JP2013072840A - Vacuum degree sensor and adsorption equipment using vacuum degree sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive vacuum degree sensor in a simple structure, and adsorption equipment capable of confirming adsorption power while suppressing increase of a cost.SOLUTION: The vacuum degree sensor includes: an air housing body 19 which has shape holding capability of keeping a prescribed shape in a normal state that pressures of the inside and the outside are equal, and has return capability of being deformed according to the vacuum degree when the inside is evacuated and returning to the prescribed shape from a vacuum state is turned to the normal state; a communication port 19b provided on the air housing body 19 and communicated to a vacuum detection space; and a switch 20 having a contact point which follows the deformation when the air housing body 19 is deformed according to the vacuum degree of the vacuum detection space communicated to the communication port.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum degree sensor and an adsorption device using the same.

Conventionally, there are various types of vacuum degree sensors for measuring the degree of vacuum, but a vacuum degree sensor using a diaphragm is known as one having a relatively simple configuration.
In this vacuum sensor, a diaphragm is provided between the inspection space for guiding the pressure in the vacuum detection space and the atmosphere, and the degree of vacuum is detected by deformation of the diaphragm. Specifically, in the pressure introduction member having an introduction port for guiding the pressure in the inspection space, a diaphragm is attached to the opening opposite to the introduction port.

JP 2010-243276 A Utility Model Registration No. 3143091 JP 2009-107417 A

The conventional vacuum degree sensor as described above requires three members: a pressure introduction member for introducing the pressure in the inspection space, a diaphragm, and a mutation detection mechanism for detecting a mutation of the diaphragm.
Further, when closing the opening of the pressure introducing member, it is necessary to perform a fine work for mounting so that there is no gap between the diaphragm and the outer periphery of the opening. Such work becomes particularly difficult as the vacuum sensor becomes smaller.
Since such fine work is required, the existing vacuum degree sensor is expensive and expensive.
Note that the vacuum degree sensors other than those using the above-described diaphragms are only complicated and expensive.

On the other hand, there is a suction device for working at a high place using a vacuum pump as a device that requires a vacuum degree sensor.
This suction device is used to clean the windows and walls of high-rise buildings and support the body and gondola with a rope suspended from the roof. It is a device for stopping the shaking of the machine so that it can stay at the work place temporarily.

For example, in a state where the operator presses the suction pad against the wall surface, the suction device drives a small vacuum pump mounted on the main body to suck the inside of the suction pad, and the suction force depending on the degree of vacuum inside is obtained. To get.
Such a suction device requires a certain degree of vacuum before exhibiting a suction force that can keep an operator at a predetermined work location.

Therefore, there is also a suction device that is equipped with a vacuum degree sensor in the suction device and can detect whether the suction force of the suction device has reached a required magnitude by detecting the degree of vacuum in the suction pad that is in close contact with the wall surface. (See Patent Document 2).
However, as described above, the conventional vacuum degree sensor has only a complicated and expensive structure, and the use of such a vacuum degree sensor has a problem that the manufacturing cost of the adsorption device becomes high. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum degree sensor having a simple structure and an inexpensive structure, and an adsorption device capable of confirming an adsorption force while suppressing an increase in cost.

  While the vacuum degree sensor of the first invention has a shape holding ability to maintain a predetermined shape in a normal state where the pressures inside and outside are equal, the inside is deformed according to the degree of vacuum when the inside becomes vacuum, An air container having a return ability to return to the predetermined shape when the vacuum state is changed to a normal state, a communication port provided in the air container and communicating with the vacuum detection space, and communicating with the communication port When the air container is deformed in accordance with the degree of vacuum in the vacuum detection space, a switch having a contact that follows the deformation is provided.

The second invention is characterized in that the air containing body is an injection molded body of resin.
The injection molded body is an object formed by injection molding.

  The suction device of the third invention is based on the premise of a suction device having a suction pad around the substrate. The substrate is surrounded by the suction pad and the suction surface, and a vacuum pump for discharging the air in the suction area. A power supply circuit for supplying power to the vacuum pump; a vacuum degree sensor according to the first or second invention; and a display unit that switches according to a switching operation of the switch of the vacuum degree sensor. The vacuum detection space of the vacuum degree sensor is used, and when the degree of vacuum in the vacuum detection space reaches a predetermined degree of vacuum, the switch operates according to the deformation of the air container and switches the display unit. It is characterized by that.

Since the vacuum degree sensor of the first invention is composed of only inexpensive parts such as an air container and a switch, it is low in cost and can be reduced in size and weight.
Since the degree of vacuum in the vacuum detection space can be detected by taking out a signal from a switch having a contact that follows the deformation of the air container, the switch is turned on and off at the target degree of vacuum. Together, it is possible to detect whether or not the inside of the vacuum detection space has reached the target degree of vacuum.
Since such a vacuum degree sensor can be easily reduced in size, for example, when applied to an adsorption device, the weight of the adsorption device is hardly increased.
According to the second invention, the air container can be manufactured at low cost, and the vacuum degree sensor can be made cheaper.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an adsorption device that can confirm at a glance that the inside of the adsorption area has reached a predetermined degree of vacuum while suppressing costs.
Therefore, it is possible to work safely while confirming that the necessary suction force has been reached at the site where the suction device is used.

FIG. 1 is an external front view of a suction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the substrate of the embodiment. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of the vacuum degree sensor of the embodiment, in which FIG. 3A is a normal state and FIG. 3B is a vacuum state.

An embodiment of the adsorption apparatus of the present invention using the vacuum degree sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The suction device of this embodiment forms a suction area E surrounded by a silicon resin suction pad 2 along the outer periphery of a metal or resin disk-like substrate 1.
The suction pad 2 includes a skirt-shaped distal end portion 2a and a disc-shaped flat portion 2b provided on the proximal end side that is continuous with the distal end portion 2a. The flat portion 2b is disposed on the suction area E side of the substrate 1. It is made to contact the inner surface 1a which becomes. Further, a donut-shaped support convex portion 2c is projected into the suction area E between the flat portion 2b and the tip portion 2a. A disc-shaped pressing plate 3 made of a material having rigidity higher than that of the suction pad 2 such as vinyl chloride or metal is provided between the support convex portion 2c and the flat surface 2b.

The flat part 2 b of the pad 2 is sandwiched between the pressing plate 3 and the substrate 1, and the three are integrated by screws 4.
Further, the substrate 1 is formed with a vacuum hole 5 that penetrates the pressing plate 3 and the flat portion 2 b and communicates with the suction area E, and a tube 6 is inserted into the vacuum hole 5. The tube 6 is connected to a joint 14 connected to a vacuum pump P, which will be described later, on the substrate 1 and on the outer surface 1b opposite to the inner surface 1a.

A cylindrical member 7 is fixed on the outer surface 1 b of the substrate 1, and an end of the cylindrical member 7 opposite to the substrate 1 is closed with a disc-shaped cover 8.
On the cover 8, a power switch 9 for operating the vacuum pump P, a vacuum breaker switch 10a, a display lamp 11 which is a display unit of the present invention, which is an LED, and an operator who uses the suction device are manually operated. A grip 12 is provided.

On the outer surface 1b of the substrate 1 in the cylindrical member 7, as shown in FIG. 2, a vacuum pump P, an electric motor m that drives the vacuum pump P, a vacuum degree sensor S, and a vacuum breaker valve 10 Is provided.
Although the details of the vacuum degree sensor S will be described later, the vacuum degree sensor S includes a resin air container 19 and a sensor switch 20 that follows the deformation of the air container 19.
The vacuum pump P, the electric motor m, and the air container 19 are fixed to the substrate 1 by strip-shaped fixing members 23 and 24, respectively.

Further, T-shaped joints 13 and 14 having connection ports on three sides are provided on the outer surface 1 b of the substrate 1.
The T-shaped joint 13 is connected to the suction port 21 of the vacuum pump P by a tube 15, and is connected to the air accommodating body 19 of the vacuum degree sensor S by a tube 16, and the other T-shaped joint 13. A tube 17 connects the joint 14. Reference numeral 22 in the drawing denotes an exhaust port of the vacuum pump P.

The joint 14 has one end of a tube 18 connected to a connection port on the side opposite to the joint 13 and the other end of the tube 18 connected to the vacuum breaker valve 10. A tube 6 (see FIG. 1) inserted into a vacuum pulling hole 5 penetrating through 1 is connected.
As a result, the inside of all the tubes 15, 16, 17, 18, 6, the inside of the suction area E surrounded by the suction pad 2, and the inside of the air container 19 are communicated.

Further, a power circuit (not shown) is connected to the electric motor m, and the connection between the power circuit and the electric motor m is turned on and off by a power switch 9 exposed on the cover 8 (see FIG. 1). ). The power switch 9 is turned on and off by operating with a finger of the hand.
In FIG. 2, the electric wiring and the power supply circuit for supplying power to the electric motor m are omitted, but in this embodiment, the power supply circuit is constituted by a dry cell. Then, a dry battery case that accommodates the dry battery is provided in the cover 8, and the upper surface of the dry battery case is opened on the cover 8 so that the battery can be easily replaced. However, an openable / closable lid member may be attached to the opening of the dry battery case.

  The vacuum breaker valve 10 is for opening the inside to the atmosphere by pushing a switch 10a and for introducing atmospheric pressure into the adsorption area E through a tube 18 connected thereto. The suction pad 2 sucked on the wall surface or the like by the vacuum cannot be easily removed because the suction force is maintained for a while only by stopping the vacuum pump P. By pressing the switch 10a of the vacuum breaker valve 10, the inside of the suction area E can be brought to atmospheric pressure in a short time, and the suction pad 2 can be quickly removed.

Further, a pair of support posts 25 is fixed on the outer surface 1b, and the handle 12 is attached to the support posts 25 with the cover 8 interposed therebetween.
Furthermore, a plurality of rod-shaped spacers (not shown) are fixed upright on the outer surface 1 b of the substrate 1 so as to support the cover 8 together with the cylindrical member 7 and the support column 25.
In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a buzzer, and reference numeral 27 denotes a screw screwed to the substrate 1.
The buzzer 26 is connected to a circuit (not shown) for confirming the voltage of the dry battery constituting the power supply circuit, and is configured to emit an alarm sound when the voltage of the dry battery falls below a predetermined voltage.

Next, the vacuum degree sensor S will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the vacuum sensor S includes the air container 19 and the sensor switch 20. The air container 19 is made of a resin that deforms in accordance with the degree of vacuum when the inside is vacuumed. The container. The air container 19 of this embodiment is a bellows dropper including a main body 19a having a bellows shape and a cylindrical portion 19b continuous therewith.
The sensor switch 20 is a switch configured so that the internal contact is switched depending on whether the lever 20a is pressed or released. Then, in the normal state shown in FIG. 3A where the internal and external pressures of the air containing body 19 are equal, the lever 20a is kept pressed, the degree of vacuum in the air containing body 19 is increased, and the main body 19a contracts. The lever 20a is released in the vacuum state shown in FIG.

As described above, when the sensor switch 20 having the internal contact that switches according to the position of the lever 20a, that is, the deformation of the air accommodating body 19, is connected to the power supply circuit, the state of the contact can be taken out as an electrical signal.
As a result, the degree of deformation of the air container 19 can be detected, and as a result, the degree of vacuum in the air container 19 can be detected. Strictly speaking, the vacuum degree sensor S does not detect a continuous value of the degree of vacuum in the air accommodating body 19 but detects that the inside has reached a predetermined degree of vacuum. Therefore, the position of the lever 20a is set so that the contact of the sensor switch 20 is switched according to the degree of deformation of the air container corresponding to the degree of vacuum to be detected.

In addition, the cylindrical part 19b which protruded from the main body 19a of this air accommodating body 19 comprises the communicating port of this invention connected to a vacuum detection space.
The vacuum degree sensor S is composed of the sensor switch 20 and the air container 19 as described above, and the configuration thereof is simple and does not require detailed work such as conventional diaphragm mounting work. Therefore, this vacuum degree sensor S can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, since the air container 19 can be formed by injection molding, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

And in the adsorption | suction apparatus of this embodiment, the tube 16 is connected to the cylindrical part 19b of the air accommodating body 19 of the said vacuum degree sensor S, The inside of the air accommodating body 19 is connected to the said vacuum pump P via this tube 16. , Suction area E, and vacuum break valve 10.
Further, the input terminal of the sensor switch 20 is connected to the power supply circuit, and the output terminal is connected to the display lamp 11. In this embodiment, the internal contact of the sensor switch 20 blocks communication between the power supply circuit (not shown) and the display lamp 11 in the normal state shown in FIG. 3A, and is shown in FIG. A power supply circuit (not shown) and the display lamp 11 are electrically connected in a vacuum state in which the lever 20a is released.

The operation of the adsorption device of this embodiment will be described below.
When the operator holds the suction device handle 12 and presses the suction pad 2 against the wall surface or the like to be sucked, the electric motor m drives the vacuum pump P. When the vacuum pump P is driven, the inside of the suction area E surrounded by the suction pad 2 is sucked through the tubes 15, 16, 17, and the tube 6, and the degree of vacuum in the suction area E is increased. At this time, since the air container 19 of the vacuum degree sensor S communicates with the suction area E via the tubes 16, 17 and the tube 6, the internal vacuum degree is substantially equal to the suction area E. In this embodiment, the suction area E is the vacuum detection space of the present invention.

When the degree of vacuum in the suction area E increases and the suction force of the suction pad 2 increases, the degree of vacuum in the air container 19 also increases and the main body 19a contracts. When the main body 19a of the air container 19 contracts and the lever 20a is released as shown in FIG. 3B, the internal contact of the sensor switch 20 is switched, and power is supplied to the display lamp 11 for display. The lamp 11 is turned on. By turning on the display lamp 11, the operator can know that the degree of vacuum in the suction area E has reached a predetermined degree of vacuum. That is, the operator can know that the suction force of the suction device has reached a sufficient strength and can work safely.
In other words, until the display lamp 11 is turned on, the operator can determine that the suction force is insufficient and can wait.

In this way, with the suction device of this embodiment, the suction force can be confirmed, so that, for example, the safety of work at high places can be ensured.
The vacuum degree sensor S provided in the suction device is composed of only the air container 19 and the sensor switch 20 that can be manufactured at a particularly low cost as described above. There is almost no increase in manufacturing costs.

The vacuum degree sensor S can be used not only in the handy type suction device of the above embodiment but also in a suction device including a crawler mechanism and having a plurality of suction pads. In that case, it is preferable to provide a vacuum degree sensor for each suction pad. However, with the vacuum degree sensor S of the present invention, the cost does not increase as much as the number of installations increases.
Of course, the vacuum degree sensor of the present invention can be used to detect a predetermined degree of vacuum in addition to the above-described suction device for working at high places.
However, the vacuum degree sensor S is simple and can be reduced in weight, so that the weight of the entire apparatus is hardly increased by providing it. Especially suitable for equipment.

In the above embodiment, the bellows dropper is used as the air container. However, the air container has a shape holding ability to maintain a predetermined shape in a normal state where the pressure inside and outside is equal, while the inside is in a vacuum. As long as the member is deformed according to the degree of vacuum when it becomes a member and has a returning ability to return to the predetermined shape when the vacuum state changes to the normal state, the member may have any shape. In other words, the air container is deformed when a pressing force is applied, but may be a container-like member that returns to its original shape when the pressing force is released. For example, a resin liquid bottle is used. it can.
Further, the material of the suction pad 2 is not limited to the silicon resin used in the above embodiment, and a material having appropriate elasticity and flexibility such as a polymer gel and a foamed resin can be used.

  The vacuum degree sensor of this invention can raise the safety | security of an adsorption | suction apparatus, without raising a cost.

E (vacuum detection space) Suction area 1 Substrate 2 Suction pad 9 Power switch 11 Display lamp 19 Air container 19a Main body 19b Cylindrical part 20 (Switching port) Sensor switch S Vacuum sensor m Electric motor P Vacuum pump

Claims (3)

  While it has shape retention ability to maintain a predetermined shape in the normal state where the pressure inside and outside is equal, it deforms according to the degree of vacuum when the inside becomes vacuum, and above when it goes from the vacuum state to the normal state Depending on the degree of vacuum of the air container provided with a return capability to return to a predetermined shape, a communication port provided in the air container and communicating with the vacuum detection space, and the vacuum detection space communicated with the communication port. A vacuum degree sensor comprising a switch having a contact that follows the deformation of the air container when the air container is deformed.   The vacuum sensor according to claim 1, wherein the air container is a resin injection-molded body.   In the suction device provided with a suction pad around the substrate, the substrate is surrounded by the suction pad and the suction target surface, a vacuum pump that discharges air in the suction area, a power supply circuit that supplies power to the vacuum pump, A vacuum degree sensor according to claim 1 or 2, and a display unit that switches according to a switching operation of the switch of the vacuum degree sensor, wherein the suction area is a vacuum detection space of the vacuum degree sensor, and the vacuum detection An adsorption device configured to switch the display unit by operating the switch according to deformation of the air container when the degree of vacuum in the space reaches a predetermined degree of vacuum.

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