JP2862535B2 - Vacuum generation unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vacuum generating unit,
An ejector that is a component for obtaining a desired vacuum state,
The present invention relates to a unit for vacuum generation, in which a filter or the like is unitized and a plurality of fluid devices are connected so as to be integrated, thereby simplifying the configuration itself as much as possible and improving versatility. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, vacuum suction devices such as vacuum chucks and vacuum pads have been widely used for the purpose of factory automation and labor saving in order to perform gripping and transporting of articles using a vacuum state. In this case, in order to obtain a vacuum state, a vacuum source such as a vacuum pump or an ejector and various fluid devices such as an electromagnetic switching valve and a vacuum filter are generally connected by a tube. That is, the vacuum circuit connected in this manner is
Substantially, a vacuum source such as a vacuum pump or an ejector and fluid devices such as an electromagnetic switching valve and a vacuum filter are independently and separately disposed. Therefore, a pipe must be provided between each of the fluid devices, and this piping work is extremely complicated. Further, it is pointed out that when the fluid devices are individually arranged, the space occupied by the vacuum circuit itself increases, and a narrow space cannot be used effectively. In the vacuum circuit configured as described above,
When the maintenance, repair, or adjustment work of the fluid device is to be performed, it is often necessary to remove the pipe, perform the work, and then perform the pipe work again. For this reason, a considerable amount of time is spent on the above-mentioned work, and as a result, the actual production process and the like are ultimately hindered. The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, and substantially includes each of components such as a vacuum generation source, an electromagnetic switching valve, an air supply source, and a flow control valve required to obtain a vacuum state. Are configured so as to have substantially the same shape, at least two are connected so as to be integrated under an arbitrary selection action, and if necessary, a plurality of the fluid devices integrally connected are connected via a manifold. It is configured to be able to be installed side by side to reduce piping work as much as possible, thereby making it possible to easily and efficiently perform maintenance management and various adjustment works of the fluid equipment and obtain vacuum. To provide a vacuum generating unit capable of reducing the space occupied by the circuit itself. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a unit that constitutes a circuit for obtaining a desired vacuum state inside a vacuum suction unit, and includes a valve block, an ejector, a detection unit, and the like necessary for the circuit. A first unit configured to sandwich the ejector between the valve block and the detection unit in the fluid device including the valve block and the detection unit except for the ejector in the first unit; And a second unit configured so as to be integrally connected to each other, and a fluid passage communicating with each other is formed inside a fluid device including the valve block, the ejector, the detecting means, and the like. And Next, a preferred embodiment of the vacuum generating unit according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a vacuum generating unit according to the present invention. The vacuum generating unit 10 basically includes a valve block 12, 12a, a manifold 14, an ejector 16, 16a. , Detecting sections 18, 18a and filters 20, 20a. These are not shown, but can be integrally formed by studs or the like. In this case, the valve blocks 12, 12
a, ejectors 16, 16a, detectors 18, 18a, filters 20, 20a
Are substantially identical to each other. Therefore, one of them will be described in detail, and the other will be denoted by the reference numeral a indicating the same component, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. The valve block 12 has a two-port 2
A position type switching valve is provided. In addition, a first port 22 communicating with one of the ports of the switching valve is defined on one side surface of the valve block 12. Above the first port 22, a second port 24, a third port 26, and a fourth port 28 are provided. Further, the second
A screw hole 30 is formed in the vicinity of the port 24 to the fourth port 28, and a valve body substantially constituting the flow control valve 32 is screwed into the screw hole 30. A first electromagnetic switching valve is provided on the upper surface of the valve block 12.
34 and a second electromagnetic switching valve 36 are provided. In this case, each port of each of the electromagnetic switching valves 34 and 36 is configured to communicate with a passage described later defined in the valve block 12. On the other hand, the other side surface of the valve block 12 is disposed so that one side surface of the manifold 14 is in contact with the other side surface portion. The manifold 14 substantially includes a manifold base 38 in contact with the valve block 12, and a pair of end plates 40 and 42 attached to both end surfaces of the manifold base 38. In this case, the manifold
A first hole 44, a second hole 46, a fourth hole 48, and a fourth hole 50 penetrating the end plates 40, 42 and the manifold base 38 are respectively provided on the 14 at predetermined intervals. It is defined. The ejector 16 is attached to the other side surface of the manifold 14, and a detecting unit 18 for detecting a vacuum state in the ejector 16 is connected to the ejector 16. In this case, the detection unit 18 is a housing 52 having a bent shape.
And a vacuum switch 53 inserted into the housing 52 from above. The vacuum switch 53 functions to adjust the vacuum pressure to a predetermined value by urging the switching valve, as described later. The end surface 54 of the housing 52 defines a vacuum generating port 56 (see FIG. 2).
Further, the filter 20 is mounted on a bent portion of the housing 52 constituting the detection unit 18. A filter body (to be described later) for substantially removing impurities such as dust is provided inside the filter 20, and the upper part thereof is closed by a plug member 58. Therefore, by removing the plug member 58, it is possible to replace the filter main body provided in the filter 20. Next, a fluid circuit formed in the vacuum generating unit 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
One end of a passage 60 communicates with a first port 22 formed on one side surface of the first side, and the other end of the passage 60 communicates with a first hole 44 defined in the manifold 14. The passage 60 branches off on the way, and is connected to a port 64 communicating with a first chamber 63 constituting a two-port two-position switching valve 62 provided in the valve block 12. One end of a passage 68 formed in the manifold 14 is connected to a port 66 communicating with a second chamber 65 defined by the switching valve 62. The other end of the passage 68 communicates with a fluid introduction port 70 defined in the ejector 16. The fluid introduction port 70 communicates with the ejector body 73. A chamber 72 is provided in the ejector 16. The chamber 72 communicates with a passage 75 defined by the detection unit 18. The passage 75 communicates with the vacuum generation port 56 via the detection unit 18 and the filter body 71 of the filter 20. further,
A vacuum switch 53 is connected to the passage 75 between the ejector 16 and the filter 20 via a passage 74 (see FIG. 4). A passage 80 is connected to the fluid outlet port 76 of the ejector 16, and an end of the passage 80 reaches a silencer 82.
In this case, the passage 80 communicates with the third hole 48 defined in the manifold 14 via the passage 84 on the way. The third hole 48 is connected to a passage 86 communicating with the third port 26 defined in the valve block 12.
The passage 86 branches on the way and communicates with the port 88 of the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, a second port defined in the valve block 12
One end of a passage 90 communicates with 24, the other end of the passage 90 communicates with a second hole 46 formed in the manifold 14, and the passage 90 branches on the way to form the second electromagnetic wave. Connected to port 92 of switching valve 36. In this case, the second
The port 94 of the solenoid-operated directional control valve 36 is a passage shown by a broken line in FIG.
The two-port two-position switching valve 62 is in communication with the pilot pressure introduction side of the switching valve 62 via 96. Further, a fourth port 28 formed in the valve block 12 communicates with a fourth hole 50 defined in the manifold 14 via a passage 98. The passage 98 branches on the way and is connected to the port 100 of the first electromagnetic switching valve 34 (see FIG. 4). A passage 104 is provided in a port 102 of the first electromagnetic switching valve 34.
The other end of the passage 104 is connected to the chamber 72 formed in the ejector 16 by bending a plurality of portions through the flow rate adjusting portion 32. The first port defined in the valve block 12
A fluid supply source (not shown) is connected to each of the 22, the second port 24, and the fourth port 28.
For example, vacuum suction means such as a vacuum pad is connected. In this case, it is not necessary to connect a fluid supply source to the first port 22a, the second port 24a, and the fourth port 28a of the other valve block 12a. That is, the valve block
On the 12a side, a pressure fluid is supplied via a manifold 14 from a fluid supply source connected to one valve block 12. Therefore, the valve block 12
The first port 22a, the second port 24, and the fourth port 28a on the a side may be airtightly closed by a plug member or the like. Another vacuum generating unit can be provided in parallel with the vacuum generating unit 10 configured as described above. in this case,
It is easy to connect the first hole 44 to the fourth hole 50 of the manifold 14 constituting the vacuum generating unit 10 so that the respective holes of the manifold constituting another vacuum generating unit communicate with each other. Will be appreciated. The vacuum generating unit according to the present invention is basically configured as described above. Next, its operation and effects will be described. In addition, the valve block 12a, the ejector 16a,
a, filter 20a side is one valve block 12, ejector
Since the functions and effects are substantially the same as those of the detection unit 16, the detection unit 18, and the filter 20, the description is omitted here. First, in FIG. 4, a pressurized fluid, for example, air is supplied to a first port 22 and a second port 24 defined in the valve block 12 from a fluid supply source (not shown). The first
The air supplied to the port 22 is supplied to the port 64 of the switching valve 62 via the passage 60. At the same time, the air supplied to the second port 24 is supplied to the port 92 of the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 via the passage 90. Then, the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 is operated to activate the second
The port 92 and the port 94 of the electromagnetic switching valve 36 are communicated. As a result, the air supplied to the port 92 is changed to the port 9
4. It is fed to the pilot pressure introduction side of the switching valve 62 via the passage 96, and as a result, the switching valve 62 is driven.
Under the operation of the switching valve 62, the port 64 and the port 66 of the switching valve 62 communicate with each other, and the air supplied to the port 64 is supplied to the fluid introduction port 70 of the ejector 16 through the passage 68. . In this case, the pressure in the chamber 72 formed in the ejector 16 drops by ejecting the air from the fluid introduction port 70 to the fluid outlet port 76 side in the ejector 16. For this reason, the air inside the vacuum suction means such as a vacuum pad or the like that is connected to the ejector 16 via the passage 75, the filter 20, and the vacuum generation port 56 is sucked. At this time, impurities such as dust mixed into the air inside the vacuum suction means are removed by the filter body 71 of the filter 20. On the other hand, the air ejected to the fluid outlet port 76 and the sucked air are led out to the third hole 48 of the manifold 14 through the passages 80 and 84, respectively. The air led to the third hole 48 is discharged to the outside from the third port 26 through the passage 86. In this way, the air inside the vacuum suction means connected to the vacuum generation port 56 is sucked, and a desired vacuum pressure can be obtained. In this case, when the vacuum pressure inside the vacuum suction means becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value or lower, the passage is closed.
A vacuum switch 53 communicating with 75 via a passage 74 is actuated,
Thus, the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 and the like are driven to constantly adjust the vacuum pressure on the vacuum generating port 56 side to a desired value. When the pressure inside the vacuum suction means for obtaining the desired vacuum pressure is returned to the atmospheric pressure by the above-described operation, first, the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 is deactivated and the ports 94 and 88 are connected. Communicate. As a result, the air supplied to the pilot pressure introduction side of the switching valve 62 is discharged to the outside from the third port 26 via the passage 96, the second electromagnetic switching valve 36, and the passage 86. As a result, the switching valve 62 operates to cut off the communication between the port 64 and the port 66. Next, a fluid supply source connected to the fourth port of the valve block 12 is driven, and air is supplied to the fourth port 28 under the driving action of the fluid supply source. The fourth port
The air supplied to 28 is supplied to the fourth hole 50 through the passage 98 and to the port 100 of the first electromagnetic switching valve 34. Therefore, the first solenoid-operated switching valve 34 is operated to
0 and the port 102 are communicated. Thereby, the air is supplied from the port 100 to the port 102, and then supplied to the chamber 72 formed in the ejector 16 through the passage 104. At this time, the flow rate of the air supplied to the chamber 72 can be adjusted to a desired flow rate by the flow control valve 32. The fluid supplied to the chamber 72 is supplied from the passage 75 communicating with the chamber 72 to the vacuum suction means via the vacuum generation port 56 to increase the pressure inside the vacuum suction means. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the valve block 1
2, 12a, manifold 14, ejector 16, 16a and detector 1
The vacuum generating unit 10 having a desired fluid passage is constituted by the 8, 18a and the filters 20, 20a. For this reason, a desired vacuum pressure can be generated for the vacuum generating unit 10 only by connecting a fluid supply source to one of the units and connecting a device using vacuum to the other unit. Therefore, the pipes are connected only by assembling the respective components, and as a result, the pipe connection work as in the prior art is not required. Moreover, the vacuum generating unit 10 itself includes the valve blocks 12, 12a,
4, ejectors 16, 16a, detectors 18, 18a, filters 20, 20a
In order to incorporate the respective components integrally, the size of the device for generating a vacuum can be considerably reduced, and thus the space occupied by the device for generating a vacuum can be reduced. The first embodiment of the vacuum generating unit according to the present invention is as described above. Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment denote the same components, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. As can be easily understood from FIGS. 5 and 6, the vacuum generating unit 110 according to the present embodiment serves as a vacuum generating source constituting the vacuum generating unit 10 according to the first embodiment. The ejectors 16 and 16a are removed.
That is, the vacuum generating unit 110 includes the valve blocks 12, 12a, the manifold 14, the detecting units 18, 18a, and the filter.
20 and 20a. Therefore, the fluid circuit formed in the vacuum generating unit 110 according to the present embodiment includes the chamber 72, the passage 80 formed in the ejector 16 in the first embodiment, the passage 84 communicating with the passage 80, and the silencer 82. Is omitted. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the passage 68 connected to the port 66 of the two-port two-position switching valve 62 provided in the valve block 12 communicates with the passage 75. The passage 75 communicates with the vacuum generating port 56 via the filter 20. On the other hand, the passage 1 communicating with the port 102 of the first electromagnetic switching valve 34
04 communicates with the passage 75. The valve block
Although not shown, a vacuum pump is connected to the first port 22. In order to obtain a vacuum state in the vacuum generating unit 110 configured as described above, first, the valve block 12
In addition to supplying air to the second port 24, the second solenoid-operated directional control valve 36 is operated to make the port 92 and the port 94 of the second solenoid-operated directional control valve 36 communicate with each other. As a result, the air supplied to the second port 24 is supplied to the passage 9 as in the first embodiment.
0, which is introduced into the switching valve 62 via the second electromagnetic switching valve 36 and the passage 96 to drive the switching valve 62. The switching valve 62
The port 64 and the port 66 of the switching valve 62 communicate with each other under the driving action of. Therefore, a vacuum pump (not shown) connected to the first port 22 of the valve block 12 is driven. The air inside the vacuum suction means connected to the vacuum generation port 56 under the operation of the vacuum pump is sucked toward the vacuum pump through the filter 20, the passage 75, the passage 68, the switching valve 62, and the passage 60, The inside of the vacuum suction means connected to the vacuum generation port 56 can be brought into a vacuum state. In this way, a vacuum state is generated, and the vacuum pressure can be adjusted and returned to the atmospheric pressure in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In this case, according to this embodiment, the vacuum generation unit 11 is similar to the vacuum generation unit 10 according to the first embodiment.
A desired passage can be formed only by connecting the respective devices constituting the “0”. Therefore, it is possible to generate a vacuum pressure inside the vacuum suction means connected to the vacuum generation port 56 without the need for a pipe connection operation. In addition, the ejector 16 as a vacuum source used in the first embodiment is removed, and a vacuum pump is used instead of the ejector 16 in the first embodiment.
Because it is connected to the port 22, it is possible to further reduce the size of the vacuum generating unit. As described above, according to the present invention, in order to obtain a vacuum, at least two fluid devices such as a vacuum filter and an electromagnetic switching valve are integrally connected to each other, and a desired fluid One vacuum generating unit that forms the passage is configured, and a plurality of the vacuum generating units can be arranged side by side via a manifold. Therefore,
The use of the vacuum generating unit makes it very easy to connect the pipes of a circuit for generating a vacuum, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce the space occupied by the circuit itself as much as possible. . Further, since the vacuum generating unit itself is miniaturized, it can be attached to a narrow place, for example, the tip of a robot arm, and a plurality of units can be arranged side by side as described above. The effect that the versatility of the unit is improved is also obtained. As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum generating unit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the vacuum generating unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a vacuum generating unit according to the present invention. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a fluid passage formed in a vacuum generating unit according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a vacuum generating unit according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of the vacuum generating unit shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fluid passage formed in the vacuum generating unit shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. It is a circuit diagram. 10 Vacuum generating units 12 and 12a Valve block 14 Manifolds 16 and 16a Ejectors 18 and 18a Detectors 20, 20a Filter 32 Flow control valves 34 and 36 … Electromagnetic switching valve 56 …… Vacuum generation port, 62 …… Switching valve

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuo Kukuminato               6-19-1 Inari, Soka-shi SMC strain               Shikisha Grass Processing Plant                (56) References Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-200500 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A unit constituting a circuit for obtaining a desired vacuum state inside a vacuum suction unit, wherein the valve block and the detection unit are included in a fluid device including a valve block, an ejector, a detection unit, and the like necessary for the circuit. A first unit configured to sandwich the ejector between the first unit and a second unit configured to integrally connect the valve block and the detection unit in the first unit excluding the ejector. A unit for fluid generation including a valve block, an ejector, a detecting means and the like, and a fluid passage communicating with each other inside the fluid device including the valve block, the ejector and the detecting means. 2. 2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the fluid passage comprises:
A vacuum generating unit, which is formed so as to face a fluid device integrally connected via a connecting means such as a stud and a counterpart passage connected to a predetermined portion of an ejector. 3. 3. The vacuum generating unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the vacuum generating units are formed so as to be continuously connected via a manifold.