JP2007268625A - Clamper and machining apparatus including it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clamp device enough functioned only by compressed air. <P>SOLUTION: This clamper includes: a first piston 50 for moving a clamp rod 4 in the axial direction on receiving the supply of compressed air; a groove part 46 formed on the clamp rod 40 to hold and disable the clamped clamp rod 40 from moving in the axial direction; a claw part 64 fitted to a storing case 30; and a second piston 60 for pressing the claw part 64 on receiving the supply of compressed air and having a wedge-shaped section, wherein the compressed air is supplied from an air supply port 31 to clamp a workpiece and when the supply of compressed air from the air supply port 31 is stopped and the compressed air is supplied from an air supply port 36, the workpiece is unclamped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a clamp device and a machining device including the clamp device. More specifically, the present invention has a pedestal and a contact portion that can contact a workpiece disposed on the pedestal, and the contact portion is advanced and retracted with respect to the pedestal. The present invention relates to a clamp device including a clamp rod that clamps a workpiece, and a machining device including the clamp device.

Conventionally, as this type of clamping device, a device that clamps a workpiece by moving a clamp rod in an axial direction using pressurized air has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, in order to hold the clamped state of the workpiece, a hydraulic pressure holding mechanism that presses the clamp rod so as not to move in the axial direction using hydraulic pressure is provided, and the clamped state is held by operating the holding mechanism.
JP-A-8-90103

  In the above-described clamping device, the pressurized air is used to move the clamp rod in the axial direction, and the hydraulic pressure is used to hold the clamp rod in a clamped state. And a pressurized air circuit and a hydraulic circuit must be formed, which complicates the apparatus. If the clamp rod is moved in the axial direction using only pressurized air, it is not necessary to supply pressurized oil or form a hydraulic circuit, but it is clamped because air is a compressible fluid. When a force is applied to the workpiece in the unclamping direction, the clamp rod moves in the axial direction, causing unexpected release of the clamp.

  One of the objects of the clamping device of the present invention and the machining device provided with the clamping device is to provide a clamping device that functions sufficiently only with pressurized air. Another object of the clamping device and the machining device provided with the clamping device of the present invention is to simplify the device.

  The clamping device of the present invention and the machining device including the same employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.

The clamping device of the present invention comprises:
A clamp device comprising: a pedestal; and a clamp rod that has an abutting portion capable of abutting against a workpiece arranged on the pedestal and clamps the workpiece by moving the corresponding portion forward and backward with respect to the pedestal. ,
A moving mechanism for moving the clamp rod in the axial direction so as to advance and retract the abutting portion in response to supply of pressurized air;
A holding mechanism that holds the clamp rod in a state in which the workpiece is clamped by receiving supply of pressurized air so that the clamp rod cannot move in the axial direction and releases the hold;
It is a summary to provide.

  In this clamping device of the present invention, the workpiece is clamped by moving the clamp rod in the axial direction so that the contact mechanism is moved forward and backward by operating the moving mechanism upon receiving the supply of pressurized air. The clamp rod is held immovable in the axial direction by releasing the hold of the clamp rod by causing the holding mechanism to function in response to the supply of pressurized air. Thereby, the holding | maintenance force of a clamp apparatus can be stably functioned only by using pressurized air. As a result, the apparatus can be made simpler than that using pressurized air and pressurized oil.

  In such a clamping device of the present invention, the moving mechanism houses a first piston that contacts the clamp rod and moves the clamp rod in the axial direction, a part of the clamp rod, and the first piston. A storage case that functions as a cylinder for the first piston, and the first piston is pressurized in each of the two spaces formed by the storage case and the first piston by moving the clamp rod in the axial direction. Two rod moving air supply ports for independently supplying the air, and the holding mechanism is configured such that a groove formed in the clamp rod and one end of the storage case are rotatably connected. A claw member whose other end engages with the groove, and the storage case as a cylinder while sliding with respect to the clamp rod A second piston that moves in the axial direction of the clamp rod and presses the claw portion toward the groove, and the second piston moves in the axial direction of the clamp rod so that the storage case and the second piston Two holding mechanism air supply ports for independently supplying pressurized air to each of the two spaces to be formed may be provided. The moving mechanism supplies the pressurized air to one of the two rod moving air supply ports to move the clamp rod in the axial direction so that the abutting portion is in the advancing direction with respect to the pedestal. Clamp rod to stop the supply of pressurized air to one of the air supply ports and to supply the pressurized air to the other of the two rod moving air supply ports so that the abutting part moves backward with respect to the base Is moved in the axial direction. The holding mechanism moves the second piston in the axial direction of the clamp rod by supplying pressurized air to one of the two holding mechanism air supply ports in a state where the workpiece is clamped, so that the claw portion becomes the groove portion of the clamp rod. Press the claw to engage. Thereby, even if force acts on the clamp rod in the axial direction, the clamp rod can be held immovably in the axial direction. The holding mechanism stops the supply of pressurized air to one of the two holding mechanism air supply ports in a state where the clamp of the workpiece is held by pressing the claw portion with the second piston, and for the two holding mechanisms. By supplying pressurized air to the other of the air supply ports, the pressing of the claw portion by the second piston is released. This enables movement in the axial direction of the clamp rod. Here, the two rod moving air supply ports can also serve as the two holding mechanism air supply ports. If it carries out like this, a movement mechanism and a holding mechanism can be functioned only by supplying the pressurized air to two air supply ports.

  In the clamping device of the present invention that functions by the two pistons, the claw member has a claw tip portion and a fulcrum portion rotatably attached to the storage case for rotating the claw tip portion. The second piston has a substantially wedge-shaped cross section, and the claw tip engages with the groove so that the claw tip engages with the groove as the clamp rod moves in the axial direction. It can also be arranged so as to contact the opposite side. In this case, the groove portion comes into contact with the claw tip portion so that the claw tip portion rotates smoothly with respect to the axial movement of the clamp rod so that the groove portion is engaged and released. An inclined part may be formed. If it carries out like this, engagement of the nail | claw part with respect to a groove part and cancellation | release of engagement can be performed only by the movement of an axial direction of a clamp rod. As a result, a power source for rotating the claw portion is not required.

  In the clamping device of the present invention, a rotation mechanism that rotates the abutting portion approximately 90 degrees around the axis as the clamp rod moves in the axial direction may be provided. In this way, it is possible to easily install and remove the workpiece in an unclamped state.

  The machining apparatus according to the present invention includes the clamping device according to any one of the above-described aspects, i.e., a pedestal and a contact portion that can contact the workpiece disposed on the pedestal. And a clamp rod that clamps the workpiece by advancing and retreating, and moves the clamp rod in the axial direction so as to advance and retract the abutting portion when supplied with pressurized air A clamping device comprising: a moving mechanism; and a holding mechanism that holds the clamp rod in a state in which the workpiece is clamped by supply of pressurized air so that the clamp rod cannot move in the axial direction and releases the holding. The gist is to provide.

  Since the machining apparatus according to the present invention includes the clamp apparatus according to any one of the above-described aspects, the effect exhibited by the clamp apparatus according to the present invention, for example, the effect that the workpiece can be clamped only by using pressurized air. In addition, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the effect that the clamp device can have a simple configuration as compared with the case using the pressurized air and the pressurized oil.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

  FIG. 1 is an external explanatory view showing an appearance of a clamping device 20 as an embodiment of the present invention together with a workpiece 10, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a main body 22 of the clamping device 20 is unclamped. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the main body 22 of the clamping device 20 is clamped. The clamping device 20 according to the embodiment includes a pedestal 21 and a main body 22 as illustrated. A plurality of clamping devices 20 of the embodiment are provided in a machining device (not shown) which is a machine tool capable of performing various processing (grinding, drilling, curved surface processing, etc.) without exchanging the workpiece 10. The object 10 is held or released.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body 22 includes a storage case 30, a clamp rod 40 in which an arm 42 for clamping the workpiece 10 together with the pedestal 21 is attached, and a part thereof is stored in the storage case 30. A partition 38 that divides the inside of the storage case 30 into upper and lower parts, a first piston 50 that is attached to the clamp rod 40 and moves the clamp rod 40 in the axial direction using the upper part of the storage case 30 as a cylinder, and slides on the clamp rod 40 And a second piston 60 that moves in the axial direction of the clamp rod 40 using the lower portion of the storage case 30 as a cylinder, and a claw portion 64 that is rotatably attached to the support portion 39 attached to the storage case 30 by a fastener 66. A guide member 70 for guiding the movement of the clamp rod 40 in the axial direction, and formed on the guide member 70. Comprising a rotation mechanism 76 which rotates 90 degrees with a clamp rod 40 to move in the axial direction, the Te.

  The storage case 30 is formed with two air supply ports 31 and 36 for receiving supply of pressurized air. The air supply port 31 is an airtight chamber formed by the communication passage 32 between the first piston 50 and the uppermost portion of the storage case 30 by the upper portion of the first piston 50, the inner side of the storage case 30, and the side surface of the clamp rod 40. The air chamber 34a (see FIG. 3) communicates with the upper portion of the second piston 60 between the second piston 60 and the partition wall 38 by the branch passage 33 of the communication passage 32, the inside of the storage case 30, and the partition wall 38. It communicates with an air chamber 35a as an airtight chamber formed by the lower part. Therefore, by supplying pressurized air to the air supply port 31, the pressure in the air chamber 34a and the air chamber 35a is increased, and the first piston 50 and the second piston 60 are moved downward in the drawing in the axial direction of the clamp rod 40. Can be made. The air supply port 36 is connected to an air chamber 34 b as an airtight chamber formed by the lower part of the first piston 50, the inside of the storage case 30, and the upper part of the partition wall 38 between the first piston 50 and the partition wall 38 by the communication passage 37. The air chamber 34 b communicates with the second piston 60 by a communication passage 44 formed inside the clamp rod 40 and a communication passage 74 formed inside the guide member 70 so as to communicate with the communication passage 44. An air chamber 35 b serving as an airtight chamber formed by the lower portion of the second piston 60, the inner side of the storage case 30, and the surface of the guide member 70 is communicated with the lowermost portion of the storage case 30. Accordingly, by supplying pressurized air to the air supply port 36, the pressure in the air chamber 34b and the air chamber 35b is increased, and the first piston 50 and the second piston 60 are moved upward in the drawing in the axial direction of the clamp rod 40. Can be made.

  The second piston 60 has a collar portion 62 having a wedge-shaped cross section. When the second piston 60 moves to a position where it abuts against the partition wall 38, the lowermost end portion of the collar portion 62 is the storage case 30 of the claw portion 64. It is formed so as to substantially contact the side. The claw portion 64 is formed such that a claw tip portion 65 on the opposite side to the portion abutting on the lowermost end portion of the second piston 60 substantially abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the clamp rod 40. On the other hand, a groove portion 46 is formed on the lower side surface of the clamp rod 40, and an inclined portion 47 is formed below the groove portion 46 so that the claw portion 64 smoothly engages with the groove portion 46. Therefore, when the clamp rod 40 moves downward in the drawing and the claw tip 65 of the claw 64 is inserted into the inclined portion 47, the claw tip 65 is rotated with the fastener 66 of the claw 64 as the rotation center. Can be engaged with the groove 46 in a state where it contacts the inclined portion 47.

  The rotation mechanism 76 of the guide member 70 includes a spiral groove 77 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide member 70 over 90 degrees, and a ball 78 rotatably held inside the groove 77 and the clamp rod 40. When the clamp rod 40 moves in the axial direction, the ball 78 moves in the spiral groove 77, thereby rotating the clamp rod 40 about 90 degrees around the axis.

  Here, as a moving mechanism for moving the clamp rod 40 in the axial direction, the first piston 50 attached to the clamp rod 40, the air chamber 34a formed by the first piston 50, the air chamber 34b, and the first piston 50 are used. A communication passage 32 and a communication passage 37 for supplying pressurized air to the air chamber 34a and the air chamber 34b, the air supply port 31, the air supply port 36, and the like correspond to the movement. Further, as a holding mechanism for holding the clamp rod 40 in a clamped state so as not to move in the axial direction or releasing the holding, a groove 46 formed on the clamp rod 40, an inclined portion 47, and a claw that engages with the groove 46 Part 64, second piston 60 that presses claw part 64 toward groove 46, air chamber 35a and air chamber 35b formed by second piston 60, and air chamber 35a and air chamber 35b to move second piston 60. A branch passage 33 from the communication passage 32 that supplies pressurized air, a communication passage 44 that connects the air chamber 34b and the air chamber 35b, a communication passage 74, the air supply port 31, the air supply port 36, and the like correspond to these.

  Next, the operation of the clamping device 20 of the embodiment thus configured will be described. When pressurized air is supplied to the air supply port 31 without supplying pressurized air to the air supply port 36 of the clamping device 20 in the unclamped state shown in FIG. The pressure is increased by being supplied to the air chamber 34a and the air chamber 35a. Thus, the first piston 50 moves downward in the figure together with the clamp rod 40, and the clamp rod 40 rotates counterclockwise by the function of the rotation mechanism 76 along with this movement. At this time, even if the air pressure in the air chamber 35a rises, the second piston 60 does not move because the lowermost end portion of the collar portion 62 is in contact with the claw portion 64. When the clamp rod 40 moves downward in the drawing and the claw tip portion 65 of the claw portion 64 reaches the inclined portion 47, the claw portion 64 pressed against the clamp rod 40 side by the collar portion 62 of the second piston 60 is The claw tip portion 65 rotates around the fastener 66 so as to engage with the groove portion 46 in a state where the claw tip portion 65 is in contact with the inclined portion 47. At this time, the second piston 60 moves downward in the figure so as to hit the wedge by the collar portion 62 between the claw portion 64 and the inside of the storage case 30 as the claw portion 64 rotates, and the claw portion by the collar portion 62. 64 is pressed against the groove 46 side. Thus, the workpiece 10 is clamped by the pedestal 21 and the arm 42 to be in the clamped state shown in FIG.

  Now, consider a moment when an upward force in the figure acts on the workpiece 10 in a clamped state. The upward force acting on the clamp rod 40 acts as a rotating force on the claw portion 64, and the inclined surface of the collar portion 62 against the collar portion 62 of the second piston 60 in contact with the claw portion 64. Acts as a normal force against If this perpendicular force is a value F and the inclination angle of the collar portion 62 of the second piston 60 is a value θ, the upward force in the figure acting on the second piston 60 (the axial force of the clamp rod 40). Becomes F · sin θ, and when the value θ is small, the force becomes small, so the clamp rod 40 is held in a clamped state. In order to prevent the clamp rod 40 from moving upward in the drawing, the pressure of the air chamber 35a from F · sin θ acting on the second piston 60 by an instantaneous upward force in the drawing assumed to act on the clamp rod 40. The area of the upper portion of the second piston 60, the air pressure, and the inclination angle of the collar portion 62 are adjusted so that the force that presses the second piston 60 downward in the figure is multiplied by the upper area of the second piston 60. Just design.

  Next, when the supply of pressurized air to the air supply port 31 of the clamping device 20 in the clamped state shown in FIG. 3 is stopped and released to the atmosphere, and pressurized air is supplied to the air supply port 36, the pressure of the air chamber 35a In contrast, the pressure in the air chamber 35b increases, and the second piston 60 is moved upward in the drawing. At this time, since the pressure in the air chamber 34b also becomes larger than the pressure in the air chamber 34a, the first piston 50 also moves upward in the drawing together with the clamp rod 40, and the clamp rod 40 rotates clockwise with this movement. When the clamp rod 40 moves upward in the drawing, the claw portion 64 rotates to the collar portion 62 side of the second piston 60 along the inclined portion 47 with this movement, and the claw portion 64 and the groove portion 46 are engaged. To release. In this manner, the clamp of the workpiece 10 is released and the unclamped state of FIG. 2 is obtained.

  According to the clamping device 20 of the embodiment described above, the moving mechanism that receives the supply of pressurized air and moves the clamp rod 40 in the axial direction, and the clamped state that receives and clamps the supply of pressurized air. By holding the clamp rod 40 so as not to be movable in the axial direction, or by holding the clamp rod 40, the workpiece 10 can be clamped with a sufficient holding function only by receiving supply of pressurized air. Can be unclamped. Therefore, it is possible to provide a clamping device that functions sufficiently without using pressurized oil. Moreover, it can be set as a simple structure compared with what clamps or unclamps the workpiece 10 using the pressurized air and the pressurized oil. As a result, in the machining apparatus provided with a plurality of the clamping devices 20 of the embodiment, the workpiece 10 can be easily held and released.

  In the embodiment, the clamping device 20 has been described as being provided with a plurality of machining devices. However, the clamping device 20 may be used to hold a workpiece on a machine tool other than the machining device, or may be used as a device other than a machine tool. It may be used for holding an object.

  In the clamping device 20 of the embodiment, the clamp rod 40 is rotated by 90 degrees in accordance with the movement of the clamp rod 40 in the axial direction by the rotation mechanism 76, but the rotation mechanism 76 may not be provided.

  In the clamping device 20 according to the embodiment, the air supply port 31 and the air supply port 36 include two air supply ports for moving the first piston 50 and two air supply ports for moving the second piston 60. Although shared, the two air supply ports for moving the first piston 50 and the two air supply ports for moving the second piston 60 may be provided separately.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in the form.

  The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of clamping devices and machining devices.

It is an external appearance explanatory drawing which shows the external appearance of the clamp apparatus 20 as one Example of this invention with the workpiece 10. FIG. It is a block diagram shown in the state which the main body 22 of the clamp apparatus 20 was unclamped. It is a block diagram shown in the state which clamped the main body 22 of the clamp apparatus 20. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Work object, 20 Clamping device, 21 Base, 22 Main body, 30 Storage case, 31, 36 Air supply port, 32 Communication channel, 33 Branch channel, 34a, 35a Air chamber, 34b, 35b Air chamber, 37 Communication channel, 38 Bulkhead, 39 Supporting part, 40 Clamp rod, 42 Arm, 44 Communication path, 46 Groove part, 47 Inclined part, 50 1st piston, 60 2nd piston, 62 Collar part, 64 Claw part, 65 Claw tip part, 66 Fastening Tools, 70 guide members, 74 communication paths, 76 rotation mechanisms, 77 grooves, 78 balls.

Claims (7)

A clamp device comprising: a pedestal; and a clamp rod that has an abutting portion capable of abutting against a workpiece arranged on the pedestal and clamps the workpiece by moving the corresponding portion forward and backward with respect to the pedestal. ,
A moving mechanism for moving the clamp rod in the axial direction so as to advance and retract the abutting portion in response to supply of pressurized air;
A holding mechanism that holds the clamp rod in a state in which the workpiece is clamped by receiving supply of pressurized air so that the clamp rod cannot move in the axial direction and releases the hold;
A clamping device comprising: The clamping device according to claim 1,
The moving mechanism houses a first piston that contacts the clamp rod and moves the clamp rod in the axial direction, a part of the clamp rod, and the first piston, and functions as a cylinder for the first piston. In order to independently supply pressurized air to each of two spaces formed by the storage case and the first piston by moving the clamp rod in the axial direction by the storage case and the first piston. Two rod moving air supply ports, and
The holding mechanism includes a groove formed in the clamp rod, a claw member in which one end of the storage case is rotatably connected and the other end engages with the groove, the storage case is a cylinder, and the storage case A second piston that moves in the axial direction of the clamp rod while sliding with respect to the clamp rod and presses the claw portion toward the groove, and the second piston moves in the axial direction of the clamp rod. A clamp device, comprising: two holding mechanism air supply ports for independently supplying pressurized air to each of two spaces formed by the storage case and the second piston.   3. The clamping device according to claim 2, wherein the two rod moving air supply ports also serve as the two holding mechanism air supply ports. The clamping device according to claim 2 or 3,
The claw member has a claw tip portion, and a fulcrum portion rotatably attached to the storage case for rotating the claw tip portion.
The second piston has a substantially wedge-shaped cross section, and the claw tip engages with the groove so that the claw tip engages with the groove as the clamp rod moves in the axial direction. Is a clamping device that is arranged to contact the opposite side.   The groove includes an inclined portion that abuts on the claw tip so that the claw tip rotates smoothly with respect to the axial movement of the clamp rod to engage and release the groove. The clamping device according to claim 4, which is formed.   The clamp device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the contact portion about 90 degrees around the axis in accordance with the movement of the clamp rod in the axial direction. A machining apparatus comprising the clamping device according to claim 1.

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