JP3573162B2 - Work transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention picks up a work that is continuously fed by a work transfer device, more specifically, a transport conveyor, and sequentially passes the work through a plurality of work stations provided at different positions from the transport conveyor. And a device for transferring the wafer to the transport conveyor again.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many such workpiece transfer devices have been proposed and implemented. However, there is a problem that none of the devices is sufficiently satisfactory in terms of high speed, or that the device is large and requires a large installation space. Therefore, there has been a demand for a work transfer device which can solve these problems and can be downsized at a higher speed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional work transfer device has problems that the high-speed operation is not sufficiently satisfactory, and that a large-sized installation requires a large space. For this reason, there has been a demand for a high-speed and compact work transfer device.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a work transfer device capable of high-speed transfer and downsizing.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, optical pickups that need to be adjusted and assembled, which are workpieces that are continuously fed by a conveyor, are sequentially picked up at a transfer position and separated from the conveyor. In a work transfer device that sequentially passes through a plurality of work stations arranged in a circle provided at the position and returns the work station back onto the transport conveyor, the work transfer device has a plurality of arms corresponding to the work stations in a radial manner. A first index table rotatably disposed at a substantially center position of the plurality of work stations; an arm corresponding to a transfer position on the transport conveyor; and an arm corresponding to the arm of the first index table. And the first index table is rotatably disposed between the transfer conveyor and the first index table. A second index table, wherein the first index table and the second index table are connected to each other when one arm of the second index table corresponds to the transfer position. Are rotated synchronously so as to correspond to one of the arms of the first index table, the work can be transferred at each of the corresponding positions, and the plurality of work stations arranged in a circle A first station for transferring the work between the first index table and the second index table, a second station for reading information on the work, and adjusting the work. A third station for writing adjustment information of the work. It is characterized in that it is constituted by a Deployment.
[0006]
According to the present invention, as described in claim 2, when the work is placed on a pallet and transported, the pallet and the first index table for carrying the pallet on the pallet . One end of the arm is provided with a positioning pin whose tip is tapered, and the other is provided with a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged , and only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is provided. in half blanking state clearance is created between the inserted the positioning pin and the positioning hole with the positioning hole, in a an X-Y-direction range of gap formed the pallet the at half blanking state It is preferable that the movement can be adjusted.
[0007]
[Action]
According to this configuration, the arm of the second index table alternately moves between the transfer position of the transport conveyor and the transfer position on the first index table side by the rotation of the second index table. At this time, the arm of the second index table picks up the unprocessed work on the conveyor and transfers it to the arm of the first index table. On the contrary, the arm of the first index table passes through each work station. The transported processed workpiece can be transported back onto the transport conveyor by another arm of the second index table. Therefore, a series of operations from picking up the work on the conveyor to returning to the conveyor again through each work station can be performed continuously, eliminating unnecessary transfer operations and enabling high-speed transfer. become.
[0008]
Further, since the second index table is provided between the conveyor and the first index table, the length of the arm of the first index table can be reduced. Therefore, the space required for rotating the first index table can be reduced, and accordingly, the installation space for the equipment can be reduced.
[0009]
Further, a pallet and one of the arms for carrying the pallet thereon are provided with a positioning pin having a tip portion formed in a tapered shape, and the other is provided with a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged, With the pallet placed in the adjustment position, only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, so that play is created between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. Since the pallet can be adjusted in the X-Y direction in a state, a series of operations from transport-adjustment-transport can be carried smoothly, and high-speed transport can be performed.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a work transfer device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the work transfer device mainly includes a conveyor 1, a first index table 2, a second index table 3, and the like.
[0011]
More specifically, a pallet 4 on which an optical pickup for a compact disk (hereinafter, referred to as a “CD”) as a work requiring adjustment and assembly is placed, for example, is placed on the conveyor 1. The sheet is continuously fed to the transfer position 5 and can be sent from the transfer position 5 to the next process. Here, the optical pickup for CD and the pallet 4 always move integrally.
[0012]
Further, an unillustrated LSI card is mounted on the pallet 4. In this LSI card, history information of adjustment and assembly in each process for each optical pickup for CD placed on the pallet 4 is written, and this information can be read or new information can be written. ing.
[0013]
The first index table 2 has a plurality of work stations 6, 7, 8, and 9 arranged in a circle, and is disposed at substantially the center of the work stations. Four arms 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d are mounted on a plane so as to be integrally rotatable radially at approximately 90-degree intervals.
Further, a positioning holding section 12 is provided at a tip portion of each of the arms 11a to 11d, on which a pallet 4 on which an optical pickup for CD is mounted is positioned. The positioning holding portion 12 is inserted into positioning holes 13 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) formed in the pallet 4 to position the pallet 4 in the horizontal direction (X-Y direction). Are provided.
[0014]
The tip 14a of the positioning pin 14 is provided with a play of about 4 mm between the positioning pin 13 and the pallet 4 in the horizontal direction (e.g., in order to facilitate insertion into the positioning hole 13). It is tapered so that movement adjustment in the (X-Y direction) can be obtained.
[0015]
Here, the work stations 6 to 9 will be further described. The work station 6 is a station for transferring the pallet 4 between the first index table 2 and the second index table 3, and the work station 7 Is a station for reading the history information of the CD optical pickup on the pallet 4 from the LSI card assembled on the pallet 4, a work station 8 is an adjustment station for adjusting and assembling the CD optical pickup on the pallet 4, and a work station 9 is This is a station for writing new history information of the optical pickup for CD on the pallet 4 which has been adjusted to the LSI card. When each of the arms 11a to 11d of the first index table 2 is turned by approximately 90 degrees, the optical pickup for CD mounted on each of the arms 11a to 11d is transferred to each of the stations 6 to 9 together with the pallet 4. It is shifted sequentially.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the adjusting station 8 includes a surface plate 15 on which the pallet 4 is placed, and front, rear, left and right corners for adjusting the height and inclination of the surface plate 15. The four air springs 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d attached thereto and the three air springs 16b, 16c, 16d except the air spring 16a are provided adjacent to the air springs 16b, 16c, 16d, respectively. A leveling device 17 having an actuator 17a at the tip thereof, which is in contact with the lower surface of the surface plate 15, is provided for obtaining posture information on the height and inclination of the surface plate 15.
[0017]
The air of the air springs 16a to 16d managing the attitude of the surface plate 15 is monitored by control means (not shown) based on information from the leveling device 17, and the surface plate 15 is always horizontal, that is, The pallet 4 is held so as to have a predetermined height that is horizontal.
[0018]
Further, an XY table 18 is attached to the upper surface of the surface plate 15. In addition, on the XY table 18, the pallet 4 conveyed onto the surface plate 15 by the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 is supported as a vibration damping means supported from below. The two pins 23 are detachably attached. The number and position of the pins 23 differ depending on the shape of the pallet 4 and the shape of the optical pickup for CD and the like.
[0019]
Also, between the surface plate 15 and the base 30, when air in the air springs 16a to 16d is evacuated due to maintenance or the like and the surface plate 15 is lowered, the lowering position of the surface plate 15 is regulated. Are provided.
[0020]
Next, the second index table 3 is disposed between the transfer position 5 on the side of the conveyor 1 and the transfer station 6 on the side of the first index table 2. Then, the two arms 21a and 21b are integrally displaced by approximately 180 degrees on the same plane above the rotating shaft 20 which is rotated by a motor (not shown) and also moved vertically by a cylinder (not shown). It is rotatably mounted. Further, a chuck (not shown) for gripping the pallet 4 is provided at a tip portion of each of the arms 21a and 21b.
[0021]
The transfer operation in the work transfer device thus configured will be described below.
First, the first index table 2 and the second index table 3 are rotated synchronously, and one arm 21a (or 21b) of the second index table 3 is arranged at the transfer position 5 on the conveyor 1 side. The other arm 21b (or 21a) corresponds to one of the four arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 on the transfer station 6.
[0022]
When the second index table 3 is rotated, the arms 21a and 21b of the second index table 3 are displaced upward as indicated by a chain line in FIG. In the transfer station 6, the pallet 4 is separated from the pallet 4 on the first index table 2.
[0023]
Here, when an instruction to grasp the pallet 4 is given from a control unit (not shown), the second index table 3 is lowered, and the pallet 4 on the conveyor 1 and the first index table 2 in the transfer station 6 are moved. The arms 21a and 21b respectively abut against the pallet 4 at the same time, and simultaneously chuck them.
Next, the second index table 3 is raised with the arms 21a and 21b chucking the pallet 4, respectively.
[0024]
After ascending, the vehicle turns 180 degrees horizontally. Then, the tip of the arm 21b is arranged on the transport conveyor 1, and the tip of the arm 21a is arranged in the transfer station 6.
[0025]
Next, the second index table 3 is lowered, and the chuck is released at the lowered position. Then, the pallet 4 chucked by the arm 21b is returned to the transport conveyor 1, and the pallet 4 chucked by the arm 21a is placed on the arm (one of 11a to 11d) in the transfer station 6. It is transferred in the state where it was set. Here, the pallet 4 transferred to the arm (11a to 11d) side is positioned by inserting the positioning pin 14 into the positioning hole 13 (see FIG. 8).
[0026]
As a result, the pallet 4 on which the optical pickup for CD before adjustment and assembly on the transport conveyor 1 is transferred to the second index table 3 side, and adjustment and assembly on the second index table 3 end. The pallet 4 on which the optical pickup for CD is mounted is transferred to the conveyor 1 side. Then, the pallet 4 transferred to the side of the conveyor 1 is carried by the conveyor 1 to the next step.
[0027]
On the other hand, the pallet 4 transferred to the first index table 2 side is moved from the transfer station 6 to the reading station 7, the adjustment station 8, and the writing station as the first index table 2 is turned by 90 degrees. They are sequentially transferred to the station 9. Then, in the reading station 7, the history information is read from the LSI card on the pallet 4 and then transferred to the adjustment station 8 for adjustment.
[0028]
Here, the turning of the first index table 2 by 90 degrees corresponds to the turning of the second index table 3 by 180 degrees, that is, the second index table 3 is rotated by 180 degrees. Every time the first index table 2 rotates 90 degrees, the transfer station 6 always connects the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2 and the arms (21a, 21b) of the second index table 3 with each other. Correspondingly, the pallet 4 can be transferred at this position.
[0029]
Here, when the pallet 4 is transported to the adjustment position, the pallet 4 is lowered together with the arms (11a to 11d), and the lower surface of the pallet 4 is arranged on the surface plate 15 via the XY table 18. (See FIG. 9).
Further, when the pallet 4 is lowered together with the arms (11a to 11d), the lower surface of the pallet 4 is supported by the platen 15 via the pins 23, and only the arms (11a to 11d) are lowered. A half-punch in which a tip 14a of the pin 14 is slightly inserted into the positioning hole 13 and a gap is formed between the positioning hole 13 and the positioning pin 14 to allow the pallet 4 to move in the XY directions. State (see FIG. 10). At the same time, the pallet 4 is supported by the platen 15 from below via the pins 23, whereby vibration is suppressed and the pallet 4 is positioned on the platen 15 side.
[0030]
When the positioning pins 14 and the positioning holes 13 are half-punched in this way and are held on the platen 15 via the pins 23 and the XY table 18, the XY table 18 is Is moved in the X-Y direction, and the skew of the optical pickup for CD mounted on the pallet 4 is adjusted.
At this time, the amount by which the pallet 4 is moved is in a range of about 4 mm, which is a gap formed by partially removing the positioning pin 14 from the positioning hole 13 of the pallet 4.
[0031]
When the adjustment of the optical pickup for CD is completed, the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table are raised, and the pallet 4 is lifted above the surface plate 15. Then, the positioning pins 14 are completely inserted again into the positioning holes 13 of the pallet 4 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 8, are positioned, and are set on the first index table 2.
[0032]
Next, the first index table 2 is turned 90 degrees, and the pallet 4 located at the adjustment station is transferred to the writing station 9, where new history information is written to the LSI card.
[0033]
Then, when the next 90-degree turn is performed again, it is moved to the transfer station 6, is gripped by the arms (21 a, 21 b) of the second index table 3, and is transferred onto the conveyor 1. The pallet 4 transferred onto the conveyor 1 is transported to the next step by the conveyor 1.
[0034]
Therefore, by repeating this operation, the pallet 4 sent from the previous process by the transport conveyor 1 is transferred from the transfer position 5 to the transfer station 6, and then the read station 7, the adjustment station 8, and the write station. A series of operations is performed in which the sheet is transferred to the transfer station 6 again through the station 9 and then returned to the transfer position 5 of the transfer conveyor 1 and transferred to the next process.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the case where the optical pickup for CD is transported together with the pallet 4 has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the case where another optical disk is transported.
In the insertion engagement between the pallet 4 and the arms (11a to 11d) of the first index table 2, a positioning hole 13 is provided on the pallet 4 side, and a positioning pin 14 is provided on the arm (11a to 11d) side. However, it is a matter of course that the structure may be such that a positioning pin is provided on the pallet 4 side and a positioning hole 13 is provided on the arm (11a to 11d) side.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the arm of the second index table alternately moves between the transfer position of the conveyor and the transfer position of the first index table by the rotation of the second index table. At this time, the arm of the second index table picks up the unprocessed work on the conveyor and transfers it to the arm of the first index table. The processed work coming through the work station can be carried back on the transfer conveyor by another arm of the second index table, and the work on the transfer conveyor can be picked up and passed through each work station. A series of operations until it is returned to the conveyor again is performed continuously. Transport operation is eliminated to allow high-speed conveyance Do.
[0037]
Further, the length of the arm of the first index table can be shortened, and the space required for rotating the first index table can be reduced, and accordingly, the installation space of the equipment is reduced. It is possible to expect effects such as reduction in size.
[0038]
Further, a pallet and one of the arms for carrying the pallet thereon are provided with a positioning pin having a tip portion formed in a tapered shape, and the other is provided with a positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged, With the pallet placed in the adjustment position, only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, so that play is created between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. Since the pallet can be adjusted in the X-Y direction in a state, a series of operations from transport-adjustment-transport can be smoothly carried out, high-speed transport can be performed, and improvement in productivity can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a work transfer device shown as one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of a main part of a first index table.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of a first index table.
FIG. 4 is a top view showing a main configuration of the adjustment station.
FIG. 5 is a side view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a side view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing a main configuration of the adjustment station.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a main part structure in the adjustment station.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a main part structure in the adjustment station.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a main part structure in the adjustment station.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor 2 First index table 3 Second index table 4 Pallet 5 Transfer position 6 Work station (transfer station)
7 Work station (reading station)
8 Work station (adjustment station)
9 Work station (writing station)
11a to 11d Arm 13 Positioning hole 14 Positioning pin 14a Tapered tip 15 Surface plate 16a to 16d Air spring 18 XY tables 21a, 21b Arm 23 pin (vibration suppression means)

Claims (2)

A plurality of optical pickups that require adjustment and assembly, which are workpieces that are continuously sent on the conveyor, are sequentially picked up at the transfer position, and are arranged in a circle provided at a different position from the conveyor. In a work transfer device that passes through the work stations in order and returns to the transfer conveyor again,
A first index table having a plurality of arms radially corresponding to the work stations and rotatably disposed at substantially center positions of the plurality of work stations,
An arm corresponding to a transfer position on the transfer conveyor and an arm corresponding to the arm of the first index table, between the transfer conveyor and the first index table. A second index table rotatably disposed,
The first index table and the second index table are arranged such that, when one arm of the second index table corresponds to the transfer position, another arm of the second index table is set to the first index table. It rotates synchronously so as to correspond to one of the arms of the index table, and the work can be transferred at each corresponding position.
The plurality of work stations arranged in a circle,
A first station for transferring the work between the first index table and the second index table;
A second station for reading the work information;
A third station for adjusting the work,
And a fourth station for writing the work adjustment information. When the work is transferred on a pallet, a positioning pin having a tapered tip is provided on one of the pallet and the arm of the first index table for carrying the pallet. A positioning hole into which the positioning pin is inserted and engaged is provided, and only a part of the tip of the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, so that there is play between the positioning pin and the positioning hole. The work transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the pallet can be moved and adjusted in the X-Y direction within a gap formed in the half-empty state when the half-hollow state is made. .

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