JP2002013510A - Mechanical clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanical clamp that can enhance the degree of freedom to set an attaching height position to firmly attach to a pallet, and can easily absorb the dispersion in the thickness direction of the clamp part without any special operation when clamping the different clamp parts to be clamp in order of precedence. SOLUTION: When the clamp arm 3 of a toggle clamp 1 is set at a clamping position, the center of a pin 38 is positioned on the same straight line as the straight line L linking the center of pin 36 and 37 together or positioned at slightly front side from the straight line L, so that a toggle mechanism 5 is stabilized. A gas spring 7, sealed a compression gas, is fixedly installed at the output part of the clamp arm 3. When the clamp arm is positioned at the clamping position to stabilize the toggle mechanism 5, a clamping object such as a work W is clamped via the gas spring 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanical clamp, and more particularly, to a mechanical clamp in which a gas spring filled with compressed gas is fixedly provided at an output portion of a clamp arm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toggle clamp is a mechanical clamp including a clamp arm, an operation lever, and a toggle mechanism, and drives a clamp arm via an operation lever that is manually driven to clamp an object to be clamped. When the clamp arm clamps the object to be clamped, the toggle mechanism is in a stable state, and the clamp arm does not move to the clamp release side due to external force.

A conventional toggle clamp 100 includes a clamp arm 101, an operation lever 102 and a toggle mechanism 103 as shown in FIG. 18, and a lower portion of a base end of the clamp arm 101 is rotatably connected to a base member 104. , Clamp arm
The upper part of the base end of 101 and the distal end of the operating lever 102 are rotatably connected, and the vicinity of the distal end of the operating lever 102 is connected to the base member 104 via a link 105. An output rod 106 is fixed to the tip of the clamp lever 101, and an adjusting tool 107 is screwed to the output rod 106.

When the operating lever 102 is operated, the clamp arm 101 swings between a clamp position shown in FIG. 13 and a release position retracted obliquely upward. When the clamp arm 101 is in the clamp position, the clamp arm 101 and the operation lever 10
2, a pin 111 connecting the operating lever 102 and the link 105, and a pin 112 connecting the link 105 and the base member 104 are located substantially on a straight line, and the toggle mechanism 103 is in a stable state. Unless operated, the clamp arm 101 does not swing to the release position side due to the external force.

In the toggle clamp 100, the pin 11
The clamp function is exhibited when 0, 111, 112 are substantially linear. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the position of the adjusting tool 107 of the output rod 106 so as to match the clamping object Wa so as to reliably clamp the clamping object Wa before clamping. In the conventional mechanical clamp, a toggle clamp for attaching an output member via a spring member to a distal end of a clamp arm and clamping an object to be clamped via the output member and the spring member has been put to practical use. .

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional dog clamp, the mounting position of the base member is precisely set in order to clamp the three pins in a substantially straight line. However, it is necessary to precisely adjust the height position of the adjusting tool on the output rod, which is very troublesome. On the other hand, using a plurality of toggle clamps, one work to be machined is fixed to a work pallet or base plate, etc., and machining is performed in that fixed state. Often do. In such a case, the position in the thickness direction of the portion to be clamped to be clamped by the toggle clamp often varies due to a manufacturing error, bending, or the like of each work. In particular, the work is likely to vary in a cast product.

Therefore, each time the work is fixed, it is necessary to adjust the position of the adjusting tool in each of the plurality of toggle clamps. Since the position adjustment of the adjustment tool is performed manually by a manual tool, the work of adjusting the position of the adjustment tool for each of the plurality of toggle clamps each time the work is fixed requires a lot of labor and time. It is difficult to increase the efficiency of clamping work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to increase the degree of freedom in setting a mounting height position at which a mechanical clamp is fixedly mounted on a pallet or the like. The purpose is to make it possible to easily absorb variations in the position of the portion to be clamped in the thickness direction without special operation, and to improve the efficiency of the clamping operation when clamping with a mechanical clamp.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical clamp including a clamp arm, an operation lever, and a toggle mechanism, wherein a gas spring having a compressed gas sealed in an output portion of the clamp arm is fixed. , And the object to be clamped is clamped via the gas spring.

By operating the operation lever, the position of the clamp arm can be switched by swinging the clamp arm between the clamp position and the release position. When the clamp arm is at the clamp position, the toggle mechanism is in a stable state, and the clamp arm does not swing to the release position due to external force. In this mechanical clamp, a gas spring filled with compressed gas is fixedly provided at an output portion of a clamp arm, and a clamp target is clamped via the gas spring.

Therefore, even if the mounting height position of the mechanical clamp (the mounting height position of the base member) is not precisely set, the mechanical clamp is moved to the clamping position while absorbing the variation in the mounting height position by the gas spring. Since the switching can be performed, the efficiency of the clamping operation can be improved. On the other hand, when a plurality of objects to be clamped having the same shape and structure are repeatedly and sequentially clamped, the position in the thickness direction of the portion to be clamped of the object to be clamped is set to an expected position (set in advance for each object to be clamped). (Average position), the gas spring can reliably absorb the deviation and clamp it. In addition, the degree of freedom in setting the mounting position where the base member of the mechanical clamp is mounted increases. As a result, the work efficiency of the clamping operation for fixing the clamp target using the mechanical clamp can be significantly improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical clamp according to the first aspect, wherein the cylinder body of the gas spring is fixed to an output portion of a clamp arm, and is movably mounted on the cylinder body to receive the gas pressure of the compressed gas. It is characterized in that it is configured to be clamped via a rod. An object to be clamped can be reliably clamped via an output rod that moves forward and backward by receiving the gas pressure of the compressed gas with respect to the cylinder body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mechanical clamp according to the first or second aspect, wherein the output rod of the gas spring has a gas receiving hole communicating with the gas receiving portion of the cylinder body. is there. for that reason,
Since the gas storage volume can be increased by effectively utilizing the dead space in the output rod, even if a leak of compressed gas occurs, the decrease in gas pressure is reduced and the durability of the gas spring can be increased.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mechanical clamp according to any one of the first to third aspects, the first connecting portion at the base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to the base member. The second connecting portion at the base end of the clamp arm and the distal end of the operation lever are rotatably connected, and the vicinity of the distal end of the operation lever is connected to the base member via a link. . By operating the operation lever, the clamp arm can be reliably swung between the clamp position and the release position, and unless the operation lever is operated, the clamp arm at the clamp position receives an external force to release the clamp position. It can be configured not to swing to the side.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mechanical clamp according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to the base member and the base end of the operation lever. Are connected to a base member so as to be rotatable, and the clamp arm and the operation lever in the longitudinal direction are connected to each other via a link. By operating the operation lever, the clamp arm can be reliably swung between the clamp position and the release position, and unless the operation lever is operated,
It can be configured that the clamp arm at the clamp position does not swing toward the release position due to an external force.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the mechanical clamp according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a gas spring is screwed into the output portion of the clamp arm so as to be fitted inside so as to be adjustable in position. It is assumed that.

The position can be easily adjusted by rotating the gas spring with respect to the clamp arm, whereby the position in the thickness direction of the portion to be clamped of the object to be clamped is set at the desired position for each object to be clamped. In the case of deviation, the deviation absorption amount that can absorb the deviation by the gas spring can be increased, and the object to be clamped can be easily and reliably clamped.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the mechanical clamp according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the plate is connected to the cylinder body of the clamp arm or the gas spring via an elastic connecting member. A plate member is provided, which is pressed and fixed to an object to be clamped by an output rod of a gas spring and allows the tip of the output rod to slide.

At the time of clamping, the plate member is pressed and fixed to the object to be clamped by the output rod of the gas spring, and even if the output rod is displaced due to a change in the attitude of the gas spring due to the swing of the clamp arm, the plate member is clamped. Allows the output rod tip to slide without sliding on the object. When the clamp object is directly pressed by the output rod of the gas spring at the time of clamping, if the output rod is shifted, the clamp object may be damaged.
This can be reliably prevented.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical clamp comprising a clamp arm and an operation lever, wherein the clamp arm is driven by a manually operated operation lever to clamp the object to be clamped. A gas spring filled with a compressed gas is fixedly provided in the portion, and the gas spring is clamped via the gas spring.

The clamp arm is swingably driven between a clamp position and a release position through a manually driven operation lever. Here, a clamp maintaining mechanism (for example, a toggle mechanism) for preventing the clamp arm at the clamp position from swinging to the release position side is provided, and in this state, the clamp target is clamped via the gas spring. It is desirable to do.

In this mechanical clamp, even if the position in the thickness direction of the clamped portion of the object to be clamped deviates from the expected position, the deviation is absorbed via the gas spring and clamped securely. Can be.
In addition, the clamp target can be clamped with an appropriate clamping force by the structure of the gas spring and the setting of the gas pressure of the gas sealed in the gas spring. Other operations are the same as those of the first aspect.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a mechanical clamp (commonly called a toggle clamp) including a clamp arm, an operation lever, and a toggle mechanism.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a work W (an object to be clamped) to be machined by using a plurality of toggle clamps 1.
Is fixed to the base plate 8. A clamp mounting body 8a is assembled on a base plate 8 according to the shape of the work W, and a plurality of toggle clamps 1 are mounted on the clamp mounting body 8a via blocks 8b. In this way, after performing the machining while clamping the work W, the work W is removed and the next work W
Is repeated in the same manner. In other words, the mounting positions of the plurality of toggle clamps 1 are left as they are,
A plurality of the same works W are sequentially fixed to the base plate 8.

The toggle clamp 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the description will be made assuming that the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the toggle clamp 1 (for example, total length: about 180 mm) includes a base member 2, a clamp arm 3, an operation lever 4, and a toggle mechanism 5.
And so on. A gas spring 7 filled with a compressed gas (for example, compressed nitrogen gas) is fixedly provided at an output portion 3a on the front end side of the clamp arm 3, and the toggle clamp 1 clamps the work W via the gas spring 7. It is configured to be.

The base member 2 comprises left-right symmetrical L-shaped members 10, and the horizontal plate portions 11 of these L-shaped members 10 are fixed to the blocks 8b with bolts 13, respectively. The pair of vertical plate portions 12 are in contact with each other, and of the upper portions thereof, the lower end (first connecting portion) of the rear end connecting portion 22 of the clamp arm 3 is connected to the front end portion via a pin 35, and the rear end portion. The lower ends of a pair of links 6 are connected to the parts via pins 36.

The clamp arm 3 includes a pair of left and right arm members 20, and the straight portions 2 of these arm members 20.
1, a connecting plate portion 41a of the gas spring 7 extending rearward from the cylinder body 40 is sandwiched and fixed by bolts 23 and pins 24. The lower portions (first connection portions) of the rear end connection portions 22 of the pair of arm members 20 are rotatably connected to the upper front ends thereof with pins 35 so as to sandwich the base member 2. The upper portions (second connection portions) of the pair of rear end connection portions 22 and the front end portions of the operation levers 4 located inside the rear end connection portions 22 are rotatably connected via pins 37.

The operation lever 4 is provided with a rubber grip cover 32.
The operation gripping part 30 on which is mounted, and the operation gripping part 3
It has a front end connecting portion 31 slightly inclined upward with respect to zero. The front end of the front end connecting portion 31 is connected to the clamp arm 3, and the lower end of the front end connecting portion 31 (near the front end of the operation lever 4) is rotatably connected to the upper end of the pair of links 6 via the pin 38. Are linked. The lower end of the front end connecting portion 31 is connected to the upper and rear ends of the base member 2 via a pair of links 6.

By connecting the respective members as described above, the operation lever 4 is operated to move the clamp arm 3 to the position shown in FIG.
5 and a release position in FIG. 5, for example, to switch the position. When the driving operation is performed to pull up the operation lever 4 in the horizontal posture from the clamped state in FIG. 4, the link 6 rotates upward about the pin 36 and the clamp arm 3 is driven by the driving force from the operation lever 4 via the pin 37. In response to this, it rotates upward (release position side) around the pin 35. When the operation lever 4 is driven downward from the clamp release state in FIG.
6 and the clamp arm 3
Receives the driving force from the operating lever 4 via the pin 37 and rotates downward (toward the clamp position) around the pin 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the clamp arm 3 is in the clamp position, the center position of the pin 38 is located on the same straight line or slightly forward with respect to the straight line L connecting the centers of the pins 36 and 37. The toggle mechanism 5 enters a stable state. In this stable clamped state, almost no gap is formed between the upper end of the upper rear end of the base member 2 (a pivot portion for pivotally supporting the pin 36) and the operation lever 4, and the pin 3
6 to 38 are arranged substantially linearly. In the stable clamping state, unless the operation lever 4 is rotated upward, the clamp arm 3 does not swing to the release position due to an external force.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the gas spring 7 has a cylinder body 40 fixed to the output portion 3a of the clamp arm 3, and an output movably mounted on the cylinder body 40 and receiving the gas pressure of the compressed gas. It has a rod 60 (eg, diameter; about 10 mm). The toggle clamp 1 is configured to clamp the work W via the output rod 60 of the gas spring 7.

The cylinder body 40 has a body member 41 forming a cylinder hole, a cylinder head 42, a cylinder end member 43, and a rod guide 44.
A connecting plate portion 41 a formed integrally with the first arm and extending rearward from the upper portion thereof is connected to the clamp arm 3. The lower part of the cylinder head 42 is screwed into the upper end of the main body member 41 and the cylinder end member 4 is fitted to the lower end of the main body member 42.
The upper part of 3 is internally screwed. A seal member 45 is mounted between the main body member 41 and the cylinder head 42.

A step portion 41b is formed at the center of the main body member 41 in the vertical direction, and a rod guide 44 is formed by the main body member 41 and the cylinder end member 43 below the step portion 41b inside the cylinder body 40. Fixed. The output rod 60 is slidably guided by the rod guide 44, and the flange 60 a at the upper end of the output rod 60 is
1b.

The sealing member 4 on which the output rod 60 slides is provided in an annular concave portion 47a formed by the step portion 41b of the main body member 41 and the lower portion thereof and the vicinity of the flange portion 44a of the rod guide 44.
7, a dust seal member 48 for removing dust and dirt attached to the output rod 60 is mounted in an annular concave portion 48a formed in the cylinder end member 43. In a portion surrounded by the main body member 41, the cylinder head 42, the seal member 47, and the output rod 60, a gas storage portion 50 for storing a compressed gas is formed. In the output rod 60, a gas storage hole 51 communicating with the gas storage unit 50 is formed. The gas storage section 50 and the gas storage hole 51 are filled with a compressed nitrogen gas (for example, a pressure of about 14 MPa).

As shown in FIG. 9, a gas passage hole 55 for communicating the gas storage portion 50 with the outside is formed in the cylinder head 42.
a is formed. A plug member having a built-in check valve 55 is screwed into the gas passage hole 55a in a gas-tight manner. The check valve 55 prevents the gas in the gas storage unit 50 from leaking to the outside. The compressed gas can be supplied from the gas supply source to the gas storage unit 50.

The output rod 60 has a flange portion 60a having a step portion 41.
b can be moved up and down by a predetermined stroke (for example, 4 mm) between a projecting position engaging with the projection b and a retreating position contacting the projection 42a. In the unclamped state, the output rod 60 is located at the projecting position by receiving the gas pressure of the compressed gas in the gas storage unit 50, and the gas pressure in this state is P1 (for example, about 1).
4 MPa), and when the output rod 60 is located at the retracted position, the gas pressure rises to P2 (for example, about 22 MPa).

The operation and effect of the toggle clamp 1 will be described. By operating the operation lever 4, the clamp arm 3 can be swung between the clamp position in FIG. 4 and the release position in FIG. 5 to switch the position. When the clamp arm 3 is in the clamp position, the center of the pin 38 is located on the same straight line or slightly forward with respect to the straight line L connecting the centers of the pins 36 and 37, and the toggle mechanism 5 is in a stable state. The clamp state of clamping the work W with the output rod 60 can be maintained. Operation lever 4
Unless is operated, the clamp arm 3 at the clamp position does not swing to the release position side due to the external force.

Each of the toggle clamps 1 has the clamp mounting body 8a and the block 8 at predetermined positions on the base plate 8 such that the positional relationship of the pins 36 to 38 in the clamped state is as shown in FIGS. 8b. When the position in the thickness direction of each clamped portion of the workpiece W is a predetermined expected position (average position of the plurality of workpieces with respect to the clamped portion), the clamp arm 3 is set to the clamp position to set the clamped position. When the clamp portion is clamped, the output rod 60 of the gas spring 7 is at an intermediate position between the projecting position and the retracted position (for example, a position retracted by 2 mm from the projecting position) to clamp the workpiece W. Mounted.

Therefore, even if the position in the thickness direction of the clamped portion of each work W is shifted from the expected position due to a manufacturing error of the work W, the gas spring 60 moves back and forth with respect to the cylinder body 41. Via a possible output rod 60,
The displacement can be absorbed to some extent (for example, ± 2 mm width) and clamped reliably. In addition, by changing the size and structure of the gas spring 60 and the setting of the gas pressure of the gas sealed in the gas spring 60, or by adjusting the amount of advance of the output rod 60 in the clamped state, the clamping force can be increased or Excellent versatility because it can be changed to a smaller size.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of toggle clamps 1 are used to fix workpieces W one by one to a base plate 8 and then to perform machining, and each time the machining is completed. In the case where the next work W is sequentially clamped and supplied to the machine, even if a variation (deviation from an average position) occurs in the position in the thickness direction of each clamped portion for each work W, each work W The gas spring 7 of the toggle clamp 1 for fixing the clamp portion absorbs variations in the position of the clamped member in the thickness direction, and the work W can be easily and reliably clamped. Therefore, the work of fixing the work W is greatly simplified. Work efficiency can be improved.

However, even when the toggle clamp 1 is used alone to clamp a work or the like, even if the mounting position of the base member 2 is not precisely set in accordance with the work, variations in the mounting height position and errors may occur. Can be switched to the clamp position while absorbing the pressure by the gas spring, so that the efficiency of the clamping operation can be improved.

Since the gas storage hole 51 communicating with the gas storage portion 50 of the cylinder body 40 is formed in the output rod 60 of the gas spring 7, gas is supplied to the gas spring 7 by effectively utilizing the dead space in the output rod 60. Since the volume of gas to be sealed can be increased, the size of the gas spring 7 can be reduced, and a decrease in gas pressure due to a leak of compressed gas can be reduced, and the durability of the gas spring 7 (from gas filling to gas filling) can be reduced. Can be lengthened).

Next, a modified embodiment will be described. 1] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the toggle clamp 1A
Is provided with a base member 72, a clamp arm 73, an operation lever 74, a toggle mechanism 75, and the like. A gas spring 7 in which compressed gas is filled is fixedly provided in an output portion 73 of the clamp arm 73. The work W is configured to be clamped. Note that the gas spring 7 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The rear end of the clamp arm 73 is rotatably connected to the upper rear end of the base member 72 via a pin 80, and the lower end of the operation lever 74 is positioned obliquely below and forward of the pin 80. The base member 72 is rotatably connected to the base member 72 via a pin 81. One end of a link 76 is connected via a pin 83 to a middle part of the clamp arm 73 in the length direction, and the other end of the link 76 is connected via a pin 84 to a middle part of the operation lever 74 in the length direction. I have. That is,
The clamp arm 73 and the middle part in the length direction of the operation lever 74 are connected via a link 76.

When the operating lever 74 in the vertical posture is driven backward around the pin 81 from the clamped state shown in FIG.
Receiving the driving force from the upper side around the pin 80 (release position side)
To rotate. When the operation lever 4 is driven upward around the pin 81 from the clamp release state in FIG. 12, the clamp arm 73 receives a driving force from the operation lever 74 via the link 76, and the lower side around the pin 80 (clamp position side). To rotate.

When the clamp arm 73 is in the clamp position, the center position of the pin 83 is located on the same straight line or slightly forward with respect to the straight line connecting the centers of the pins 81 and 84, and the toggle mechanism 75 is in a stable state. , Operation lever 74
Is not operated, the clamp arm 73 does not swing to the release position side due to external force. According to the toggle clamp 1A, when the clamp arm 73 is in the clamp position, the operation lever 74 is in a vertical posture (a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the clamp arm 73).
It may be convenient to operate the operation lever 74.
In addition, basically, the same operation and effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

2] As shown in FIG. 13, in the toggle clamp 1B, the cylinder body 40B of the gas spring 7B
A screw portion 90 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of. A cylinder mounting member 91 is fixed to the output portion 3a of the clamp arm 3, and a nut member 92 is fixed to the cylinder mounting member 91 so as to fit inside. The gas spring 7B is attached to the nut member 92.
Are screwed into an inner fitting so that the vertical position can be adjusted.

In the toggle clamp 1B, the vertical position can be easily adjusted by rotating the gas spring 7B with respect to the clamp arm 3, whereby the work W
When the position of the portion to be clamped in the thickness direction deviates from the expected position for each clamping object, the deviation absorption amount that can absorb the deviation by the gas spring 7B can be increased, and the work W can be easily and reliably clamped. .

3] As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the toggle clamp 1C is a plate member 96 connected to the clamp arm 73 via an elastic connecting member 95 in the toggle clamp 1A. A plate member 96 that is pressed and fixed to the work W by the output rod 60 of the gas spring 7 and allows the tip of the output rod 60 to slide is provided.

The elastic connecting member 95 is formed in an S shape in a side view, and an upper rear end thereof is fixed to a front end of the clamp arm 73 via an L-shaped mounting member 97 in a front view. A plate member 96 disposed below the output rod 70 is fixed to the lower end of the elastic connecting member 95. The middle part of the elastic connecting member 95 is formed in two forks divided into right and left, and the output rod 70 extends vertically between the upper portions thereof.

In this toggle clamp 7, when clamping,
The plate member 96 is pressed and fixed to the work W by the output rod 70 of the gas spring 7, and as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the posture of the gas spring 7 is changed by the swing of the clamp arm 73, and the output rod 70 is moved. Even in the case of displacement, the plate member 96 allows the tip of the output rod 70 to slide without sliding on the work W. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the output rod 70 from damaging the work W during clamping. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

4] As shown in FIG. 17, in the toggle clamp 1D, an elastic connecting member 95 for connecting the plate member 96 in the toggle clamp 1C is changed. The elastic connecting member 98 of the toggle clamp 1D is formed in a C shape in a side view, and can be disposed with a simple structure so as not to interfere with the output rod 70, which is advantageous in terms of structure and cost. In addition, the same operations and effects as those of the toggle clamp 1C are achieved.

In the toggle clamps 1 and 1A, the size and structure of the gas spring, the gas pressure of the gas sealed in the gas spring, the stroke of the output rod of the gas spring, and the like can be appropriately changed. For example, fix the output rod of the gas spring to the clamp arm,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the object to be clamped is pressed by the cylinder body. In addition, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, it is also possible to implement the present invention in a form in which various changes are added to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and it is possible to hold the clamp arm at the clamp position instead of the toggle mechanism. The present invention can be applied to a mechanical clamp having some mechanism.

[0054]

According to the mechanical clamp of the first aspect, a gas spring filled with compressed gas is fixedly provided at the output portion of the clamp arm, and the object to be clamped is clamped via the gas spring. So
Even if the mounting position of the mechanical clamp (that is, the mounting position of the base member) is not precisely set in accordance with the position of the part to be clamped on the clamped object, the gas spring absorbs variations and errors in the mounting position while clamping. can do.

In particular, in a case where a plurality of mechanical clamps are used to repeatedly fix an object to be clamped to a work pallet, a base plate, or the like for a plurality of works, the position of a portion to be clamped of the object to be clamped may vary. Even if an error occurs, it is possible to easily and surely clamp while absorbing the variation and the error by the gas spring. Therefore, the clamping operation for clamping the object to be clamped is significantly simplified, and the operation efficiency can be improved. Since a very small gas spring may be used, the weight of the mechanical clamp does not increase, and the manufacturing cost only slightly increases. Further, the clamp force can be adjusted to some extent by appropriately setting the size and structure of the gas spring, the gas pressure of the gas to be sealed in the gas spring, the setting of the amount of protrusion of the output rod, and the like.

After all, the degree of freedom in setting the mounting height position for attaching the mechanical clamp to the pallet or the like can be increased, and the clamped portion when sequentially clamping different clamped objects with the same mechanical clamp can be increased. It is possible to easily absorb the variation in the position in the thickness direction without special operation, and it is possible to increase the efficiency of the clamping operation when clamping with the mechanical clamp.

According to the mechanical clamp of the second aspect,
Since the cylinder body of the gas spring is fixed to the output part of the clamp arm and is clamped via the output rod movably mounted on this cylinder body and receiving the gas pressure of the compressed gas, the clamp object is clamped. Even if the position of the output portion of the arm is not accurately adjusted, the object to be clamped can be reliably clamped via the output rod that moves forward and backward by receiving the gas pressure of the compressed gas with respect to the main body.

According to the mechanical clamp of the third aspect,
Since a gas storage hole communicating with the gas storage portion of the cylinder body is formed in the output rod of the gas spring, the gas storage volume for filling the gas into the gas spring can be increased. for,
The gas pressure, that is, the amount of change in the clamping force can be reduced, and the object to be clamped can be clamped with a stable clamping force.

According to the mechanical clamp of the fourth aspect,
A first connecting portion at a base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to the base member, and a second connecting portion at the base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to the distal end of the operation lever; Since the vicinity of the tip of the operation lever was connected to the base member via a link, by operating the operation lever,
The clamp arm can be reliably swung between the clamp position and the release position, and the operation lever 102
As long as is not operated, the clamp arm at the clamp position does not swing to the release position due to an external force.

According to the mechanical clamp of the fifth aspect,
The base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to the base member, and the base end of the operation lever is rotatably connected to the base member. By operating the operation lever, the clamp arm can be reliably swung between the clamp position and the release position, and unless the operation lever 102 is operated, the clamp arm at the clamp position is operated. Can be configured not to swing to the release position side due to external force.

According to the mechanical clamp of claim 6,
Since the gas spring is screwed into the output part of the clamp arm so as to be fitted inside and can be adjusted in position, the position of the clamped part in the thickness direction of the part to be clamped is shifted from the expected position for each clamp object. In this case, the displacement can be absorbed by the gas spring, so that the displacement can be increased, and the object to be clamped can be easily and reliably clamped.

According to the mechanical clamp of claim 7,
The plate member is connected to the clamp arm or the cylinder body of the gas spring via an elastic connecting member, and at the time of clamping, the plate member is pressed and fixed to the object to be clamped by the output rod of the gas spring. Even when the posture changes and the output rod is displaced, the plate member allows the output rod tip to slide, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the clamp target from being damaged.

According to the mechanical clamp of the eighth aspect,
A gas spring filled with compressed gas is fixedly provided at the output portion of the clamp arm, and is configured to be clamped via this gas spring. Therefore, the position of the portion to be clamped of the object to be clamped is the expected position. Even if there is a gap, the gap can be absorbed through the gas spring and clamped securely.Moreover, depending on the structure of the gas spring and the setting of the gas pressure of the gas to be sealed in the gas spring, the object to be clamped can be adjusted. It can be clamped with an appropriate clamping force. Other effects are the same as those of the first aspect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state where a work is fixed to a base plate using a plurality of toggle clamps according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the work of FIG. 1 and a plurality of toggle clamps from different angles.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toggle clamp.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a toggle clamp (in a clamped state).

FIG. 5 is a side view of a toggle clamp (unclamped state).

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a toggle clamp.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toggle clamp.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a gas spring.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a toggle clamp according to a first modification.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a toggle clamp (in a clamped state).

FIG. 12 is a side view of a toggle clamp (unclamped state).

FIG. 13 is a side view of a main part of a toggle clamp according to a second modification.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a toggle clamp (in a state immediately before clamping) according to a third modification.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the toggle clamp (in a state immediately before the clamp).

FIG. 16 is a rear view of the toggle clamp.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a main part of a toggle clamp according to a fourth modification.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a toggle clamp according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 W Work 1, 1A-1D Toggle clamp 2, 72 Base member 3, 73 Clamp arm 3a Output unit 4, 74 Operating lever 5, 75 Toggle mechanism 6, 76 Link 7, 7B Gas spring 40, 40B Cylinder body 50 Gas storage unit 51 gas accommodation hole 60 output rod 95,98 elastic connecting member 96 plate member

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) F16F 9/32 L (72) Inventor Hiroshi Miyazawa 9-1, Konoike-ji Kaido, Itami-shi Pascal Corporation F-term (Reference) 3C016 AA01 BA05 CA04 CA09 CB02 CB13 CC03 CD01 3J022 DA11 EA08 EA11 EB03 EC03 ED02 FA01 FB07 FB12 GA06 GA18 GB29 3J069 AA06 CC10 CC13 DD48

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mechanical clamp having a clamp arm, an operation lever, and a toggle mechanism, wherein a gas spring filled with a compressed gas is fixedly provided at an output portion of the clamp arm, and an object to be clamped is provided via the gas spring. A mechanical clamp characterized in that it is configured to clamp an object. 2. The gas spring according to claim 1, wherein a cylinder body of the gas spring is fixed to an output portion of a clamp arm, and is clamped via an output rod movably mounted on the cylinder body and receiving a gas pressure of compressed gas. The mechanical clamp according to claim 1, wherein 3. The mechanical clamp according to claim 1, wherein a gas storage hole communicating with a gas storage portion of the cylinder body is formed in an output rod of the gas spring. 4. A first connecting portion at a base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to a base member, and a second connecting portion at a base end of the clamp arm and a distal end of an operation lever are turned. The mechanical clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mechanical clamp is movably connected, and the vicinity of the distal end of the operation lever is connected to a base member via a link. 5. A clamp arm and an operation lever in a longitudinal direction, wherein a base end of the clamp arm is rotatably connected to a base member, and a base end of the operation lever is rotatably connected to the base member. The mechanical clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate portions are connected via a link. 6. The mechanical clamp according to claim 1, wherein a gas spring is screwed into the output portion of the clamp arm so as to be fitted into the output portion so as to be adjustable in position. 7. A plate member connected to the clamp arm or the cylinder body of the gas spring via an elastic connecting member, wherein the plate member is pressed and fixed to an object to be clamped by an output rod of the gas spring during clamping, and has a tip end of the output rod. The mechanical clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a plate member that allows sliding of the portion. 8. A mechanical clamp comprising a clamp arm and an operation lever, wherein the clamp arm is driven by a manually operated operation lever to clamp an object to be clamped, wherein a compressed gas is sealed in an output portion of the clamp arm. A mechanical clamp characterized in that a fixed gas spring is provided and clamped via the gas spring.