WORKPIECE CONVEYING WHEELED PLATFORM AND WORKING SYSTEM

A slider configured to move in a predetermined direction between a setup area and a pickup area is provided in a vicinity of a loading machine that supplies a workpiece W to a working machine. The slider is recessed to form a placing part for placing a pallet. Guide mechanisms for supporting the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction are respectively arranged on both sides in a lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part of the slider. A drive mechanism for moving the slider in the predetermined direction is arranged on at least one side in the lateral direction of the placing part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a workpiece conveying wheeled platform that conveys a plurality of stacked workpieces in a predetermined direction, and a working system that continuously processes the plurality of workpieces.

BACKGROUND ART

A bending system as an example of a working system includes a press brake that bends a workpiece and a loading machine that is provided in a vicinity of the press brake and supplies the workpiece to the press brake. The bending system includes a workpiece conveying wheeled platform that conveys the stacked workpieces from a setup area to a pickup area in a predetermined direction. The setup area is an area for setting up the stacked workpieces, and the pickup area is an area for picking up an uppermost workpiece in the workpieces stacked by the loading machine.

The workpiece conveying wheeled platform includes a slider that moves in the predetermined direction between the setup area and the pickup area, and the slider includes a placing table for placing the plurality of workpieces directly or via a pallet. In addition, a pair of guide mechanisms that support the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction are arranged below the placing table of the slider, and the pair of guide mechanisms are separated in the lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. A drive mechanism for moving the slider in the predetermined direction is arranged below the placing table of the slider. The drive mechanism is provided below the placing table of the slider and includes an electric motor for moving the slider in the predetermined direction. The drive mechanism includes a rack member that is provided, on part of an installation surface on a floor, below the placing table of the slider, and extends in the predetermined direction, and a pinion that is connected to an output shaft of the electric motor and is engaged with the rack member.

Note that the prior arts related to the present invention are shown in Patent Literatures 1 to 3 described below.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY

Now, in order to properly pick up the uppermost workpiece with the loading machine, it is necessary to suppress the stacking height of the workpieces on the workpiece conveying wheeled platform to be equal to or less than a predetermined height because the stacking height of the workpieces has an upper limit relative to the installation surface on the floor. In addition, since the guide mechanisms and the drive mechanism are arranged under the placing table of the slider, the height from the installation surface on the floor to the upper surface of the placing table of the slider increases, and the number of stacked sheets of the workpieces on the workpiece conveying wheeled platform is limited for that amount. As a result, the frequency of setting up the workpieces for the workpiece conveying wheeled platform increases, and thus improvement in workability has been desired.

Note that when the workpieces are directly stacked on the placing table of the slider, the stacking capacity of the workpieces can be increased by the height of the pallet. However, this makes the work of setting up the workpieces a complete manual work, which makes the working time long.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece conveying wheeled platform and a working system capable of reducing the frequency of setting up workpieces and improving workability.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workpiece conveying wheeled platform, which includes a slider (a wheeled platform main body) provided in a vicinity of a loading machine for supplying a workpiece to a working machine, the slider being movable in a predetermined direction between a setup area (setting area) for setting up (setting) a plurality of workpieces stacked on a pallet and a pickup area for picking up an uppermost workpiece from among the plurality of workpieces with the loading machine, the slider being recessed to form a placing part for placing the pallet, guide mechanisms respectively arranged on both sides in a lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part of the slider and configured to support the slider so as to be movable in the predetermined direction, and a drive mechanism arranged on at least one side in the lateral direction of the placing part of the slider and configured to move the slider in the predetermined direction.

A recessed depth of the placing part of the slider may be set to a depth corresponding to a height of the pallet.

The placing part of the slider may be close to an installation surface on a floor.

In this case, a notch for allowing a fork of a pallet jack to enter may be formed on the placing part of the slider.

The workpiece conveying wheeled platform may further include an auxiliary roller provided to the placing part of the slider and configured to roll on the installation surface on the floor.

The guide mechanisms include a pair of a first guide mechanism and a second guide mechanism, in which the first guide mechanism may include a first guide rail provided, on part of the installation surface on the floor, on one side in the lateral direction of the placing part of the slider and extending in the predetermined direction, and a guide block provided on the one side in the lateral direction of the placing part of the slider and configured to be guided by the first guide rail so as to be movable in the predetermined direction, and the second guide mechanism may include a second guide rail provided, on part of the installation surface on the floor, on another side in the lateral direction of the placing part of the slider and extending in the predetermined direction, and a guide roller provided on the other side in the lateral direction of the placing part of the slider and configured to roll on the second guide rail in the predetermined direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a working system, which includes a working machine configured to process a workpiece, a loading machine configured to supply the workpiece to the working machine, and the workpiece conveying wheeled platform according to the first aspect.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

An embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1to5D.

Note that the “front-rear direction” is one of the horizontal directions, and is the direction in which a workpiece is conveyed by a workpiece conveying wheeled platform. The “left-right direction” is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and is a lateral direction of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform or a press brake. In the drawings, “FF”, “FR”, “L”, “R”, “U” and “D” indicate a forward direction, a backward direction, a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction, respectively.

As shown inFIG.1, a bending system10according to the present embodiment is a working system that continuously bends a plate-shaped workpiece (a sheet metal) W. The bending system10includes a press brake12as a working machine that bends the workpiece W by a collaboration between a punch tool (not shown) and a die tool (not shown).

A guide frame14extending in the left-right direction is provided in a vicinity of a front of the press brake12. The guide frame14includes a bending robot16, so as to be movable in the left-right direction, as a loading machine for supplying the workpiece W to the press brake12. In other words, the bending robot16is provided in the vicinity of the front of the press brake12so as to be movable in the left-right direction via the guide frame14. In addition to supplying the workpiece W to the press brake12, the bending robot16assists in bending the workpiece W. The bending robot16carries out a bent product (not shown) to a product pallet (not shown) that is arranged in a carry-out area TA on the right front side of the guide frame14. The bending robot16has a publicly known configuration, for example, shown in Patent Literature 2, and includes an articulated robot arm18and a robot hand20, which is provided at the distal end of the robot arm18and used as a workpiece suction unit for sucking the workpiece W.

A safety fence22for ensuring safety in bending the workpiece W is provided in a periphery of the operating range of the bending robot16. The safety fence22includes a plurality of doors (not shown) for allowing a pallet jack HL (seeFIG.5C) or a forklift (not shown) to pass.

In a vicinity of a front of the bending robot16, a workpiece conveying wheeled platform24for conveying the workpiece W from a setup area (a setting area) SA to a pickup area GA along the front-rear direction, which is the predetermined direction, is provided. The setup area SA is positioned outside the safety fence22and is an area for setting up (setting) the workpieces W stacked on the pallet P. The pickup area GA is positioned inside the safety fence22and is an area for sucking and picking up an uppermost workpiece W from among a plurality of the workpieces W with the bending robot16(the robot hand20). Then, the specific configuration of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24is as follows.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, a base plate (an attachment plate)26extending in the left-right direction (the lateral direction) is installed in the vicinity of the front of the bending robot16, and the upper surface of the base plate26corresponds to an installation surface IS on a floor. The front side portion of the base plate26is positioned outside the safety fence22, and the rear side portion of the base plate26is positioned inside the safety fence22. Notches26nfor two wheels for allowing wheels HLb on the distal end of forks HLa of the pallet jack HL to enter are formed on the front end side of the right side portion and the front end side of the left side portion of the base plate26, respectively.

Sliders (wheeled platform main bodies)28that move in the front-rear direction between the setup area SA and the pickup area GA are provided on the upper side of the left side portion and the upper side of the right side portion of the base plate26, respectively. Each of the sliders28is recessed downward to form a placing part28afor placing the pallet P thereon. The upper surface and the lower surface of the placing part28aof the slider28are formed as flat surfaces. The lower surface of the placing part28ais close to the upper surface of the base plate26that corresponds to the installation surface IS on the floor. The recessed depth of the placing part28ais set to a depth corresponding to a height of the pallet P, for example, set to a depth equal to the height of the pallet P. In addition, on the front end side of the placing part28a, notches28nfor the two forks for allowing the forks HLa of the pallet jack HL to enter are formed. The notch28nis matched to the notch26nof the base plate26.

Note that the recessed depth of the placing part28adoes not necessarily have to be set to the depth equal to the height of the pallet P as long as it is set to the depth corresponding to the height of the pallet P.

A plurality of auxiliary rollers30(seeFIG.3) that roll on the upper surface of the base plate26are rotatably provided at the center portion in the left-right direction (the lateral direction) of the placing part28a. As a result, the lower surface of the placing part28acan be brought closer to the upper surface of the base plate26without bringing the slider28into contact with the base plate26.

Note that the auxiliary rollers30may be rotatably provided on both end sides in the left-right direction of the placing part28a. An intermediate plate (not shown) harder than the base plate26or a flat roller cage (not shown) may be interposed between the base plate26and the slider28.

A first guide mechanism32that supports the slider28so as to be movable in the front-rear direction is arranged on the right side (one side in the lateral direction) of the placing part28a. Specifically, a first guide rail34extending in the front-rear direction is provided, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, on the right side of the placing part28a. In addition, a guide block36that is guided by the first guide rail34and is movable in the front-rear direction is provided on the right side of the placing part28a. The movement of the guide block36is restricted in the left-right direction with respect to the first guide rail34.

A second guide mechanism38that supports the slider28so as to be movable in the front-rear direction is arranged on the left side (the other side in the lateral direction) of the placing part28a. Specifically, a second guide rail40extending in the front-rear direction is provided, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, on the left side of the placing part28a. A guide roller42that rolls on the second guide rail40is rotatably provided on the left side of the placing part28a.

Note that in lieu of the guide roller42, the second guide mechanism38may include a guide block that is provided on the left side of the placing part28a, is guided by the second guide rail40, and is movable in the front-rear direction.

A drive mechanism44for moving the slider28in the front-rear direction is arranged on the right side of the placing part28a. Specifically, a geared motor46, which is a type of an electric motor as a moving actuator, is provided on the right side of the placing part28a. A rack member48extending in the front-rear direction is provided, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, on the right side of the placing part28a. A pinion52that is engaged with the rack member48is connected to an output shaft50of the geared motor46.

Note that the drive mechanism44may include an electric motor other than the geared motor46. In lieu of the rack member48and the pinion52, the drive mechanism44may include a ball screw extending in the front-rear direction and a nut member screwed into the ball screw. The drive mechanism44may include a hydraulic cylinder as a moving actuator in lieu of the electric motor such as the geared motor46. Instead of arranging the drive mechanism44on the right side of the placing part28a, another driving mechanism for moving the slider28in the front-rear direction may be arranged on the left side or both of the left and right sides of the placing part28a.

A first stopper (not shown) and a second stopper (not shown) are provided, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, at appropriate positions on the left side of the placing part28a, so as to be separated in the front-rear direction. The first stopper prevents the slider28from moving forward beyond a predetermined position of the setup area SA. The second stopper prevents the slider28from moving backward beyond a predetermined position of the pickup area GA. In addition, a first sensor (not shown) and a second sensor (not shown) are provided, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, at appropriate positions on the right side of the placing part28a, so as to be separated in the front-rear direction. The first sensor detects that the slider28is positioned at the predetermined position of the setup area SA. The second sensor detects that the slider28is positioned at the predetermined position of the pickup area GA. Further, a cable carrier (not shown) and a cable duct (not shown) are arranged, on part of the upper surface of the base plate26, at appropriate positions on the right side of the placing part28a.

A placing plate54having an L shape in a plan view is provided from the rear portion to the right portion of the placing part28a. A plurality of magnet floaters56are erected on the placing plate54. The magnet floaters56levitate, by magnetic force, the uppermost workpiece W from among the plurality of workpieces W stacked on the pallet P. The magnet floater56has a publicly known configuration shown in Patent Literature 3. In addition, an air separator58is provided on the side portion of any of the magnet floaters56. The air separator58separates, by jet pressure of air, the uppermost workpiece W from among the plurality of workpieces W stacked on the pallet P. The air separator58has a publicly known configuration shown in Patent Literature 3. A plurality of abutting posts60against which the pallet P can be abutted are erected in a vicinity of the placing plate54in the placing part28a.

Note that the placing plate54may be provided to the base plate26instead of being provided to the placing part28a. When the uppermost workpiece W is picked up by using a camera (not shown) that captures an image of the uppermost workpiece W from above, the plurality of magnet floaters56and the air separator58may be omitted from the configuration of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24.

A plurality of shutters (not shown) for opening and closing a part of the safety fence22are provided on the upper surface of the base plate26. Each of the shutters is configured to switch the setup area SA and the pickup area GA from a communication state to a cutoff state when the slider28is moved in the front-rear direction. The communication state is a state in which the setup area SA and the pickup area GA are in communication. The cutoff state is a state in which the setup area SA and the pickup area GA are cut off.

Subsequently, the overall operation of the bending system10and the particular effect of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24will be described.

[Overall Operation of Bending System10]

As shown inFIGS.1and5A, with the slider28on the right side being positioned in the pickup area GA, the bending robot16picks up the uppermost workpiece from the workpieces W that are stacked, via the pallet P, on the placing part28aof the slider28on the right side. Next, the bending robot16supplies the workpiece W, which is picked up, to the press brake12. Then, with the bending robot16assisting in bending the workpiece W, the workpiece W is bent by the collaboration between the punch tool and the die tool of the press brake12. Further, the bending robot16carries out the bent product to the product pallet. By repeating the operation described above, the workpieces W stacked via the pallet P on the placing part28aof the slider28on the right side are continuously bent.

In the meantime, as shown inFIG.5B, with the slider28on the left side being positioned in the setup area SA, the pallet P on which the workpieces W are stacked by the pallet jack HL is moved backward and positioned above the placing part28aof the slider28on the left side. Next, by lowering the forks HLa of the pallet jack HL to place the pallet P on the placing part28aon the left side, the workpieces W stacked on the pallet P are set up. Further, as shown inFIG.5C, the pallet jack HL is moved forward to be separated from the left slider28. Then, as shown inFIG.5D, the pinion52on the left side (seeFIG.2) is rotated in the positive direction by driving the geared motor46on the left side so that the slider28on the left side is moved from the setup area SA to the pickup area GA. In this manner, the workpieces W stacked via the pallet P on the placing part28aof the slider28on the left side are prepared to be bent.

Note that when the workpieces W stacked on the pallet P placed on the placing part28aof the slider28on the left side are continuously bent, the same operation as that of the bending process on the right side, which is described above, is executed. In addition, when the workpieces W stacked on the pallet P placed on the placing part28aof the slider28on the right side are prepared to be bent, the same operation as that of the preparation on the left side, which is described above, is executed.

[Particular Effect of Workpiece Conveying Wheeled Platform24]

In the configuration of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24, as described above, the slider28is recessed downward to form the placing part28afor placing the pallet P. In addition, the recessed depth of the placing part28ais set to the depth corresponding to the height of the pallet P. The first guide mechanism32and the drive mechanism44are respectively arranged on the right side of the placing part28a, and the second guide mechanism38is arranged on the left side of the placing part28a. As a result, it is possible to lower the height from the upper surface of the base plate26, which corresponds to the installation surface IS on the floor, to the upper surface of the placing part28a. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the stacking capacity of the workpieces W in the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the frequency of setting up the workpieces W for the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24so as to enhance the workability.

In addition, in the configuration of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24, the lower surface of the placing part28ais close to the upper surface of the base plate26as described above. The notches28nfor the two forks HLa are formed on the front end side of the placing part28a. Therefore, when the pallet P is placed on the placing part28aor the pallet P is picked up from the placing part28a, the amount of a vertical movement of the forks HLa can be reduced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the workpiece W can be set up by using the simple pallet jack HL having a small capable amount of the vertical movement of the forks HLa.

Further, in the configuration of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24, as described above, the guide block36that is guided by the first guide rail34so as to be movable in the front-rear direction is provided on the right side of the placing part28a. The guide roller42that rolls on the second guide rail40is rotatably provided on the left side of the placing part28a. As a result, even if an undulation (a slight deformation in the vertical direction) is generated on the upper surface of the base plate26that corresponds to the installation surface IS on the floor, it is possible to move the slider28in the front-rear direction while absorbing the undulation. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the operation of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24.

The workpiece conveying wheeled platform24according to the present embodiment includes the slider28that is movable between the setup area SA and the pickup area GA, the guide mechanisms32and38that movably support the slider28, and the drive mechanism44that moves the slider28in the predetermined direction described above. The slider28is recessed to form the placing part28afor placing the pallet P. The guide mechanisms32and38are arranged on the both sides in the lateral direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in the placing part28a, respectively. The drive mechanism44is arranged on at least one side in the above-described lateral direction of the placing part28a. Therefore, according to the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24related to the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten the height from the installation surface on the floor to the upper surface of the placing part28a. Then, the stacking capacity of the workpieces W in the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24can be increased.

Since the stacking capacity of the workpieces W can be increased, the frequency of setting up the workpieces W for the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24can be reduced. As a result, the workability can be enhanced.

In addition, in the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24according to the present embodiment, the recessed depth of the placing part28ais set to the depth corresponding to the height of the pallet P. Therefore, the pallet P can be easily placed on the placing part28a, and the workability can be further enhanced.

In addition, in the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24according to the present embodiment, the placing part28ais arranged close to the installation surface IS on the floor. Therefore, when the pallet P is placed on the placing part28a(or when the pallet P is picked up from the placing part28a), the vertical movement amount of the pallet P can be reduced and the workpieces W can be set up with the pallet jack HL.

Here, the notches28nfor allowing the forks HLa of the pallet jack HL to enter are formed on the placing part28a. This fact also allows the vertical movement amount of the pallet P to be smaller, which makes the setup of the workpiece W by the pallet jack HL easy.

Further, since the auxiliary rollers30that roll on the installation surface IS on the floor are provided to the placing part28a, it is possible to bring the lower surface of the placing part28aclose to the upper surface of the base plate26without bringing the slider28into contact with the base plate26. As a result, the workability can be further improved.

In addition, the guide mechanisms32and38include the pair of the first guide mechanism32and the second guide mechanism38. The first guide mechanism32includes the first guide rail34and the guide block36that are described above. The second guide mechanism38includes the second guide rail40and the guide roller42that are described above. Therefore, the slider28can be easily slid in the predetermined direction, and the workability can be further enhanced.

The working system10according to the present embodiment includes the working machine (the press brake)12for processing the workpiece W, the loading machine (the bending robot)16for supplying the workpiece W to the working machine12, and the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24described above. Therefore, according to the working system10related to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the workpiece conveying wheeled platform24described above is brought about.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the descriptions of the present embodiment described above. The present invention can be executed in various modes, for example, the technical idea applied to the bending system10can be applied to a working system other than the bending system10. Then, the scope of rights included in the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.