JP7485812B1 - Feeding device and method for adjusting the feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a feed device and a method for adjusting the feed device that can reduce sagging of an S-shaped loop formed in a workpiece. [Solution] A leveler 200 that forms an S-shaped loop in a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device, comprising: an upper wheel conveyor 230a having a wheel 232a that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed above the loop; a wheel conveyor 230b having a wheel 232b that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed below the loop; a magnet 250 disposed above the wheel conveyor 230a that pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force; and a cylinder 260 that moves the magnet 250 up and down. [Selected Figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a feed device and a method for adjusting the feed device.

In recent years, high-speed press systems have included a feeding device such as a leveller that conveys the work while correcting the work's curling tendency, and forms an S-shaped loop in the work after correction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By forming an S-shaped loop, the direction in which the work is fed by the feed rolls and the direction in which the work is conveyed up to the R-shaped portion of the loop become the same straight line, and the lower part of the R-shaped portion of the loop is supported by guide rollers, making the loop less likely to shake. This makes it possible to reduce the problems of so-called down loops, such as work deformation and scratches caused by loop shaking, and load fluctuations on the feeding device.

JP 2011-104650 A

However, if the workpiece is a thin plate or if the workpiece has a long feed length and a large loop capacity, the workpiece will sag due to gravity even when an S-shaped loop is formed.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an exemplary objective of the present invention is to provide a feed device and a method for adjusting the feed device that can reduce the sagging of the S-shaped loop formed in the workpiece.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration.

(1) A feed device that forms an S-shaped loop in a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device, comprising: an upper conveyor having an upper rotating body that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed above the loop; a lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed below the loop; a magnet that is disposed above the upper conveyor and that pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force; and a drive means that moves the magnet in the vertical direction.

(2) A method for adjusting a feeder that forms an S-shaped loop in a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device, the feeder comprising: an upper conveyor having an upper rotating body that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed above the loop; a lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates as the workpiece is transported and disposed below the loop; a magnet that is disposed above the upper conveyor and pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force; and a drive means for moving the magnet in a vertical direction, the method comprising an adjustment step of adjusting the position of the magnet in the vertical direction by moving the magnet downward using the drive means when the workpiece sags significantly, and adjusting the position of the magnet in the vertical direction by moving the magnet upward using the drive means when the workpiece sags little or does not sag.

Further objects and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a feed device and a method for adjusting the feed device that can reduce the sagging of an S-shaped loop formed in a workpiece.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a configuration of a press system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the press system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the leveller according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the press device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a state where sagging of loops occurs in a conventional leveller, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a state where sagging of loops does not occur in the leveller of the embodiment. 6A is a diagram showing a state in which magnets are brought close to the workpieces, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a state in which the magnets are retracted, in the leveller of the embodiment.

In the following explanation, the direction in which the workpiece (coil material) is transported when processing is being performed in the press device of the press system is referred to as the transport direction. The height at which the workpiece is processed is referred to as the processing height, and the imaginary line connecting the processing heights along the transport direction is referred to as the pass line. Note that the processing height is a height based on, for example, the floor surface on which the press system is installed or the lower die or bolster of the die of the press device.

[Embodiment]
<Press System>
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a press system 1 of this embodiment. FIG. 1 also shows the workpiece conveying direction, upstream, downstream, up-down direction, and pass line PL (dashed line). FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the press system 1 of this embodiment. The press system 1 of this embodiment includes an uncoiler 100, a leveller 200, a feed roll 400, and a press device 300. The uncoiler 100 and the leveller 200 operate in conjunction with the processing operation of the press device 300. The press system 1 is installed on a floor surface 10. In the following description, the configuration and function of each device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

<Uncoiler>
The uncoiler 100, which is a holding device that holds the workpiece 120, has a mandrel 110, a control unit 130, and a drive unit 140. The mandrel 110 holds the workpiece 120, which is an object to be processed by the press device 300. For example, the inner diameter of the workpiece 120 wound in a coil shape is held by the mandrel 110. The control unit 130 rotates the mandrel 110 by the drive unit 140 so as to be linked with the processing operation by the press device 300, thereby unwinding the workpiece 120.

The uncoiler 100 supplies the work 120 to the leveller 200 at a constant speed until the work 120 runs out. That is, the uncoiler 100 supplies the work 120 at a speed according to the operation of the press device 300. The work 120 is made of a material that is attracted to a magnet, such as a thin steel plate.

<Leveller>
The leveller 200 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 as well. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the leveller 200 of this embodiment, and also shows the conveying directions (upstream and downstream) and the up-down direction. Note that only the essential parts related to this embodiment are shown in the leveller 200 in the block diagram of Fig. 2. The leveller 200 functions as a feeding device that conveys (also referred to as supplying or sending out) the workpiece 120 while correcting curling habits and the like on the workpiece 120 held by the uncoiler 100.

The work 120 is supplied to the leveller 200 from the uncoiler 100 at a constant speed, and the leveller 200 supplies the straightened work 120 to the loop between the uncoiler 100 and the feed roll 400 at a constant speed. The feed roll 400 transports the work 120 intermittently to the press device 300 according to processing. Here, intermittently transporting the work 120 means that the feed roll 400 transports the work 120 while repeatedly operating and stopping at a speed according to the operation of the press device 300. In this way, in the leveller 200, the speed at which the work 120 supplied from the uncoiler 100 is transported by the straightening section 210 differs from the speed at which the feed roll 400 intermittently supplies the work 120 to the press device 300, and the amount by which the work 120 forms an S-shaped loop (hereinafter referred to as the loop amount) varies as a buffer amount to absorb the difference. In FIG. 1, the loop amount increases in the order of 120A<120B<120C.

The leveller 200 has a correction unit 210, a guide 220, a wheel conveyor 230, a sensor 240, a magnet 250, an arm 252, a cylinder 260, a stopper 270, a control unit 280, a memory unit 282, and an operation unit 284.

(Lower part of leveller)
The straightening unit 210 is a device that straightens out the curl of the work 120 sent from the uncoiler 100, and the detailed configuration and straightening operation of the straightening unit 210 are well known, so a description thereof will be omitted. The guide 220 is a member for guiding the work 120 straightened by the straightening unit 210 to the upper part. Here, when the leveller 200 is divided into an upper part 200A and a lower part 200B, the straightening unit 210 and the guide 220 are included in the lower part 200B. The guide 220 guides the work 120 to the upper part 200A of the leveller 200 while maintaining an appropriate bending radius (so-called R) of the straightened work 120 and while maintaining a state in which scratches, etc. are not generated on the work 120 due to friction with the guide 220.

The work 120 is caused to trace the lower curve of an S-shaped loop (hereinafter referred to as the S-loop) by the guide 220. The work 120 is guided to the upper part 200A by the guide 220, and is sent to the feed roll 400 while tracing the upper curve of the S-loop. Note that in this embodiment, the leveller 200 and the feed roll 400, which is a feeder, are configured as separate bodies, but they may also be configured as an integrated body.

(Top of the leveller)
The upper part 200A is provided with a wheel conveyor 230. The wheel conveyor 230 has an upper wheel conveyor 230a which is an upper conveyor and a lower wheel conveyor 230b which is a lower conveyor. The upper wheel conveyor 230a is provided with a plurality of upper rotating bodies, i.e., wheels 232a, at a predetermined interval, and the lower wheel conveyor 230b is provided with a plurality of lower rotating bodies, i.e., wheels 232b, at a predetermined interval. The wheels 232a and 232b are also collectively referred to as wheels 232. In FIG. 3, in order to make the drawing easier to see, the reference numerals 232a and 232b are illustrated for only one wheel 232. The workpiece 120 is sent to the feed roll 400 while maintaining an appropriate bending radius between the upper wheel conveyor 230a and the lower wheel conveyor 230b. When the workpiece 120 is transported, a part or all of the wheel 232 is in contact with the workpiece 120 and rotates (in conjunction with) the transport of the workpiece 120.

As described above, while the press device 300 is processing the workpiece 120, the feed rolls 400 stop transporting the workpiece 120, so the amount of loop formed in the upper part 200A varies. As shown in FIG. 1, the amount of loop of the workpiece 120 is small in state 120A, and increases in the order of state 120B and state 120C shown by the dashed line. The upper part 200A functions as a buffer that adjusts the amount of loop of the workpiece 120.

In this embodiment, a wheel conveyor is used, but other conveyors, such as a roller conveyor, may also be used. By using wheels or rollers, the workpiece 120 is less likely to be scratched.

The sensor 240 is used to detect the loop amount of the workpiece 120. A plurality of sensors 240 are provided along the direction in which the loop amount of the workpiece 120 varies, which is the transport direction in FIG. 1 and the like. In this embodiment, for example, four sensors 240a, 240b, 240c, and 240d are provided. The sensors 240 are also provided so as to be movable in the transport direction. By providing a plurality of sensors 240 along the direction in which the loop amount varies, the control unit 280 can determine the extent of the loop amount of the workpiece 120.

The sensor 240 is, for example, a photoelectric sensor having a light-emitting portion that emits light and a light-receiving portion that receives the light emitted from the light-emitting portion. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensor 240 has, for example, a light-emitting portion provided above the upper wheel conveyor 230a and a light-receiving portion provided below the lower wheel conveyor 230b. In other words, the sensors 240 are provided in pairs, sandwiching a space in which the workpieces 120 form an S-shaped loop. Note that the sensor 240 is not limited to a photoelectric sensor, and may be another type of sensor.

The sensor 240 outputs different signals to the control unit 280 depending on whether or not the workpiece 120 is present between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit of the sensor 240. For example, in this embodiment, the sensor 240 outputs a high-level signal when the workpiece 120 is present between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, and outputs a low-level signal when the workpiece 120 is not present. Note that the signal levels may be reversed.

For example, when sensors 240a to 240d are all outputting low level signals, control unit 280 determines that workpiece 120 is in a loop amount of state 120A. When sensors 240a to 240c are outputting low level signals and sensor 240d is outputting high level signals, control unit 280 determines that workpiece 120 is in a loop amount of state 120B. When sensors 240a to 240d are all outputting high level signals, control unit 280 determines that workpiece 120 is in a loop amount of state 120C.

The magnet 250 is a magnetic member that attracts (pulls up) the workpiece 120 by magnetic force to prevent the workpiece 120 from sagging due to gravity, and at least one magnet is provided. In FIG. 1, two magnets 250a, 250b are provided. When multiple magnets 250 are provided, the magnet 250 is provided on the arm 252 along the direction in which the loop amount of the workpiece 120 varies, which is the conveying direction in FIG. 1. The magnet 250 is also provided so as to be movable in the conveying direction.

Magnet 250a is provided upstream of magnet 250b in the transport direction. Magnet 250b is provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction, that is, on the side where the loop amount of workpiece 120 becomes smaller. In this embodiment, magnet 250a is provided between sensors 240c and 240d, but this is not limited. As described above, sensor 240 can also move in the transport direction. Therefore, if magnets 250a, 250b and sensors 240a to 240d interfere with each other, the relative positions in the transport direction may be determined according to the loop amount of workpiece 120 formed in upper portion 200A.

Note that in the case where the sensor 240 and the magnet 250 can be provided at different positions in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the figure (front-rear direction), the sensor 240 and the magnet 250 do not interfere with each other even if they are at the same position in the conveying direction. For this reason, either the sensor 240 or the magnet 250, for example the sensor 240, may be fixed in the conveying direction. Furthermore, in this case, one magnet 250 may be configured to be elongated in the conveying direction.

The magnet 250 is also provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Both ends of the arm 252 are connected to cylinders 260, which are driving means. More specifically, in FIG. 1, a cylinder 260a is connected to the left side of the arm 252 (upstream side in the conveying direction), and a cylinder 260b is connected to the right side of the arm 252 (downstream side in the conveying direction). The arm 252 moves up and down as the cylinder 260 is controlled by the control unit 280, and the magnet 250 also moves up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the arm 252. The cylinder 260 is, for example, an air cylinder driven by air pressure. Note that the cylinder may be driven by other fluids, such as hydraulic pressure.

The stopper 270 is a member that restricts the range of vertical movement of the arm 252. Note that the cylinder 260a is provided with a stopper 270a, and the cylinder 260b is provided with a stopper 270b. The stopper 270 restricts the downward movement of the arm 252 so that the magnet 250 does not interfere with the upper wheel conveyor 230a or the workpiece 120. The stopper 270 also restricts the upward movement of the arm 252 so that the arm 252 does not fall off. The magnet 250 will be described in more detail later.

The control unit 280 controls the leveller 200 in cooperation with the uncoiler 100 and the press device 300. The control unit 280 controls the transport speed of the workpiece 120 in the leveller 200 based on the detection result of the sensor 240. For example, when the control unit 280 determines based on the detection result of the sensor 240 that the loop amount of the workpiece 120 formed in the upper part 200A is greater than the maximum allowable loop amount, the control unit 280 slows down the transport speed of the workpiece 120 in the leveller 200. On the other hand, when the control unit 280 determines based on the detection result of the sensor 240 that the loop amount of the workpiece 120 formed in the upper part 200A is smaller than the minimum allowable loop amount, the control unit 280 speeds up the transport speed of the workpiece 120 in the leveller 200.

The control unit 280 also controls the vertical position of the arm 252, in other words, the vertical position of the magnet 250, based on information input from the operation unit 284.

The memory unit 282 stores various programs and various parameters for the control unit 280 to control the leveler 200. The memory unit 282 may store, for example, information related to the workpiece 120 and information related to the vertical position of the magnet 250 in association with each other. Here, the information related to the workpiece 120 includes, for example, the material, width, thickness (plate thickness), and the like. Furthermore, the width is the length in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and the vertical direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 (front-to-back direction). Furthermore, the information related to the vertical position of the magnet 250 includes, for example, the height from a reference when a predetermined height is used as the reference.

The operation unit 284 has, for example, a display unit and an input unit. The display unit is, for example, a liquid crystal screen. The input unit includes buttons, keys, and the like. The operation unit 284 may also be a touch panel or the like. The operator inputs, for example, information related to the workpiece 120 from the input unit while looking at the information displayed on the display unit. The control unit 280 extracts information on the vertical position of the magnet 250 associated with the information related to the workpiece 120 input from the operation unit 284, and controls the cylinder 260. As a result, the magnet 250 moves to a position corresponding to the workpiece 120 in the vertical direction. Note that the input unit may simply be provided with an up movement button and a down movement button, and when the up movement button is pressed, the magnet 250 moves up by the cylinder 260, and when the down movement button is pressed, the magnet 250 moves down by the cylinder 260. That is, the operation unit 284 may be in the form of a pendant controller.

In this embodiment, the arm 252 is moved in the vertical direction by the cylinder 260, but this is not limited to the above. The arm 252 may be moved in the vertical direction by other methods, such as electrically or manually.

Although the control of the cylinder 260 was performed based on the information input from the operation unit 284, this is not limiting. For example, the leveler may be equipped with a detection means such as a sensor that can detect the sagging of the workpiece 120 in the upper portion 200A. In this case, the control unit 280 may determine the degree of sagging of the workpiece 120 based on the detection result of the detection means, and control the cylinder 260 according to the degree of sagging to move the magnet 250 up and down.

<Pressing equipment>
The press device 300 in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the press device 300 of this embodiment, for example, a schematic view of an integral straight side frame type or C frame type press device 300. FIG. 4 also shows the conveying direction of the workpiece 120, the upstream (left), downstream (right), up-down direction, and front-rear direction (front, back) in the conveying direction. The press device 300 is configured to have a drive motor 304, a transmission mechanism 306, a crankshaft 308, a connecting rod 310, a slide 312, and a bolster 322 inside and outside a housing 302. The press device 300 also has a controller 314, a memory unit 315, a display unit 316, and an input unit 318. The press device 300 also has a sensor 324, a rotary encoder 325, and a gibber 326.

The drive motor 304 is, for example, a servo-controlled servo motor, which moves the die 303 (described later) up and down via the transmission mechanism 306, crankshaft 308, and connecting rod 310 while controlling the amount and direction of rotation. The transmission mechanism 306 is configured with transmission members such as gears and belts, and transmits the rotation of the motor shaft of the drive motor 304 to the crankshaft 308. A control signal to the drive motor 304 is sent from the controller 314.

The crankshaft 308 and the connecting rod 310 are used to convert the rotational movement of the motor shaft transmitted by the transmission mechanism 306 into reciprocating movement (up and down movement in this embodiment). The rotation of the motor shaft rotates the crankshaft 308, and the rotation is transmitted to the connecting rod 310, which is connected near one end to the crankshaft 308, causing the connecting rod 310 to move up and down (raise and lower).

The crankshaft 308 is also provided with a rotary cam switch (not shown) that outputs an on or off signal in conjunction with the rotation of the crankshaft 308. The rotary cam switch outputs an on or off signal, for example, when the rotation of the crankshaft 308 reaches a predetermined angle, in other words, when a predetermined timing occurs during the machining operation. The timing at which the rotary cam switch outputs an on signal (or an off signal) is hereinafter referred to as the output timing. The controller 314 performs machining operations in conjunction with other devices of the press system 1 based on the signal output from the rotary cam switch.

A slide 312 is connected near the other end of the connecting rod 310. The slide 312 moves up and down along the gib 326 as the connecting rod 310 moves up and down. In the press device 300, a bolster 322 is arranged to face the slide 312. An upper die 303a is attached as part of a die 303 to the surface of the slide 312 facing the bolster 322 (the lower surface in this embodiment). A lower die 303b that pairs with the upper die 303a is attached as part of the die 303 to the surface of the bolster 322 facing the slide 312 (the upper surface in this embodiment).

The workpiece 120, which is the object to be processed, is placed between the upper die 303a and the lower die 303b, and is pressed by the upper die 303a and the lower die 303b, whereby the press device 300 performs press processing (hereinafter, simply referred to as processing) on the workpiece 120. The workpiece 120 is transported, for example, from the left (upstream) side to the right (downstream) side in FIG. 4.

In detail, the drive motor 304 rotates under the control of the controller 314. The rotation of the drive motor 304 is transmitted to the connecting rod 310 via the transmission mechanism 306 and the crankshaft 308, and the slide 312 moves up and down. The downward movement of the slide 312 presses the upper die 303a and the lower die 303b, and the workpiece 120 is pressed. That is, in the press device 300, the drive motor 304, the transmission mechanism 306, the crankshaft 308, the connecting rod 310, and the slide 312 constitute the press section. The transmission mechanism 306 is provided with a rotary encoder 325, which is a rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the crankshaft 308. The controller 314 can detect the position of the slide 312 by detecting the rotation speed of the crankshaft 308 with the rotary encoder 325. The controller 314 can also detect the angle of the crankshaft 308 based on the detection result of the rotary encoder 325, and also functions as an angle detection means. The angle detection means may also include the rotary cam switch described above.

The sensor 324, which is a load detection means for detecting the load during processing, is a sensor for detecting the load acting on the connecting rod 310 when the press device 300 performs press processing on the workpiece 120, and is, for example, a load cell. The sensor 324 may be, for example, a strain gauge installed in the housing 302. The sensor 324 may be installed at any position on the connecting rod 310 (for example, a position near the center). Furthermore, multiple sensors 324 may be installed, and for example, the left and right strains of the housing 302 may be detected separately, and the detected results may be added up to determine the total load. In FIG. 4, the side on which the display unit 316 is located is the front side of the press device 300.

The controller 314 controls the press device 300 in accordance with various programs stored in the memory unit 315. The memory unit 315 stores a program (motion program) corresponding to each die 303 used. It also stores information related to the die 303 (including, for example, die specifications). The display unit 316 displays data showing the state of the press device 300. The input unit 318 is used to input data required to operate the press device 300. The input unit 318 is used when the user inputs parameters required for processing. The controller 314 controls the press device 300 and other devices of the press system 1 so that they work together to perform processing.

<Magnets prevent workpieces from sagging>
Fig. 5(a) is a diagram showing a state where sagging of loops occurs in a conventional leveller 2000, and (b) is a diagram showing a state where sagging of loops does not occur in the leveller 200 of this embodiment. Fig. 5(a) shows an upper part 2000A of the conventional leveller 2000, and (b) shows an upper part 200A of the leveller 200 of this embodiment. Furthermore, Fig. 5 also shows a pass line PL by a dashed line.

When the workpiece 120 is a thin plate, or when the feed length of the workpiece 120 is long and the loop capacity is large, even with a leveller 2000 that forms an S-shaped loop, the relationship between the weight of the workpiece 120 and the internal stress/elastic force cannot be maintained within the frame α shown by the dashed line in Figure 5(a), causing the workpiece 120 to sag and making it impossible to keep the workpiece 120 in a straight line up to the feed roll 400.

Above the S-shape, the inflection part of the loop (R-shaped part) moves at a high speed in the transport direction. For this reason, it is difficult to provide a support member under the workpiece 120 in order to prevent the loop from sagging. Because it is difficult to provide a support member, the loop sags, bending the workpiece 120, deformation or damage to the workpiece 120 due to the vibration of the loop, and a decrease in feed accuracy due to increased resistance in transporting the workpiece 120 occur. In addition, if the support member for supporting the workpiece 120 is configured to be movable, the loop can be prevented from sagging, but it is difficult to control the movement of the support member to follow the high feed speed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a magnet 250 is provided near the upper wheel conveyor 230a, specifically above the upper wheel conveyor 230a, and the magnetic force of the magnet 250 is used to pull the workpiece 120 upward, thereby preventing the workpiece 120 from sagging.

The conventional leveller 2000 shown in FIG. 5(a) does not have a means to prevent sagging from occurring in the S-loop, resulting in the above-mentioned problem. On the other hand, the leveller 200 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 5(b) has magnets 250a and 250b at positions in the conveying direction where sagging is predicted to occur in the S-loop. Therefore, the magnetic force of the magnet 250 pulls the workpiece 120 upward, in other words, it is lifted up and sagging does not occur.

Here, the upper wheel conveyor 230a (wheel 232a) is made of a material that is not affected by the magnetic field generated by the magnet 250. In other words, the upper wheel conveyor 230a (wheel 232a) is preferably made of a material that is not magnetized, such as an elastic body such as resin or rubber. By making the wheel 232a out of resin, the inertia between the workpiece 120 is reduced compared to a magnet wheel, and the friction coefficient is reduced, which makes it possible to prevent scratches from occurring when accelerating or decelerating the conveying speed of the workpiece 120.

The magnet 250 of this embodiment exerts a magnetic force on the work 120 from above the upper wheel conveyor 230a to lift the work 120, thereby maintaining (in other words, regulating) the height of the work 120 at the height of the pass line PL (see FIG. 5(b)). The wheel 232a of the upper wheel conveyor 230a is made of resin, so it is not affected by the magnet 250 and can rotate freely. Since the magnet 250 does not directly contact the work 120, the magnetic force of the magnet 250 is exerted indirectly on the work 120, making it possible to adjust the magnetic force, and it is possible to adjust the force (pressing force) (attraction force, adhesion force) that presses the work 120 against the wheel 232a. The adjustment of the magnetic force exerted by the magnet 250 on the work 120 is described below.

<Up and down movement of magnet>
The vertical movement of the magnet 250 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the magnet 250 is brought close to the workpiece 120 in the leveller 200 of this embodiment, and FIG. 6(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the magnet 250 is retracted. Since it is predicted that the workpiece 120D shown in FIG. 6(a) will sag significantly, the arm 252 is moved downward by the cylinder 260, and the magnet 250 is brought close to the upper wheel conveyor 230a, in other words, the workpiece 120. At this time, the distance between the lower surface of the magnet 250 and the pass line PL is L1. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of sagging (workpiece 120E shown by the broken line) as in the conventional leveller 2000 of FIG. 5(a).

On the other hand, the workpiece 120F shown in FIG. 6(b) is made of a material that is less prone to sagging than the workpiece 120D in (a). In such a case, the arm 252 is moved upward by the cylinder 260, and the magnet 250 is moved away from the upper wheel conveyor 230a, in other words, the workpiece 120F, in other words, retracted. At this time, the distance between the bottom surface of the magnet 250 and the pass line PL is L2 (L2>L1). Note that the magnet 250 may be moved to the retracted position in FIG. 6(b) before the workpiece 120 is inserted into the upper part 200A or before the leveler 200 stops.

Here, the arm 252 can stop at any position between the distance L1 and the distance L2. Therefore, the magnet 250 can be set (adjusted) to a position according to the degree of sagging of the workpiece 120. That is, the magnet 250 can be positioned lower the greater the degree of sagging of the workpiece 120, and can be positioned higher the less the degree of sagging of the workpiece 120.

In this embodiment, the magnetic force of the magnet 250 is constant, and the magnet 250 is movable up and down, making it possible to change the distance between the magnet 250 and the upper wheel conveyor 230a. However, it is also possible to fix the position of the magnet 250 in the vertical direction, and make the magnetic force of the magnet 250 variable depending on the workpiece 120.

In this way, by configuring the distance between the magnet 250 and the upper wheel conveyor 230a to be adjustable, the degree of influence of the magnetic force lifting the workpiece 120 can be adjusted. In general, the magnet 250 alone is less expensive than magnet wheels and rollers, so costs can also be reduced.

Here, if the magnetic attraction of the workpiece 120 is too strong, the resistance when the workpiece 120 is transported will be large, which may affect the accuracy of the transport of the workpiece 120 or may cause the workpiece 120 to be pressed too hard by the upper wheel conveyor 230a, resulting in damage. Conversely, if the magnetic attraction of the workpiece 120 is too weak, the effect of preventing the loop from sagging will be reduced. Since the appropriate attraction force of the magnet 250 varies depending on the material and plate thickness of the workpiece 120, it is preferable to configure the attraction force to be adjustable as in this embodiment. Also, if it is not desired to magnetize the workpiece 120, magnetization of the workpiece 120 can be prevented by retracting (moving away) the magnet 250 from the workpiece 120.

<How to adjust Leveller 200>
A method for adjusting the leveller 200 will be described. When the sagging of the workpiece 120 is large, the leveller 200 adjusts the vertical position of the magnet 250 by moving the magnet 250 downward using the cylinder 260 (adjustment process). On the other hand, when the sagging of the workpiece 120 is small or not present, the leveller 200 adjusts the vertical position of the magnet 250 by moving the magnet 250 upward using the cylinder 260 (adjustment process).

The position of the magnet 250 may be adjusted at an appropriate time, such as when the workpiece 120 is attached to the leveller 200 or when the sagging of the S-loop becomes noticeable during operation of the press system 1.

As described above, this embodiment provides a feed device and a method for adjusting the feed device that can reduce the sagging of the S-shaped loop formed in the workpiece.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention, for example, the following modifications are possible:

In the above-described embodiment, the magnet is moved electrically, hydraulically, manually, etc., but it may also be configured to turn an electromagnet on or off, for example. Furthermore, when an electromagnet is used, the magnetic force exerted on the workpiece may be adjusted by changing the current, the number of coil turns, the iron core, etc.

The method for adjusting the magnetic force is not limited to the configuration having the stopper described above, as long as it is possible to adjust the position of the magnet. For example, the magnetic force may be adjusted by changing the type or number of magnets.

Also, to prevent residual magnetism, an AC magnet may be used. Furthermore, the magnet may be mechanically rotated to generate an alternating magnetic field.

[Objective 1]
The feeding device of the present invention comprises:
A feed device that forms an S-shaped loop in a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device,
an upper conveyor provided above the loop and having an upper rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the work;
A lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided below the loop;
A magnet is provided above the upper conveyor and pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force;
A driving means for moving the magnet in a vertical direction;
Equipped with.

[Objective 2]
At least one magnet may be provided in a direction in which the amount of the loop varies.

[Objective 3]
The magnet may be capable of moving in a direction that varies the amount of the loop.

[Objective 4]
The upper rotating body may be a rotating body made of a material that is not magnetized by the magnetic force of the magnet.

[Objective 5]
The upper rotating body may be an elastic body.

[Objective 6]
The upper rotor may be made of resin.

[Objective 7]
The magnet may be moved by the driving means to a position in the vertical direction according to the degree of sagging of the workpiece.

[Objective 8]
The magnet may be adjusted in its vertical position by moving downward by the driving means when the workpiece sags significantly, and when the workpiece sags little or does not sag at all, the magnet may be adjusted in its vertical position by moving upward by the driving means.

[Objective 9]
The method for adjusting a feeding device of the present invention includes the steps of:
A method for adjusting a feed device that forms an S-shaped loop on a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device, comprising the steps of:
the feed device comprises: an upper conveyor having an upper rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided above the loop; a lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided below the loop; a magnet that is provided above the upper conveyor and pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force; and a drive means for moving the magnet in a vertical direction;
The apparatus includes an adjustment process in which, when the workpiece sags significantly, the magnet is moved downward by the driving means to adjust the position of the magnet in the vertical direction, and, when the workpiece sags only slightly or does not exist, the magnet is moved upward by the driving means to adjust the position of the magnet in the vertical direction.

1 Press system 10 Floor surface 100 Uncoiler 110 Mandrel 120, 120D, 120E, 120F Work 120A, 120B, 120C State 130 Control unit 140 Drive unit 200 Leveler 200A Upper part 200B Lower part 210 Correction unit 220 Guide 230 Wheel conveyor 230a Upper wheel conveyor, 230a Wheel conveyor 232, 232a, 232b Wheel 240, 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d Sensor 250, 250a, 250b Magnet 252 Arm 260, 260a, 260b Cylinder 270, 270a, 270b Stopper 280 Control unit 282 Memory unit 284 Operation unit 300 Press device 302 Housing 303 Die, 303a Upper die, 303b Lower die 304 Drive motor 306 Transmission mechanism 308 Crankshaft 310 Connecting rod 312 Slide 314 Controller 315 Memory unit 316 Display unit 318 Input unit 322 Bolster 324 Sensor 325 Rotary encoder 326 Gib 400 Feed roll 2000 Leveller 2000A Upper PL Pass line

Claims (9)

A feed device that forms an S-shaped loop in a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device,
an upper conveyor provided above the loop and having an upper rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the work;
A lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided below the loop;
A magnet is provided above the upper conveyor and pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force;
A driving means for moving the magnet in a vertical direction;
A feeding device comprising: The feed device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the magnets is provided in a direction in which the amount of the loop varies. The feed device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is capable of moving in a direction in which the amount of the loop varies. The feed device according to claim 1, wherein the upper rotating body is a rotating body made of a material that is not magnetized by the magnetic force of the magnet. The feed device according to claim 4, wherein the upper rotating body is an elastic body. The feed device according to claim 4, wherein the upper rotating body is made of resin. The feed device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is moved by the driving means to a position in the vertical direction according to the degree of sagging of the workpiece. The feed device according to claim 7, wherein the magnet is moved downward by the driving means to adjust the position in the vertical direction when the workpiece sags significantly, and when the workpiece sags little or does not sag, the magnet is moved upward by the driving means to adjust the position in the vertical direction. A method for adjusting a feed device that forms an S-shaped loop on a workpiece and transports the workpiece to a press device, comprising the steps of:
the feed device comprises: an upper conveyor having an upper rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided above the loop; a lower conveyor having a lower rotating body that rotates in association with the transport of the workpiece and is provided below the loop; a magnet that is provided above the upper conveyor and pulls up the workpiece by magnetic force; and a drive means for moving the magnet in a vertical direction;
A method for adjusting a feed device, comprising an adjustment step of adjusting the vertical position of the magnet by moving the magnet downward using the driving means when the workpiece sags significantly, and adjusting the vertical position of the magnet by moving the magnet upward using the driving means when the workpiece sags little or does not sag.

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