail 36
8 and the upper rail 370 are displaced toward the jig main body 360, when the indexing table 306 is rotated, the lower rail 368 and the upper rail 370 are moved by other members, such as the lower fixed rails 24b and 24c.
Furthermore, it is preferable because it does not interfere with the upper fixed rails 28b and 28c.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a rotatable jig body compatible with processing equipment is used, a clamping means for positioning and holding a pallet with a workpiece attached to the jig body is provided, and A guide rail forming an annular conveyance path and supporting a guide rail supporting the pallet is arranged so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the jig body. Therefore, the pallet can be held accurately and firmly against the jig body, and the workpiece attached to the pallet can be indexed and positioned with high precision with respect to the processing equipment under the rotational action of the jig body. One example is the effect of gaining. Furthermore, since the pallet is displaced relative to the jig body integrally with the guide rail without separating it from the guide rail, the pallet indexing operation can be performed easily and quickly. The advantage is that the entire processing work can be performed efficiently.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and changes in design are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rotary transfer system incorporating a pallet indexing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the rotary transfer system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic side view of the rotary transfer system, Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the support stand and indexing stand that constitute the pallet indexing device, and Figure 5 is a partially sectional side view of the pallet indexing device. 6 are partially omitted longitudinal sectional views of the rotary joint constituting the palette indexing device. 10... Rotary transfer system, 1
6a to 16c... Processing device, 29... Annular conveyance path, 50... Pallet, 56a to 56d... Locking member, 200... Posture change station, 300
a~300c...processing station, 302a~
302c...Palette index device, 304
...Supporting stand, 306... Indexing stand, 308... Drive shaft, 317... Angle indexing means, 326a to 326
d...Fixing means, 360...Jig body, 362
a, 362b, 364a, 364b...Guide rod, 366...Connecting plate, 371...Clamping means, 372a-372d...Cylinder, 376a
~376d...Claw member, 386...Rotary joint, 418...Positioning means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pallet indexing device for holding a workpiece and indexing and positioning a pallet conveyed along an annular conveyance path with respect to a machine tool, which is rotatable under the action of an actuator. The jig has a main body, and a guide rod that supports the guide rail constituting the annular conveyance path and can move forward and backward is disposed on the jig main body, and a clamp means that can freely pull the pallet toward the jig main body is provided. , a rotary device characterized in that, when the pallet is held in the jig body under the action of the clamping means, a guide rail supporting the pallet is displaced toward the jig body side via the guide rod.・Pallet index device in transfer system. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamping means consists essentially of a cylinder, and a first piston rod extending from one of the cylinders is provided with a pawl member capable of engaging the pallet, and a pawl member extending from the other of the cylinders. 1. A pallet indexing device for a rotary transfer system, characterized in that a second piston rod for supporting a guide rail is integrally engaged with a connecting member. 3. In the apparatus according to claim 1, the jig main body is erected on an indexing stand that is rotatably placed on the supporter, and is integrally formed with a first coupling that can move forward and backward between the support stand and the indexing stand. 1. A pallet indexing device for a rotary transfer system, comprising second and third couplings that are engaged with each other to perform angle indexing. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper part of the jig main body is supported by a rotary joint, and the driving medium is supplied to a cylinder provided in the jig main body via the rotary joint. A pallet indexing device in a rotary transfer system characterized by: