JP2020186452A - High frequency quenching device and support device for long workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a high frequency quenching device capable of appropriately performing moving baking of a long work having a small diameter.SOLUTION: A high frequency quenching device has a support device 1 for supporting an intermediate portion of a work W. The support device 1 has a weight support member 6 and a parallel chuck. The weight support member 6 has a plurality of rotary supports 6a-6c movable between a support position for supporting the weight of the work W and a retracted position separated from the support position. The parallel chuck has a plurality of pawls. Each pawl has a plurality of rotary holders 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Each pawl is arranged to face each other and movable so as to change a distance from each other. Each rotary holder 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of each pawl can be positioned close to each other and in a state of touching the work W supported by the rotary supports 6a-6c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an induction hardening apparatus that supports an elongated workpiece in a horizontal position and induction hardening. The present invention also relates to a support device that supports a long work in a horizontal posture that is induction hardened.

When induction hardening of a long workpiece, a so-called mobile quenching method is often adopted. Here, the long workpiece is a heat treatment object having a shape in which the length in the direction orthogonal to the cross section is considerably longer than the size of the cross section. Further, in induction hardening, heating coils that are close to each other only in a part of the quenching target area of the long workpiece in the longitudinal direction are relatively moved along the longitudinal direction of the elongated workpiece to form the elongated workpiece. This is a quenching method in which the entire quenching target area is induction hardened (including cooling with a coolant) in order.

When moving and baking a long work, the long work is generally held in a horizontal position. If both ends of the long work are supported and placed in a horizontal position, the long work will bend downward due to its own weight. Therefore, a support device has been proposed that supports an intermediate (middle) portion of the long work so that the long work does not bend due to its own weight. Patent Document 1 discloses such a material support device.

Japanese Patent No. 301708

The material support device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a plurality of roller units. The plurality of roller units can support the long material by placing a plurality of places in the middle of the long material (long work) in a horizontal posture in which both ends are supported.

That is, the weight of the long material acts on each roller unit. Then, in the invention of Patent Document 1, each roller unit is urged upward by a spring. Further, the height position can be fixed by the stopper so that it cannot be lowered. The elastic force of the spring is set to a strength that can support the weight of the long material, and can support the weight of the long material even when the stopper is released.

On the other hand, during mobile baking, one end of the long material is gripped by a chuck and the other end of the long material is supported by a center pin, so that the long material is immovably restrained in the longitudinal direction. Then, when the long material is moved and baked, the temperature of the long material is partially raised. As a result, the long material expands.

Further, since the portion of the long material (for example, a ball screw) that has been induced to be heated and raised in temperature is softened, the softened portion is deformed when strongly pressed. That is, the surface (thread) of the long material is deformed.

Therefore, in the material support device of Patent Document 1, the roller unit that supports the portion of the long material that has not been heated is made unable to descend by the stopper, and the heating coil energized with the high frequency current approaches and raises the temperature. The roller unit that supports the portion is configured to release the stopper so that it can be lowered.

The expanded long material pushes down the roller unit whose stopper is released against the elastic force of the spring, and the roller unit can escape downward. That is, the material support device of Patent Document 1 is configured so that when the long material expands, the portion of the long material that has been heated and softened is not strongly pressed by the roller unit. The material support device of Patent Document 1 prevents the surface (thread) of the long material from being damaged by this.

By the way, the material support device of Patent Document 1 is assumed to support a relatively large diameter long material having a diameter of 70 mm or more. When a large-diameter long material having a diameter of 70 mm or more is induction hardened, the surface reaches the quenching temperature, but the inside does not rise as much as the surface. Therefore, the amount of thermal deformation of a relatively large diameter long material is relatively small. Specifically, a large-diameter long material has a small amount of deformation in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and does not meander in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the case of induction hardening (moving hardening) of a long material having a relatively large diameter, the material support device of Patent Document 1 can sufficiently cope with it.

On the other hand, in the case of moving and baking a long work having a relatively small diameter of less than 20 mm, the heat generated by induction heating easily permeates into the inside of the long work. Therefore, the small-diameter long work is more likely to be distorted during induction heating (quenching) than the large-diameter long work, and is easily deformed not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
That is, when the material support device of Patent Document 1 is used when moving and baking a long work having a small diameter, the long work having a small diameter deviates from the material support device (on the roller unit) in the longitudinal direction. It deforms to meander in various intersecting directions. Therefore, it has been difficult to perform high-frequency quenching of a long workpiece having a small diameter with a conventional support device as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an induction hardening apparatus capable of satisfactorily performing induction hardening of a long workpiece having a small diameter. Another object of the present invention is to provide a support device capable of satisfactorily supporting the long work when induction hardening the long work.

The first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is that the heating coil is provided on a long workpiece having a heating coil and a moving means for linearly moving the heating coil, and both ends are rotatably supported. An induction hardening device in which the moving means moves the heating coil along the longitudinal direction of the elongated workpiece and the elongated workpiece is induction hardened in order from one end side to the other end side. The support device has a support device for supporting an intermediate portion of the long work, the support device has a weight support member and a deformation prevention member, and the weight support member supports the weight of the long work. It has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position to be supported and a retracted position that is separated from the support position, the deformation prevention member has a plurality of moving members, and each of the moving members has a plurality of rotations. Each moving member has a holding body, and the moving members are arranged to face each other and can move so as to change the distance from each other, and each rotation holding body of each moving member approaches each other by the rotation support. It is an induction hardening device characterized in that its position can be fixed while it is in contact with the periphery of a supported long workpiece.

In the induction hardening device of this aspect, the weight support member of the support device has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position that supports the weight of the long workpiece and a retracted position that is separated from the support position. That is, the rotary support of the weight support member can support the intermediate portion of the elongated work at the support position, and can retract from the elongated work at the retracted position.
Here, the "intermediate" is a portion between both ends of the elongated work W, and is a portion in the middle excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction.
Further, each moving member of the deformation preventing member of the support device has a plurality of rotation holding bodies, and the moving members are arranged to face each other and can move so as to change the distance from each other. That is, the distance between the moving members can be changed. Then, the positions of the rotation holding bodies of the opposing moving members can be fixed in a state of being close to each other and touching the periphery of the elongated work supported by the rotation support. That is, by fixing the position while in contact with the long work, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the long work from thermally expanding and deforming or bending due to its own weight. Further, the rotation holders of the opposing moving members can be separated from each other and retracted from the elongated work.
In the induction hardening device of this aspect, the intermediate portion of the long workpiece can be restrained by the support device. That is, it is possible to prevent the movement and deformation of the long workpiece.
In the induction hardening apparatus of this aspect, even a long workpiece having a diameter of 25 mm or less and easily deformed by heat can be induction hardened while satisfactorily preventing the deformation of the elongated workpiece. ..

In this aspect, it is preferable that the rotation holding bodies of the moving members arranged so as to face each other apply a pressing force that cancels each other out to the elongated work.

According to this configuration, each rotation holding body of each of the moving members arranged so as to face each other applies a pressing force that cancels each other to the long work, so that the restraint of the long work is stable.

In this aspect, the rotation holder is preferably a roller having a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the long workpiece.

According to this configuration, when the long work is rotationally driven, the rotation holder can rotate around the rotation axis following the long work.

In this aspect, it is preferable that each rotation holding body of each moving member includes one whose rotation center is separated from the rotation center of another rotation holding body by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction.

According to this configuration, each rotation holder can abut on the lateral upper side and the lateral lower side of the long work to hold the long work from the top, bottom, left and right. That is, the upper side of the long work and the lower side of the side can be restrained, and the long work can be reliably held.

In this aspect, it is preferable to have a detecting means for detecting that the moving member is in a specific position.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect that the moving member is in a specific position. For example, when it is detected that the moving members are separated from each other, it can be determined that the rotation holding body of the moving members is separated from the supporting position that supports the work.

In this aspect, there are a plurality of support devices, each support device restrains different parts of the long work in the longitudinal direction, and each support device individually switches between restraining and releasing the restraint of the long work. It is preferable to have means.

According to this configuration, a plurality of support devices can support a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the long workpiece. Further, by the switching means, only a specific support device can be released from the restraint of the long workpiece. This makes it possible to prevent the heating coil and the cooling jacket from colliding with the support device during mobile baking. At that time, since the long work is held by another support device, it is possible to carry out the moving baking while satisfactorily preventing the deformation of the long work.

In this aspect, the heating coil may be an annular coil.

The second aspect of the present invention is a support device for a long work that supports an intermediate portion of a long work that is rotationally driven in a state where both ends are supported in a horizontal posture. The weight support member has a deformation preventing member, and the weight support member has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position that supports the weight of the elongated work and a retracted position that is separated from the support position, and the deformation. The blocking member has a plurality of moving members, each of the moving members has a plurality of rotation holding bodies, and the moving members are arranged to face each other and can move so as to change the distance from each other. The long shape is characterized in that each rotation holder of each of the moving members can be fixed in position in a state of being close to each other and touching the periphery of the long work supported by the rotation support. It is a support device for the work.

The support device for the long workpiece of this aspect has a weight support member and a deformation prevention member.
The weight support member has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position that supports the weight of the long workpiece and a retracted position that is separated from the support position, and when the plurality of rotary supports are in the support position. , Each rotary support can support the weight of the elongated workpiece. Further, each rotary support can be retracted to the retracted position and separated from the long work.
The deformation preventing member has a plurality of moving members, each moving member has a plurality of rotation holding bodies, and the moving members are arranged to face each other and can move so as to change the distance from each other. ..
Each rotation holder of each moving member can be fixed in position in a state of being close to each other and touching the periphery of a long workpiece supported by a weight supporting member. That is, by fixing the position while in contact with the long work, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the long work from thermally expanding and deforming or bending due to its own weight. Further, the rotation holders of the opposing moving members can be separated from each other and retracted from the elongated work.

In the induction hardening apparatus of the present invention, even a long work having a relatively small diameter and easily being thermally deformed can be induction hardened while satisfactorily preventing the movement and deformation of the long work. Further, in the support device for the long work of the present invention, even if the long work has a relatively small diameter and is easily deformed by heat, the long work can be reliably restrained, and the long work can be subjected to heat treatment. Movement and deformation can be prevented satisfactorily.

(A) and (b) are conceptual diagrams of the induction hardening apparatus according to this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the support device which concerns on this embodiment, and shows the state which the movable part is raised, and the parallel chuck is closed. It is a perspective view of the support device which concerns on this embodiment, and shows the state which the movable part is raised, and the parallel chuck is open. It is a perspective view of the support device which concerns on this embodiment, and shows the state which the movable part is lowered, and the parallel chuck is open. It is a front view of the support device of FIG. 2, and only the part AA of FIG. 2 is shown in cross section. It is a front view of the support device of FIG. 4, and only the BB portion of FIG. 4 is shown in cross section. It is a perspective view of the weight support member. It is a front view which shows only the main part of the support device of FIG. 2, (a) shows the state which a support device does not support a long work, and (b) is a state where a long work supports a weight support member. The state in which it is placed on the top is shown, and (c) shows the state in which the long workpiece is gripped by the parallel chuck. It is a perspective view which shows only the rotary support of a weight support member and the rotary holder of a parallel chuck, and (a) shows the state where the elongated work is not supported by the rotary support and the rotary holder. b) shows a state in which the long work is placed on the rotary support, and (c) shows a state in which the long work is gripped by the rotary holder. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the state which a long work is supported by a plurality of support devices. FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a high-frequency quenching device showing a state in which a heating coil and a cooling jacket are close to each other with a long work, and both ends of the long work are rotatably supported by a chuck and a center pin. Is. Following FIG. 11, it is a partial perspective view of an induction hardening device showing a state in which the heating coil approaches the first support device from the chuck side and the first support device releases the support of the long workpiece. Continuing from FIG. 12, the heating coil passes through the first support device and approaches the second support device, the first support device supports the elongated workpiece, and the second support device is elongated. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the state which the support of a work is released. Continuing from FIG. 13, the heating coil passes through the second support device and approaches the third support device, the second support device supports the elongated workpiece, and the third support device is elongated. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the state which the support of a work is released. Continuing from FIG. 14, the heating coil passes through the third support device and approaches the fourth support device, the third support device supports the elongated workpiece, and the fourth support device is elongated. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the state which the support of a work is released. Continuing from FIG. 15, the heating coil passes through the fourth support device and approaches the fifth support device, the fourth support device supports the elongated workpiece, and the fifth support device is elongated. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the state which the support of a work is released. Continuing from FIG. 16, the heating coil passes through the support device on the most center pin side, the support device on the most center pin side supports the long workpiece, and induction hardening covers the entire region of the long workpiece to be induction hardened. It is a partial perspective view of the induction hardening apparatus which shows the insertion state.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the induction hardening device 50 according to the present embodiment has a cooling jacket 29, a high frequency induction heating device 51, and a plurality of support devices 1 (1a, 1b, ...). The length of the long work W (hereinafter, simply referred to as the work W) is considerably longer than the size of the cross section. The diameter of the work W is, for example, 5 mm to 25 mm, and the length of the work W is, for example, 1 m to 5 m.

The cooling jacket 29 has a housing 29a. The housing 29a is provided with an insertion hole 52 that constitutes an annular inner wall. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 52 is larger than the outer diameter of the work W, and the insertion hole 52 allows the work W to be inserted. In other words, the housing 29a can be fitted around the work W.

A large number of injection ports 53 are provided on the inner wall of the insertion hole 52. Each injection port 53 is a hole for communicating the inside and outside of the housing 29a. Further, a pipe 54 for guiding the coolant from a coolant supply source (not shown) is connected to the housing 29a. When the coolant is supplied into the housing 29a via the pipe 54, the coolant in the housing 29a is injected from each injection port 53. That is, each injection port 53 functions as a nozzle, and the coolant is injected from each injection port 53 toward the center of the insertion hole 52. The supply of the cooling liquid to the cooling jacket 29 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

The high frequency induction heating device 51 includes a high frequency oscillator 55, a transformer 56, and a heating coil 28. The high-frequency induction heating device 51 is a device that converts the electric power supplied from the commercial power source 57 into a high-frequency current and energizes the heating coil 28 with the high-frequency current. The heating coil 28 is an annular coil formed of a hollow tubular member made of a good conductor such as copper or a copper alloy. Coolant is circulated and supplied to the hollow heating coil 28 via a pipe (not shown). Further, the inner diameter of the annular heating coil 28 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the work W. That is, the inner diameter of the heating coil 28 is large enough to excite a high-frequency induced current in the work W when it is fitted onto the work W. ON / OFF of energization of high frequency current to the heating coil 28 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

The heating coil 28, which is an annular coil, and the insertion holes 52 of the cooling jacket 29 are arranged concentrically, and both can linearly move at a predetermined speed along a linear guide (not shown). The work W can be arranged on the movement locus of the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29. The work W is arranged on the movement locus of the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 in a state where both ends are rotatably supported. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, one end of the work W is gripped by a chuck 26 that is rotationally driven by the drive mechanism 25, and a recess (not shown) is formed at the other end of the work W. The center pin 27 is engaged with the recess. Therefore, the work W is arranged on the movement locus of the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 in a state where it can rotate but cannot move in the longitudinal direction. Here, the other end of the work W may be supported by a sleeve that just fits the work W instead of the center pin 27. That is, the other end of the work W may be fitted into a sleeve concentric with the work W to support the other end of the work W.

Further, the induction hardening device 50 has a plurality of support devices 1 (in FIG. 10, five support devices 1a to 1e are shown, and in FIG. 1A, only two support devices 1a and 1b are shown). Each support device 1 is arranged along the movement locus of the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29. The support device 1 has a function of supporting an intermediate portion of a long work W in which both ends are supported in a horizontal posture. Here, the "intermediate" is a portion between both ends of the elongated work W, and is a portion in the middle excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 1A, only the portions of the support devices 1a and 1b that come into contact with the work W are shown in order to avoid complicated depiction.

Hereinafter, the support device 1 having the characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9.
As shown in FIG. 2, the support device 1 has a fixed portion 2 and a movable portion 3.

The fixing portion 2 has a machine base 2a and a support column 2b.
The machine base 2a is composed of a horizontal flat plate, and is a portion fixed to a fixed structure (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the machine base 2a is provided with an elevating device 10, an elevating detection unit 24, and an open / close sensor 18 (detection means).

The lifting device 10 is an air cylinder having a main body 10a (cylinder) and a piston rod 10b. That is, the elevating device 10 is a device capable of reciprocating drive. The main body 10a is fixed to the machine base 2a, and the piston rod 10b is connected to the movable portion 3 described later. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, pipes 4a and 4b are connected to the main body 10a, and compressed gas is supplied or discharged through the pipes 4a and 4b. A hydraulic cylinder, a servomotor, or the like can also be adopted as the elevating device 10.

The main body 10a is provided with a plurality of (four in this embodiment) guide holes 10c. Each guide hole 10c is a hole that penetrates the main body 10a in the vertical direction.

A support 11 is provided at the tip of the piston rod 10b. The support base 11 is a flat plate-shaped portion integrated with the tip of the piston rod 10b. The support base 11 is a flat plate-shaped portion orthogonal to the advancing / retreating direction of the piston rod 10b.

A plurality of guide rods 12 are provided on the support base 11. The guide rods 12 are arranged on the same surface side of the flat plate-shaped support 11 as the piston rods 10b, at equal intervals around the piston rods 10b. Specifically, the piston rod 10b is provided in the center of the quadrangular support base 11, and the guide rods 12 are provided at the four corners of the quadrangle. Each guide rod 12 is inserted into a guide hole 10c provided in the main body 10a. That is, when the piston rod 10b reciprocates with respect to the main body 10a, the guide rod 12 moves along the guide hole 10c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the support column 2b of the fixing portion 2 stands upright and is fixed to the machine base 2a, and extends in the vertical direction from the machine base 2a.

The elevating detection unit 24 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is fixed to the support column 2b (FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the elevating detection unit 24 has a descent sensor 24a and an elevating sensor 24b. The descending sensor 24a and the ascending sensor 24b are proximity sensors, and the descending sensor 24a is arranged above the ascending sensor 24b.

Next, the movable portion 3 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the movable portion 3 has a weight support member 6, a pedestal 15, a parallel chuck 17 (deformation preventing member), a horizontal shaft 19, and a hanging shaft 21 (FIG. 5).

The pedestal 15 is an integral structure fixed on the support pedestal 11. The pedestal 15 has a function of attaching a weight supporting member 6, a parallel chuck 17, a horizontal shaft 19, and a hanging shaft 21 (FIG. 5), which will be described later, and integrating them.

As shown in FIG. 7, the weight support member 6 has a rotary support 6a to 6c composed of a plurality of rollers capable of freely rotating around a horizontal axis, and a holding portion 7 for holding the rotary support 6a to 6c. The holding portion 7 has a base portion 7a fixed to the pedestal 15 and standing portions 7b to 7e that stand up against the base portion 7a.

The standing portions 7b to 7e are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals from each other. The rotary support 6a is arranged between the standing portions 7b and 7c, and the rotation shaft of the rotary support 6a is attached to the standing portions 7b and 7c. That is, both ends of the rotation shaft of the rotation support 6a are supported by the standing portions 7b and 7c. The upper end of the peripheral surface of the rotary support 6a projects upward from the standing portions 7b and 7c.

The rotary support 6b is arranged between the standing portions 7c and 7d. Then, the rotation shaft of the rotary support 6b is attached to the standing portions 7c and 7d so that the upper end of the peripheral surface of the rotary support 6b protrudes above the standing portions 7c and 7d. Similarly, the rotary support 6c is arranged between the standing portions 7d and 7e. Then, the rotation shaft of the rotary support 6c is attached to the standing portions 7d and 7e so that the upper end of the peripheral surface of the rotary support 6c projects upward from the standing portions 7d and 7e.

The rotary supports 6a, 6b, and 6c are arranged in this order. As shown in FIG. 9A, the rotation shafts 31a and 31b of the rotation supports 6a and 6c at both ends are on the same straight line 31 (FIG. 7), and the rotation shaft 32a of the rotation support 6b is a straight line 31. It is on a straight line 32 (FIG. 7) at the same height position at a predetermined interval. That is, the rotary supports 6a and 6c are arranged on one straight line 31 of the two straight lines 31 and 32 that are parallel and have the same height, and the rotary support 6b is arranged on the other straight line 32. In other words, the rotary supports 6a to 6c are arranged in a dust shape. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the work W is placed between the rotary supports 6a and 6c and the rotary support 6b, and the weight of the work W is supported by the rotary supports 6a to 6c. That is, the peripheral surfaces of these rotary supports 6a to 6c form a mounting portion on which the work W is mounted and supported.

As shown in FIG. 2, the parallel chuck 17 (deformation preventing member) has a chuck main body 17a and a pair of chuck claws 17b and 17c (moving members).

The chuck claw portions 17b and 17c are members having a T shape in which the lower portion extends in the vertical direction and the upper portion extends in the horizontal direction. The lower portions of the chuck claws 17b and 17c are reciprocally mounted on the chuck body 17a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, protrusions 13a and 13b are provided at one end of the chuck claw portion 17b in the horizontal direction, and protrusions 14a and 14b are provided at the other end. It is provided. The protruding portions 13a and 13b are in a vertical positional relationship, and the protruding portions 13a are provided above the protruding portions 13b. Similarly, the protruding portions 14a and 14b are in a vertical positional relationship, and the protruding portions 14a are provided above the protruding portions 14b.

The chuck claw portion 17c has the same structure as the chuck claw portion 17b. The chuck claw portions 17b and 17c are arranged so that the protruding portions 13a, 13b, 14a and 14b face each other so as to be inside.

As shown in FIG. 3, rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b (deformation preventing members) are pivotally supported on the protruding portions 13a and 14b of the chuck claw portion 17b so as to be freely rotatable. Further, rotation holding bodies 9b and 9a (deformation preventing members) are pivotally supported on the protruding portions 14b and 13a of the chuck claw portion 17c so as to be freely rotatable.

The rotation shaft 33a (rotation center) of the rotation holder 8a and the rotation shaft 33b (rotation center) of the rotation holder 8b are separated from each other in the vertical direction. Similarly, the rotation shaft 34a (rotation center) of the rotation holder 9a and the rotation shaft 34b (rotation center) of the rotation holder 9b are also separated in the vertical direction. Further, the rotation shafts 33a, 33b, 34a, 34b are parallel to each other. That is, the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b and the rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b are in a staggered positional relationship.

The peripheral surfaces of the rotation holding bodies 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b project inward (on the opposite chuck claw side) from the protruding portions 13a, 14b, 13a, and 14b. Here, rotation holding bodies 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b may be provided on all the protruding portions 13a, 14b, 14a, 13b of the chuck claw portions 17b, 17c.

The chuck claws 17b and 17c of the parallel chuck 17 are arranged on both sides of the weight support member 6. The rotation shafts 33a, 33b, 34a, 34b of the rotation holders 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b mounted on the chuck claws 17b, 17c (FIG. 9) and the rotation shafts of the rotation supports 6a to 6c of the weight support member 6. 31a, 32a, 31b (FIG. 9) are all parallel. Further, the diameters of the rotation holders 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b are the same as the diameters of the rotation supports 6a to 6c. The diameters of the rotary holders 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b and the diameters of the rotary supports 6a to 6c can be arbitrarily selected according to the diameter of the work W to be supported. Further, the diameters of the rotation holders 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b and the diameters of the rotation supports 6a to 6c do not necessarily have to be the same. The height of the rotation shafts of the rotation holders 8b and 9b shown in FIG. 3 coincides with the height of the rotation shafts of the rotation supports 6a to 6c.

The chuck claws 17b and 17c are mounted on the chuck body 17a so as to face each other, and the intervals can be changed by a drive mechanism (not shown) built in the chuck body 17a. That is, the distances between the chuck claws 17b and 17c can be changed so that the distances from the weight supporting members 6 are equal. In other words, the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c can be closed by narrowing the interval, or can be opened by widening the interval.

A horizontal shaft 19 is attached to the chuck claw portion 17b of the parallel chuck 17. That is, when the chuck claw portion 17b moves, the horizontal shaft 19 moves following the chuck claw portion 17b. The horizontal shaft 19 extends toward the open / close sensor 18 fixed to the fixed portion 2, and includes a detection portion 19a in the middle.

Then, when the parallel chuck 17 is opened, the open / close sensor 18 detects the detection unit 19a and detects that the parallel chuck 17 is in the open state. That is, the open / close sensor 18 is a proximity sensor, and detects that the detection unit 19a of the horizontal shaft 19 has approached. When the detection unit 19a is detected by the open / close sensor 18, the detection signal is transmitted to a control device (not shown), and the control device determines that the parallel chuck 17 is in the open state. Further, at this time, the control device determines that the movable portion 3 (pedestal 15) can be lowered.

A hanging shaft 21 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is fixed to the pedestal 15 in a vertical posture. Detection units 22 and 23 are provided at an intermediate portion of the hanging shaft 21. The detection units 22 and 23 are portions detected by the lowering sensor 24a and the raising sensor 24b of the raising / lowering detection unit 24.

The pedestal 15 is provided with a cover 20 in addition to the above configuration. The cover 20 is a member that covers the periphery of the elevating device 10. When the elevating device 10 is driven and the pedestal 15 is lowered, the cover 20 approaches the machine base 2a, and most parts of the elevating device 10 are hidden as shown in FIG.

The support device 1 has a structure as described above, and when the elevating device 10 is driven, all the movable portions 3 including the weight support member 6 and the parallel chuck 17 move up and down. Further, when the parallel chuck 17 is driven, the intervals between the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c change. The operation of the support device 1 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

As described above, the induction heating device 51, the cooling jacket 29, and the support device 1 of the induction hardening device 50 are configured.
Next, the operation of the induction hardening apparatus 50 will be described.

The work W is transported from a standby place by a transport device (not shown), and is supported in a horizontal posture by a support mechanism 30 composed of the support devices 1a to 1e arranged in a row. That is, the work W is placed on the weight support members 6 of the support devices 1a to 1e, and is further restrained by the parallel chucks 17 of the support devices 1a to 1e (FIG. 10). In the state shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate portion of the work W is securely held by the support devices 1a to 1e. Specifically, the regions A to E are set in order along the longitudinal direction of the work W, the portion of the region A is held by the support device 1a, and the portions of the regions B to E are similarly held by the support devices 1b to 1e, respectively. Hold by.

The operation of the support device 1 when holding the work W is as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the movable portion 3 is in the raised position, and the parallel chuck 17 stands by in an open state. At this time, the detection unit 23 of the hanging shaft 21 is detected by the ascending sensor 24b of the elevating detection unit 24, and the control device (not shown) determines that the movable unit 3 is in the ascending position. Further, the detection unit 19a of the horizontal shaft 19 attached to the chuck claw portion 17b of the parallel chuck 17 is detected by the open / close sensor 18, and a control device (not shown) determines that the parallel chuck 17 is in the open state. That is, it is detected that the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c (moving members) are at separated positions (specific positions) separated from the work W. Then, the control device (not shown) determines that the support device 1 is in a state where the work W can be accepted when the movable portion 3 is in the raised position and the parallel chuck 17 is in the open state.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 9 (a), the work W is conveyed to the upper part of the support device 1 (1a to 1e) by a transfer device (not shown). Next, the work W is lowered and placed on the rotary supports 6a to 6c of the support device 1 as shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (b). Then, the parallel chuck 17 is driven to bring the chuck claws 17b and 17c in the retracted position close to each other in the open state, and as shown in FIGS. 8 (c) and 9 (c), the rotation holding bodies 8a, 8b and 9a , 9b grips the work W. That is, the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c move to the support position that supports the work W.

At this time, the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b of one chuck claw portion 17b of the parallel chuck 17 and the rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b of the other chuck claw portion 17c come into contact (contact) with the peripheral surface of the work W. There is. Further, the relative positions of the chuck claw portions 17b (rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b) and the chuck claw portions 17c (rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b) with respect to the work W are fixed. That is, the parallel chuck 17 satisfactorily restrains the work W so that it cannot move vertically and horizontally (horizontally and vertically). In the state shown in FIGS. 8 (c) and 9 (c), the work W is restrained in a horizontal posture so as to be almost impossible to move and deform, but can only rotate.

Here, the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c are urged in a direction approaching each other, and the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b and the rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b press the work W in opposite directions (approaching directions). You may try to do it. At that time, the force (pressing pressure) that the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b of one chuck claw portion 17b press the work W and the rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b of the other chuck claw portion 17c press the work W. Make sure that the force (pressing pressure) is offset.

The pressing force applied to the work W by the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b provided on the chuck claw portion 17b and the pressing force applied to the work W by the 9a and 9b provided on the chuck claw portion 17c cancel each other out and give a moment. Does not occur. That is, the vertical attachment positions of the rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b with respect to the chuck claw portion 17b coincide with the vertical attachment positions of the rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b with respect to the chuck claw portion 17c. In other words, the chuck claw portions 17b and 17c have the same structure, and the chuck claw portion 17c is obtained by rotating the direction of the chuck claw portion 17b by 180 degrees. Regardless of this, the parallel chuck 17 (deformation preventing member) may be at a position where the rotation holding body on the chuck claw portion 17b side and the rotation holding body on the chuck claw portion 17c side face each other.

Specifically, the chuck claw portion 17b is provided with two rotation holding bodies 8a and 8b at diagonal positions of a quadrangle, and the chuck claw portion 17c also has two rotation holding bodies 9a and 9b as a pair of quadrangles. Although it is provided at the corners, it may be provided at the four corners of the quadrangle.

The support devices 1a to 1e are arranged at equal intervals. That is, a plurality of support devices 1a to 1e support different portions of the common work W in the longitudinal direction. The distance between the support devices is relatively narrow. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the work W is supported by five support devices 1a to 1e, but the number of support devices 1 can be arbitrarily selected as needed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 are fitted onto the work W, one end of the work W is gripped by the chuck 26, and the center pin 27 is engaged with the other end of the work W. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 11, the work W is rotatably supported at both ends by the chuck 26 and the center pin 27.

The work W is rotated together with the chuck 26 by the drive mechanism 25, and the rotary supports 6a to 6c of the weight support members 6 of the support devices 1a to 1e and the rotary holders 8a, 8b, 9a of the chuck claws 17b and 17c are Since 9b can rotate freely, it rotates following the rotation of the work W. That is, the rotary supports 6a to 6c and the rotary holders 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b rotatably support the work W and restrain the work W so that it cannot be moved or deformed.

That is, when the drive mechanism 25 is operated by a control device (not shown) and the chuck 26 is rotationally driven, the work W rotates. At that time, the rotary supports 6a to 6c of the weight support members 6 of the support devices 1a to 1e and the rotary holders 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of the parallel chuck 17 rotate following the rotation of the work W. To do. That is, although the work W is restrained by the support devices 1a to 1e, it can rotate smoothly.

The work W is induction hardened by a so-called mobile quenching method. Mobile quenching is a quenching method in which a heating coil 28 energized with a high-frequency current and a cooling jacket 29 that injects and supplies a coolant move along the longitudinal direction of the work W, and the work W is sequentially high-frequency hardened. is there.

The heating coil 28 used in the present embodiment has an annular structure, surrounds the work W, and can simultaneously excite an induced current on the entire peripheral surface of the work W. Further, the heating coil 28 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the work W at a constant speed along a linear guide (not shown) by a servomotor (moving means) (not shown).

When the cooling liquid is supplied from a cooling liquid supply source (not shown), the cooling jacket 29 can inject the cooling liquid toward the work W from the injection port 53 (FIG. 1A). The cooling jacket 29 is close to the heating coil 28 and can move together with the heating coil 28 in the longitudinal direction of the work W.

Next, the operations of the support devices 1a to 1e when the work W is moved and burned will be described.

When the heating coil 28 approaches the portion of the work W in the region A closest to the chuck 26 (the portion restrained by the support device 1a), the parallel chuck 17 of the support device 1a is driven by a control device (not shown), and the chuck claw portion 17b , 17c are separated from each other (FIG. 3) and retracted from the work. Further, the elevating device 10 is driven to lower the movable portion 3 (FIG. 4). As a result, the weight support member 6 is lowered, and the weight support members 6 (rotary supports 6a to 6c) are separated from the work W and retracted, resulting in the states shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. That is, the support device 1a releases the grip and support of the work W, and is completely separated from the work W. That is, the control device (not shown) functions as a switching means for switching between holding and releasing the work W by the support device 1a.

Specifically, the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 move along a linear guide (not shown), but when the heating coil 28 reaches a specific position of the linear guide, the support device 1a holds (constrains) the work W. To cancel. Further, when the heating coil 28 further moves and reaches another specific position of the linear guide, the holding (constraining) of the work W by the support device 1a is restarted. The same applies to the holding (restraint) and the release of the holding (restraint) of the work W by the support devices 1b to 1e.

The portion of the work W where the heating coils 28 are close to each other is induced to be heated to raise the temperature to the quenching temperature. Here, the work W has a relatively small diameter (for example, a diameter of about 5 mm to 25 mm), and the heat generated by induction heating easily permeates not only the surface of the work W but also the inside. Therefore, the long work W is easily deformed in a meandering shape. That is, the work W is easily deformed due to the influence of thermal expansion. However, since a plurality of portions in the middle of the work W are restrained by the support devices 1a to 1e, the deformation of the work W is satisfactorily prevented. The portion of the work W that is induced and heated by the heating coil 28 is rapidly cooled by the coolant ejected from the subsequent cooling jacket 29. As a result, the work W is partially induction hardened only in a part in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when the heating coil 28 approaches the portion of the region A held by the support device 1a, the support device 1a releases the restraint of the work W and separates from the work W. That is, the weight support members 6 (rotational supports 6a to 6c) of the support device 1a and the chuck claws 17b, 17c (rotational holding bodies 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) of the parallel chuck 17 perform the work W in the region A. It moves to a retracted position away from the work W from the supporting position to support. At this time, the work W is still restrained by the chuck 26, the support devices 1b to 1e, and the center pin 27. That is, the support device 1a moves downward with the distance between the chuck claws 17b and 17c of the chuck 17 widened, and the weight support member 6 (rotary support 6a to 6c) and the parallel chuck 17 (rotational holding body). 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) are separated from the work W.

The heating coil 28 is close to the region A, and the region A is induced and heated. Since the support device 1a is retracted from the region A, the heating coil 28 can move along the longitudinal direction of the work W and pass through the region A without colliding with the support device 1a. The portion of the warmed region A of the work W is subsequently rapidly cooled by the coolant jetted from the subsequent cooling jacket 29. When the cooling jacket 29 passes through the region A, a control device (not shown) drives the support device 1a, and the support device 1a again holds (constrains) the portion of the work W in the region A. That is, the weight support members 6 (rotary supports 6a to 6c) of the support device 1a and the rotation holding bodies 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of the parallel chuck 17 move from the retracted position to the support position, and the work W (region A). (Part) is pressed and restrained.

The heating coil 28 that has passed through the region A then approaches the portion of the work W in the region B. The region B is a region supported by the support device 1b. When the heating coil 28 approaches the region B, the support device 1b releases the restraint of the work W and retracts from the work W. At this time, the work W is held by the chuck 26, the support devices 1a, 1c to 1e, and the center pin 27. Therefore, the deformation of the work W is well prevented. Since the support device 1b is retracted from the region B, the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 can move while induction hardening in the region B without colliding with the support device 1b.
Hereinafter, similarly, the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 pass through the regions C to E along the work W, and the regions C to E are induction hardened (FIGS. 14 to 16).

The support devices 1a to 1e retract from the work W only when the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 approach each other, and hold the work W at other times. Therefore, the work W is in a state in which only a part of the restraint in the longitudinal direction is released, and not only the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 can smoothly move along the longitudinal direction of the work W, but also the work W Deformation can be satisfactorily prevented.

When the cooling jacket 29 passes through the region E, the support device 1e resumes holding the work W, and the work W is held by the chuck 26, the support devices 1a to 1e, and the center pin 27, as shown in FIG. When the induction hardening of the work W is completed, the control device (not shown) stops the induction heating device 51 and stops the energization of the heating coil 28. Then, the drive mechanism 25 is stopped, and the rotation of the work W is stopped. Further, the grip by the chuck 26 is released, and the chuck 26 and the center pin 27 are separated from the work W.

The heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 can be moved at a predetermined speed by a servomotor along a linear guide (not shown). Further, a sensor for detecting that the heating coil 28 has reached a specific position of the linear guide is provided. For example, when it is detected that the heating coil 28 has come to the area A (actually, the position in front of the area A), a control device (not shown) retracts the support device 1a from the work W. When it is detected that the cooling jacket 29 has passed through the region A, the control device (not shown) resumes holding the work W by the support device 1a. Such a sensor is provided in the vicinity of the areas A to E, detects the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29, and based on this, a control device (not shown) holds and holds the work W by the support devices 1a to 1e. Switch the release.

Then, the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 pass through the support device 1e (the support device closest to the center pin 27) (FIG. 17), and when induction hardening of the entire region of the work W to be heat-treated is completed, the heating coil 28 is reached. And the supply of the cooling liquid to the cooling jacket 29 are stopped, and the rotational drive of the chuck 26 by the drive mechanism 25 is stopped.

Then, the chuck 26 and the center pin 27 are retracted from the work W for which the moving baking is completed. Further, the parallel chucks 17 of the support devices 1a to 1e are driven, and the support devices 1a to 1e are moved from the states shown in FIGS. 8 (c) and 9 (c) to FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (b). ), The rotation holding bodies 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b are retracted from the work W. At this time, the work W is only placed on the rotary supports 6a to 6c of the support devices 1a to 1e. That is, the work W can be easily taken out by a transfer device (not shown).

The support devices 1a to 1e according to the present embodiment can be completely retracted from the work W (that is, the support devices 1a to 1e are not in contact with the work at all). Therefore, the support devices 1a to 1e can pass the heating coil 28 and the cooling jacket 29 having an annular structure without colliding with or contacting the support devices 1a to 1e by temporarily releasing the support of the work W. ..

In the present embodiment, the case where the heating coil 28 having an annular structure is used has been described, but the heating coil may be a semi-open type heating coil that is closely opposed to only a substantially half circumference portion around the work W.

In this embodiment, the parallel chuck 17 is used as the moving member. The parallel chuck 17 has a pair (two, that is, a plurality of) chuck claw portions 17b, 17c capable of changing the distance from each other, and the chuck claw portions 17b, 17c have the same size and structure. Is. Here, one support device 1 has a plurality of moving members on one side and the other side instead of the parallel chuck 17 as moving members, and these moving members approach and / or separate from each other. It may be. Further, the moving member may have one relatively large moving member on one side and a plurality of relatively small other moving members on the other side.

In the present embodiment, the case where each of the rotary supports 6a to 6c of the weight support member 6 moves in the vertical direction has been described, but the rotary supports 6a to 6c have a horizontal direction between the support position and the retracted position. You may move. That is, the retracted position of the rotary supports 6a to 6c is not limited to the position below the support position, and may be the same height position as the support position.

1 Support device 6 Weight support members 6a to 6c Rotational supports 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b Rotational holder 17 Parallel chuck (deformation prevention member)
17b, 17c Chuck claw (moving member)
18 Open / close sensor (detection means)
30 Support mechanism 31a, 31b Rotating shaft 32a of rotating support 6a, 6c Rotating shaft W of rotating support 6b Long workpiece

Claims (8)

It has a heating coil and a moving means for linearly moving the heating coil.
The heating coil is in close proximity to a long work whose both ends are rotatably supported, and the moving means moves the heating coil along the longitudinal direction of the long work to move the long work to one end side. An induction hardening device that performs induction hardening in order from the other end to the other end.
It has a support device that supports an intermediate part of the long workpiece, and has a support device.
The support device has a weight support member and a deformation prevention member.
The weight support member has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position that supports the weight of the elongated work and a retracted position that is separated from the support position.
The deformation preventing member has a plurality of moving members and has a plurality of moving members.
Each of the moving members has a plurality of rotation holders.
The moving members are arranged so as to face each other and can be moved so as to change the distance from each other.
An induction hardening apparatus characterized in that each rotation holder of each moving member can be fixed in position in a state of being close to each other and touching the periphery of a long workpiece supported by the rotation support. The induction hardening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation holders of the moving members arranged to face each other apply pressing forces that cancel each other out to the elongated workpiece. The induction hardening apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation holder is a roller having a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the elongated workpiece. The claim is characterized in that each of the rotation holding bodies of the moving members includes a body whose rotation center is separated from the rotation center of another rotation holding body by a predetermined distance in the vertical direction. The induction hardening apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. The induction hardening apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a detecting means for detecting that the moving member is at a specific position. Having a plurality of the support devices,
Each support device restrains different parts of the long workpiece in the longitudinal direction.
The induction hardening apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a switching means for individually switching the restraint and release of the restraint of the long workpiece by each of the support devices. The induction hardening apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heating coil is an annular coil. A support device for a long work that supports an intermediate part of a long work that is rotationally driven with both ends supported in a horizontal posture.
It has a weight support member and a deformation prevention member,
The weight support member has a plurality of rotary supports that can move between a support position that supports the weight of the elongated work and a retracted position that is separated from the support position.
The deformation preventing member has a plurality of moving members and has a plurality of moving members.
Each of the moving members has a plurality of rotation holders.
The moving members are arranged so as to face each other and can be moved so as to change the distance from each other.
Each of the rotation holding bodies of the moving members can be fixed in position in a state of being close to each other and touching the periphery of the long work supported by the rotation support. Support device.

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