JP4551317B2 - Pipe fittings and male fittings for pipe fittings - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe joint, and more particularly to a pipe joint suitable for facilitating replacement of a vacuum suction pad in an article transfer apparatus for transferring an article such as an IC chip by vacuum suction.

  For example, in the manufacture of a semiconductor device, the manufactured IC chip is sucked with a vacuum suction pad and transferred to an inspection device, and a non-defective product and a defective product are sorted through the inspection device. In this case, the vacuum suction pad is exchanged according to the size of the IC chip to be transferred so that the suction can be performed properly. Therefore, it is desirable that this vacuum suction pad be easily replaceable.

  For this reason, attempts have been made to easily replace the vacuum pad (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-344529

  In view of the above points, the present invention is intended to provide a pipe joint that makes it easier to replace a vacuum suction pad in a transfer device that sucks and transfers an article with a vacuum suction pad.

That is, the present invention is a pipe joint comprising a female member and a male member fitted and connected to the female member,
The male member is
An inner cylindrical member;
An outer cylindrical member concentric with the inner cylindrical member and displaceable in the axial direction of the inner cylindrical member, the inner cylindrical member facing the female member of the outer cylindrical member A first position with respect to the inner cylindrical member that partially protrudes from the tip; and a state in which the inner cylindrical member is retracted backward from the first position with respect to the outer cylindrical member. An outer cylindrical member that is displaceable between a second position relative to the inner cylindrical member;
A spring member that is set between the outer and inner tubular members and biases the outer tubular member to the first position;
Have
The female member is
A cylindrical female main body having a through hole having a male member receiving portion that extends from the front end toward the rear end and receives the male member, the male member receiving portion being the male member In the state where the outer cylindrical member is in the first position, and the outer cylindrical member is moved in the axial direction and allowed to be displaced toward the second position. A female body with
An inner position that is displaceable in the radial direction of the female main body and engages with the male member housed in the male member receiving portion, and an outer position that is radially outward from the inner position and disengages from the male member A locker that is displaceable between positions,
A locking element operating member that is displaceable between a locking position that holds the locking element in the inner position and an open position that allows the locking element to be displaced to the outer position;
The outer cylindrical body has an elongated groove extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof,
The locking element is accommodated in the male member receiving portion at the inner position, and the outer cylindrical member is engaged with the groove of the male member in the first position, The outer cylindrical member is prevented from rotating about the axis, and the outer cylindrical member is allowed to move toward the second position against the spring member. A pipe joint is provided.

  When this pipe joint is used in the aforementioned vacuum suction transfer device, for example, a female member is connected to a conduit communicating with a vacuum source, a suction pad is attached to the male joint member, and the male joint member is connected to the female joint. The suction pad can be exchanged by attaching to and removing from the mold member. Therefore, if a plurality of male members having suction pads of various sizes are prepared, a male member having a suction pad of a required size can be easily replaced with a female member. . It is also possible to reverse the attachment of conduits and suction pads to the male and female members. In the vacuum suction transfer apparatus, when the suction pad is brought close to an article such as an IC chip to be sucked, even if the suction pad goes too far with respect to the article, the outer cylindrical member is the first member. Since it can be displaced from the position toward the second position, it is possible to prevent the article from being damaged.

  When the outer cylindrical member of the male member housed in the male member receiving portion is in the first position, the groove has a first end where the locking member is close in the axial direction, and the outer cylindrical member is When in the second position, the locking member is preferably an elongated groove having a second end adjacent in the axial direction.

  By doing in this way, the axial direction position in the male member receiving part of the male member in the state which is accommodated in the male member receiving part and the outer cylindrical member is in the first position is specified.

In particular,
The through hole of the female main body has a large-diameter male member receiving portion extending rearward from the front end of the female main body, and a male member receiving portion extending in the radial direction that defines the rear end of the male member receiving portion. A small-diameter hole penetrating from the end face to the rear end of the female main body,
When the outer cylindrical member of the male member housed in the male member receiving portion is in the first position, the inner cylindrical member can be brought into contact with the end surface of the male member receiving portion.

Also,
The outer cylindrical member extends rearward from the front end thereof, receives the inner cylindrical member, and the outer side from the radially extending inner member receiving portion end surface defining the rear end of the inner member receiving portion. It has a small diameter hole that penetrates to the rear end of the tubular member,
A stop ring is set on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion, and the inner cylindrical member has a large diameter portion that is slidably engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A direction in which a small-diameter portion extending from the large-diameter portion to the tip of the inner cylindrical member and an annular step formed between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion are formed and separated from the outer cylindrical member by the spring member. The inner cylindrical member urged by is locked with respect to the outer cylindrical member by locking the annular stepped portion to the stop ring, and the outer cylindrical member becomes the first position. Can be.

  Specifically, the spring member can be a compression coil spring set coaxially with the inner cylindrical member between the inner cylindrical member receiving portion end face and the inner cylindrical member.

  Moreover, a female screw can be formed in the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole part of an outer cylindrical member, and a vacuum suction pad can be attached to this outer cylindrical member.

The present invention also provides
A male member in a pipe joint comprising a female member and a male member fitted and connected to the female member,
An inner cylindrical member;
An outer cylindrical member that is concentric with the inner cylindrical member and is displaceable in the axial direction of the inner cylindrical member, the inner cylindrical member being disposed outside the inner cylindrical member A first position where the cylindrical member partially protrudes from the tip facing the female member, and a second position where the inner cylindrical member is retracted with respect to the outer cylindrical member. An outer cylindrical member that is displaceable between,
A spring member that is set between the outer and inner tubular members and biases the outer tubular member to the first position;
Have
A male member in a pipe joint is provided in which the outer cylindrical member has an elongated locker engaging groove extending in the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof.

  In use, the male member is housed in the male member receiving portion of the female main body in a state where the outer cylindrical member of the male member is in the first position, and the lock member for the female member is used. Is engaged with the groove of the outer cylindrical member. Since the outer cylindrical member is displaceable to the second position with respect to the inner cylindrical member, it can be used in the vacuum adsorption transfer device as described above with respect to the pipe joint according to the present invention.

In particular,
The outer cylindrical member extends rearward from the front end thereof and receives the inner cylindrical member, and an inner member receiving portion end surface extending in the radial direction that defines the rear end of the inner member receiving portion A small-diameter hole that penetrates from the outer cylindrical member to the rear end,
A stop ring is set on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion, and the inner cylindrical member has a large diameter that is slidably engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion. A small-diameter portion extending from the large-diameter portion to the tip of the inner cylindrical member, and an annular step formed between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion, and the outer cylinder is formed by the spring member. The inner cylindrical member biased away from the cylindrical member is locked to the outer cylindrical member by locking the annular stepped portion to the stop ring, and A cylindrical member can be the first position.

More specifically,
The spring member may be a compression coil spring set coaxially with the inner cylindrical member between the inner member receiving portion end face and the inner cylindrical member.

  In addition, a female screw for attaching a vacuum suction pad can be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter hole portion of the outer cylindrical member.

  The pipe joint and the male member of the pipe joint according to the present invention are configured as described above, and are suitable for use in replacing the vacuum suction pad in the vacuum suction article transfer apparatus. That is, for example, if the female member is connected to a conduit communicating with a vacuum source and the vacuum suction pad is attached to the outer cylindrical member of the male member, the male member is fitted to the female member. The vacuum suction pad can be replaced simply by releasing the fitting. The male member can be fitted into and released from the female member only by setting the lock operating member to the locked position or the open position.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a pipe joint according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 shows a state where the female member 12 and the male member 14 of the pipe joint 10 according to the present invention are separated, FIG. 2 shows a state where the male member 14 is connected to the female member 12, and FIG. The state which the connected male member 14 contracted is shown. The illustrated pipe joint 10 is a vacuum suction article transfer device (not shown) that connects a conduit C connected to a vacuum source of the vacuum suction article transfer device to the female member 12 and connects the vacuum suction pad P to the male member 14. The example which connected to is shown.

  The male member 14 includes an inner cylindrical member 16 and an outer cylindrical member 18 that is concentric with the inner cylindrical member and is displaceable in the axial direction thereof.

  The outer tubular member 18 partially protrudes from the tip of the outer tubular member 18 facing the female member 12 as shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the inner tubular member. As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to displace between the first position where the inner cylindrical member 16 is retracted as shown in FIG. A compression coil spring 19 is set coaxially between the outer and inner cylindrical members so that the outer cylindrical member 18 is in the first position shown in FIG. Energized.

  The female member 12 has a cylindrical female main body 22 including a through hole 21 having a male member receiving portion 20 that extends from the front end toward the rear end and receives the male member 14. The male member receiving portion 20 stores the male member 14 in a state where the outer cylindrical member 18 is in the first position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect to the inner cylindrical member 16, and the outer cylindrical member. The member 18 is moved in the axial direction to allow the inner cylindrical member 16 to be displaced toward the second position shown in FIG.

  The female main body 22 is provided with a lock 24 that is displaceable in the radial direction of the female main body, and the lock engages with the male member 14 accommodated in the male member receiving portion 20. The inner position is displaceable between the inner position and the outer position that is radially outward from the inner position and deviates from the male member. A seal ring 23 is set on the inner peripheral surface of the female main body, the male member 14 is accommodated in the male member receiving portion 20 of the female main body 22, and the outer cylindrical member 18 is pressed by the compression coil spring 19. In the state of the first position shown in FIG. 2, the outer cylindrical surface of the outer cylindrical member 18 is hermetically engaged. The outer cylindrical member 18 can be displaced toward the second position (FIG. 3) while sliding with respect to the seal ring 23 by applying a leftward force as viewed in the drawing.

  The female main body 22 is further provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof with a cylindrical lock operating member 26 that can be displaced in the axial direction. The lock operating member 26 is displaceable between a lock position that holds the lock 24 in the inner position and an open position that allows the lock element to move to the outer position. Specifically, the lock operating member 26 is biased to the illustrated locking position by a coil spring 28 provided between the female main body 22 and resists the biasing force of the coil spring 28 (see FIG. It can be displaced leftward (to see in Fig. 1) so as to be in the open position.

  The outer cylindrical body 18 of the male member 14 has a plurality of elongated grooves 34 extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The lock 24 engages with the groove 34 of the male member 14 accommodated in the male member receiving portion 20 at the inner position, and prevents the outer cylindrical member 18 from rotating around the axis, The outer cylindrical member 18 is allowed to move toward the second position shown in FIG. 3 against the compression coil spring 19.

  Specifically, when the outer cylindrical member 18 of the male member 14 accommodated in the male member receiving portion 20 is in the first position (FIG. 2), the groove 34 is configured so that the locking member 24 is in the axial direction. An elongated groove having a first end 34-1 adjacent thereto and a second end 34-2 adjacent to the locking member 24 in the axial direction when the outer cylindrical member 18 is in the second position (FIG. 3). It is said that.

  The through hole of the female main body 22 specifically defines a large-diameter male member receiving portion 20 extending rearward from the front end of the female main body 22 and a rear end of the male member receiving portion 20. A small-diameter hole 39 that penetrates from the end surface 38 of the male member receiving portion extending in the radial direction to the rear end of the female main body 22. When the outer cylindrical member 18 is in the first position (FIG. 2), the inner cylindrical member 16 is in contact with the male member receiving portion end surface 38.

  Further, the outer cylindrical member 18 specifically extends rearward from the tip thereof and defines an inner member receiving portion 40 that receives the inner cylindrical member 16 and a rear end of the inner member receiving portion 40. The inner member receiving portion end surface 42 extending in the radial direction has a small-diameter hole portion 44 penetrating from the outer cylindrical member to the rear end, and a stop ring 46 is set on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion 40. Yes. On the other hand, the inner cylindrical member 16 has, on its outer peripheral surface, a large diameter portion 48 that is slidably engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion 40, and from the large diameter portion to the tip of the inner member. Is formed with a large-diameter portion 50 and an annular step portion 52 formed between the small-diameter portion 50 and urged by a coil spring 19 in a direction away from the outer cylindrical member 18. The cylindrical member 16 is locked to the outer cylindrical member 18 by the annular stepped portion 52 being locked to the stop ring 46, and the outer cylindrical member 18 is in the first position described above. Has been.

  As described above, in the illustrated example, the vacuum suction pad P is attached to the male member 14, and specifically, a female screw 56 is formed in the small diameter hole portion 44 of the outer cylindrical member 18. The male screw of the vacuum suction pad P is screwed and attached to the female screw. On the other hand, the conduit C communicated with the vacuum source is screwed into a male screw 58 formed on the female member and connected to the female member.

  Since the outer cylindrical member 18 of the male member 14 is set as described above with respect to the inner cylindrical member 16, the article vacuum suction device brings the vacuum suction pad P closer to the article to be sucked. Even if the pad P is further advanced from the position in contact with the article, the outer cylindrical member 18 to which the pad P is connected can be displaced from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. The suction pad P can be brought into contact with the article without giving an impact to the object.

  As mentioned above, although the case where the pipe joint which concerns on this invention is utilized for an article | item vacuum suction apparatus was described, the pipe joint which concerns on this invention is not limited to this, The utilization in a various aspect is possible.

It is a side view which shows the upper half part of the pipe joint which concerns on this invention in a cross section, and shows the state which isolate | separated the female member and the male member. It is the same side view of the pipe joint, and shows the state where the female member and the male member are connected. It is the same side view of the same pipe joint, and has shown the state where the male type member 14 connected with the female type member 12 contracted.

Explanation of symbols

Conduit C; Vacuum suction pad P; Pipe joint 10; Female member 12; Male member 14; Inner tubular member 16; Outer tubular member 18; Compression coil spring (spring member) 19; Locking element 24; Locking element operating member 26; Coil spring 28; Elongated groove 34; First end 34-1; Second end 34-2; Male member receiving part end surface 38; Inner member receiving portion 40; inner member receiving portion end face 42; small diameter hole 44; stop ring 46; large diameter portion 48; small diameter portion 50; annular step portion 52;

Claims (10)

In a pipe joint comprising a female member and a male member fitted and connected to the female member,
The male member is
An inner cylindrical member;
An outer cylindrical member concentrically with the inner cylindrical member and displaceable in an axial direction of the inner cylindrical member, wherein the inner cylindrical member is connected to the outer cylindrical member with respect to the inner cylindrical member. A first position in which the inner cylindrical member is partially protruded from the distal end of the female member facing the female member, and a second position in which the inner cylindrical member is retracted with respect to the outer cylindrical member An outer cylindrical member displaceable between,
A spring member that is set between the outer and inner tubular members and biases the outer tubular member to the first position;
Have
The female member is
A cylindrical female main body having a through hole having a male member receiving portion that extends from the front end toward the rear end and receives the male member, the male member receiving portion being the male member In the state where the outer cylindrical member is in the first position, and the outer cylindrical member is moved in the axial direction and allowed to be displaced toward the second position. A female body with
An inner position that is displaceable in the radial direction of the female main body and engages with the male member housed in the male member receiving portion, and an outer position that is radially outward from the inner position and disengages from the male member A locker that is displaceable between positions,
A locking element operating member that is displaceable between a locking position that holds the locking element in the inner position and an open position that allows the locking element to be displaced to the outer position;
The outer cylindrical member has an elongated groove extending in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface thereof,
The locking element engages with the groove of the male member housed in the male member receiving portion at the inner position, and prevents the outer cylindrical member from rotating around the axis, A pipe joint characterized in that the outer cylindrical member is allowed to move toward the second position against the spring member.   A first end portion where the locking member is close in the axial direction when the outer tubular member of the male member housed in the male member receiving portion is in the first position; 2. The tube of claim 1, wherein when the outer tubular member is in the second position, the locking member is an elongated groove having a second end adjacent in the axial direction. Fittings. The through hole of the female main body has a large-diameter male member receiving portion extending rearward from the front end of the female main body, and a male extending radially defining a rear end of the male member receiving portion. A small-diameter hole that penetrates from the end face of the mold member receiving part to the rear end of the female mold body,
When the outer cylindrical member of the male member housed in the male member receiving portion is in the first position, the inner cylindrical member is brought into contact with the end surface of the male member receiving portion. The pipe joint according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned. The outer cylindrical member extends rearward from the front end thereof to receive the inner cylindrical member, and an inner member receiving portion end surface extending in a radial direction that defines a rear end of the inner member receiving portion. A small-diameter hole that penetrates from the outer cylindrical member to the rear end,
A stop ring is set on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion, and the inner cylindrical member has a large diameter that is slidably engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion. A small-diameter portion extending from the large-diameter portion to the tip of the inner cylindrical member, and an annular step formed between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion, and the outer cylindrical shape is formed by the spring member. The inner cylindrical member biased away from the member is locked to the outer cylindrical member by locking the annular stepped portion to the stop ring, and the outer cylindrical member The pipe joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first member is in the first position.   5. The pipe joint according to claim 4, wherein the spring member is a compression coil spring set coaxially with the inner cylindrical member between the inner member receiving portion end face and the inner cylindrical member. .   The pipe joint according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a female screw for attaching a vacuum suction pad is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter hole portion of the outer cylindrical member. A male member in a pipe joint comprising a female member and a male member fitted and connected to the female member,
An inner cylindrical member;
An outer cylindrical member that is concentric with the inner cylindrical member and is displaceable in the axial direction of the inner cylindrical member, the inner cylindrical member being disposed outside the inner cylindrical member A first position where the cylindrical member partially protrudes from the tip facing the female member, and a second position where the inner cylindrical member is retracted with respect to the outer cylindrical member. An outer cylindrical member that is displaceable between,
A spring member that is set between the outer and inner tubular members and biases the outer tubular member to the first position;
Have
The male member in a pipe joint, wherein the outer cylindrical member has an elongated locking element engaging groove extending in the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The outer cylindrical member extends rearward from the front end thereof to receive the inner cylindrical member, and an inner member receiving portion end surface extending in a radial direction that defines a rear end of the inner member receiving portion. A small-diameter hole that penetrates from the outer cylindrical member to the rear end,
A stop ring is set on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion, and the inner cylindrical member has a large diameter that is slidably engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member receiving portion. A small-diameter portion extending from the large-diameter portion to the tip of the inner cylindrical member, and an annular step formed between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion, and the outer cylinder is formed by the spring member. The inner cylindrical member biased away from the cylindrical member is locked to the outer cylindrical member by locking the annular stepped portion to the stop ring, and The male member according to claim 7, wherein a cylindrical member is in the first position.   9. The male mold according to claim 8, wherein the spring member is a compression coil spring set coaxially with the inner cylindrical member between the end surface of the inner member receiving portion and the inner cylindrical member. Element.   The male member according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a female screw for attaching a vacuum suction pad is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole portion of the outer cylindrical member.

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