Workpiece holding tool changing system for a workpiece conveying apparatus of a transfer press machine

A workpiece holding tool changing system for a workpiece conveying apparatus of a transfer press machine, the workpiece holding tool changing system being configured to change at least one of a relative position and a posture of a workpiece holding tool with respect to a feed bar, the workpiece holding tool being configured to hold a workpiece,

• the feed bar including at least one workpiece holding tool along a long-axis direction of the feed bar,
• the feed bar further including, for each workpiece holding tool, a set of an X-axis direction linear-motion mechanism configured to guide movement of the workpiece holding tool with respect to the feed bar in an X-axis direction corresponding to a feed direction of the workpiece and an X-axis direction movement inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit the movement,
• each workpiece holding tool being supported by the feed bar via:
• a first arm having a proximal end portion that is supported by a first-arm support base supported by the X-axis direction linear-motion mechanism, so as to be swingable in a substantially vertical plane via a first joint;
• a second arm having a proximal end portion that is supported on a distal end side of the first arm so as to be swingable in the substantially vertical plane via a second joint;
• and
• a posture changing mechanism provided on a distal end side of the second arm and configured to change the posture of the workpiece holding tool with respect to the feed bar,
• each workpiece holding tool including:
• a first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit swinging of the first arm about the first joint;
• a second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit swinging of the second arm about the second joint;
• and
• a posture change inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit change in posture by the posture changing mechanism,
• wherein, under a state in which inhibition of the movement, the swinging, and the change in posture by the X-axis direction movement inhibition mechanism, the first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, the second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, and the posture change inhibition mechanism is canceled, a workpiece holding tool changing apparatus provided separately from the feed bar changes one of the relative position and the posture of the workpiece holding tool to one of a desired relative position and a desired posture with respect to the feed bar, and
• wherein, after the change, the workpiece holding tool changing system is brought into a holding state in which the movement, the swinging, and the change in posture are inhibited by the X-axis direction movement inhibition mechanism, the first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, the second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, and the posture change inhibition mechanism.

A workpiece holding tool changing system for a workpiece conveying apparatus of a transfer press machine, the workpiece holding tool changing system being configured to change at least one of a relative position and a posture of a workpiece holding tool with respect to a feed bar, the workpiece holding tool being configured to hold a workpiece,

• the feed bar including at least one workpiece holding tool along a long-axis direction of the feed bar,
• the feed bar further including, for each workpiece holding tool, a set of a rotation support mechanism configured to support the workpiece holding tool in a freely rotatable manner in a plane substantially parallel to one of a substantially horizontal plane and a substantially vertical plane of the feed bar and a rotation inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit the rotation,
• each workpiece holding tool being supported by the feed bar via:
• a first arm having a proximal end portion that is supported by a first-arm support base supported by the rotation support mechanism, so as to be swingable in the substantially vertical plane via a first joint;
• a second arm having a proximal end portion that is supported on a distal end side of the first arm so as to be swingable in the substantially vertical plane via a second joint;
• and
• a posture changing mechanism provided on a distal end side of the second arm and configured to change the posture of the workpiece holding tool with respect to the feed bar,
• each workpiece holding tool including:
• a first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit swinging of the first arm about the first joint;
• a second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit swinging of the second arm about the second joint;
• and
• a posture change inhibition mechanism configured to inhibit change in posture by the posture changing mechanism,
• wherein, under a state in which inhibition of the rotation, the swinging, and the change in posture by the rotation inhibition mechanism, the first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, the second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, and the posture change inhibition mechanism is canceled, a workpiece holding tool changing apparatus provided separately from the feed bar changes one of the relative position and the posture of the workpiece holding tool to one of a desired relative position and a desired posture with respect to the feed bar, and
• wherein, after the change, the workpiece holding tool changing system is brought into a holding state in which the rotation, the swinging, and the change in posture are inhibited by the rotation inhibition mechanism, the first-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, the second-arm swinging inhibition mechanism, and the posture change inhibition mechanism.