JP4476650B2 - Centering device and positioning system provided with the device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning a movable member such as a work pallet or a workpiece with a reference member provided on a table or the like of a machining center.

Conventionally, this type of apparatus is described in Patent Document 1 (Japan, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-19631).
In the prior art, a plug projecting upward from a reference member is inserted into a socket hole of a movable member, and an annular shuttle member that is expanded and contracted in the radial direction is externally fitted to the plug so as to be movable up and down. The shuttle member is biased upward by a disc spring, and the shuttle member is configured to be taper-engageable in a taper positioning hole provided in the socket hole.
JP 2003-19631 A

In the above prior art, the movable member can be constrained in the horizontal direction to the plug via the shuttle member after the positioning hole of the movable member is guided by the tapered outer surface of the shuttle member. It is excellent in that it can be performed precisely.
However, with the diversification of types and shapes of movable members such as workpieces, there has been a strong demand to provide an apparatus that can be centered with a structure different from the conventional structure.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a device for aligning the movable member (M) with the reference member (R) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. It was configured as follows.
The reference member (R) includes a plug (2) projecting in the distal direction so as to be inserted into the circular hole (6) of the movable member (M). The plug (2) is constituted by a trunk portion (11) and a top wall portion (12). The core column (15) is projected in the proximal direction from the center of the top wall portion (12). The center column (15) is provided with an inclined surface (16) that approaches the axis as it goes in the proximal direction. A plurality of through holes (18) extending in the radial direction are formed in the body portion (11) at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the pressing tool (19) can be moved in the radial direction in each through hole (18). Insert into. A wedge member (23) configured to be expandable and contractable in the radial direction is inserted into a wedge space (W) formed between the pressing tool (19) and the inclined surface (16). By moving the wedge member (23) in the distal direction by the driving means (D) provided on the reference member (R), the wedge member (23) is moved to the center column (15). Engage with the inclined surface (16) and push the plurality of pushers (19) outward in the radial direction. By moving the wedge member (23) in the proximal direction by the drive means (D), the return means (30) moves the plurality of pushers (19) inward in the radial direction.

The present invention has the following effects.
Since the wedge member can be guided with high accuracy on the basis of the plug fixed to the reference member, the pressing tool inserted into the body portion can be projected with high accuracy. For this reason, the axial center of the circular hole of the movable member can be accurately aligned with the axial center of the plug.
In addition, the wedge space can be maintained in a tightly sealed state by inserting the pressing tool into the body portion so that foreign matter such as chips and cutting oil during cutting work invades the wedge space. Can be prevented. For this reason, the centering apparatus of the present invention can be used maintenance-free for a long time.

In the centering device of the present invention, the wedge member (23) is preferably constituted by a plurality of divided bodies (24) arranged in the circumferential direction.
According to this configuration, since the amount of diameter expansion and the amount of diameter reduction of the wedge member can be increased, the amount of protrusion and retraction of the pressing tool can be increased.

In the centering device of the present invention, it is preferable that the return means (30) is constituted by an elastic body mounted between the plug (2) and the pressing tool (19).
In this case, since the return means can be made small with a simple configuration, an inexpensive and compact alignment device can be provided.

  Furthermore, it has become possible to position a movable member such as a workpiece having a different shape or type according to various uses by a positioning system including at least one of the above-described alignment devices.

  1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the case where the centering apparatus is applied to the centering of a workpiece is illustrated. FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view corresponding to the view taken along line 1-1 in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

  A work pallet 1 as a reference member R is placed on the table of the machining center, and the lower flange 3 of the annular plug 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the work pallet 1 by a plurality of mounting bolts 4. The plug 2 protrudes upward (toward the distal end) from the pallet 1 and can be inserted into a circular hole 6 of the workpiece 5 that is the movable member M.

The plug 2 includes a body portion 11 and a top wall portion 12, and the top wall portion 12 is fixed to the upper surface of the body portion 11 by a plurality of bolts 13. A truncated cone-shaped column 15 protrudes downward (base direction) from the central portion of the top wall portion 12. A tapered inclined surface 16 that narrows downward is provided on the outer periphery of the core column 15.
According to the above configuration, the core column 15 is firmly fixed to the pallet 1. Further, the axial center of the core column 15 and the axial center of the body portion 11 of the plug 2 are substantially concentric.

Three through holes 18 extending in the radial direction are formed in the upper portion of the body portion 11 at intervals in the circumferential direction. A rod-shaped pressing tool 19 is inserted into each through-hole 18 via a sealing tool 20 so as to be movable in a radial direction and in a tightly sealed manner.
A wedge space W is formed between the flange 21 provided at the inner end of the pressing tool 19 and the tapered inclined surface 16, and the wedge member 23 is inserted into the wedge space W. Here, the wedge member 23 is configured by three divided bodies 24 arranged in the circumferential direction, and is configured to be able to expand and contract in the radial direction. A pin 26 extending in the vertical direction is provided between the adjacent divided bodies 24 and 24, and the pin 26 prevents the divided body 24 from turning in the circumferential direction.
Further, a coil spring (elastic body) 30 is mounted between the flange 21 of the divided body 24 and the upper portion of the body portion 11, and the divided body 24 is moved inward in the radial direction by the spring 30. Energized.

Driving means D is provided in the plug 2. The drive means D includes a piston 34 inserted into the plug 2 via a sealing member 33 in a tightly sealed manner, a spring chamber 35 formed above the piston 34, and a lock formed below the piston 34. Chamber 36. A release spring 37 is attached to the spring chamber 35, and pressure oil is supplied to and discharged from the lock chamber 36.
A piston rod 39 protruding upward from the piston 34 is connected to the wedge member 23 including the plurality of divided bodies 24 via bolts 40 and guide members 41. Each divided body 24 is guided by the guide member 41 so as to be movable in the radial direction.

1 and 2, the pressure oil in the lock chamber 36 is discharged to the outside, and the piston 34 is lowered by a release spring 37. As a result, the piston rod 39 moves the wedge member 23 down in diameter while the spring 30 moves the pusher 19 inward in the radial direction.
At the time of alignment, pressure oil is supplied to the lock chamber 36 to raise the piston 34 against the release spring 37. Then, the piston rod 39 engages the divided body 24 of the wedge member 23 with the inclined surface 16 of the core column 15 to expand the diameter of the divided body 24 outward in the radial direction. The divided body 24 pushes the pressing tool 19 outward in the radial direction. Thereby, the outer end of the pressing tool 19 presses the hole 6 of the workpiece 5 so that the axis of the hole 6 matches the axis of the plug 2.

  A breathing hole 45 communicating with the spring chamber 35 is formed on the top wall portion 12, and a trap valve 46 is mounted on the breathing hole 45. Here, the trap valve 46 includes a check ball and a spring for bringing the ball into contact with the check valve seat (both not shown). When the pressure oil in the lock chamber 36 leaks into the spring chamber 35 through the seal portion of the seal 33 and accumulates in the spring chamber 35, the spring chamber is activated during the lock operation. When 35 is contracted, the accumulated oil is discharged to the outside through the trap valve 46. As the trap valve 46, a lead-type valve body, an O-ring valve body, or the like can be used instead of the ball-shaped valve body illustrated.

3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 described above, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. In the second embodiment, members similar to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals in principle.
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points.

The two pressing tools 19 are provided and face each other in the radial direction with the core column 15 interposed therebetween.
An intermediate sleeve 51 is interposed between the barrel portion 11 and the top wall portion 12, and the top wall portion 12 is fixed to the upper portion of the barrel portion 11 via the intermediate sleeve 51 by the bolt 13. Has been.

Further, a spring 30 as the return means is mounted in an annular space formed between the core column 15 and the intermediate sleeve 51, and the spring 30 is connected to the pressing tool 19 via a cam member 52. Is urged radially inward. The lower part of the cam member 52 is engaged with the cam groove 53 of the pressing tool 19.
The two divided bodies 24 of the wedge member 23 are connected to the upper part of the piston rod 39 by a connecting pin 54 so as to be movable in the radial direction.

Each of the above embodiments can be modified as follows.
As a means for returning the pressing tool 19 inward in the radial direction, other types of springs such as a leaf spring and a bar spring can be used instead of the illustrated coil spring 30, and further, it can be replaced by rubber or the like. is there.
The return means can use a fitting structure between the pressing tool 19 and the core column 15 instead of the elastic body such as the spring 30. In this case, a fitting groove which is a T-shaped or V-shaped fitting groove extending in the vertical direction in a horizontal sectional view and is formed in the center column 15 at intervals in the circumferential direction is formed. It is conceivable to fit the inner end of the pressing tool 19 so as to be movable up and down.

Instead of forming a tapered surface on the outer surface of the core column 15, a plurality of inclined surfaces may be formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this case, the inclined surface should just be a shape which approaches an axial center as it goes below.
The wedge member 23 only needs to have a structure that can be expanded and contracted in the radial direction, and may be configured by an integrated collet provided with one or a plurality of slits instead of the plurality of illustrated divided bodies 24. .

The drive means D may be a spring lock and hydraulic release type or a hydraulic double action type instead of the illustrated hydraulic lock and spring release type. Further, the driving means D may use another type of actuator such as an electric motor instead of using a pressure fluid such as pressurized oil or compressed air.
Instead of being received by the lower flange 3 of the plug 2, the workpiece 5 may be received by a support portion (not shown) protruding from the workpiece pallet 1.
The circular hole 6 provided in the workpiece 5 may be a tapered hole instead of the illustrated straight hole. Moreover, the hole 6 should just be circular shape, and of course includes the hole which formed the spline, the serration, etc.

  The present invention is not limited to the case where the workpiece 5 is aligned with the illustrated workpiece pallet 1, and may be a combination of a machining center table and the workpiece pallet 1. A combination or a combination of a surface of an injection molding machine and a mold may be used.

Preferably, the positioning system is configured by combining two different types of devices, the device of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the device of the second embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4). In this case, with respect to a straight line connecting the center of the plug 2 of the apparatus of the first embodiment and the center of the plug 2 of the apparatus of the second embodiment, the pusher 19 of the apparatus of the second embodiment What is necessary is just to make an axial center orthogonal.
Further, the positioning system may be configured by providing a plurality of either one of the devices of the first embodiment and the device of the second embodiment. Furthermore, the positioning system may be configured by providing a plurality of both the above-described devices.

  FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a sectional elevation view corresponding to the view taken along line 1-1 in FIG.   2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.   FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is similar to FIG.   4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 described above, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: Work pallet (reference member R), 2: Plug, 5: Work (movable member M), 6: Hole, 11: Body part, 12: Top wall part, 15: Center column, 16: Inclined surface, 18: Through hole, 19: pusher, 23: wedge member, 24: divided body, 30: return means (spring / elastic body), D: drive means, W: wedge space.

Claims (4)

An apparatus for aligning the movable member (M) with the reference member (R),
The reference member (R) includes a plug (2) protruding in the distal direction so as to be inserted into the circular hole (6) of the movable member (M),
The plug (2) is constituted by a trunk portion (11) and a top wall portion (12), and a core column (15) is projected in a proximal direction from a central portion of the top wall portion (12). (15) is provided with an inclined surface (16) that approaches the axial center as it goes toward the proximal direction,
A plurality of through holes (18) extending in the radial direction are formed in the body portion (11) at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the pressing tool (19) can be moved in the radial direction in each through hole (18). Inserted into
A wedge member (23) configured to be expandable and contractable in the radial direction is inserted into a wedge space (W) formed between the pressing tool (19) and the inclined surface (16),
By moving the wedge member (23) in the distal direction by the driving means (D) provided on the reference member (R), the wedge member (23) is moved to the center column (15). Engaging the inclined surface (16) and pushing the plurality of pressing tools (19) outward in the radial direction;
By moving the wedge member (23) in the proximal direction by the drive means (D), the return means (30) moves the plurality of pressing tools (19) inward in the radial direction. A centering device characterized by that. The alignment device of claim 1,
A centering device characterized in that the wedge member (23) is constituted by a plurality of divided bodies (24) arranged in the circumferential direction. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The centering device, wherein the return means (30) is constituted by an elastic body mounted between the plug (2) and the pressing tool (19).   A positioning system comprising at least one centering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images