JPH09225878A - Adaptor for suction pad - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a tube itself from being damaged by preventing occurrence of looseness or twisting or entanglement, in the tube connected to one end of a pipe coupling. SOLUTION: A pipe coupling 11 connected to a vacuum suction source through a tube 22 and a cylindrical connector 12 connected to an suction pad 1 are provided in this adaptor for an suction pad 1, the pipe coupling 11 has an annular body 16 for surrounding the peripheral surface of the connector 12, the annular body 16 is rotatively arranged in a predetermined direction centering around the axial line of the connector 12, and a coupling guide 55 for preventing the slipping off of the tube 22 is arranged at one end of the pipe coupling 11 to which the tube 22 is connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suction pad adapter used for connecting a suction pad for sucking and conveying a work to a vacuum suction source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a tube connected to a vacuum suction source is connected to a suction pad attached to the end of a robot arm via a connector, a vacuum of an adapter into which one end of the tube is inserted is used. The outlet was fixed in a certain direction. Therefore, even if the arm of the robot rotates due to the transfer of a work or the like, the vacuum outlet is directed in a fixed direction, and the tube is connected in the direction.

[0003]

However, in the above prior art, since the vacuum outlet of the adapter is fixed and has a fixed direction, the adapter is inserted into the vacuum outlet with the rotation of the arm of the robot. The tube may be loosened, twisted, or entangled, which may hinder accurate positioning of the work. Further, the tube itself may be damaged due to loosening, twisting or the like.

Further, when the direction of taking out the tube connected to the vacuum suction source is restricted due to the fixed location of the vacuum suction source due to the fixed vacuum outlet, if the direction of taking out the tube is restricted. The length becomes redundant, and a space for arranging an extra-length tube is required for air piping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned various inconveniences, and prevents the tube connected to one end of a pipe joint from being loosened, twisted, or entangled. An object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for a suction pad capable of protecting itself from being damaged and saving labor in a piping space of a tube.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pipe joint connected to a vacuum suction source via a tube, and a cylindrical connector connected to a suction pad. The pipe joint has an annular body that surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the connector, and the annular body is rotatably provided in a predetermined direction around the axis of the connector as a rotation center, and the tube joint is connected to the tube. A joint guide for preventing the tube from coming off is provided at one end of the tube.

According to the present invention, first, a tube leading to a vacuum suction source is connected to a vacuum outlet of a pipe joint. Therefore, when transferring a workpiece by connecting a suction pad to the end of the robot arm, a pipe joint having a tube inserted into the vacuum outlet is attached around the connector in accordance with the rotation of the robot arm. Through the ring
Rotate the outer circumference of the connector.

[0008] Therefore, the tube connected to the pipe joint rotates together with the rotation of the arm of the robot, so that the work can be transferred without causing the tube to be loosened or twisted.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a suction pad adapter according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction pad adapter to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction pad adapter shown in FIG.

The suction pad adapter 10 includes a pipe joint 11.
And the connector 12. The pipe joint 11 includes a pipe joint body 14 and an annular body 16.

The connector 12 has a cylindrical shape, and has a female screw portion 18 at an upper portion for connecting to a tip portion of a robot arm, and a male screw portion 20 at a lower portion for connecting to the suction pad 1.
Having.

The pipe joint body 14 has a tube connecting mechanism 24 therein for connecting a tube 22 connected to a vacuum suction source (not shown).

The annular body 16 is attached so as to surround the outer periphery of the connector 12, and is rotatably loosely connected. To prevent the annular body 16 from moving in the direction of the central axis of the connector 12, as shown in FIG.
A circumferential groove 26 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the connector 12 to form a concave portion,
A convex portion 27 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular body 16 and engaged therewith. When the annular body 16 rotates around the outer periphery of the connector 12, a peripheral groove 30 is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the connector 12 in order to maintain the airtightness of the through hole 28 in the connector 12.
2, 34 are fitted.

Next, the tube connecting mechanism 24 provided inside the pipe joint body 14 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional exploded perspective view of a tube connection mechanism 24 which constitutes a so-called one-touch joint.

The tube connecting mechanism 24 is constructed by sequentially disposing a guide member 38, a collet 40, a chuck member 42, a seal member 44, and the pipe joint body 14 outside a release bush 36 into which one end of the tube 22 is inserted. You.

First, the sealing member 44 is preferably formed of an elastic material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber from the viewpoint of its function, and a groove 46 circling inward and outward thereof.
a and 46b are engraved.

The chuck member 42 is generally formed of a metal plate having high elasticity in the shape of a ring, and a plurality of slits 48 are formed on the side surface thereof at equal intervals. The tip is
It is preferably bent inward with a claw portion 54 and sharpened as shown in the figure.

The collet 40 is also preferably made of a flexible member such as synthetic rubber, and like the chuck member 42,
A plurality of slits 50 are formed on the side surface at equal intervals.

The guide member 38 has an annular projection 56 bulging out, and has flexibility so that the annular projection 5 is formed.
6 engages the fitting body 14.

The release bush 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has an edge 58 at the tip thereof, and the edge 58 abuts on the claw 54 of the chuck member 42. Further, similarly to the chuck member 42 and the collet 40, a plurality of slits 52 are formed.

Further, it is preferable to attach a joint guide 55 which includes a part of the tube 22 and surrounds the tube connecting mechanism 24 at one end thereof.

The joint guide 55 comprises a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical flexible members 55a and 55b as shown in FIG.
The members are connected by a joint 55c in which one side edge is joined.

Annular convex portions 57a and 57b are provided in the inside thereof, and a substantially cylindrical joint guide 55 can be used by joining substantially semi-cylindrical flexible members 55a and 55b.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the annular guides 57 a and 57 b are fitted into a circumferential groove 59 formed between the release bush 36 and the guide member 38, thereby forming the joint guide 55. Is attached so that it does not come off.

Next, the operation will be described. The tube 22 is introduced into the release bush 36, passes through the tube insertion hole 60 passing through the central portion of the pipe joint body 14, and the distal end of the tube 22 becomes the tube insertion hole 60. It is pushed in until it contacts the bottom portion 62. At this time, the tip of the claw portion 54 of the chuck member 42 holds the tube 22 made of a flexible member. Therefore, the tube 22 is prevented from being pulled out by this pinching action.

When the tube 22 is to be removed from the fitting body 14, the release bush 36 is pressed,
The flexible claw portion 54 is bent outward. For this reason, the claw part 54 disengages from the tube 22 and
It becomes possible to remove 2. In this way, the tube 22 can be easily attached and detached by one-touch operation.

Using the tube connecting mechanism 24 as described above, the pipe joint body 14 having the connected tube 22
However, an operation in the case of carrying a work or the like will be described.

The connector 12 is attached to the tip of the arm of the robot via the female screw portion 18, and moves in an arc in accordance with the rotation of the arm of the robot when sucking and transporting the work. At that time, the annular body 16 attached to the outside of the connector 12 rotates around the connector 12. Therefore, the pipe joint body 14 integrally formed with the annular body 16 also rotates.

Thus, the pipe joint body 14 and the annular body 1
6 can rotate around the outer periphery of the connector 12 so that the tube 2 connected to the pipe joint 11 can be rotated.
2 can also rotate together and have multiple directions of freedom.

Further, by incorporating a one-touch joint into the adapter, the tube can be more easily attached and detached, which is convenient for air piping.

Further, a joint guide 55 is provided, and the protrusions 57a and 57b tighten the release bush 36 to prevent the tube 22 from coming off.
The tube 22 can be guided in the rotating displacement direction of the fitting body 14, and acts so that the tube 22 is not bent from the connection portion.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pipe joint can be rotated on the outer periphery of the connector, so that the tube connected to the pipe joint becomes slack, twisted or the like when carrying the work or the like. Can be smoothly connected to the vacuum suction source without causing the problem.

Further, since the vacuum outlet of the pipe joint is not fixed and can rotate 360 degrees around the axis of the connector, a small space is required for air piping, and the length of the tube is long. In addition, it is possible to connect from the vacuum suction source to the vacuum outlet in the shortest distance accompanying the rotation of the robot arm.

Further, by providing a joint guide at one end of the pipe joint to which the tube is connected, it is possible to prevent the tube from being pulled out of the pipe joint and to guide the tube in the displacement direction of the pipe joint. In addition, it is possible to prevent the tube from being bent from the connection portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction pad adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the suction pad adapter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section, of a tube connection mechanism in a pipe joint body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a joint guide is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Suction pad 10 ... Suction pad adapter 11 ... Pipe joint 12 ... Connector 14 ... Pipe joint body 16 ... Annular body 18 ... Female thread part 20 ... Male thread part 22 ... Tube 24 ... Tube connection mechanism 26, 30 ... Peripheral groove 27 ... Protrusion of annular body 28 ... through-hole 32, 34 ... O
Ring 36 ... Release bush 38 ... Guide member 40 ... Collet 42 ... Chuck member 44 ... Seal member 46a, 46b
... grooves 48, 50, 52 ... slits 54 ... claws 55 ... joint guides 56 ... annular protrusions 58 ... edges 60 ... tube insertion holes 62 ... bottoms

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pipe joint connected to a vacuum suction source via a tube, and a cylindrical connector connected to a suction pad, wherein the pipe joint has an annular body surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the connector. However, the annular body is rotatably provided in a predetermined direction around the axis of the connector as a rotation center, and at one end of a pipe joint to which the tube is connected, a joint guide for preventing the tube from being pulled out is provided. An adsorption pad adapter that is provided. 2. The suction pad adapter according to claim 1, wherein an annular convex portion is provided on one of the inner peripheral surface of the annular body and the outer peripheral surface of the connector, and an annular concave portion is provided on the other. Characteristic suction pad adapter.