JP2597287Y2 - Wiring / plumbing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for guiding an elongated body for wiring / piping, for example, a flexible lead wire on a wrist of an articulated robot performing laser machining, and a flexible wire for a so-called assist gas. The present invention relates to a device that can be advantageously implemented for wiring / plumbing sex tubes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical prior art is disclosed in JP-A-4-253.
589. In this prior art, a wrist sheath tube of a robot performing laser processing and an oil seal holding ring surrounding the wrist sheath tube are provided so as to be rotatable around an axis, and between the sheath tube and the oil seal holding ring. The oil seals are arranged at intervals in the axial direction, and a plurality of annular chambers are provided in the axial direction.These annular chambers are formed as transfer chambers for assist gas and cooling liquid, and are passed through these annular chambers. A piping path connected to the annular chamber is provided to supply / collect the assist gas and the coolant.

[0003]

In such a prior art, since a plurality of mutually independent annular chambers are formed, the number of oil seals and other parts is large, and the processing and assembly of these parts are difficult. It is complicated and the price is high.

In such prior art, since a plurality of oil seals are mounted, sliding resistance increases, power is wasted, and so-called lost motion increases.

Further, in this prior art, the sliding of the oil seal causes the oil seal to be worn, and the oil seal needs to be replaced periodically, and the maintenance is complicated.

[0006] Further, in this prior art, although a fluid such as an assist gas and a cooling liquid can be guided, no device is devised for a conductor for transmitting an electric signal and electric power.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts, reduce the sliding resistance, and maintain the wiring / wiring.
It is to provide a piping device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a first support and a second support. The first support has a first inner cylinder and a first inner cylinder surrounding the first inner cylinder. A first storage space is formed between the first inner cylinder and the first outer cylinder. The second support has an axis on the same straight line as the first inner cylinder. The first storage space faces between the second inner cylinder that is rotatable relative to the first inner cylinder and the second outer cylinder that surrounds the second inner cylinder and is fixed to the second inner cylinder. One end of each of a pair of elongated bodies for wiring / pipe having flexibility is formed by forming a second space.
Fixed to the support, each other end is fixed to the second support,
Each of the elongated bodies is housed in the first and second storage spaces so as to be curved in a U-shape in the circumferential direction and to be convex in the opposite directions to each other. The portion is provided with a holder that is mutually displaceable with each of the elongated bodies, the first and second inner cylinders, and the first and second outer cylinders, and that holds the elongated bodies in a circumferential direction. A wiring / pipe apparatus characterized in that:

The present invention is also characterized in that the first and second storage spaces have the same length in the axial direction, and the pair of elongated members have the same length.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a pair of elongated bodies, which are flexible conductors or pipes for wiring / piping, are stored in a U-shape over the storage spaces of the first and second supports. When the first support and the second support are angularly displaced about an axis on a common straight line, the convex portion curved in a U-shape along the longitudinal direction of the elongated body moves and follows. .

In addition, according to the present invention, a holder is provided on the projection of each elongated body, and each projection is connected by this holder, so that these elongated bodies have a so-called weak waist configuration. Even so, the elongated bodies can be smoothly curved so as not to buckle, and the elongated bodies can be guided in the first and second storage spaces.

Further, according to the present invention, the first and second storage spaces have the same axial length, and the pair of elongated members have the same length, thereby forming the first and second storage spaces to form the storage space. It is possible to reduce wear on the first and second inner cylinders and the first and second outer cylinders.

[0013] When only a single conductor or tube, which is a longitudinal body, needs to be guided for wiring / piping, another longitudinal body is a so-called dummy longitudinal body such as a flexible cable. May be prepared, and thus each pair of elongated bodies may be formed.

[0014]

1 is a simplified perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a part thereof. With reference to these drawings, for guiding a flexible tube for guiding assist gas and coolant to the wrist of an articulated robot performing laser processing, and for guiding a flexible conductor for guiding electric signals and electric power. In addition, the wiring / plumbing device of the present invention is advantageously implemented near a joint. This wiring / piping device basically has a first support 1 on the fixed side and a second support 2 on the movable side. The first support 1 includes a first cylindrical inner cylinder 3, a first cylindrical outer cylinder 4 concentrically surrounding the first inner cylinder 3, and fixed to the first inner cylinder 3. Having. The inner cylinder 3 and the outer cylinder 4 are fixed by an end plate 5. A first storage space 6 is formed between the inner cylinder 3 and the outer cylinder 4.

The second support 2 also has the same configuration as the first support 1, that is, the second inner cylinder 7 and the second outer cylinder 8 are fixed by end plates 9 and the second A second storage space 10 is formed between the inner cylinder 7 and the second outer cylinder 8, and a straight line 11 is formed.
Above is the axis of the first and second supports 1,2.
Each support 1, 2 is attached to a continuous arm of the robot, respectively. One end portions 12a, 13a of a pair of flexible elongated members 12, 13 for wiring / pipe are inserted and fixed through insertion holes 14, 15 formed in the outer cylinder 4 of the first support 1. Is done. The other end portions 12b and 13b of these elongated bodies 12 and 13 are also fixed by inserting the outer cylinder 8 of the second support 2 in the same manner. Each of the elongated bodies 12 and 13 is stored in the first and second storage spaces 6 and 10 so as to be curved in a U-shape in the circumferential direction and to be convex in opposite directions to each other. The protruding portions 12c, 13c of the respective elongated bodies 12, 13 facing each other.
Is provided with a holder 17.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the holder 17 as seen from a section line perpendicular to the straight line 11, and FIG. 4 is a circumferential development of the vicinity of the holder 17. The holder 17 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material, and has recesses 18 and 19 for partially storing the respective elongated bodies 12c and 13c. The longitudinal bodies 12, 13 are connected in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinders 4, 8 to prevent the longitudinal bodies 12, 13 from being displaced in the circumferential direction. The holder 17 includes the elongated members 12, 13 and the first and second elongated members.
The inner cylinders 3, 7 and the first and second outer cylinders 4, 8 are mutually displaceable.

The lengths of the first and second storage spaces 6, 10 in the axial direction are equal, and the lengths of the elongated bodies 12, 13 are equal. In this embodiment, they are plane-symmetric with respect to the symmetry plane 20 perpendicular to the straight line 11. It is composed of

FIG. 5 shows a simplified configuration for explaining the operation of the wiring / piping device. When the second support 2 is angularly displaced, for example, as indicated by an arrow 21, one of the elongated members 12
Moves from the second support 2 to the first support 1 side,
At the same time, the other elongated body 13 is connected to the first support 1.
From the second support 2. In accordance with the mutual angular displacement of the first and second supports 1 and 2 about the straight line 11 in this manner, the elongated bodies 12 and 13 are bent in the first and second storage spaces 6 and 9 by their curved convex portions 12c. , 13c are smoothly guided while moving in the longitudinal direction of the elongated bodies 12, 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the plane is symmetric with respect to the plane of symmetry 20 (see FIG. 1 described above) perpendicular to the straight line 11, but as another embodiment of the present invention, the plane is not symmetric. Is also good.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of flexible elongated members are bent and accommodated in the first and second storage spaces, and the mutually opposed convex portions of the elongated members are bent. Since the parts are connected by the holder, the number of parts is small, so that processing and assembling are easy and can be realized at low cost.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is no need for the oil seal described in connection with the above-mentioned prior art, so that the sliding resistance is reduced and the smooth mutual angular displacement of the first and second supports is achieved. Can be made possible. Also, the maintenance is very good.

Further, according to the present invention, the first and second storage spaces are selected to have the same axial length, and each of the elongated members is selected to have the same length, so that the first and second supports can be mutually connected. At the angular displacement position, the amount of contact movement between the elongated body and the first and second inner cylinders and the first and second outer cylinders forming the first and second storage spaces can be reduced as much as possible to reduce wear. .

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to guide not only a flexible tube for guiding a liquid but also a flexible conductor for guiding an electric signal and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing first and second outer cylinders 4 and 8 in phantom lines in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of ends of a first inner cylinder 3 and a first outer cylinder 4.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a section line perpendicular to a straight line 11;

FIG. 4 is a developed view in the circumferential direction of the vicinity of a holder 17;

FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective view illustrating the operation of the present invention by omitting the first and second outer cylinders 4 and 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st support body 2 2nd support body 3 1st inner cylinder 4 1st outer cylinder 5 end plate 6 1st storage space 7 2nd inner cylinder 8 2nd outer cylinder 9 end plate 10 2nd storage space 11 straight line 12, 13 Long body 17 Holder

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A first support having a first support and a second support, wherein the first support is fixed to the first inner cylinder by surrounding the first inner cylinder and the first inner cylinder. The second support is formed to have a first storage space between the first outer cylinder and the first outer cylinder.
A second inner cylinder that is rotatable relative to the inner cylinder and a second outer cylinder that surrounds the second inner cylinder and is fixed to the second inner cylinder;
A second space facing the first storage space is formed, and one end of each of a pair of flexible elongated bodies for wiring / pipe is fixed to the first support, and the other end is connected to the first support. 2 is fixed to the support, and each of the elongated bodies is stored in the first and second storage spaces in a curved manner so as to be U-shaped in the circumferential direction and convex in the opposite directions to each other. The mutually protruding portions of the body are mutually displaceable with each of the elongated bodies, the first and second inner cylinders, and the first and second outer cylinders, and are connected to each other in the circumferential direction. A wiring / piping device characterized by being provided with a holder for holding. 2. The wiring / piping device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second storage spaces have the same length in the axial direction, and the pair of elongated members have the same length.