The present invention is related to carrying mechanism providing the rotation of plate shaped parts during the carrying operation.
As known, in the production facilities, operations such as cutting, drilling, twisting are being performed on sheet metals. In such production facilities, the cutting of sheet metals are being performed with laser cutting work stations, whereas the twisting process is being done at work stations called press brakes. Generally, the part transfer between those two said systems is being realized via conveyors. However, in some special cases, the position of the part may differ at the outlet of laser work station and at the inlet of the twisting. In that case, the position of the part should be changed somehow. The hardest case of changing the position is when the operation surface remaining upwards at the laser cutting work station has to be downwards at the twisting.
When the part is small and production speed is low, that rotation operation is done manually. However, in case of a big part, usage of a trailer or another lifting tool becomes necessary for the realization of the process. Thus, the operation becomes a difficult and time consuming process. The solution for said process is the robotic systems. However, such systems have a high cost.
Consequently, all of the aforementioned problems necessitate a novel innovation in the related technical field.
For eliminating the disadvantages mentioned above and bringing novel innovations to the related technical field, the present invention is related to a mechanism providing the flipping the parts having sheet metal shape during the carrying operation.
The main purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism providing the flipping of the sheet metal shaped parts during the carrying operation.
Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism which can adapt itself to the production flow speed.
Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a mechanism which can operate with parts having different sizes.
For fulfilling the purposes explained above and to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a carrying mechanism being used in sheet metal feed in the sheet metal processing machines according to claim 1.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a rotation shaft provided between the stationary chassis and mobile plate group and the rotation shaft is positioned on at least one shaft bedding fixed on the stationary chassis.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arm mechanism comprises a main arm in contact with the stationary chassis and a support arm in contact with the mobile plate group.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, mobile plate group comprises a mobile chassis and a vacuumed carrier provided on said mobile chassis and pneumatically in contact with a vacuum source.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said vacuum carrier comprises a carrier frame and at least one vacuum pad provided on said carrier frame.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said carrier frame comprises a rotating connection pin for allowing the vacuum pad to rotate along its own axis.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is an impact damping unit provided between the carrier frame and mobile chassis.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said impact damping unit is a spring.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a vacuum collector group positioned under the mobile chassis for providing the air flow into the vacuum pad.
According to the present invention, there is a mechanical inhibitor structured on the stationary chassis and reducing the force coming on the arm mechanism as the mobile plate group comes to unloading position.
Said mechanical inhibitor comprises a cylindrical spring housing, a tong protruding outwards from said spring housing and a cylindrical reel provided at the tip of said tong.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is at least one connection flange provided at the tip of the rotation shaft. Said connection flange allows the operation with longer parts by means of joining more than one mechanism to each other.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said drive unit is a hydraulic piston. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis comprises at least one chassis leg and at least one fixing flange structured for fixing said chassis leg to the ground.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis a loading support section supporting the mobile plate group at the loading position and at least one leaning chock positioned at said loading support section.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stationary chassis comprises a front section. Said front section is located at the opposite side of rotation shaft and prevents the mechanism's loss of balance when the mechanism comes to unloading position.
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In this detailed description, the subject of innovation mechanism providing the flipping rotation of plate shaped parts during the carrying operation is described only with examples that lead to no limiting effect in the better comprehension of the subject. This description explains the invention's usage in a sheet metal processing facility.
In the sheet metal processing facilities, it is necessary that the bottom surfaces of the sheet metals to be cut in the laser cutting work station have to be turned upwards before going into the twisting process. Said mechanism realizes that task. The invention is a mechanism comprising a stationary chassis (10), a mobile plate group (20), movement transfer group (30) providing the movement of said mobile plate group (20) and mechanical inhibitor (40). Said stationary chassis (10) is composed of chassis legs (13) capable of being fixed to the group by means of fixing flanges (11), chassis profiles (14) making the system more sturdy, chassis loading support section (15) and a chassis front section (12) structured for making the system more balanced. On said chassis loading support section (15), leaning chocks (16) are positioned at two corners.
Mobile plate group (20) is connected onto the rotation shaft (33) bedded to the shaft bedding (34) from four points by being two at corner and two in the middle, also lying along the entire length of the stationary chassis' (10) long frame. Said mobile plate group (20) is composed of mobile chassis (21), two vacuum carriers (23) positioned on said mobile chassis (21), vacuum collector group (24) and the connection components of those. Said vacuum carriers (23) are composed of a carrier frame (231) and vacuum pads (232) provided on them. Said carrier frame (231) is connected onto said mobile chassis (21) via connection pins (not shown in figures) and springs (22) positioned adjacently to said pins. Said springs (22) provide a controlled elasticity to the system during the loading and unloading. Said vacuum pads (232) are provided as three subsequent couples provided on the carrier frame (231) settled facing each other.
Via rotating connection pins (233) connecting the vacuum pads (232) to the frame, the rotation of vacuum pads (232) around said pin axis. By that means, maximum interaction area is obtained according to the shape of part to be loaded on the mechanism. The air is given to the vacuum pads (232) from the vacuum collector groups (23) placed under the mobile chassis (21) and each of them is connected to a vacuum carrier (23). Vacuum collector group (23) is being fed by the main vacuum collector group (not shown in figures) positioned inside the stationary chassis (10).
When more than one mechanism is connected serially, a simultaneous movement is obtained by means of using a main vacuum collector. Between the stationary chassis (10) and mobile plate group (20), an arm mechanism (32) is positioned. Said arm mechanism (32) is composed of a main arm (321) and a support arm (322). There is a 90 degree connection between said main arm (321) and support arm (322). The main arm (321) side of arm mechanism (32) is connected to a stationary chassis (10) with a rotating joint connection. Support arm (322) is connected to the mobile plate group (20) from around the two vacuum carriers (23) with a rotating joint connection. Moreover, there is a hydraulic piston (31) connected via rotating joint to the connection point of main arm (321) and support arm (322). Said hydraulic piston's (31) other end is connected onto the stationary chassis (10) by means of rotating joint, and its fixation is achieved. When the hydraulic piston (31) opens, said arm mechanism (32) provides a rotation movement to the mobile plate group (20) between one loading position and one unloading position, around said rotation shaft (33) axis. At the position of mechanism in the
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, pneumatic piston or servo motor-like drive systems can be used instead of hydraulic pistons, for giving movement.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, for fixing the part onto the mobile plate, systems such as magnetic plate and magnetic lock can be used.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.