EP2878438B1

EP2878438B1 - Slide lock device for machine presses

Info

Publication number: EP2878438B1
Application number: EP12881543.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ichiro Kitaura; Akitake Hashidate; Seiji Kimura
Original assignee: Pascal Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Pascal Engineering Corp
Priority date: 2012-07-24
Filing date: 2012-07-24
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-24
Also published as: JP5944002B2; BR112014032039B1; CN104487237A; EP2878438A1; JPWO2014016898A1; ES2638540T3; WO2014016898A1; EP2878438A4; BR112014032039A2; KR101947744B1; CN104487237B; KR20150036589A

Description

The present invention relates to a slide lock device for a machine press that is capable of stopping the slide of the machine press at a desired stop position or at a position in the neighborhood thereof.
Slide lock devices of various types have been implemented in practice that, when repairs to a machine press, repairs to a die, exchange of the die or the like are being performed, regulate the downward shifting of the press slide with respect to the press main body.
For example, the slide lock device disclosed in Patent Document #1 comprises a main frame that is fixed to a press main body, a vertical screw shaft that passes through the main frame and has an engagement portion at its lower end portion that can engage with the slide, a nut member that is rotatably supported on the main frame and is screwingly engaged with the screw shaft, a rotation regulation mechanism that regulates the rotation of the screw shaft, and a rotational drive means or the like that rotationally drives the nut member and thus causes the screw shaft to raise and lower.
And the slide lock device of the servo press disclosed in Patent Document #2 is a slide lock device that can lock, in any desired position, a large diameter helical gear that drives a slide to raise and lower via an eccentric mechanism, by engaging an engagement claw with the gear teeth of the helical gear.
In this slide lock device, three lock units are provided along the width direction of the teeth of the helical gear and engagement claws that can engage into the groove portions between the gear teeth of the helical gear are provided at the lower ends of the lock units, and these engagement claws are driven forward and backward by hydraulic actuators that are provided within the lock units. When the slide is to be locked, the helical gear is put into a locked state and the slide is thus locked by operating the three lock units simultaneously and driving the three engagement claws towards their advanced positions, by thus engaging one of the engagement claws into the groove portion between the gear teeth, and by locking the engagement claw with a ball lock mechanism that includes steel balls.

Patent Document #1: JP Laid-Open Patent Publication Heisei 11-245100 .
Patent Document #2: JP Laid-Open Patent Publication 2007-245172 .

Since, when locking the slide with the slide lock device of Patent Document #1, it is necessary to raise the screw shaft with the rotation drive means until the engagement portion at the lower end of the screw shaft contacts against the lower surface of the slide, accordingly the problems occur that the time period required until the slide is locked is long, that a large space is required for installation in order to dispose a pair of slide lock devices which are comparatively large at the two sides of the slide, that the cost of production is high because the structure of the lock device is complicated, and so on.
In the case of the slide lock device of Patent Document #2, it is necessary to dispose the three lock units in the external peripheral space around the helical gear and to provide a construction for attachment that fixes them solidly to the main frame of the machine press. Moreover, a large space is required for installing the three lock units.
In order for the curved toothed surface shape of the engagement claws and the gear teeth to be linear contact when the engagement claws are engaged into the groove portions of the helical gear, the gear teeth are minutely plastically deformed concavely inward, and the quality of meshing between the helical gear and a pinion or gear that is meshed therewith is deteriorated, so that there is a fear of loss of durability. Moreover, since this lock unit has a complicated construction including two hydraulic chambers, two compression springs, and a ball lock mechanism having steel balls or the like, accordingly its cost of production is high. Document US2185551-A describes a safety locking mechanism for a press according to the preamble of claim 1.
The aims of the present invention are to provide a compact slide lock device, to provide a slide lock device with which a construction for attachment thereof to a machine press can be simplified, to provide a slide lock device having a simple structure that is beneficial from the point of view of cost of production, and so on.
The invention is defined in claim 1.
With the constitution of the present invention as described in claim 1, various additional constitutions as described below may be employed.

(1) The insertion portions may be made as circular arc shaped insertion apertures formed in the flange portion, and the stopper engagement portions are constituted respectively by bridging wall portions that are formed between adjacent ones of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures.
(2) In the present invention or in (1) above, the actuators may be constituted with double acting type fluid pressure cylinders respectively, and the pin members may be constituted by rod portions of piston rod members of these fluid pressure cylinders, respectively.
(3) In (1) above, the pin members have circular cross sections, and an end portions of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures are formed as half-cylinders to which the pin members engage, respectively.
(4) In (3) above, as the plurality of pin members, six pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into six equal parts are provided; these six pin members are grouped into a first group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and a second group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts; and when the six pin members are driven toward their advanced positions, three pin members of at least one of the first group of pin members and the second group of pin members pass through three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures.
(5) In (3) above, as the plurality of circular arc shaped insertion apertures, nine circular arc shaped insertion apertures are formed at intervals of 40° in the circumferential direction, and each of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures is formed of such a size that the pin member is shiftable relatively thereto through 20° in the circumferential direction.
(6) In (5) above, as the plurality of pin members, six pin members are provided; these six pin members are grouped into a first group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and a second group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and that moreover are spaced with respect to the first group of pin members in a predetermined rotational direction around the axis by the spacing of 20°; and when the six pin members are driven toward their advanced positions, three pin members of at least one of the first group of pin members and the second group of pin members pass through three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures.
(7) in (1) above, a first detection means that detects the states when the pin members are in their retracted positions, and a second detection means that detects the states when the pin members are in their advanced positions, may be provided.
(8) In the present invention, the stopper engagement portion may be constituted by a projecting portion that projects by a predetermined length from the flange surface of the flange portion towards the retaining holes, and the insertion portions may be constituted by insertion spaces defined between adjacent pairs of portions that project more towards the retaining holes than the flange surface.
(9) In (1) or (8) above, the facing wall portion of the main body member is disposed more toward the main frame than the flange portion.

According to the present invention, the following advantageous effects may be obtained.
Since the slide lock device for a machine press according to the present invention includes the flange member which is fixed to the shaft member that rotates together with operation of the slide, the main body member that is fixed to the main frame, the plurality of retaining holes that are formed in the main body member, the plurality of pin members that are installed in the retaining holes, the plurality of actuators that drive the plurality of pin members between their advanced positions and their retracted positions, and the plurality of stopper engagement portions formed on the flange member with fixed gaps between them in the circumferential direction and the plurality of insertion portions each formed between adjacent ones of the stopper engagement portions, accordingly its overall structure is compact.
Since the flange member can be fitted to the machine press by simply fixing it to the shaft member and by moreover fixing the main body member to the main frame of the machine press, accordingly the mounting construction for attachment to the machine press has a simple structure. Moreover, since it is arranged for the rotation of the shaft member to be locked and the slide to be thus locked by the stopper engagement portions formed on the flange member being received and stopped by the pin members that have shifted to their advanced positions, accordingly the construction becomes simple, and this is advantageous from the point of view of the cost of production. Other advantageous effects that are obtained from the inventions of the dependent claims will be explained in detail in connection with embodiments.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a machine press and a slide lock device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the slide lock device for a machine press;
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the slide lock device;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines V-V of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory figure showing a state in which a first group of pin members are contacted against bridging wall portions, while a second group of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 7 is an explanatory figure showing a state in which the first group of pin members are contacted against the bridging wall portions, while the second group of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 8 is an explanatory figure showing a state in which both the first and second groups of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 9 is an explanatory figure for a second embodiment, showing a state in which a first group of pin members are contacted against bridging wall portions, while a second group of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 10 is an explanatory figure showing a state in which the first group of pin members are contacted against the bridging wall portions, while the second group of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions for the second embodiment;
Fig. 11 is an explanatory figure for the second embodiment, showing a state in which both the first and second groups of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 12 is an explanatory figure for the third embodiment, showing a state in which both the first and second groups of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions;
Fig. 13 is an explanatory figure for the fourth embodiment, showing a state in which both the first and second groups of pin members are shifted to their advanced positions; and
Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of principal portions of a slide lock device according to the fifth embodiment.

In the following, the invention will be explained on the basis of embodiments.

EMBODIMENT 1

The slide lock device for a machine press according to the present invention is a device that locks the slide of a machine press by locking a shaft member that rotates together with the raising and lowering operation of the slide so that it cannot rotate.
As shown in Fig. 1, according to this embodiment, the machine press 1 is a crank press, and this machine press 1 comprises a main frame 3, a bolster 4, a slide 2 that is guided by the main frame 3 so as to be freely raised and lowered, a crank shaft 11 (this corresponds to the "shaft member") that drives the slide 2 via a pair of con-rods 5 so as to raise and lower, a main gear 6 and a flywheel 7 that are fixed to the right side end portion of the crank shaft 11, a clutch mechanism 8, an electrically operated motor (not shown in the figures) that rotationally drives the main gear 6 via a plurality of gears, and so on. And a slide lock device 10 according to the present invention is attached to the left end portion of the crank shaft 11 and to the main frame 3.
As shown in Figs. 2 through 5, this slide lock device 10 comprises: an annular flange member 12 that is fitted over the shaft member 11 so as not to rotate with respect thereto; an annular main body member 14 that is fixed to the main frame 3 of the machine press 1; a plurality of retaining holes 15 (in this embodiment, six thereof) formed in the main body member 14; a plurality of pin members 16 (in this embodiment, six thereof) fitted in these six retaining holes 15 so that they can shift therein in directions parallel to the axis X of the shaft member 11; a plurality of actuators 17 (in this embodiment, six thereof) for driving these six pin members 16 between advanced positions and retracted positions; a plurality of stopper engagement portions 18 (in this embodiment, nine thereof) formed on the flange portion 12 with fixed gaps between them in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of insertion portions 19 (in this embodiment, nine thereof) each formed as an arc between adjacent ones of the stopper engagement portions 18.
The shaft member 11 has an axial extension portion 11a that projects from the outer side of the main frame 3 of the machine press 1 outward to the exterior by a predetermined length.
The flange member 12 comprises a boss portion 12a that is fixed tightly over the axial extension portion 11a so as not to be rotatable with respect thereto, and a flange portion 12b that is formed integrally with the outer end portion of the boss portion 12a in the axial direction and that moreover is parallel to a plane orthogonal to the axis X of the shaft member 11. The thickness of the flange portion 12b in the axial direction is set to a predetermined thickness (for example, 30 to 40 mm).
The flange member 12 is rotationally constrained by a key 11b so that it cannot rotate relative to the axial extension portion 11a, and also is frictionally coupled to the axial extension portion 11a so that it cannot shift relative thereto in the direction of the axis X by a wedge member 20 that is tightly fitted in between a wedge shaped groove 12c formed in the boss portion 12a and the axial extension portion 11a. The wedge member 20 is fixed by a bolt 23 to a pressure plate 22 that is contacted against the end surface of the axial extension portion 11a and is fixed to the flange portion 12b by a plurality of bolts 21, and is pressed by the pressure plate 22 in the direction of the axis X so that it cannot come away.
The main body member 14 is an annular member that is fitted over the boss portion 12a with a certain clearance 24 being left between them. The main body member 14 comprises a facing wall portion 26 that is disposed more towards the main frame 3 than the flange portion 12b, and that moreover opposes the flange portion 12b with a gap 25 (for example a gap of around 15 to 20 mm) being left between them.
The main body member 14 has an annular fixing flange 14a that is contacted against the outer surface of the main frame 3, and, by this fixing flange 14a being fixed to the main frame 3 by a plurality of bolts 14b, the main body member 14 is fixed to the outer surface of the main frame 3 of the machine press 1.
Moreover, the main body member 14 comprises: the fixing flange 14a; an external circumferential side wall portion 14c that extends from the fixing flange 14a to a position further outward than the flange portion 12b with a minute gap being left between it and the flange portion 12b, an annular plate portion 14d that is formed integrally with the external circumferential side wall portion 14c in the interior of its base end (i.e. its end towards the main frame 3), a strengthening wall portion 14e that is formed integrally in the interior of the external circumferential side wall portion 14c at an intermediate position in its length direction, and the facing wall portion 26 that is formed integrally between the annular plate portion 14d and the strengthening wall portion 14e and that moreover opposes the flange portion 12b from the main frame 3 side with a gap being left between them.
The facing wall portion 26 has a plurality of retaining hole forming wall portions 26a (in this embodiment, six) that are formed as rectangular columns (prisms) extending in the direction parallel to the axis X at positions that divide the circumference centered around the axis X into a plurality of equal parts (in this embodiment, six parts).
Each of the retaining holes 15 is formed in a corresponding retaining hole forming wall portion 26a so as to extend parallel to the axis X and moreover so as to oppose the flange portion 12b. The six actuators 17 are members for driving each of the six pin members 16 between an advanced position in which it is advanced towards the flange portion 12b and a retracted position in which it is pulled back from the advanced position.
In this embodiment, the actuators 17 are built as double acting type air cylinders, and piston rod members 17a of these air cylinders have piston portions 17b and rod portions 17c, with the rod portions 17c of the piston rod members 17a constituting the pin members 16. The rod portions 17c are circular in cross section.
A blocking plate 27 that blocks up the six cylinder holes 17d of the air cylinders 17 is disposed between the annular plate portion 14d and the outer side surface of the main frame 3, and is fixed to the main body member 14 by a plurality of bolts 27a.
Each of the air cylinders 17 has an air operation chamber 28 for forward motion that is defined in the cylinder hole 17d more towards the blocking plate 27 than the piston portion 17b, and an air operation chamber 29 for return motion that is defined in the cylinder hole 17d around the external circumference of the rod portion 17c. The retaining hole 15 is defined by the cylinder hole 17d and by a rod insertion hole 17e that is formed in the rod side wall portion of the retaining hole forming wall portion 26a, and, when the pin member 16 is in its retracted position, the pin member 16 is retracted to a state in which it does not project out from the retaining hole 15.
The air operation chamber 28 for forward motion is connected to a port 31 for air conduit connection via a shallow groove formed in the blocking plate 27 and an air passage 30 formed in the external circumferential side wall portion 14c. And the air operation chamber 29 for return motion is connected to a port 33 for air conduit connection via an air passage 32 formed in the external circumferential side wall portion 14c. And the ports 31 and 33 of the six air cylinders 17 are connected to a pressurized air supply source (not shown in the figures) by conduits or hoses. When pressurized air is supplied to the air operation chambers 28 for forward motion and air pressure is vented from the air operation chambers 29 for return motion, then the pin members 16 are driven towards their advanced positions; and, conversely, when air pressure is vented from the air operation chambers 28 for forward motion and pressurized air is supplied to the air operation chambers 29 for return motion, then the pin members 16 are driven towards their retracted positions. However, the actuators 17 could also be built as double acting type oil pressure cylinders, or could also be built as solenoid actuators.
A plurality of stopper engagement portions 18 (in this embodiment, nine) are formed on the flange portion 12b at positions in a radial direction with respect to the axis X that are the same as those of the pin members 16 with fixed gaps between them in the circumferential direction.
On the flange portion 12b, a plurality of insertion portions 19 (in this embodiment, nine) are formed as an arc between adjacent ones of the stopper engagement portions 18.
In this embodiment, the insertion portions 19 are constituted by insertion apertures 37 in the flange portion 12b that are formed as circular arcs, and the stopper engagement portions 18 are constituted by bridging wall portions 38 that are formed between adjacent ones of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37. The circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 are formed with width in the radial direction such that they can receive the pin members 16 with minute clearances being left around them, and the end portions of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the circumferential directions are formed in half-cylindrical shapes so that the pin members 16 can closely engage therewith.
The nine circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 are formed at intervals of 40° in the circumferential direction, and the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 are formed to be a suitable size so that the pin members 16 are shiftable by 20° in the circumferential direction (in other words, the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 are shiftable relatively to the pin members 16 by 20°)
An annular main body auxiliary member 34 is provided on the outside of the flange portion 21b, so as to oppose the flange portion 12b on its opposite side to the six retaining holes 15, and the main body auxiliary member 34 may, for example, be fixed to the outer end surface of the main body member 14 by twelve bolts 35. Six circular support holes 36 are formed in the main body auxiliary member 34 at positions that divide the circumference into six equal parts, and these support holes 36 are configured so as to be capable of passing the end portions of the six pin members 16.
When, during repair of the machine press 1 or exchange of its die, or if some problem has occurred or the like, the machine press 1 is stopped, and, in order to lock the slide 2 in a desired position or in a position neighborhood thereof, the six pin members 16 are all driven toward their advanced positions simultaneously by the six air cylinders 17, then it becomes possible for at least one of the pin members 16 to enter into one of the insertion portions 19 (i.e. the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37) and for at least one of the stopper engagement portions 18 (i.e. the bridging wall portions 38) at the end portion of this insertion portion 19 to be received and stopped from further motion in the circumferential direction. At this time, when this at least one pin member 16 shifts forward to its advanced position and enters into the circular arc shaped insertion aperture 27, the end portion of the pin member 16 enters into and passes through the corresponding support hole 36, and this is beneficial from the point of view of strength, since the pin member 16 is now in a state in which both of its ends are supported.
As shown in Figs. 6 through 8, in this embodiment, the six pin members 16 that are arranged at positions that divide the circumference into six equal parts may be grouped into a first group of pin members 16a that are arranged at positions that divide the circumference into three equal parts and a second group of pin members 16b that are also arranged at positions that divide the circumference into three equal parts; and, when the six pin members 16 are driven towards their advanced positions, the three pin members 16 of at least one of the first group of pin members 16a and the second group of pin members 16b (in this embodiment, the second group of pin members 16b) enter into three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and also enter into their corresponding three support holes 36 and project to the exterior of those support holes 36. At this time, the remaining three pin members 16, i.e. the first group of pin members 16a, are in a state of contacting against the inner sides of the bridging wall portions 38, as for example shown in Fig. 6 or Fig. 7.
Directly after this, due to a load such as the weight of the slide 2 itself or the weight of a die or the like, the shaft member 11 rotates by a small angle in the forward rotational direction (i.e. the rotational direction when performing pressing processing) or in the reverse rotational direction, and three of the stopper engagement portions 18 (i.e. three of the bridging wall portions 38) come into contact with and engage with the three pin members 16 of the second group of pin members 16b, so that the shaft member 11 is restrained in a state in which its rotation is prevented, and the slide 2 is locked and is put into the stopped state. When this happens, the three pin members 16 of the first group of pin members 16a also enter into three other circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 (ones other than the above three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37), and also go into the state of entering into their corresponding three support holes 36 (refer to Fig. 8). In this case, the first group of pin members 16a are engaged with the end portions of their three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the clockwise rotational direction in Fig. 8, whereas the second group of pin members 16b are engaged with the end portions of their three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the anticlockwise rotational direction. Due to this, the shaft member 11 is put into a state in which it can rotate neither forward nor backward.
For each of the six pin members 16, there are provided a first proximity switch 41 (i.e. a first detection means) that detects the state in which the pin member 16 is in the retracted position, and a second proximity switch 42 (i.e. a second detection means) that detects the state in which the pin member 16 is in the advanced position; and the detection signals from these first and second proximity switches 41 and 42 are provided to a control unit (not shown in the figures) that is employed for control relating to slide locking.
As shown in Fig. 4, the first proximity switches 41 are attached to switch attachment portions 41c that are bent normally from attachment lugs 41b fixed by three screws 41a to the end surfaces of the rod side wall portions of the retaining hole forming wall portion 26, and signal lines 41d extend from these switches 41 to the control unit (not shown in the figures). The first proximity switches 41 are turned OFF when the pin members 16 are in their retracted positions, and are turned ON when the pin members 16 are driven toward their advanced positions.
As shown in Fig. 5, the second proximity switches 42 are attached to switch attachment portions 42c that are bent normally from attachment lugs 42b fixed by four screws 42a to the end surface of the main body auxiliary member 34, and signal lines 42d extend from these switches 42 to the control unit. The second proximity switches 42 are turned ON when the pin members 16 are driven toward their advanced positions and pass through the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and the support holes 36, and are turned OFF when the pin members 16 do not project to the exterior from the support holes 36.
Instead of the above first and second proximity switches 41, 42, it would also be acceptable to arrange to employ contact type limit switches, or photointerruptors having light emitting portions and light reception portions, or the like.
An annular fixing surface is formed on the external circumferential portion of the main body auxiliary member 34, and a cover plate 43 that consists of a thin metallic plate covering over the end surface of the main body auxiliary member 34 is fixed by a plurality of screws 43a to the annular fixing surface.
With the principal functioning of the above slide lock device 10 being as explained above, the beneficial effects of the slide lock device 10 will now be further explained.
Since the insertion portions 19 are constituted by the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 that are formed in the flange portion 12b, and the stopper engagement portions 18 are constituted by the bridging wall portions 38, accordingly it is possible to simplify the structure of the insertion portions 19 and the stopper engagement portions 18.
And, since the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 are holes within which the pin members 16 can relatively shift by 20° in the circumferential direction, and since, when locking the slide 2, the angle through which the flange member 12 rotates until the bridging wall portions 38 engage with the pin members 16 is around 15° at a maximum, accordingly it is possible to stop the slide 2 at a position in the neighborhood of any desired position.
Since, when the pin members 16 are shifted to their advanced positions, the end portions of the pin members 16 enter into the support holes 36 so that both the ends of the pin members 16 are in a state of being supported, accordingly this is advantageous from the point of view of strength of the pin members 16, and it is possible to make the diameters of the pin members smaller. Moreover, since the actuators 17 are built as double acting type air cylinders, and the pin members 16 are constituted by the rod portions 17c of their piston rod members 17a, accordingly it is possible to build the slide lock device 10 with a compact structure.
Since, when locking the slide 2, initially at least three of the pin members 16 enter into the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and the three support holes 36, and thus the rotation of the flange member 12 can be constrained by these three pin members 16, accordingly it is possible to reduce the diameters of the pin members 16, so that it is possible to build the slide lock device 10 with a compact structure. Moreover, since finally the remaining three pin members 16 also enter into their corresponding three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and their corresponding three support holes 36, and thus the shaft member 11 is put into a state of being rotationally constrained so that it cannot rotate either forward or backward, accordingly the slide 2 is constrained so that it cannot be raised or lowered, and is in a securely locked state.
Since the first and second proximity switches 41, 42 that detect that the pin members 16 are in their retracted positions and are in their advanced positions are provided, accordingly it is possible reliably to detect the fact that the slide 2 is in the locked state.
Since this slide lock device 10 can be attached to the axial extension portion 11a of the shaft member 11 and to the outer surface of the main frame 3 in the neighborhood thereof, accordingly the construction for attachment of the slide lock device 10 to the machine press 1 becomes simple.
Since the slide lock device 10 includes the flange member 12, the main body member 14, the main body auxiliary member 34, the six air cylinders 17 that have a simple structure and that are installed to the main body member 14, and so on, accordingly this is beneficial from the point of view of reduction of the production cost.

EMBODIMENT 2

This slide lock device 10 is an example in which the arrangement of the six pin members 16 is changed.
As shown in Figs. 9 through 11, the six pin members 16 may be grouped into a first group of pin members 16a (three pin members) that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and a second group of pin members 16c (three pin members) that are also arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and that moreover are spaced by 20° around the axis in the anticlockwise rotational direction in Fig. 9 with respect to the first group of pin members 16a.
When the six pin members 16 are driven towards their advanced positions, the three pin members of at least one of the first group of pin members 16a and the second group of pin members 16c (in this embodiment, the second group of pin members 16c) enter into three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and into their corresponding three support holes 36 (refer to Fig. 9 or Fig. 10). Thereafter, in a similar manner to the case with the first embodiment, the shaft member 11 rotates by a small angle in the forward rotational direction or in the reverse rotational direction, three of the stopper engagement portions 18 (i.e. the bridging wall portions 38) come into contact against and engage with the second group of pin members 16c, and the shaft member 11 is put into a rotationally constrained state, so that the slide 2 is locked and is put into the stopped state. When this occurs, the first group of pin members 16a also pass through the same three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and are put into the state of passing through their three support holes 36 (refer to Fig. 11). Thus, the first group of pin members 16a are engaged with the end portions of the three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the clockwise rotational direction in Fig. 11, while the second group of pin members 16c are engaged with the end portions of the same three circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the anticlockwise rotational direction. For this reason, the shaft member 11 is put into a state in which it cannot rotate either forward or backward.

EMBODIMENT 3

As shown in Fig. 12, in this slide lock device 10, four pin members 16 are provided and are driven by four air cylinders 17. It should be understood that Fig. 12 shows a state in which, finally, the four pin members 16 have been passed through four of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and through their four support holes 36. The pin members may be grouped into a first group of two pin members 16d that are positioned on opposite sides of the axial extension portion 11a, and a second group of two pin members 16e that are also positioned on opposite sides of the axial extension portion 11a.
When the slide 2 is to be locked, the first group of pin members 16d are passed through two of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and the two support holes 36, and, after bridging wall portions 38 have subsequently been contacted against these pin members 16 and brought into engagement therewith by slight rotation of the shaft member 11 in the forward or the backward rotational direction, the second group of pin members 16e are passed through another pair of two circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and a pair of two support holes 36 that are different to those above. As shown in Fig. 12, the first group of pin members 16d are engaged with the end portions of their two circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the clockwise rotational direction, while the second group of pin members 16e are engaged with the end portions of their two circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 in the anticlockwise rotational direction. Due to this, the shaft member 11 is put into a state in which it cannot rotate either forward or backward.

EMBODIMENT 4

As shown in Fig. 13, in this slide lock device 10, eight pin members 16 are provided and are driven by eight air cylinders 17. It should be understood that Fig. 13 shows a state in which, finally, the eight pin members 16 have been passed through eight of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and through their eight support holes 36. The pin members may be grouped into a first group of pin members 16f (four pin members) and a second group of pin members 16g (four pin members).
When the eight pin members 16f are driven towards their advanced positions, initially the first group of pin members 16f or the second group of pin members 16g are passed through four of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and four of the support holes 36, and, after four of the bridging wall portions 38 have subsequently been engaged against these four pin members 16 by slight rotation of the shaft member 11, then the remaining four pin members 16 are passed through four more of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures 37 and four more of the support holes 36. In this manner, the shaft member 11 is put into a state in which it cannot rotate either forward or backward.

EMBODIMENT 5

As shown in Fig. 14, this slide lock device is an example in which, differently from the slide lock device 1 described above, a plurality of stopper engagement portions 18A (in this embodiment, nine) and a plurality of insertion portions 19A (in this embodiment, nine) are provided. Each of the stopper engagement portions 18A consists of a projecting portion 50 that projects by a predetermined distance towards the retaining holes 15 from the flange surface 12g of the flange portion 12f of the flange member 12A, and each of the insertion portions 19A consists of an insertion space 51 that is defined between a pair of adjacent projecting portions 50, more towards the retaining holes 15 than the flange surface 12g. At both end portions of the stopper engagement portions 18A in the circumferential direction, half-cylindrical engagement surfaces 18a are defined that engage with the pin members 16.
It should be understood that Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the outward axial direction, showing a cross section orthogonal to the axis X taken at a position more inward than the flange portion 12f of the flange member 12A, and shows the state in which the six pin members 16 have finally been engaged with six of the stopper engagement portions 18A.
Next, modified examples in which the above embodiments are partially altered will be explained.

(1) The number of the insertion portions 19,19A is not limited to being nine; any number around from six to eight would also be acceptable.
(2) It is not necessary for the retaining hole forming wall portions 26a to be formed in the shape of prisms; it would also be acceptable for them to be constituted by the single integral annular facing wall portion 26 having a plurality of retaining hole forming wall portions, and for the six cylindrical holes 17d to be formed in the facing wall portion 26.
(3) It would also be possible to provide the flange member of the slide lock device, not at one end portion of the shaft member, but part way along the shaft member.
(4) A machine press that utilizes the slide lock device of the present invention may be a crank press, and could also be a crankless press to which an eccentric mechanism is installed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a slide lock device that locks the slide of a machine press.

DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS

1:: machine press
2:: slide
3:: main frame
10:: slide lock device
11:: crank shaft (shaft member)
12:: flange member
12b:: flange portion
12g:: flange surface
14:: main body member
15:: retaining hole
16:: pin member
16a:: first group of pin members
16b, 16c:: second group of pin members
17:: actuator
17a:: piston rod member
17c:: rod portion
18, 18A:: stopper engagement portions
19, 19A:: insertion portions
26:: facing wall portion
26a:: retaining hole forming wall portion
34:: main body auxiliary member
36:: support hole
37:: circular arc shaped insertion aperture
38:: bridging wall portions
41:: first proximity switch (first detection means)
42:: second proximity switch (second detection means)
50:: projecting portion
51:: insertion space

Claims

A slide lock device (10) for a machine press (1) that locks a slide (2) of the machine press by locking a shaft member (11) not to rotate that rotates together with a raising and lowering operation of said slide (2), comprising:
a flange member (12) fitted over and fixed to said shaft member (11) so as not to rotate with respect thereto, and comprising a flange portion (12b) that is parallel to a plane orthogonal to an axis of said shaft member (11);

an annular main body member (14) fixed to a main frame (3) of said machine press (11), and comprising a facing wall portion (26) that opposes said flange portion (12b) with a certain gap therebetween;

a plurality of retaining holes (15) formed in said facing wall portion (26) of said main body member (14) parallel to said axis, and opposing said flange portion (12b);

a plurality of pin members (16), each one of which is installed in one of said plurality of retaining holes (15) so as to be shiftable therein;

a main body auxiliary member (34) that opposes said flange portion (12b) from an opposite side to said plurality of retaining holes (15) and that is fixed to the main body member (14);

a plurality of actuators (17) for driving said plurality of pin members (16) respectively between an advanced position in which it is advanced towards said main body auxiliary member (34) and a retracted position in which it is pulled back from said advanced position; and

a plurality of stopper engagement portions (18, 18A) formed on said flange portion (12b) at positions in a radial direction with respect to said axis that are the same as those of the pin members (16) and with fixed gaps between them in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of insertion apertures (19, 19A) each formed as an arc between adjacent ones of the stopper engagement portions (18, 18A);

and adapted so that when, in order to lock said slide (2), the plurality of pin members (16) are all driven towards their advanced positions by said plurality of actuators (17), at least one of said pin members (16) is inserted into one of said insertion apertures (19, 19A) and at least one of said stopper engagement portions (18, 18A) at an end portion of this insertion aperture (19, 19A) can be stopped with said pin member (16);
characterized in that said slide lock device comprises :
a plurality of support holes (36) that are formed in said main body auxiliary member (34) so as to be able to pass end portions of said plurality of pin members (16) and wherein an end portion of the pin member (16) that passes through said insertion aperture (19, 19A) is inserted into said corresponding support hole (36) so that both ends of said pin member (16) are supported.
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 1, wherein said insertion apertures (19, 19A) are circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37) formed in said flange portion (12b), and said stopper engagement portions (18, 18A) are constituted respectively by bridging wall portions (38) that are formed between adjacent ones of said circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37).
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said actuators (17) are constituted with double acting type fluid pressure cylinders respectively, and said pin members (16) are constituted by rod portions (17c) of piston rod members (17a) of these fluid pressure cylinders, respectively.
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 2, wherein said pin members (16) have circular cross sections, and an end portions of said circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37) are formed as half-cylinders to which the pin members (16) engage, respectively.
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 4, wherein, as said plurality of pin members (16), six pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into six equal parts are provided;
these six pin members are grouped into a first group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and a second group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts; and
when said six pin members are driven toward their advanced positions, three pin members of at least one of the first group of pin members and the second group of pin members pass through three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37).
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 4, wherein, as said plurality of circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37), nine circular arc shaped insertion apertures are formed at intervals of 40° in the circumferential direction, and each of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures is formed of such a size that the pin member is shiftable relatively thereto through 20° in the circumferential direction.
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 6, wherein, as said plurality of pin members (16), six pin members are provided;
these six pin members are grouped into a first group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and a second group of pin members that are arranged at positions dividing the circumference into three equal parts, and that moreover are spaced with respect to said first group of pin members in a predetermined rotational direction around said axis by said spacing of 20°; and
when said six pin members are driven toward their advanced positions, three pin members of at least one of the first group of pin members and the second group of pin members pass through three of the circular arc shaped insertion apertures (37).
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 1, wherein a first detection means (41) that detects the states when said pin members (16) are in their retracted positions, and a second detection means (42) that detects the states when said pin members (16) are in their advanced positions, are provided.
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 1, wherein said stopper engagement portion (18, 18A) is constituted by a projecting portion (50) that projects by a predetermined length from the flange surface (12g) of the flange portion (12b) towards the retaining holes (15), and said insertion apertures (19, 19A) are constituted by insertion spaces (51) defined between adjacent pairs of portions that project more towards the retaining holes than said flange surface (12g).
A slide lock device for a machine press according to claim 1 or claim 9, wherein said facing wall portion (26) of said main body member (14) is disposed more toward said main frame (3) than said flange portion (12b).