TOOL STORAGE DEVICE AND TOOL REVERSING DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tool storage device and a tool reversing device.

BACKGROUND ART

Tool storage devices for storing tools such as bending tools used for press brakes and the like have conventionally been known. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a manufacturing apparatus 100 including a press brake 101, a tool storage device 102 arranged on the front side of the press brake 101, and a tool changing robot 103 arranged between the press brake 101 and the tool storage device 102 as shown in FIG. 11.

For example, in the manufacturing apparatus 100 disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a tool 104 used in the press brake 101 is stored in the tool storage device 102 in the state of being mounted on a tool holder (fixed shelf) 105, constituted of three stages in a vertical direction (Z direction in FIG. 11) and extending in a horizontal direction (X direction in FIG. 11). In the case of changing the tool, the tool changing robot 103 detaches a necessary tool 104 from the tool holder 105 in the tool storage device 102, moves the tool 104 in a front-rear direction (Y direction in FIG. 11), and mounts the tool 104 on a tool mounting part 106 of the press brake 101.

Tool reversing devices, which reverse the front and back of a tool that is a bending tool used for press brakes and the like, have also conventionally been known. For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a tool reversing device 200 including a turning actuator 202, a pair of cylinders 203, a housing 201 for storing pipes of the cylinders or the like, and a tool holder 204 mounted on the tip of the turning actuator 202 as shown in FIG. 12.

In the tool reversing device 200 disclosed in Patent Literature 2, for example, after a selected tool 205 is mounted on the tool holder 204, the pair of cylinders 203 are shortened in the Z direction, and then the turning actuator 202 is actuated to reverse the front and back of the tool 205. This allows the tool 205 to be reversed without interfering with the holders on both sides of the tool holder 204 in the X direction.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 6,170,137

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent No. 5,008,019

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

However, in the case of increasing the number of tools to be mounted on the tool holder 105 in the tool storage device 102 of the manufacturing apparatus 100 disclosed in Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to elongate and expand the tool holder 105 in the horizontal direction, which enlarges the space of the tool storage device 102 in the horizontal direction. As a result, a moving space of the tool changing robot 103 also expands, which results in an increase in useless space.

In the tool reversing device 200 disclosed in Patent Literature 2, when the tool 205 is mounted on the tool holder 204 and then the turning actuator 202 is actuated to turn the tool 205 for reversing, there is a risk that the tool 205 rocks inside the tool holder 204 and causes deviation in the mounting position of the tool 205. In addition, since the process for expanding and contracting the cylinders 203 is necessary, the takt time required for the process of reversing the tool 205 becomes longer.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a tool storage device capable of ensuring mounting of a maximum number of tools with a simple structure and a small space.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a tool reversing device capable of preventing deviation of a mounting position of a tool with a simple structure and reducing a takt time required for a reversing process.

Solution to Problem

A tool storage device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first stocker on which a plurality of tools used for bending processing are mountable in a first direction; and at least one second stocker on which the plurality of tools are mountable in the first direction, the at least one second stocker being arranged side by side with the first stocker in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, in which the second stocker is configured to be movable in a third direction orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction.

In the tool storage device according to an aspect of the present invention, out of the first and second stockers on which a plurality of tools are mountable in the first direction, the second stocker is arranged side by side with the first stocker in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction and is movable in the third direction orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction. This makes it possible to ensure mounting of a maximum number of tools with a simple structure and a small space, and to minimize the generation of useless space.

A tool reversing device according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a tool mounting part on which a tool used for bending processing is mountable; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the tool mounting part in a direction perpendicular to a mounting direction of the tool, in which the tool mounting part includes a mounting part body formed into a U-shaped cross section so as to constitute a pair of wall parts and a bottom part, the mounting part body being configured to allow insertion of a shank part of the tool, a locking groove provided on at least one inner wall surface of the pair of wall parts so as to be engageable with a protrusion extending in the perpendicular direction and protruding from a surface of the shank part, and a plurality of locking strips provided at prescribed positions in the locking groove and configured to engage with the protrusion from the perpendicular direction.

In the tool reversing device according to the another aspect of the present invention, the protrusion protruding from the surface of the shank part of the tool engages with the locking groove in the mounting part body of the tool mounting part, and also engages with the plurality of locking strips provided at prescribed positions in the locking groove from the direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. This makes it possible to prevent occurrence of deviation of the mounting position of the tool with a simple structure. In addition, since the reversing process can be performed simply by mounting the tool in the tool mounting part and rotating the tool mounting part by the rotating mechanism, the takt time required for the reversing process can be shortened.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

On aspect of the present invention can ensure mounting of a maximum number of tools with a simple structure and a small space.

Another aspect of the present invention can prevent deviation of a mounting position of the tool with a simple structure and reduce the takt time required for the reversing process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a bending system including a tool storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tool storage device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view showing the tool storage device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining movable shelves in a retracted state in the tool storage device in the one embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view for explaining operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a schematic view for explaining operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 5C is a schematic view for explaining operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a tool reversing device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view of a reversing operation of the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of the reversing operation of the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tool reversing device in FIG. 7A along a prescribed position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a tool mounted on the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tool reversing device in FIG. 9 along a prescribed position.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a manufacturing apparatus with a conventional tool storage device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a conventional tool reversing device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

A tool storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the following embodiment does not limit the invention according to each of the claims, and all combinations of the features described in the embodiment are not necessarily essential for the solution of the invention. In the embodiment below, like component members are designated by like reference signs to omit redundant explanation. In the embodiment, there are cases where the arrangement, scale, dimensions, or the like, of each component member are exaggerated or trivialized so that they are shown in the state not coincident with those in practice, and cases where description of some of the component members are omitted.

Overall Configuration of Bending System Including Tool Storage Device

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a bending system including a tool storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bending system 1 according to the one embodiment schematically includes a press brake 2, a tool changing robot 3, and a tool storage device 10. Since the basic structure of the press brake 2 and the tool changing robot 3 is known, only the outline thereof will be described.

In the description below, an arrow “X direction” in the drawings indicates a horizontal direction of the tool storage device 10 in FIG. 1 for example, an arrow “Y direction” in the drawings indicates a front-rear direction of the tool storage device 10, and an arrow “Z direction” in the drawings indicates a vertical direction of the tool storage device 10. In addition, “engagement” means, for example, that an object A and an object B are engaged with each other, whereas “locking” means, for example, that an object A and an object B are engaged and locked with each other. In the bending system 1 in the present embodiment, the press brake 2 and the tool storage device 10 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, with their front face sides facing the tool changing robot 3.

The press brake 2 performs bending processing of a workpiece (not shown in FIG. 1), which is a member to be processed, between an upper table 2a and a lower table 2b, using a bending tool 9 (an attached state of which is not shown in FIG. 1) constituted of a punch and a die attached to the tables 2a and 2b, respectively.

The tool changing robot 3 uses an arm part 3a that can rotate 360°on a robot pedestal 3f to change the tool 9 between the press brake 2 and the tool storage device 10. The arm part 3a may be constituted of an articulated arm with, for example, six control axes. The tool changing robot 3 is provided to be movable in the horizontal direction on the front sides of the press brake 2 and the tool storage device 10 by a moving mechanism 3b, which includes a rail part 3e laid on the floor surface, the robot pedestal 3f that is movable along the rail part 3e, and a Cableveyor (registered trademark) 3c connected to the robot pedestal 3f and arranged on the front side of the tool storage device 10.

On the front side of the tool storage device 10, there are arranged, for example, the Cableveyor (registered trademark) 3c in the moving mechanism 3b described above, a storage part 3d for a tool gripper (not shown) for gripping the tool to be attached to the tip of the arm part 3a of the tool changing robot 3, and a tool reversing device 20 provided at the position closer to the press brake 2 than the storage part 3d. For example, the storage part 3d and the tool reversing device 20 are provided on a front pedestal part 19, which is arranged on the front side of the tool storage device 10.

Here, the bending system 1 according to the one embodiment may be configured to include a control device (not shown, as in the description below) that controls the press brake 2 as well as the tool storage device 10 including the tool changing robot 3 and the tool reversing device 20, and is therefore configured to be able to implement automatic processing of the workpiece including tool change in the press brake 2 and the tool storage device 10.

Detailed Configuration of Tool Storage Device

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tool storage device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view showing the tool storage device according to the one embodiment. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage part 3d, the tool reversing device 20, and the front pedestal part 19 shown in FIG. 1 are omitted. The tool 9 shown is of a goose neck type, though the tool 9 is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tool storage device 10 includes a fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 on which a plurality of tools 9 (of a goose neck type in the example shown) used for bending processing are mountable in the horizontal direction (first direction (X direction), and at least one movable shelf (second stocker) 12 on which the plurality of tools 9 are mountable in the horizontal direction (first direction), the at least one movable shelf 12 being arranged side by side with the fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 in the front-rear direction (second direction (Y direction) ) orthogonal to the horizontal direction (first direction). The movable shelf (second stocker) 12 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction (third direction (Z direction) ) orthogonal to each of the horizontal direction (first direction) and the front-rear direction (second direction).

In this embodiment, the tool storage device 10 includes, for example, one fixed shelf 11 and two movable shelves 12 (first movable shelf 12A and second movable shelf 12B). The fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 and the movable shelves (second stocker) 12 are each provided in a plurality of stages (for example, three stages each) in the vertical direction (third direction). The fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 and the movable shelves (second stocker) 12 are provided in order of the fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 configured in a fixed state and the movable shelves (second stockers) 12 configured to be movable, from the side far from the tool changing robot 3 in the front-rear direction (second direction), the tool changing robot 3 being arranged on one side (the front side, for example) of the tool storage device 10 in the front-rear direction (second direction).

The tool storage device 10 includes a frame part 13 constituting a casing formed of a pair of left and right side frames 13a and 13a, and a top plate frame 13b connecting the side frames 13a and 13a on the upper side. On the front side of the frame part 13, there is a front closing plate 14a provided to close the front lower part. On the rear side of the frame part 13, there is a rear closing plate 14b provided to close the rear lower part (see FIG. 3, for example). Here, the rear closing plate 14b may be provided to close the entire surface on the rear side. Above the front closing plate 14a of the tool storage device 10, there is an opening part 15.

The fixed shelf 11 is fixed, for example, at an upper position of the frame part 13, so that the tool changing robot 3 can access the fixed shelf 11 through the opening part 15 by using the arm part 3a. Therefore, the fixed shelf 11 is fixed in the state where all three stages thereof are exposed in a deepest part through the opening part 15 in the front-rear direction. The fixed shelf 11 includes a first shelf 11a, a second shelf 11b, and a third shelf 11c provided in this order from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction.

In the fixed shelf 11, respective both end portions of the first shelf 11a, the second shelf 11b, and the third shelf 11c in the horizontal direction are attached and fixed to a pair of left and right attachment posts 13c and 13c (only one side is shown as in the following description) provided inside the respective side frames 13a and 13a and extending in the vertical direction.

Vertical intervals between the shelves 11a to 11c are set to a sufficient interval so as not to cause interference with other shelves when the tool 9 is moved in the vertical direction for attachment and detachment of the tool 9 by the arm part 3a of the tool changing robot 3.

On the other hand, the movable shelves 12 are movably arranged so as to be vertically movable from the rear side of the front closing plate 14a to the opening part 15. For example, the movable shelves 12 are movably arranged so as to be in the state where all three rows are exposed through the opening part 15 on the front side of the fixed shelf 11 in the front-rear direction and in a retracted state where only the topmost stage is exposed on the rear side of the front closing plate 14a in the front-rear direction.

Out of the movable shelves 12, the first movable shelf 12A is provided on the front side of the fixed shelf 11, and the second movable shelf 12B is provided further on the front side of the first movable shelf 12A. The first movable shelf 12A includes a fourth shelf 12a, a fifth shelf 12b, and a sixth shelf 12c provided in this order from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction.

In the first movable shelf 12A, respective left and right end portions of the fourth shelf 12a, the fifth shelf 12b, and the sixth shelf 12c are attached and fixed to a pair of left and right guide posts 17a and 17a (only one side is shown as in the following description). Vertical intervals between the shelves 12a to 12c are set to a sufficient interval as in the case of the fixed shelf 11 described above.

To the upper end sides of the respective guide posts 17a and 17a, elevating and lowering mechanisms 16a and 16a (only one side is shown as in the following example) are attached, respectively. The elevating and lowering mechanism 16a and the guide post 17a vertically move the fourth to sixth shelves 12a to 12c along a pair of left and right guide rails 18a and 18a (only one side is shown as in the following description) provided inside the respective side frames 13a and 13a and extending in the vertical direction. As the elevating and lowering mechanisms 16a and 16a, any mechanisms can be adopted such as an air cylinder, a rack and pinion, and a motor, for example.

The second movable shelf 12B includes a seventh shelf 12d, an eighth shelf 12e, and a ninth shelf 12f provided in this order from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction. In the second movable shelf 12B, respective left and right end portions of the seventh shelf 12d, the eighth shelf 12e, and the ninth shelf 12f are attached and fixed to a pair of left and right guide posts 17b and 17b (only one side is shown as in the following description). Vertical intervals between the shelves 12d to 12f are set to a sufficient interval as in the case of the fixed shelf 11 described above.

To the upper end sides of the respective guide posts 17b and 17b, elevating and lowering mechanisms 16b and 16b (only one side is shown as in the following example) are attached, respectively. The elevating and lowering mechanism 16b and the guide post 17b vertically move the seventh to ninth shelves 12d to 12f along a pair of left and right guide rails 18b and 18b (only one side is shown as in the following description) provided inside the respective side frames 13a and 13a and extending in the vertical direction. As the elevating and lowering mechanisms 16b and 16b, any mechanisms can be adopted such as an air cylinder, a rack and pinions, and a motor, for example.

The above-mentioned elevating and lowering mechanisms 16a and 16b include a control unit (not shown) that controls elevating and lowering operation. Therefore, the movable shelves 12 (first movable shelf 12A and second movable shelf 12B) are configured to move upward or downward along with the guide posts 17a and 17b under control of the control unit of the elevating and lowering mechanisms 16a and 16b in response to a control signal from a shelf control unit (not shown) included in a control device, for example.

Here, the movable shelves (second stockers) 12 move to positions not overlapping the fixed shelf (first stocker) 11 in the front-rear direction (second direction), with reference to a fixed position of the fixed shelf (first stocker) 11. Therefore, even when the movable shelves 12 are moved so as to be in the retracted state where only the topmost stage is exposed as described above, this does not prevent the tool changing robot 3 from accessing the first shelf 11a that is a lower stage of the fixed shelf 11.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining the movable shelves in the retracted state in the tool storage device in the one embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the movable shelves (second stockers) 12 of the tool storage device 10 move so as to retract to an unmovable area UM of the arm part 3a of the tool changing robot 3, when the tool changing robot 3 performs tool change in the fixed shelf (first stocker) 11. Specifically, assume the case where, for example, the area that the tool changing robot 3 can access by moving the arm part 3a is defined as a movable area M as viewed in the horizontal direction, the lower side of the tool storage device 10 is defined as an inaccessible area (unmovable area UM) because the Cableveyor (registered trademark) 3c and the front pedestal part 19 are arranged there.

The unmovable area UM is useless space inaccessible by the tool changing robot 3 as it is. Therefore, adopting the structure of moving and retracting the movable shelves 12 allows access to both the fixed shelf 11 and the movable shelves 12 through the opening part 15.

This enables the tool changing robot 3 to access the fixed shelf 11 in the innermost part of the tool storage device 10 to perform tool change, and also enables the tool changing robot 3 to access the movable shelves 12 and perform tool change by moving the movable shelves 12 up and down to retract the movable shelves 12 to the unmovable area UM and expose the movable shelves 12 through the opening part 15. Therefore, as compared with the case where only the fixed shelf 11 is used, it is possible to ensure mounting of a larger number of tools 9 by utilizing the space in the front-rear direction without expanding the space in the horizontal direction.

Although illustration is omitted, the movable area M and the unmovable area UM can be constituted of a spherical space that the arm part 3a can reach and part of the space, with reference to a rotational center of rotation of the arm part 3a by 360° on the robot pedestal 3f of the tool changing robot 3, for example. Also, the unmovable area UM is not limited to being formed on the lower side of the tool storage device 10 as described above, and may be formed on the upper side. When the unmovable area UM is formed on the upper side, the movable shelves 12 may be moved so as to retract to above the fixed shelf 11.

Operation of Tool Storage Device

FIG. 5A is a schematic view for explaining operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 5B is a schematic view for explaining the operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 5C is a schematic view for explaining the operation of the tool storage device according to the one embodiment. Here, FIG. 5A shows the case where the movable shelves 12 are in a retracted state, FIG. 5B shows the case where the first movable shelf 12A has elevated, and FIG. 5C shows the case where the second movable shelf 12B has elevated. In FIGS. 5A to 5C, the rear closing plate 14b closes the entire surface on the rear side of the tool storage device 10.

The tool storage device 10 operates as shown in FIG. 5A in the case of allowing access to the fixed shelf 11, for example. Specifically, the movable shelves 12 (first movable shelf 12A and second movable shelf 12B) lower so as to move to a lower retracted position (retracted state) so that the first to third shelves 11a to 11c of the fixed shelf 11 are exposed through the opening part 15 in the front-rear direction.

In the retracted state, the tool changing robot 3 can perform tool change in the first to third shelves 11a to 11c of the fixed shelf 11. Here, in the case where, for example, the ninth shelf 12f in the second movable shelf 12B is exposed through the opening part 15 on the upper side of the front closing plate 14a in the retracted state, it is also possible to perform tool change including the ninth shelf 12f.

The tool storage device 10 operates as shown in FIG. 5B in the case of, for example, allowing access to the first movable shelf 12A of the movable shelves 12.

Specifically, to make the fourth to sixth shelves 12a to 12c in the first movable shelf 12A exposed through the opening part 15 in the front-rear direction, the first movable shelf 12A elevates inside the guide rail 18a together with the elevating and lowering mechanism 16a and the guide post 17a, and moves to a position higher than the retracted position so as to be positioned on the front side of the fixed shelf 11.

In this state, the tool changing robot 3 can perform tool change in the fourth to sixth shelves 12a to 12c of the first movable shelf 12A. In this case, it is also possible to perform tool change including the ninth shelf 12f when, for example, the ninth shelf 12f of the second movable shelf 12B is exposed as described above.

The tool storage device 10 further operates as shown in FIG. 5C in the case of, for example, allowing access to the second movable shelf 12B of the movable shelves 12. Specifically, to make the seventh to ninth shelves 12d to 12f in the second movable shelf 12B exposed through the opening part 15 in the front-rear direction, the second movable shelf 12B elevates inside the guide rail 18b together with the elevating and lowering mechanism 16b and the guide post 17b and moves to a position higher than the retracted position so as to be positioned on the front side of the fixed shelf 11.

In this state, the tool changing robot 3 can perform tool change in the seventh to ninth shelves 12d to 12f of the second movable shelf 12B. FIG. 5C shows that the first movable shelf 12A is stopped at the retracted position. However, when the second movable shelf 12B moves to a higher position from the state shown in FIG. 5B, the first movable shelf 12A may also move to the higher position.

Advantages of Tool Storage Device in One Embodiment

As described above, in the tool storage device 10 of the present embodiment, the movable shelves 12 provided side by side with the fixed shelf 11 in the front-rear direction are configured to be movable up and down as appropriate if necessary, with a simple structure such as the elevating and lowering mechanisms 16a and 16b, the guide posts 17a and 17b, and the guide rails 18a and 18b. As a result, it is possible to secure mounting of a maximum number of tools that are the tools 9 to be mounted on the fixed shelf 11 and the movable shelves 12 by using the space in the front-rear direction without expanding the space of the tool storage device 10 in the horizontal direction.

For example, when the front and back sides of the tools 9, to be mounted on the fixed shelf 11 and the movable shelves 12 in the tool storage device 10, are predetermined, the tools 9 are mounted with one of the sides aligned and facing the opening part 15. Accordingly, when the tool 9 is mounted on at least one of the upper table 2a and the lower table 2b of the press brake 2 in practice, it is necessary to pick up the tool 9 with the tool changing robot 3 after the front and back of the tool 9 are reversed by the tool reversing device 20. Hereinafter, the tool reversing device 20 will be described.

Configuration of Tool Reversing Device

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 7A is an explanatory view of the reversing operation of the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of the reversing operation of the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tool reversing device in FIG. 7A along a prescribed position. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a tool mounted on the tool reversing device according to the one embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tool reversing device in FIG. 9 along a prescribed position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tool reversing device 20 is arranged at an end portion of the front pedestal part 19 on the side of, for example, the press brake 2, the front pedestal part 19 being provided above the front closing plate 14a of the tool storage device 10. Here, the arrangement position of the tool reversing device 20 is not limited to this, and the tool reversing device 20 may be arranged above the tool storage device 10 with the tool reversing device 20 being upside down, and may be arranged on the side of the tool storage device 10 with the tool reversing device 20 being rotated 90° with its top and bottom inverted.

The tool reversing device 20 includes a tool mounting part 21 on which the tool 9 used for bending processing is mountable, and a rotating mechanism 29 that rotates the tool mounting part 21 in a direction (horizontal direction (X direction) and front-rear direction (Y direction) ) perpendicular to the mounting direction (vertical direction (Z direction) ) of the tool 9. In the rotating mechanism 29, a rotating part 25, which rotates on the horizontal plane parallel to the perpendicular direction as shown by arrow in the drawing, can be constituted of a known so-called rotary cylinder (rotary actuator) for rotation, or the like, and therefore the detailed description thereof is omitted here.

The tool mounting part 21 of the tool reversing device 20 includes a mounting part body 22 formed into a U-shaped cross section so as to constitute a pair of wall parts 22a and 22a and a bottom part 22b, the mounting part body 22 being configured to allow insertion of a shank part 9a of the tool 9 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), a locking groove 22d provided on at least one inner wall surface 22c of the pair of wall parts 22a and 22a so as to be engageable with a falling prevention member (protrusion) 9d (see FIG. 8) extending in the perpendicular direction (for example, horizontal direction (X direction) as in the case of the following description) and protruding from the surface of the shank part 9a, and a plurality of locking strips 23 provided at prescribed positions in the locking groove 22d and configured to engage with the falling prevention member (protrusion) 9d from the perpendicular direction.

In the present embodiment, the locking groove 22d is provided on the inner wall surface 22c in the vicinity of an upper end portion of each wall part in the pair of wall parts 22a and 22a. The plurality of locking strips 23 are provided in the vicinity of the center of the locking grooves 22d in the perpendicular direction, for example. The plurality of locking strips 23 are further provided in the vicinity of the end portions of the locking grooves 22d in the perpendicular direction.

In the tool reversing device 20 in the present embodiment, the plurality of locking strips 23 are total eight locking strips constituted of a pair of the locking strips 23 in the vicinity of the center of both wall parts 22a and 22a and a pair of the locking strips 23 in the vicinity of the end portions. The respective plurality of locking strips 23 are fastened to the vicinity of the center and the vicinity of the end portions of the locking groove 22d, by fastening bolts 28 attached from outer wall surfaces 22e of the wall parts 22a and 22a.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, each of the plurality of the locking strips 23 has a surface 23a facing the center of the locking groove 22d in the perpendicular direction, the surface 23a constituting a tapered surface gradually expanding from the center toward the other wall part 22a, out of the pair of wall parts 22a and 22a, in a range from the groove bottom part 22f to a groove open part 22g. The mounting part body 22 in a U-shaped cross section in the tool mounting part 21 includes a urethane sheet (friction application means) 24 provided on the surface of the bottom part 22b. The urethane sheet 24 is fastened so as to be integrated to the bottom part 22b by a fastening bolt 24a attached to the bottom part 22b from above.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tool 9 mounted on the tool mounting part 21 is an existing tool of a small width type (a straight tool type in the example shown). The tool 9 includes, for example, the shank part 9a, a shaping part 9b, and a processing part 9c. The shank part 9a includes a button portion 9e that interlocks with the falling prevention member 9d, an insertion hole 9f penetrating the front and back of the tool 9, and a stopper insertion hole 9g formed on the front-back reversed side of the button portion 9e.

In the shank part 9a, a stopper (not shown) for the falling prevention member 9d is attached to a depth portion in the stopper insertion hole 9g. Since the falling prevention member 9d and the button portion 9e have a known structure, the detailed description thereof is omitted. The falling prevention member 9d and the button portion 9e are normally urged by urging means such as a spring not shown so as to protrude from the surface of the shank part 9a. Into the insertion hole 9f, tool gripper means such as a known tool gripper, as will be described later, is inserted.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a tool 9A mounted on the tool mounting part 21 is an existing tool of a type (a straight tool type in the example shown) having a larger width than the tool 9.

The tool 9A is similar to the tool 9 in that the shank part 9a, the shaping part 9b, and the processing part 9c are included. However, the tool 9A is different from the tool 9 in that the falling prevention members 9d are provided both end portions of the shank part 9a in the width direction and that the falling prevention members 9d on both the end portions and the button portion 9e are coupled through a coupling plate 9h in such a way that they can be interlocked. Description of the other configurational aspects, which are similar to those of the tool 9, is omitted here.

When a hook-shaped protrusion (not shown), of the tool gripper means, inserted into the insertion hole 9f and a hook tip end (not shown) hold the surface of the shank part 9a and the button portion 9e from both the front and back sides, both the button portion 9e and the falling prevention member 9d are put in the state of being retreated toward the inside of the shank part 9a, by which the tools 9 and 9A are gripped by the tool gripping means. When the tool 9 is attached to and detached from the tool mounting part 21, the falling prevention member 9d is retreated in this way, and an engagement state with the locking grooves 22d can be released.

Operation of Tool Reversing Device

The tool reversing device 20 in the present embodiment is to reverse the front and back of the tools 9 and 9A as necessary when, for example, the tool changing robot 3 attaches the tools 9 and 9A, which are detached from the tool storage device 10, to the press brake 2 or returns the tools 9 and 9A detached from the press brake 2 to the tool storage device 10.

This makes it possible to reverse the front and back of the individual tools 9 and 9A as appropriate, and therefore the numbers of the tools 9 and 9A to be mounted on the fixed shelf 11 and the movable shelves 12 of the tool storage device 10 can be decreased and the mounting space can be reduced as compared with before. In other words, in the same mounting space as before, the numbers of the tools 9 and 9A mounted on the tool storage device 10 can be increased.

For example, in the case of reversing the tool 9 in the tool reversing device 20, first, the tool 9, which is gripped by the tool gripping means attached to the tip of the arm part 3a of the tool changing robot 3 so that, for example, the side of the arm part 3a constitutes the surface, is mounted by inserting the shank part 9a into the center portion of the tool mounting part 21 of the tool reversing device 20 as shown in FIG. 7A.

When the tool 9 is in the state of being mounted on the tool mounting part 21, for example, the surface 23a of each locking strip provided in the vicinity of the center, out of the plurality of locking strips 23 in the locking grooves 22d, and both the corner portions on a lateral surface tip side of the falling prevention member 9d are in point contact or in line contact with each other inside the locking grooves 22d as shown in FIG. 8. Then, after the tool 9 is mounted, the tool gripping means is separated.

When the tool gripping means is separated, the rotating mechanism 29 rotates the tool mounting part 21 together with the rotating part 25 by, for example, 180° as shown by the arrow in the drawing. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the front and back of the tool 9 are reversed while the tool 9 is mounted on the tool mounting part 21. Once the front and back of the tool 9 are reversed, the tool gripping means is again moved close to the tool 9 so as to grip and detach the tool 9 from the tool mounting part 21.

The attachment and detachment of the tool 9A to and from the tool mounting part 21 are also performed in the same manner by the tool gripping means, and the state where, for example, the tool 9A is mounted on the tool mounting part 21 is as shown in FIG. 10. Specifically, out of the plurality of locking strips 23 in the locking grooves 22d, for example, the surfaces 23a of the respective locking strips provided in the vicinity of the end portions and one corner portion at the lateral surface tip side of the falling prevention members 9d facing these surfaces 23a are in point contact or in line contact with each other in the locking groove 22d together with the contact between the locking strips 23 and the falling prevention member 9d in the vicinity of the center.

Effects of Tool Reversing Device in One Embodiment

The tool reversing device 20 of the present embodiment can restrain horizontal movement of the tools 9 and 9A mounted on the tool mounting part 21 when the locking grooves 22d of the mounting part body 22 in the tool mounting part 21 engage with the falling prevention member 9d of the tools 9 and 9A. In addition, when the plurality of locking strips 23 in the locking grooves 22d are in contact with the falling prevention member 9d, one surface of the shank part 9a (for example, the back surface) is pressed against the other wall part 22a, and therefore it is possible to restrain deviation of the position in the front-rear direction and also restrain, for example, rocking of the tools 9 and 9A in a lateral direction (perpendicular direction) due to inertial force of rotation during reversing or the like. Furthermore, the urethane sheet 24 provided on the bottom part 22b is configured to be able to make friction with the end portion of the shank part 9a on the side of the bottom part 22b when, for example, a deviation in the horizontal direction occurs when the falling prevention member 9d at the center of the tools 9 and 9A is defined as a rocking fulcrum. This makes it possible to restrain the rocking in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, the tool reversing device 20 can eliminate the possibility that the position deviation may occur in the tools 9 and 9A mounted on the tool mounting part 21 in any direction including the horizontal direction, the front-rear direction, and the vertical direction. In addition, since the tool reversing device 20 can be formed into a simple configuration with the tool mounting part 21 and the rotating mechanism 29, it is possible to achieve cost reduction with a simple structure and a reduced number of parts. In addition to this, since the operation of the device is only the rotating operation of the rotating part 25, the takt time required for the reversing process of the tools 9 and 9A can be shortened.

Modifications

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope defined in the above-described embodiment. It is possible to make various changes or improvements to the above-described embodiment.

For example, in the one embodiment described above, the fixed shelf 11 of the tool storage device 10 has been described to have a configuration of one row and three stages including the fixed shelf 11a to the third shelf 11c in the vertical direction, though the fixed shelf 11 is not limited to the configuration. For example, the fixed shelf 11 may have a plurality of rows in the movable area M of the tool changing robot 3 and in the rear side of the movable shelves 12 in the front-rear direction, i.e., the fixed shelf 11 may have a configuration of one row and one stage at an upper position on the front side in the front-rear direction and a configuration of one row and two stages at a lower position on the rear side.

In addition, the number of rows of the movable shelves 12 is also not limited to two rows corresponding to the first movable shelf 12A and the second movable shelf 12B described above, and may have a configuration of one row or a configuration of more rows. Moreover, the number of stages of the fixed shelf 11 and the movable shelves 12 are not limited to the three-stage configuration, and various stage configurations can be adopted.

In the one embodiment described above, the surface 23a of each of the locking strips 23 in the tool reversing device 20 has been described as a tapered surface, though the surface 23a is not limited to this.

The surface 23a of each of the locking strips 23 may not be a tapered surface as long as clearance accuracy of the falling prevention member 9d at the mounting position of the tools 9 and 9A is high.

Although it has been described that the urethane sheet 24 as the friction application means is provided on the bottom part 22b of the mounting part body 22, the friction application means is not limited to this, and various component members, such as paints and seal members with high coefficient of friction, can be adopted.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, the embodiment is merely illustrative and is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention. This new embodiment can be performed in other various forms, and various kinds of omissions, replacements, and changes are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. The embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the claims of the invention and any equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • 1 Bending system
  • 2 Press brake
  • 3 Tool changing robot
  • 9, 9A Tool
  • 10 Tool storage device
  • 11 Fixed shelf (first stocker)
  • 11a First shelf
  • 11b Second shelf
  • 11c Third shelf
  • 12 Movable shelf (second stocker)
  • 12a Fourth shelf
  • 12b fifth shelf
  • 12c Sixth shelf
  • 12d Seventh shelf
  • 12e Eighth shelf
  • 12f Ninth shelf
  • 12A First movable shelf
  • 12B Second movable shelf
  • 20 Tool reversing device
  • 21 Tool mounting part
  • 22 Mounting part body
  • 22d Locking groove
  • 23 Locking strip
  • 29 Rotating mechanism