JPH09277134A - Vacuum-attracting work fixing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vacuum-attracting work fixing device and method which can make a wide application to various works without having no restrictions due to the shapes of the works. SOLUTION: This device is formed smaller than the maximum inside diameter of a control hole 12 and larger than the minimum inside diameter, has a though hole whose diameter is smaller than the minimum inside diameter of the control hole 12, and is provided with an elastic piece 15 which is disposed inside the control hole 12. When the control hole 12 not covered with a work 1 is negatively-pressurized by a vacuum source 8, at least a part of piece 15 is elastically-compressed and drawn into a small-diameter hole part 12a while closing the through hole to close the control hole 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum suction type work fixing device and method of a type in which a work to be processed is vacuum sucked and held on a mounting table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the methods for temporarily fixing a work to be processed on a mounting table is a holding method by vacuum suction. Further, in the case of performing this vacuum suction, when the work is large, there are cases where the fixation becomes unstable unless suction is performed using a plurality of vacuum suction holes. In this case,
If the structure is such that each vacuum suction hole is independently connected to a vacuum source, the structure becomes complicated and the size becomes large, and the equipment cost also increases. Therefore, an air chamber connected to the vacuum source is provided inside the mounting table, the vacuum suction hole is communicated with this air chamber, and the suction pressure is simultaneously applied to all the vacuum suction holes by making the air chamber negative pressure. There is also a device with a structure that allows it.

[0003]

However, in the conventional vacuum suction type work fixing device having a structure in which the vacuum of the air chamber is made negative so that all vacuum suction holes can simultaneously have suction force, If the workpiece to be set on is not placed so as to cover all the vacuum suction holes and block it, air leakage will occur at the vacuum suction holes that are not blocked by the work, obstructing negative pressure and attracting force. Lower. For this reason,
Since the shape of the work that can be used is limited, it is necessary to prepare various types of mounting tables that have vacuum suction holes at positions that match the work, which causes problems such as cost and storage location. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is not limited to the shape of the work, but can be widely applied to various works, and is a vacuum suction type work fixing. An apparatus and method are provided.
Further, other objects will be clarified sequentially in the contents described below.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vacuum source, a mounting table on which a work is mounted, and one closer to the mounting surface side of the mounting table. A plurality of control holes having an inner diameter larger than that of the control holes, and the control holes are arranged in the control holes and are smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the control holes
And an elastically deformable piece having a through hole made larger than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole and having an inner diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole. When the unblocked control hole is negatively pressured by the vacuum source, at least a part of the bridge is elastically compressed to close the through hole and move toward the inside of the hole having the minimum inner diameter of the control hole. The main part is that the control hole is retracted to close the control hole.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a vacuum suction type in which the work is vacuum-sucked and held on the mounting surface through a plurality of suction holes formed on the mounting surface on which the work is mounted. In the work fixing method, a plurality of control holes having an inner diameter that increases toward the mounting surface side are provided corresponding to the suction holes,
An elastically deformable piece having a through hole having a diameter smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the control hole and larger than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole and having a diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole is provided at the substantially center. Arranged in the hole portion on the maximum inner diameter side of the control hole,
When a negative pressure is applied to the control hole which is not blocked by the work by a vacuum source, at least a part of the piece is elastically compressed to be drawn into the hole portion having the minimum inner diameter while closing the through hole. The control hole is closed, and suction from the suction hole corresponding to the closed control hole is stopped so that the vacuum suction force is generated only in the suction hole corresponding to the portion on which the work is placed. That is the main part.

According to the present invention described above, the control hole which is not blocked by the work is automatically closed by the piece when the negative pressure is applied to prevent air leakage. For this reason, one work fixing device can be widely applied to various works without being restricted by the shape of the work that can be used.

[0008]

1 and 2 show a vacuum suction type work fixing device shown as an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a schematic sectional view of the structure, and FIG. 2 is a top view seen from the direction along the line AA of FIG. The cross section of FIG. 1 is taken along the line BB of FIG.

1 and 2, this vacuum suction type work fixing device has a mounting table 2 on which a work 1 is mounted. The mounting table 2 is composed of a mounting table body 3 and a mounting face plate 4 and the like which are closely arranged on the mounting table body 3, and an air chamber 5 is formed in the mounting table body 3. Has been done. A pipe 6 is connected to the air chamber 5, an electromagnetic valve 7 is provided in the middle of the pipe 6, and a vacuum source 8 and a compressed air source 9 and an intake valve 10 are connected to the pipe 6, respectively. By switching the electromagnetic valve 7, the vacuum source 8, the compressed air source 9, and the intake valve 10 can be selectively connected to the air chamber 5.

More specifically, the mounting table body 3 has a bottom wall plate 13 attached to the bottom surface thereof to form the air chamber 5. In addition, the top wall 11 of the air chamber 5 is provided with a plurality (15
The individual control holes 12 are formed in a scattered manner. The range in which the control holes 12 are scattered extends to a position corresponding to a workpiece (workpiece) of maximum size in order to enhance versatility. Further, the control hole 12 has a small diameter hole portion 12a and a large diameter hole portion 12b formed continuously from above the small diameter hole portion 12a, and the large diameter hole portion 12b is above (mounted). It is formed in a mortar shape so that the inner diameter gradually increases toward the placing surface plate 4 side).

The mounting face plate 4 is a top wall 11 of the mounting table body 3.
The suction holes 14 are attached in a stacked state on the upper side, and suction holes 14 are formed at positions corresponding to the control holes 12. The inner diameter of the suction hole 14 is formed so as not to protrude outside even if the piece 15 described later is elastically deformed.

In addition, a piece 15 is arranged in the large diameter hole portion 12b of the control hole 12. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the piece 15 is formed of a rubber material into a spherical shape having elasticity, and a plurality of through holes 16 for ventilation are formed through a spherical center. The inner diameter of the through hole 16 is the same as that of the control hole 12.
Is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the small diameter hole portion 12a.
Further, the outer diameter of the piece 15 is smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the large diameter hole portion 12b of the control hole 12 and larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter hole portion 12a.

The piece 15 remains in the large-diameter hole portion 12b when the inside of the air chamber 5 is not under negative pressure (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, if the inside of the air chamber 5 is made negative, the air is sucked into the air chamber 5 through the through hole 16. At this time, when the work 1 is arranged so as to close the suction hole 14, when the work 1 is sucked and held, the work 1 is brought into close contact with the suction hole 14 to be closed, so that the suction of air is completed, so that the penetration is performed. The air does not flow any more in the hole 16 and remains in the large-diameter hole portion 12b (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the work 1 does not block the suction hole 14, the air continues to flow in the through hole 16, so that the force for pulling the piece 15 into the small diameter hole portion 12a works for a long time. Then, while the piece 15 is elastically compressed,
A part of this piece 15 is drawn into the small diameter hole portion 12a.
Further, when the piece 15 is elastically compressed, the through hole 16 is also closed, and the piece 15 serves as a sealing plug to close the control hole 12 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the operation of the vacuum suction type work fixing device thus constructed will be described. First, the work 1 is placed on the placement face plate 4. In this case, depending on the size and shape of the work 1, the suction holes 14 blocked by the work 1 and the suction holes 14 not blocked by the work 1 can be formed. In FIG. 1, the control hole 12 shown in FIG. 1B is closed by the work 1.
The control hole 12 shown in (a) is not blocked by the work 1.

Next, when the inside of the air chamber 5 is connected to the vacuum source 8 by switching the solenoid valve 7 and the inside of the air chamber 5 is made negative pressure, the air is passed through the through hole 16 of the bridge 15 in each control hole 12. Flows toward the air chamber 5 as if it were pulled out. When the work 1 is arranged so as to close the suction hole 14, the work 1 is suction-held in the suction hole 14, and thereafter, air does not flow in the through hole 16 any more. For this reason, the piece 15 is left in the large-diameter hole portion 12b, and the vacuum suction fixing is maintained. On the other hand, when the work 1 does not block the suction hole 14, the air continues to flow in the through hole 16, so that a force acts to pull the piece 15 into the small diameter hole portion 12a. Then, the piece 15 is elastically compressed, and a part of the piece 15 is drawn into the small diameter hole portion 12a. Further, when the piece 15 is elastically compressed, the through hole 16 is also closed, and the piece 15 serves as a sealing plug to close the control hole 12 (see FIG. 4). In this way, the control hole 12 corresponding to the suction hole 14 not blocked by the work 1 is closed by the piece 15. FIG. 1 shows this state.

When the machining of the work 1 is completed, the solenoid valve 7 is controlled to disconnect the inside of the air chamber 5 from the vacuum source 8, and instead, the intake valve 10 is opened. Then
Air is sucked into the air chamber 5 through the valve 10 and the inside of the air chamber 5 becomes substantially atmospheric pressure. Then, the vacuum suction fixation of the work 1 is also released. On the other hand, the piece 15 that has been elastically compressed and drawn into the small diameter hole portion 12a to close the small diameter hole portion 12a is held as it is. And the next work 1
When the workpieces 1 are set to the same position with the same shape, the work 1 is placed on the mounting face plate 4 and the inside of the air chamber 5 and the vacuum source 8 are made to communicate with each other via the electromagnetic valve 7, and the above operation is repeated. Therefore, in this structure, in the second and subsequent operations, the work 1 is held by bleeding only the inside of the control hole 12 in the part where the work 1 is blocked, so that air leakage from the second and subsequent times does not occur. Disappear.

Next, when the shape or set position of the work 1 changes, the compressed air source 9 is connected to the air chamber 5 by switching the solenoid valve 7, and the compressed air source 9 compresses the compressed air into the air chamber 5. Send in. Then, until then, the small diameter hole 12
The piece 15 that has been pulled into the inside of a and is closed has a small diameter hole 12a.
It is returned from the inside into the large-diameter hole portion 12b, and returns to the original state in which all the control holes 12 are opened. Further, the piece 15 returned to the original position is elastically returned to the original shape. In addition, in the process of sending the compressed air into the air chamber 5, the piece 1
5 may be blown up to the mounting face plate 4 side by the compressed air. In this case, since the suction holes 14 are provided in such a size that the piece 15 does not jump out, the piece 15 is prevented from being accidentally jumped out. Next, the work 1 is placed on the mounting face plate 4, the vacuum source 8 is connected to the air chamber 5 via the electromagnetic valve 7, and the inside of the air chamber 5 is made negative pressure. The control hole 12 corresponding to the portion is closed by the piece 15 to obtain the vacuum pressure required for fixing.

Therefore, according to the structure of this embodiment, the control hole 12 which is not blocked by the work 1 is automatically closed by the piece 15 when the negative pressure is applied.
Therefore, air leakage does not occur even if all the portions corresponding to all the control holes 12 are not closed. As a result, one work fixing device can be widely applied to various works without being restricted by the shape of the work 1 that can be used. As a result, the number of mounting tables can be reduced,
It can be advantageously developed in terms of economy and storage location.

In the above embodiment, the large diameter hole portion 12b is formed in a conical shape, but a structure having a step between the large diameter hole portion 12a and the small diameter hole portion 12a may be used. However, in the case of the conical shape as in the structure of this embodiment, the adhesion of the pieces is improved, and the sealing property when closing the control hole 12 is improved.

Although a structure using a spherical elastic body as the piece 15 has been disclosed, the piece 15 is formed in a truncated cone shape and penetrates in the vertical direction substantially at its center as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for example. It does not matter even if the structure is provided with the hole 20. 9 and 10 are operation state diagrams when the truncated cone-shaped piece 15 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is used. 9 and 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 denote the same members. The frustoconical piece 15 remains on the upper portion of the large-diameter hole 12b when the air chamber 5 is not under negative pressure (see FIG. 9). On the other hand, when the inside of the air chamber 5 is made negative, the air is sucked into the air chamber 5 through the through hole 20. At this time, when the work 1 is arranged so as to close the suction hole 14, the suction of the work 1 is finished and the suction of air is finished, so that the air does not flow any more in the through hole 20 and the large diameter hole is formed. It is left in the state of being stopped inside the portion 12b (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the work 1 does not block the suction hole 14, the air continues to flow in the through hole 20, so that the force for pulling the piece 15 into the small diameter hole portion 12a works for a long time. Then, while the piece 15 is elastically compressed, a part of the piece 15 is drawn into the small diameter hole portion 12a. When the piece 15 is elastically compressed, the through hole 20 is also closed, and the piece 15 serves as a sealing plug to close the control hole 12 (see FIG. 10). The following operations are shown in FIGS.
It is the same as the operation shown in.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The shape of the work that can be used is not limited, and one work fixing device can be widely applied to various works. As a result, the number of mounting tables can be reduced, and advantages such as economic advantages and storage location advantages can be expected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration cross-sectional view of a vacuum suction type work fixing device shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view seen from the direction along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing, as a single piece, a piece used in the device of the present invention.

6 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a modified example of the piece.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Work 2 Mounting Table 3 Mounting Table Main Body 4 Mounting Face Plate 5 Air Chamber 8 Vacuum Source 9 Compressed Air Source 12 Control Hole 12a Small Diameter Hole 12b Large Diameter Hole 13 Mounting Platform Main Body 14 Adsorption Hole 15 Piece 16 Through Hole 20 Through hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vacuum source, a mounting table on which a work is mounted, a plurality of control holes having an inner diameter larger on the side closer to the mounting surface of the mounting table than on the side farther, It is arranged in the control hole, is formed to be smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the control hole and larger than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole, and is made to have an inner diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole. An elastically deformable piece having a through hole is provided, and when the control hole that is not blocked by the work is negatively pressured by the vacuum source, at least a part of the piece is elastically compressed to penetrate the through hole. A vacuum suction type work fixing device characterized in that while closing the control hole, the control hole is drawn toward the inside of the hole having the smallest inner diameter of the control hole to close the control hole. 2. The mounting table has a mounting surface plate on which a work is mounted, and the large-diameter hole portion of the control hole is provided on the mounting table side.
The suction hole is provided in a mortar shape that gradually decreases toward the small-diameter hole portion, and a suction hole having a size that corresponds to the control hole and that does not allow the piece to come out is formed on the mounting surface plate. The vacuum suction type work fixing device described. 3. The vacuum suction type work fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the piece is formed in a substantially spherical shape. 4. The vacuum suction type work fixing device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the through holes are provided through the spherical center of the piece. 5. The vacuum suction type work fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the piece is formed in a truncated cone shape, and the through hole is provided by vertically penetrating the center of the truncated cone. 6. An air chamber is provided on the lower side, and
The mounting table main body having a plurality of control holes continuously provided from the air chamber such that the inner diameter increases toward the upper side, and suction holes are provided corresponding to the control holes. A mounting face plate disposed on the mounting table main body, and arranged in the control hole, smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the control hole, and larger than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole, An elastically deformable piece having a through hole having an inner diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole, a vacuum source for making the air chamber negative pressure, and compressed air for sending compressed air to the air chamber. And a suction source that is not blocked by a work placed on the placement plate when the air chamber is negatively pressured, and the suction hole is disposed in the control hole that corresponds to the suction hole. Before the piece is elastically compressed Drawn into the control hole while closing the through hole vacuum suction type workpiece fixing device characterized by closing the control hole. 7. A vacuum suction type work fixing method, wherein the work is vacuum-sucked and held on the mounting surface through a plurality of suction holes formed on the mounting surface on which the work is mounted. A plurality of control holes whose inner diameters are formed to increase as they approach each other are provided corresponding to the suction holes, and are formed to be smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the control holes and larger than the minimum inner diameter of the control holes. , An elastically deformable piece having a through hole having a diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the control hole is disposed substantially at the center on the maximum inner diameter side of the control hole, and the control hole not blocked by the work is When a negative pressure is applied by a vacuum source, at least a part of the bridge is elastically compressed to close the through hole so that the bridge is drawn into the hole portion having the minimum inner diameter, and the control hole is closed. Pair of holes The vacuum suction work fixing method is characterized in that the suction from the corresponding suction hole is stopped and the vacuum suction force is generated only in the suction hole corresponding to the portion on which the work is placed.