JPH05111843A - Hand tool using pneumatic pressure or vacuum pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize a hand tool by providing a pneumatic pressure or vacuum pressure generating means having piezoelectric actuators and an operation part operated by pneumatic pressure or vacuum pressure generated by this generating means. CONSTITUTION:When voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element, air sucked through a filter 18, a suction passage 16 and an inlet check valve 10... is compressed by piezoelectric actuators 5 and 5 and supplied to one of driving chambers 9 through an outlet check valve 11... and a directional control valve 6, while air in the other driving chamber 9 is ejected outside from a silencer 19 through an ejection passage 13. Thus, a piston 3 is driven in the predetermined direction and when the directional control valve 6 is switched, the piston 3 is driven in the opposite direction. In this case, a tank 17 acts as an accumulator and eliminates pulsation of the air. Thus, a work 24 can be moved by the piezoelectric actuators 5 and 5 assembled to a cylinder 2.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hand tool having a pneumatic pressure or vacuum pressure generating means.

[Prior Art] Various devices using air pressure or vacuum pressure, such as a pneumatic cylinder that moves a work by air pressure and an adsorption device that adsorbs a work by vacuum pressure, are well known without particular exemplification.

 However, in these known devices, the means for generating air pressure or vacuum pressure for operating them is a separately installed compressor, vacuum pump, or the like, so that the device is not only large in size as a whole, It is difficult to use as a small hand tool because it cannot be used unless these means are nearby.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a small and compact hand tool provided with a means for generating air pressure or vacuum pressure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hand tool using air pressure or vacuum pressure, wherein the hand tool includes an air pressure or vacuum pressure generating means having a piezoelectric actuator, It is characterized in that it is provided with an operating section that operates by air pressure or vacuum pressure generated by the generating means.

 In order to solve the same problem, the hand tool may be a pneumatic cylinder that moves the work by a rod, an air chuck that holds the work by fingers, or a suction device that sucks the work by a suction pad.

 Further, in order to solve the same problem, it is preferable that the piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a sealing member on the outer periphery of the piezoelectric element, and a pair of bodies having a pressure chamber and holding the sealing member.

 Further, in order to solve the same problem, it is preferable that the piezoelectric actuator includes a seal member having a piezoelectric element attached or embedded therein.

[Operation and Effect of Invention] Since the piezoelectric actuator generates air pressure or vacuum pressure by applying a voltage, a desired operation can be performed on the work by the operation unit that operates by these air pressure or vacuum pressure.

 In this case, since the piezoelectric actuator generates the air pressure or the vacuum pressure, the means for generating the air pressure or the true air pressure must be downsized, and it is necessary to separately install a large pressure generation device such as a compressor or a vacuum pump. Since it does not exist, it can be a small and compact hand tool.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which a hand tool is a pneumatic cylinder. This pneumatic cylinder 1 includes a cylinder 2, a piston 3 which reciprocates in the cylinder 2, a rod 4, and a cylinder 2. It is equipped with piezoelectric actuators 5 and 5 and a switching valve 6 as an assembled air pressure generating means.

 The piezoelectric actuator 5 is equipped with pressure chambers 9 and 9 partitioned by a partition plate 8 having a piezoelectric element that vibrates when a voltage is applied, and an inlet check valve 10 that allows only inflow of air into each pressure chamber 9 is provided. And an outlet check valve 11 that allows only the outflow of air is connected.

 The switching valve 6 is provided with an air inlet port P, outlet ports A and B, and an exhaust port R, and the ports P, A and B and R communicate with each other by exciting the solenoid, and the ports P and B by deenergizing the solenoid. And A and R are communicated with each other, the inlet port P is a drive passage divided by a supply passage 12 into an outlet check valve 11, ..., and the output ports A and B are divided by a flow passage 14a, 14b at a piston 3. The discharge port R communicates with the chambers 15a and 15b, respectively, through a discharge passage 13 and a silencer 19 that opens to the outside. Further, the inlet check valves 10, ... Are connected to the atmosphere via an intake passage 16 having a filter 18, and a tank 17 is installed in the supply passage 12.

 The control circuit 20 attached to the cylinder 2 has a communication interface, an arithmetic unit, a processor, etc., and controls the pneumatic cylinder 1 detected by the sensor 21, the pressure sensors 22a, 22b, 22c and the auto switches 23a, 23b. The operation of the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 and the switching valve 6 is controlled by information such as position, velocity, acceleration, fluid pressure, and temperature, pressure, vibration of the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5.

 The partition plate 8 is, for example, one in which a piezoelectric element 8a is attached to a groove inside a seal member 26 by fitting or the like as shown in FIG. 2, and a piezoelectric element is attached to a seal member 27 as shown in FIG. . 8a, ... Are attached by pasting or the like, or as shown in FIG. 4, the ring-shaped piezoelectric element 8a is embedded in the sealing member 28, and these piezoelectric elements 8a are limited to a single layer structure. Alternatively, it may have a bimorph structure or a laminated structure.

 Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example, the piezoelectric actuator 5 includes a seal member 31 on the peripheral edge of the partition plate 8 having the piezoelectric element 8a, and a pair of bodies 32, 32 having the pressure chamber 9. It is constructed by holding it, and ports 33, 33 for connecting the inlet check valve 10 and the outlet check valve 11 are opened in each pressure chamber 9. The outer shapes of the partition plate 8 and the pressure chambers 9, 9 may be circular or regular polygonal as shown.

 Reference numeral 24 in FIG. 1 is a work attached to the rod 4.

 In the above embodiment, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 8a, ..., The air sucked through the filter 18, the intake passage 16 and the inlet check valve 10, ... Is compressed by the piezoelectric actuators 5,5. The outlet check valve 11, ... Is supplied to one drive chamber through the switching valve 6 and the air in the other drive chamber is discharged to the outside from the silencer 19 through the switching valve 6 and the discharge passage 13. Therefore, the piston 3 is driven in a predetermined direction, and when the switching valve 6 is switched, the piston 3 is driven in the opposite direction. In this case, the tank 17 acts as an accumulator and removes air pulsation.

 Therefore, the work 24 can be moved by the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 mounted on the cylinder 2.

 Since the above-described embodiment is provided with the piezoelectric actuators 5 and 5, it can be used outdoors even in a place where there is no compressed air generating means such as a compressor nearby.

 Moreover, since the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 are used as the air pressure generating means, the pneumatic cylinder 1 can be made into a small and compact hand tool.

 FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which an air chuck is used as a hand tool. A body 41 of the air chuck 40 includes an air cylinder 42, the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 and a switching valve 6. ..

 The air cylinder 42 is provided with a pair of pistons 44 and 45 that slide in the cylinder. These pistons are concentrically and relatively slidably arranged by a rod 46 of the piston 44 penetrating the piston 45 in an airtight manner. The flow passage 14a communicates with the drive chamber 47a between the pistons, the flow passage 14b communicates with the drive chamber 47b above the piston 44, and the discharge passage 13 communicates with the inlet check valves 10 ,. The tank 17 is provided with a relief valve 49, which communicates with the outside through a filter 18 and a check valve 48 that allows the inflow of outside air into the tank 16. Although not shown, a relief valve that operates at a lower pressure than the relief valve 49 may be provided in the discharge passage 13.

 When the compressed air is supplied to and discharged from the drive chambers 47a and 47b, the air chuck 40 opens and closes the fingers 40a and 40a supported by the cross roller guides 43 and 43 in the same manner as a known air chuck to open and close the work (illustration (Omitted) is released and grasped.

 Since the other constructions and operations of the above-mentioned embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

 Air is supplied to and discharged from the drive chamber in each of the above-described embodiments by a suction / exhaust type in which air is sucked in from the outside and discharged to the outside like a pneumatic cylinder 1 or a circulation in which air is circulated like an air chuck 40. Any of the expressions may be used.

 Further, the air pressure is regulated by the control circuit 20 controlling the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5, etc. by the signal output from each pressure sensor like the pneumatic cylinder 1, or the operating pressure range like the air chuck 40. It is possible to use a relief valve 49 that sets an enclosure to discharge excess air to the outside and supply insufficient air for pressurization from the outside.

 Although not shown, these cylinders may be of single-acting type having a spring.

 FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the present invention in which the hand tool is a suction device. The suction device 50 is provided with a head 51 and a suction pad 52, and the head 51 has piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 and a switching valve 53. Has been assembled.

 The switching valve 53 has an air inlet port P, outlet ports A and B, and discharge ports R1 and R2. Ports P, A, B, and R2 communicate with each other by solenoid excitation, and port R1 is released by solenoid demagnetization. And A and B and P communicate with each other, the ports R1 and R2 are connected to the suction pad 52 via the suction passage 55, the port A is connected to the inlet check valve 10 ,. B communicates with the outlet check valves 11, ... through the discharge passage 13, and the port P communicates with the outside through the silencer 19.

 The pressure detection unit 56 attached to the head 51 has a semiconductor pressure sensor 57 and a suction confirmation switch 58 that operates by the output of the pressure sensor 57, and the pressure sensor 57 communicates with the suction passage 55 through a passage 59. The adsorption confirmation switch 58 is connected to the control circuit 20, and the adsorption pad 52 is attached to the head 51 via the buffer 60.

 In the adsorption device 50, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 when the switching valve 53 is in the state shown in the figure, a vacuum pressure is applied to the adsorption pad 52 via the suction passage 55 to cause the pad 52 to work. The air adsorbing 61 and flowing out from the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 is discharged to the outside through the discharge passage 13 and the switching valve 53.

 When the switching valve 53 is switched by exciting the solenoid, the supply passage 12 communicates with the outside through the silencer 19, and the discharge passage 13 communicates with the suction passage 55, so that the outside air sucked from the silencer 19 causes the vacuum in the suction passage 55. Are destroyed and the suction pad 52 releases the work 61.

 FIG. 9 shows a first modified example of the piping in the adsorption device 50. The supply passage 12 of the first modified example communicates with one pressure chamber 9,9 of the piezoelectric actuators 5,5 and the pressure of the other side. The chambers 9, 9 communicate with an outside air passage 64 that opens to the outside.

 Since the other structure of the first modification is the same as that shown in FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts of the drawing, and the detailed description will be omitted.

 The operation of the first modified example is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 except that the vacuum of the adsorption pad 52 is quickly broken by a large amount of air discharged from the discharge passage 13.

 FIG. 10 shows a second modification of the piping. The discharge passage 13 of the second modification communicates with one pressure chamber 9,9 of the piezoelectric actuator 5,5, and the other pressure chamber 9,9 has an outflow passage. By 66, it directly opens to the outside air without passing through the switching valve 53.

 Since the other structure of the second modification is the same as that shown in FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts of the drawing, and the detailed description will be omitted.

 The operation of the second modification is the same as that shown in FIG. 8 except that a part of the exhaust air does not act as a vacuum break of the adsorption pad 52.

 FIG. 11 shows a third modified example of the piping. In the third modified example, the switching valve is omitted by directly connecting the suction passage 55 to the supply passage 12, and the destruction passage 68 for communicating the adsorption pad 52 with the outside air. There is a vacuum break valve 69 that disconnects the break passage 68 by energizing and deenergizing the solenoid, and the discharge passage 13 is opened to the outside through a silencer 19.

 Since the other structure of the third modification is the same as that shown in FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts of the drawing and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

 In the third modified example, when the solenoid of the vacuum breaking valve 69 is excited, the breaking passage 68 communicates with the suction pad 52 and the vacuum of the pad 52 is broken by the outside air.

 FIG. 12 shows a fourth modification of the pipe. The discharge passage 13 of the fourth modification communicates with the outside air side of the destruction passage 68, and other configurations and actions are substantially the same as those of the third modification. Is.

 FIG. 13 shows a fifth modified example of the piping. One pressure chamber 9a of the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 in the fifth modified example opens to the outside air via the inlet check valve 10, and the other pressure chambers 9 ,. Is communicated with the supply passage 12.

Further, the vacuum break valve 71 is provided with an inlet port P communicating with the discharge passage 13, an outlet port A communicating with the break passage 68, and a discharge port R opening to the outside air, and the ports P and A are excited by solenoid excitation. It is configured so that ports P and R communicate when released.

 The other configurations of the fifth modification are the same as those of the third modification.

 In the fifth modification, when the solenoid of the vacuum break valve 71 is excited, the vacuum of the suction pad 52 is broken by the exhaust of the discharge passage 13.

 FIG. 14 shows a sixth modified example of the piping, and the switching valve 73 of the sixth modified example includes an air inlet port P, an outlet port A, and an exhaust port R, and the ports P and R communicate with each other by exciting the solenoid. However, it is configured as a three-port valve in which ports P and A communicate with each other when deenergized. Port P communicates with intake passage 55, port A communicates with supply passage 12, and exhaust port R communicates with exhaust passage 13. A tank 74 for accumulating exhaust gas is installed inside 13.

 The other structure of the sixth modification is substantially the same as that shown in FIG.

 In the sixth modification, when the solenoid of the vacuum break valve 73 is excited, the vacuum of the suction pad 52 is broken by the exhaust gas accumulated in the tank 74.

 FIG. 15 shows a seventh modified example of the piping. The seventh modified example is provided with piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 and 5a, and the pressure chambers 9a, 9a of the piezoelectric actuator 5a have inlet check valves 10, 10 and a supply passage. In addition to communicating with the outside air via 12a, it communicates with the discharge port R of the vacuum break valve 73 via the outlet check valves 11, 11 and the discharge passage 13a having the tank 74.

 The other structure of the seventh modification is the same as that of the sixth modification except that the discharge passage 13 communicating with the pressure chambers 9, ... Of the piezoelectric actuators 5, 5 is open to the outside air.

 In the seventh modified example, the vacuum of the suction pad 52 is broken by the air discharged from the piezoelectric actuator 5a and accumulated in the tank 74.

 Although not shown, each of the above hand tools is equipped with a light emitting device such as an LCD or LED, or a display device using an analog or digital display, and these hand tools are embedded in the upper surface or side surface of the tool. This display device has a function of displaying the operating state of the tool processed by the control circuit 20, confirmation of the operation, and the cause of failure.

[Brief description of drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a piezoelectric actuator, and FIGS. 4A and 6B are sectional views of a piezoelectric element. Plan views, FIGS. 7 and 8 are vertical sectional front views of another embodiment, and FIGS. 9 to 15 are configuration diagrams of a modified pipe example in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ...... Pneumatic cylinder, 4 ...... Rod 5,5a ...... Piezoelectric actuator, 8a …… Piezoelectric element, 9,9a …… Pressure chamber, 24,61 …… Workpiece, 26,27,28,31 …… Seal member , 32 …… Body, 40 …… Air chuck, 40a …… Fingers, 50 …… Suction device, 52 …… Suction pad.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Date of submission] Hei 4.11.27 "To Figure 6 A, B" described on page 19, line 9 of the specification.
"Ha" is corrected to ", Fig. 5 and Fig. 6".

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A hand tool utilizing air pressure or vacuum pressure, wherein the hand tool operates by air pressure or vacuum pressure generating means having a piezoelectric actuator and air pressure or vacuum pressure generated by the generating means. A hand tool using air pressure or vacuum pressure, characterized by comprising: 2. The hand tool using pneumatic pressure according to claim 1, wherein the hand tool is a pneumatic cylinder that moves a work by a rod. 3. The hand tool using air pressure according to claim 1, wherein the hand tool is an air chuck for gripping a work by fingers. 4. The hand tool using vacuum pressure according to claim 1, wherein the hand tool is a suction device that sucks a work by a suction pad. 5. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a piezoelectric element, a seal member on the outer periphery thereof, and a pair of bodies having a pressure chamber and holding the seal member therebetween. Hand tools that use air pressure or vacuum pressure as described. 6. The hand tool using pneumatic pressure or vacuum pressure according to claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric actuator includes a seal member having a piezoelectric element attached thereto. 7. The hand tool using air pressure or vacuum pressure according to claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric actuator includes a seal member in which a piezoelectric element is embedded.