The present invention relates to a cutting blade replacement apparatus that attaches and detaches a cutting blade.
A wafer on which plural devices such as integrated circuits (ICs) and large-scale integrated (LSI) circuits are formed on a surface in such a manner as to be marked out by planned dividing lines is divided into individual device chips by a cutting apparatus, and the respective device chips obtained by the dividing are used for pieces of electrical equipment such as mobile phones and personal computers.
The cutting apparatus includes a chuck table including a holding surface that holds a wafer, a cutting unit that supports a cutting blade that cuts the wafer held by the chuck table, an X-axis feed mechanism that executes processing feed of the chuck table in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis feed mechanism that executes indexing feed of the cutting unit in a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis feed mechanism that executes cutting-in feed of the cutting unit in a Z-axis direction orthogonal to each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The holding surface of the chuck table is configured substantially in parallel to the plane defined by the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the wafer can be divided into the individual device chips with high accuracy.
The cutting unit has a configuration in which a flange is disposed at the tip of a spindle, a boss part that protrudes from the center of the flange is inserted in a central opening part of the cutting blade, and a nut is screwed to a male screw formed at the end part of the boss part to mount the cutting blade.
In recent years, an automatic replacement apparatus that can automatically replace the cutting blade mounted in the cutting unit of such a cutting apparatus has been proposed (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-98536).
However, in the screwing of the nut to the male screw of the boss part, there is a problem that, if the center of the boss part deviates from the center of the nut, the male screw and the nut do not properly mesh with each other and “galling” occurs between the male screw and the nut. Furthermore, there is also a problem that a load is applied to the nut and the nut wears.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting blade replacement apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of galling between a male screw of a boss part and a nut and that can alleviate the load applied to the nut when the nut is screwed to the male screw of the boss part.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting blade replacement apparatus mounted on a cutting apparatus including a chuck table that holds a workpiece, a cutting unit in which a cutting blade that cuts the workpiece held by the chuck table is mounted, an X-axis feed mechanism that executes processing feed in an X-axis direction, and a Y-axis feed mechanism that executes indexing feed in a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The cutting blade replacement apparatus is capable of attaching and detaching the cutting blade to and from the cutting unit. The cutting unit has a spindle with a tip at which a flange is disposed and is configured in such a manner that mounting of the cutting blade is allowed by inserting a boss part that protrudes from the center of the flange into a central opening part of the cutting blade and screwing a nut to a male screw formed at an end part of the boss part. The cutting blade replacement apparatus includes a nut attaching-detaching unit including a nut holding part that holds the nut and a drive part that rotates the nut holding part. When the nut is screwed to the male screw formed at the end part of the boss part, one of the nut attaching-detaching unit or the cutting unit moves in the Y-axis direction in synchronization with the speed at which the boss part and the nut relatively move in the Y-axis direction due to the screwing of the nut, and the other of the nut attaching-detaching unit and the cutting unit escapes in the Y-axis direction when a pressing force equal to or larger than a predetermined value acts on the nut attaching-detaching unit or the cutting unit.
Preferably, a warning is issued when the nut is not screwed.
The cutting blade replacement apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention includes the nut attaching-detaching unit including the nut holding part that holds the nut and the drive part that rotates the nut holding part. When the nut is screwed to the male screw formed at the end part of the boss part, one of the nut attaching-detaching unit or the cutting unit moves in the Y-axis direction in synchronization with the speed at which the boss part and the nut relatively move in the Y-axis direction due to the screwing of the nut, and the other of the nut attaching-detaching unit and the cutting unit escapes in the Y-axis direction when the pressing force equal to or larger than the predetermined value acts on the nut attaching-detaching unit or the cutting unit. Therefore, when the nut is screwed to the male screw of the boss part, the occurrence of galling between the male screw of the boss part and the nut can be prevented, and the load applied to the nut can be alleviated.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The X-axis direction is a direction indicated by an arrow X in
As illustrated in
Referring to
As illustrated in
The endless track 22 includes a large number of link pieces (the reference sign is omitted) that are mutually coupled and is wound around the drive gear 16 and the driven gear 20. The endless track 22 rotates in response to rotation of the drive gear 16 by the motor 30.
In the cutting blade storage unit 4 of the illustrated embodiment, the interval between the drive gear 16 and the driven gear 20 in the Z-axis direction can be adjusted by changing the position of the driven gear 20 in the Z-axis direction by the raising-lowering mechanism. Furthermore, in the cutting blade storage unit 4, the length of the endless track 22 can also be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of link pieces of the endless track 22 as appropriate.
As illustrated in
In
In the support shaft 24, the shaft part 34 is inserted into the central opening part 38a of the cutting blade 36 and plural (for example, five) cutting blades 36 are supported by the shaft part 34. In the illustrated embodiment, as is understood through referring to
As illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Moreover, when the cutting blade 36 located on the tip side of the shaft part 34 is carried out, the cutting blades 36 left on the shaft part 34 can be pushed out toward the tip side of the shaft part 34 by supplying high-pressure air to the flow path 32a of the base part 32 of the support shaft 24 located at the lowermost position from the air nozzle 44 through the flow path 22a of the endless track 22. However, the cutting blades 36 does not drop from the shaft part 34 due to operation of the ball plungers 42.
The nut attaching-detaching unit 6 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the blade holding parts 48 are mounted on four sidewalls 56 in the six sidewalls 56 of the casing 52, and the nut holding parts 50 are mounted on two sidewalls 56. The two nut holding parts 50 are disposed on a pair of sidewalls 56 opposed to each other. As above, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 includes two blade holding parts 48 per one nut holding part 50.
The blade holding part 48 is formed into a cylindrical shape. In an end surface 58 of the blade holding part 48, provided are a circular central opening part 60 that can accept the shaft part 34 of the above-described support shaft 24 and a boss part of the spindle of the cutting apparatus and plural suction holes 62 disposed around the central opening part 60 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each suction hole 62 is connected to a suction source (not illustrated) such as a vacuum pump.
In the blade holding part 48, the cutting blade 36 is held under suction by generating a suction force for each suction hole 62 by the suction source in a state in which the blade holding part 48 is positioned at a position at which the end surface 58 of the blade holding part 48 gets contact with the base 38 of the cutting blade 36 stored in the cutting blade storage unit 4.
The description will be continued with reference to
In the rotating body 66, a central opening part 68 that can accept the boss part of the spindle of the cutting apparatus is formed. In an end surface 66a of the rotating body 66, plural suction holes 70 and plural pins 72 are alternately disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each suction hole 70 is connected to a suction source (not illustrated). The pins 72 are positioned at such positions (positions illustrated in
In the nut attaching-detaching unit 6, the nut for fixing the cutting blade 36 to the spindle of the cutting apparatus can be screwed to and unscrewed (detached) from a male screw formed in the boss part of the spindle by rotating the rotating body 66 by the drive part in a state in which a suction force is generated for each suction hole 70 by the suction source to hold the nut under suction by the nut holding part 50 and the pins 72 are inserted in the pin holes formed in the nut.
In a case in which the positions of the pins 72 of the nut holding part 50 deviate from the positions of the pin holes of the nut when the nut is unscrewed (detached) from the boss part of the spindle, if the rotating body 66 is rotated by the drive part after the end surface 66a of the rotating body 66 is positioned to the end surface of the nut mounted on the boss part of the spindle and the pins 72 are housed inside the rotating body 66, the pins 72 are pushed out by the spring when the positions of the pins 72 are aligned with the positions of the pin holes, so that the pins 72 are inserted into the pin holes.
The nut attaching-detaching unit 6 that can be configured as described above is disposed inside a frame body 74 as illustrated in
Referring to
The raising-lowering table 76 includes a rectangular top plate 88 and four circular columnar leg parts 90 that extend downward from four corners of the lower surface of the top plate 88. A pair of guide rails 92 that extend in the Y-axis direction with the interposition of an interval in the X-axis direction are disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 88, and the pair of guide rails 92 are slidably fitted into the grooves 86a of the pair of guided components 86 of the frame body 74.
Furthermore, the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 is disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 88 of the raising-lowering table 76. The Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 has a ball screw 94 that extends in the Y-axis direction between the pair of guide rails 92 and a motor 96 that rotates the ball screw 94. A nut part (not illustrated) of the ball screw 94 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom part 80 of the frame body 74.
The Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 converts rotational motion of the motor 96 to linear motion by the ball screw 94 and transmits the linear motion to the frame body 74 to move the frame body 74 in the Y-axis direction along the pair of guide rails 92. As above, the frame body 74 in which the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is disposed is slidably supported by the guide rails 92 that are disposed on the raising-lowering table 76 and extend in the Y-axis direction, and the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is positioned to the operation position and the evacuation position in the Y-axis direction relative to the cutting blade storage unit 4 by the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8.
The above-described operation position is a position at which the blade holding part 48 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is close to the cutting blade storage unit 4 and is a position at which the cutting blade 36 supported by the cutting blade storage unit 4 can be held under suction by the blade holding part 48. Furthermore, the above-described evacuation position is a position at which the blade holding part 48 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is more separate from the cutting blade storage unit 4 than at the above-described operation position.
Moreover, the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 of the illustrated embodiment is configured in such a manner that, when the motor 96 has stopped, movement of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in the Y-axis direction together with the frame body 74 is permitted if a pressing force equal to or larger than a predetermined value acts on the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in the Y-axis direction.
As illustrated in
The description will be continued with reference to
The Z-axis movement mechanism 10 moves the frame body 74 in which the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is disposed in the Z-axis direction by converting rotational motion of the motor 108 to linear motion by the ball screw 106 and raising or lowering the raising-lowering table 76 relative to the base stand 78.
Referring to
The first moving body 112 has a main body 120 with a rectangular plate shape. A circular hole 122 is formed at the central part of the main body 120. The Z rotating shaft 46 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is inserted in the circular hole 122, and the Z rotating shaft 46 is non-rotatably fixed to the main body 120. When the motor of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 coupled to the Z rotating shaft 46 is driven, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 rotates relative to the first moving body 112, and the blade holding parts 48 and the nut holding parts 50 are positioned in given orientations.
On the upper surface of the main body 120 of the first moving body 112, a pair of guided components 124 in which grooves 124a that extend in the X-axis direction are formed are disposed at an interval in the Y-axis direction, and a block 126 in which a through-hole 126a that extends in the X-axis direction is formed is fixed.
The second moving body 114 has a main body 128 with a rectangular plate shape, and the pair of first guide rails 116 are disposed on the lower surface of the main body 128 at an interval in the Y-axis direction. The first guide rails 116 are slidably fitted into the grooves 124a of the pair of guided components 124 of the first moving body 112, and the first moving body 112 is slidably supported in a state in which it is hung down by the first guide rails 116 disposed in the second moving body 114.
A first X-axis movement mechanism that moves the first moving body 112 in the X-axis direction relative to the second moving body 114 is disposed under the main body 128 of the second moving body 114. The first X-axis movement mechanism of the illustrated embodiment includes an air cylinder 130. A cylinder tube 130a of the air cylinder 130 is fixed to the lower surface of the main body 128 and extends in the X-axis direction between the pair of first guide rails 116. The tip of a piston rod 130b of the air cylinder 130 is fitted and coupled to the through-hole 126a of the block 126 of the first moving body 112.
The air cylinder 130 as the first X-axis movement mechanism moves the first moving body 112 in the X-axis direction along the first guide rails 116 relative to the second moving body 114 by causing the piston rod 130b to advance and retreat.
On the upper surface of the main body 128 of the second moving body 114, a pair of guided components 132 in which grooves 132a that extend in the X-axis direction are formed are disposed at an interval in the Y-axis direction, and a block 134 in which a female screw 134a that extends in the X-axis direction is formed is fixed.
The pair of second guide rails 118 are disposed on the lower surface of the ceiling part 84 of the frame body 74 at an interval in the Y-axis direction. The second guide rails 118 are slidably fitted into the grooves 132a of the pair of guided components 132 of the second moving body 114, and the second moving body 114 is slidably supported in a state in which it is hung down by the second guide rails 118 disposed on the lower surface of the ceiling part 84.
A second X-axis movement mechanism 136 that moves the second moving body 114 in the X-axis direction relative to the ceiling part 84 is disposed under the ceiling part 84 of the frame body 74. The second X-axis movement mechanism 136 of the illustrated embodiment has a ball screw 138 that extends in the X-axis direction between the pair of second guide rails 118 and a motor 140 that rotates the ball screw 138. The ball screw 138 is screwed to the female screw 134a of the block 134 of the second moving body 114, and the motor 140 is fixed to the lower surface of the ceiling part 84.
The second X-axis movement mechanism 136 converts rotational motion of the motor 140 to linear motion by the ball screw 138 and transmits the linear motion to the second moving body 114 to move the second moving body 114 in the X-axis direction along the second guide rails 118 relative to the ceiling part 84.
The X-axis movement mechanism 12 of the illustrated embodiment includes the air cylinder 130 as the first X-axis movement mechanism and the second X-axis movement mechanism 136 having the ball screw 138 and the motor 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 can be caused to quickly advance in the X-axis direction by moving the first moving body 112 by the air cylinder 130 as the first X-axis movement mechanism. In addition, fine adjustment of the position of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in the X-axis direction can be easily executed by moving the second moving body 114 by the second X-axis movement mechanism 136. As above, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is configured to be capable of advancing in the X-axis direction by the first moving body 112 and the second moving body 114.
Next, with reference to
As illustrated in
Referring to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pair of cutting units 174 are disposed on a side surface of the beam 206 on a single side (side surface on the back side in
As illustrated in
A pair of guided grooves 208a that extend in the Y-axis direction with the interposition of an interval in the Z-axis direction are formed in a side surface of the Y-axis movable component 208 on a single side (side surface on the front side in
The Y-axis feed mechanism 178 has a ball screw 214 that extends in the Y-axis direction near the side surface of the beam 206 on the single side and a motor 216 that rotates the ball screw 214. The ball screw 214 is coupled to the Y-axis movable component 208. The Y-axis feed mechanism 178 converts rotational motion of the motor 216 to linear motion by the ball screw 214 and transmits the linear motion to the Y-axis movable component 208 to execute indexing feed of the Y-axis movable component 208 in the Y-axis direction along the guide rails annexed to the side surface of the beam 206 on the single side.
Furthermore, the Y-axis feed mechanism 178 of the illustrated embodiment is configured in such a manner that, when the motor 216 has stopped, movement of the spindle housing 212 in the Y-axis direction together with the Y-axis movable component 208 is permitted if a pressing force equal to or larger than a predetermined value acts on the spindle housing 212 in the Y-axis direction.
A pair of guide rails (not illustrated) that extend in the Z-axis direction with the interposition of an interval in the Y-axis direction are formed on the side surface of the Y-axis movable component 208 on the other side (side surface on the back side in
The Z-axis feed mechanism 180 has a ball screw (not illustrated) that is coupled to the Z-axis movable component 210 and extends in the Z-axis direction and a motor 218 that rotates this ball screw. The Z-axis feed mechanism 180 converts rotational motion of the motor 218 to linear motion by the ball screw and transmits the linear motion to the Z-axis movable component 210 to execute cutting-in feed of the Z-axis movable component 210 in the Z-axis direction along the guide rails of the Y-axis movable component 208.
Referring to
A blade cover 224 that covers the cutting blade 36 is mounted on the tip of the spindle housing 212. The blade cover 224 has a first cover component 224a fixed to the tip of the spindle housing 212 and a second cover component 224b movably mounted on the tip of the first cover component 224a. The second cover component 224b is configured to be moved in the X-axis direction by an appropriate actuator (not illustrated) such as an air cylinder. The second cover component 224b is positioned at an opening position illustrated in
As illustrated in
The boss part 228 is inserted in the central opening part 38a of the cutting blade 36, and the male screw 228a of the boss part 228 and the nut 222 are screwed to each other (fitted to each other). Thereby, the cutting blade 36 is clamped by the receiving part 226b of the flange 226 and the nut 222 and is fixed to the boss part 228 attachably and detachably. Moreover, in a side surface of the nut 222, plural pin holes 222a into which the pins 72 of the nut holding part 50 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 are inserted are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.
As illustrated in
The movement mechanism 232 has a ball screw 234 that extends in the Y-axis direction near the side surface of the beam 206 on the other side and a motor 236 that rotates the ball screw 234. The ball screw 234 is coupled to the imaging unit 230. Furthermore, the movement mechanism 232 converts rotational motion of the motor 236 to linear motion and transmits the linear motion to the imaging unit 230 to move the imaging unit 230 in the Y-axis direction along guide rails 206a annexed to the side surface of the beam 206 on the other side. The imaging units 230 are cameras including an imaging element, an optical system, and so forth, for example. The number of imaging units 230 may be one.
When cutting processing is executed for a workpiece such as a wafer by using the cutting apparatus 170, first, suction adhesion of the workpiece to the chuck table 172 is caused. Subsequently, the chuck table 172 is moved to the lower side of the imaging unit 230 by the X-axis feed mechanism 176. In addition, the position of the imaging unit 230 in the Y-axis direction is adjusted by the movement mechanism 232. Next, the workpiece is imaged from the upper side by the imaging unit 230, and a cutting region in the workpiece is detected.
Subsequently, on the basis of the cutting region in the workpiece detected by the imaging unit 230, the chuck table 172 is rotated, and the orientation of the cutting region in the workpiece with respect to the cutting blades 36 of the cutting units 174 is adjusted. Next, the chuck table 172 is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis feed mechanism 176, and the spindle housings 212 are moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis feed mechanisms 178 to position the pair of cutting blades 36 above the cutting region in the workpiece.
Subsequently, the spindle housings 212 are lowered by the Z-axis feed mechanisms 180, and the cutting edges 40 of the cutting blades 36 rotated at high speed are caused to cut into the cutting region in the workpiece. In addition, processing feed of the chuck table 172 in the X-axis direction is executed while cutting water is supplied to the parts into which the cutting edges 40 of the cutting blades 36 are caused to cut. Thereby, predetermined cutting processing is executed for the cutting region in the workpiece. The above-described cutting processing is repeated as appropriate while indexing feed of the spindle housings 212 is executed in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis feed mechanisms 178, and the cutting processing is executed for the whole of the cutting region in the workpiece. The cutting-processed workpiece for which the cutting step has been completed is conveyed to the next step.
When the cutting step is repeatedly executed, the cutting blade 36 wears. When the wear of the cutting blade 36 has reached a predetermined amount, the cutting accuracy is not kept, and therefore the cutting blade 36 mounted on the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 needs to be replaced by the new cutting blade 36. Furthermore, even in a case in which the wear of the cutting blade 36 mounted on the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 has not reached the predetermined amount, when cutting processing is executed for a workpiece of a material different from the material of the workpiece for which cutting processing has been executed previously, the need for replacement to the cutting blade 36 suitable for the material of the workpiece arises in some cases.
In the illustrated embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
Next, as illustrated in
Next, the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 is actuated, and the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is separated from the cutting blade storage unit 4 in the Y-axis direction and is positioned to the evacuation position. Subsequently, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 180° to cause the blade holding part 48 on the opposite side to the blade holding part 48 that holds the cutting blade 36 under suction to face the cutting blade storage unit 4.
Next, the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 is actuated, and the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is positioned to the operation position at which the cutting blade 36 of the support shaft 24 can be held by the blade holding part 48 on the opposite side. Subsequently, a suction force is generated for each suction hole 62 of the blade holding part 48 on the opposite side, and the cutting blade 36 located on the tip side of the shaft part 34 is held under suction by the blade holding part 48. This makes a state in which the new cutting blades 36 are held under suction by the pair of blade holding parts 48 opposed to each other in the four blade holding parts 48.
Next, as illustrated in
Subsequently, as illustrated in
Specifically, the position in the X-axis direction regarding the centers of the pair of new cutting blades 36 held under suction by the pair of blade holding parts 48 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is aligned with the position in the X-axis direction regarding the centers of the pair of cutting blades 36 mounted in the pair of cutting units 174. Furthermore, the Z-axis movement mechanism 10 of the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2 or the Z-axis feed mechanisms 180 of the cutting apparatus 170 are actuated, and the position in the Z-axis direction regarding the centers of the cutting blades 36 of the blade holding parts 48 is aligned with the position in the Z-axis direction regarding the centers of the cutting blades 36 of the cutting units 174.
Next, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 60° to cause the pair of nut holding parts 50 to face the cutting blades 36 of the pair of cutting units 174. The casing 52 may be rotated by 60° before the first and second moving bodies 112 and 114 are caused to advance.
Subsequently, the second cover component 224b of the blade cover 224 of each of the pair of cutting units 174 is positioned to the opening position (see
Next, when the rotating body 66 of the nut holding part 50 is rotated by the drive part of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6, each pin 72 is fitted into the pin hole 222a of the nut 222 when each pin 72 corresponds with the pin hole 222a, and the rotational motion of the rotating body 66 is transmitted to the nut 222 through each pin 72, and the nut 222 loosens. This can unscrew (detach) the nut 222 from the male screw 228a of the boss part 228 of the cutting unit 174. Furthermore, a suction force is generated for each suction hole 70 of the nut holding part 50, and the detached nut 222 is held under suction by the nut holding part 50.
Subsequently, the cutting unit 174 is separated from the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178. In addition, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 60° to cause the empty blade holding part 48 that does not hold the cutting blade 36 under suction to face the cutting blade 36 of the cutting unit 174.
Next, the cutting unit 174 is brought close to the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178, and the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 of the cutting unit 174 is inserted into the central opening part 60 of the blade holding part 48. In addition, the end surface 58 of the empty blade holding part 48 is brought into contact with the end surface of the cutting blade 36 of the cutting unit 174. Subsequently, a suction force is generated for each suction hole 62 of the blade holding part 48, and the cutting blade 36 of the cutting unit 174 is held under suction by the blade holding part 48.
Next, the cutting unit 174 is separated from the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178. In addition, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 60° to cause the blade holding part 48 that holds the new cutting blade 36 under suction to face the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 of the cutting unit 174.
Subsequently, the cutting unit 174 is brought close to the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178. Then, the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 is inserted into the central opening part 38a of the new cutting blade 36, and the end surface of the cutting blade 36 is brought into contact with the receiving part 226b of the flange 226 of the spindle 220. Next, the suction force of the blade holding part 48 is deactivated, and the new cutting blade 36 is transferred from the blade holding part 48 to the boss part 228 of the spindle 220.
Next, the cutting unit 174 is separated from the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178. In addition, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 60° to cause the nut holding part 50 that holds the detached nut 222 under suction to face the boss part 228 of the spindle 220 of the cutting unit 174 as illustrated in
Subsequently, the cutting unit 174 is brought close to the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178, and the nut 222 held under suction by the nut holding part 50 is fitted to the boss part 228 of the spindle 220. Next, the drive part of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is actuated in the opposite direction to the direction when the nut 222 is detached, and the nut 222 is rotated to screw the nut 222 to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228.
When the nut 222 is screwed to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228, as illustrated in
Alternatively, when the nut 222 is screwed to the male screw 228a, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 that holds the nut 222 may be moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 of the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2 in synchronization with the speed at which the nut 222 moves in the Y-axis direction relative to the boss part 228 due to the screwing of the nut 222 to the male screw 228a (speed at which the boss part 228 and the nut 222 relatively move in the Y-axis direction). The movement speed of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in this case is (pitch of the nut 222)×(rotation speed of the nut 222) as with the above-described cutting unit 174.
This can clamp the new cutting blade 36 that should be mounted in the cutting unit 174 by the receiving part 226b of the flange 226 of the spindle 220 and the nut 222 and fix the cutting blade 36 to the boss part 228 of the spindle 220.
Here, a description will be made about a case in which the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222 when the nut 222 is screwed to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228.
In a case in which the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222, if the cutting unit 174 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis feed mechanism 178 and forcible screwing of the nut 222 to the male screw 228a is attempted, a pressing force equal to or larger than a predetermined value acts on the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 and the spindle housing 212 in the Y-axis direction because the nut 222 does not properly mesh with the male screw 228a.
As described above, the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8 of the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2 is configured in such a manner that, when the motor 96 has stopped, movement of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in the Y-axis direction together with the frame body 74 is permitted if a pressing force equal to or larger than the predetermined value acts on the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 in the Y-axis direction.
Thus, even when forcible screwing of the nut 222 to the male screw 228a is attempted by moving the cutting unit 174 having the boss part 228 in the Y-axis direction while rotating the nut 222 in a case in which the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 moves due to the pressing force and escapes from the cutting unit 174, and therefore the nut 222 does not screw to the male screw 228a.
Furthermore, as described above, the Y-axis feed mechanism 178 of the cutting apparatus 170 is configured in such a manner that, when the motor 216 has stopped, movement of the spindle housing 212 in the Y-axis direction together with the Y-axis movable component 208 is permitted if a pressing force equal to or larger than the predetermined value acts on the spindle housing 212 in the Y-axis direction.
Thus, even when forcible screwing of the nut 222 to the male screw 228a is attempted by, conversely to the above, moving the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 that holds the nut 222 in the Y-axis direction while rotating the nut 222 in a case in which the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222, the spindle housing 212 of the cutting unit 174 moves due to the pressing force and escapes from the nut attaching-detaching unit 6, and therefore the nut 222 does not screw to the male screw 228a.
Therefore, according to the illustrated embodiment, the nut 222 does not screw to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228 when the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222. Therefore, the occurrence of galling between the male screw 228a and the nut 222 can be prevented, and the load applied to the nut 222 can be alleviated.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the configuration is made to issue a warning to the operator if the nut 222 has not screwed to the male screw 228a. For example, the warning may be implemented by displaying a warning screen on a monitor annexed to the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2 or the cutting apparatus 170. Alternatively, the warning may be implemented by issuing a warning sound from a speaker annexed to the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2 or the cutting apparatus 170. When the rotation of the rotating body 66 of the nut holding part 50 has continued for a predetermined time or longer, it can be determined that the nut 222 has not screwed to the male screw 228a.
The description about the replacement method of the cutting blades 36 will be resumed. After the nut 222 is screwed to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228, the suction force of the nut holding part 50 is deactivated. Subsequently, the second cover component 224b of the blade cover 224 of the cutting unit 174 is positioned to the closing position. The detachment and attachment of the nut 222 and the cutting blade 36 described above may be simultaneously executed for the pair of cutting units 174 or may be separately executed.
Next, the first and second moving bodies 112 and 114 are caused to retreat. In addition, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 60° to cause one of the pair of detached cutting blades 36 to face the cutting blade storage unit 4. Furthermore, the endless track 22 of the cutting blade storage unit 4 is rotated, and the empty support shaft 24 that does not support the cutting blade 36 is positioned to a predetermined position (for example, a position at the lowermost end in the trajectory of the support shaft 24).
Subsequently, the X-axis movement mechanism 12 and the Z-axis movement mechanism 10 are actuated, and the position of the blade holding part 48 in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is adjusted to allow the shaft part 34 of the support shaft 24 at the above-described predetermined position to be inserted into the central opening part 38a of the one cutting blade 36 held under suction by the blade holding part 48.
Next, the frame body 74 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8, and the shaft part 34 of the support shaft 24 at the above-described predetermined position is inserted into the central opening part 38a of the one cutting blade 36 held under suction by the blade holding part 48. In addition, the end surface of the one cutting blade 36 is brought into contact with the end surface of the base part 32 of the support shaft 24. Subsequently, the suction force of the blade holding part 48 is deactivated, and the one of the pair of detached cutting blades 36 is transferred to the support shaft 24.
Furthermore, the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is separated from the cutting blade storage unit 4 by the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8. In addition, the casing 52 of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 is rotated by 180° to cause the blade holding part 48 on the opposite side that holds the other of the pair of detached cutting blades 36 under suction to face the cutting blade storage unit 4. Next, the frame body 74 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis direction positioning mechanism 8, and the shaft part 34 of the support shaft 24 at the above-described predetermined position is inserted into the central opening part 38a of the other cutting blade 36 held under suction by the blade holding part 48 on the opposite side. In addition, the end surface of the other cutting blade 36 is brought into contact with the end surface of the cutting blade 36 supported by the support shaft 24. Subsequently, the suction force of the blade holding part 48 is deactivated, and the other of the pair of detached cutting blades 36 is transferred to the support shaft 24. In this manner, the cutting blades 36 of the cutting apparatus 170 can be replaced by using the cutting blade replacement apparatus 2.
The configuration of the embodiment is as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, when the nut 222 is screwed to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228, one of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 and the spindle housing 212 of the cutting unit 174 moves in the Y-axis direction in synchronization with the speed of movement in the Y-axis direction due to the screwing of the nut 222, and the other of the nut attaching-detaching unit 6 and the spindle housing 212 of the cutting unit 174 is free (movable, allowed to escape) in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the nut 222 does not screw to the male screw 228a of the boss part 228 when the center of the boss part 228 deviates from the center of the nut 222. Thus, the occurrence of galling between the male screw 228a and the nut 222 can be prevented. In addition, the load applied to the nut 222 can be alleviated.
The present invention is not limited to the details of the above described preferred embodiment. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and all changes and modifications as fall within the equivalence of the scope of the claims are therefore to be embraced by the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-094996 | Jun 2021 | JP | national |