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US 10,525,534 B2Granted
Loading mechanism and machine tool system
AssigneeNtn Corporation
InventorsShouhei Yamauchi, Nobuhiko Tsuji
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workpiece is conveyed from a first fixed point to a second fixed point by a conveyor in a chucked state. A phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor is detected by a detector. The workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor is seated on a seating part. A workpiece seating phase of the seating part is adjusted by an adjustor to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector.
Claims18
A loading mechanism comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
- a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
- a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon;
- and
- an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
- wherein the detector comprises:
- a workpiece passage confirming sensor including a pattern reading sensor configured to read an ON-OFF pattern, the workpiece passage confirming sensor being turned on in a workpiece detection state in which the workpiece is detected and being turned off in a workpiece non-detection state in which the workpiece is not detected;
- and
- a calculator configured to calculate the phase of the workpiece based on the ON-OFF pattern read by the workpiece passage confirming sensor.
6 more elements
The loading mechanism comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
- a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
- a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon;
- and
- an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
- wherein the detector comprises a workpiece passage confirming sensor,
- wherein the workpiece comprises a flange having cutout portions formed at a predetermined pitch along a circumferential direction, and
- wherein the workpiece passage confirming sensor is configured to detect passage of a flange division piece portion between the cutout portions of the flange.
5 more elements
A machine tool system comprising a loading mechanism comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
- a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
- a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon;
- and
- an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
- wherein the seating part comprises:
- a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor;
- and
- a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.
6 more elements
A machine tool system comprising a loading mechanism comprising:
- a conveyor configured to convey a workpiece from a first fixed point to a second fixed point in a chucked state;
- a detector configured to detect a phase of the workpiece that is being conveyed by the conveyor;
- a seating part configured to receive the workpiece, which is conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor, to be seated thereon;
- and
- an adjustor configured to adjust a workpiece seating phase of the seating part to the phase of the workpiece detected by the detector during conveyance of the workpiece from the first fixed point to the second fixed point by the conveyor,
- wherein the conveyor comprises:
- an arm that is turned about a rotary shaft;
- and
- a chuck mechanism for conveyance, which is arranged at a distal end of the arm, and is configured to chuck the workpiece, and
- wherein the seating part comprises:
- a chuck mechanism for machining configured to chuck and support the workpiece conveyed to the second fixed point by the conveyor;
- and
- a seating confirming part configured to define a chuck support state by the chuck mechanism for machining as a state in which the workpiece is seated and confirm whether or not the workpiece is appropriately seated.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.