JPH11188574A - Indexing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interchangeability of a rotary actuator by increasing the accuracy of an oscillating stop position in an indexing device in which the rotary actuator is used. SOLUTION: An indexing device comprises an oscillating unit 1, a transmission unit 2, and first and second indexing table units 4A and 4B. The transmission unit 2 is formed by connecting a rotary actuator to a case body 20 in parallel with each other. The indexing table units 4A and 4B are formed by supporting tables 42A and 42B on the case body 20. A transmission member and protruded part which are provided with a cylinder hole 24 into which a piston 25 is press-fitted and to which a rotating force is transmitted from an output shaft 13 are installed on a cylinder member 22. An adjusting element is installed adjustably in forward and backward directions on the case body 20. A power transmission means for transmitting a rotating force in engagement with engagement grooves 43A and 43B is installed at one stroke end of the piston 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indexing apparatus which uses a rotary actuator as a rotary drive unit and a cylinder as a drive transmitting unit to rotate an indexing table at a fixed angle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pneumatic indexing device is already known, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-1704. As shown in FIG. 6, this known index device rotates an indexing table 63 on which a tool, a workpiece, and the like are mounted at a predetermined pitch in a circumferential direction at a predetermined pitch. A rotary actuator 61 that rotates forward and backward in a range is used, and an output shaft 62 of the rotary actuator 61 is
A cylindrical index shaft 64 integrated with the indexing table 63 is made freely movable by a joint member 65.

More specifically, in this indexing device, bearings 67 and 6 in a casing 66 are provided.
An axially slidable joint member 65 in which a piston 68 is fitted is provided inside the index shaft 64 rotatably supported by 7, and a forward movement pressure chamber 69 is provided at the lower end of the joint member 65. At the same time, a return pressure chamber 70 is provided above the joint member 65 and the piston 68 so that the driving pressure fluid (compressed air) can be supplied and discharged to the pressure chambers 69 and 70, and the joint member 65 is moved to the upper movement position. The lower movement position can be selectively held.

The joint member 65 is provided with a convex portion 71 provided on the outer periphery at the lower end thereof and a concave portion 72 provided at the lower end of the index shaft 64 at the upward movement (forward movement) position shown in the right half of FIG. At the same time, the claw 73 also serving as a piston receiver protruding from the inner periphery of the joint member 65 is engaged with a radial projection 74 around the distal end of the output shaft 62 of the rotary actuator 61 whose distal end is inserted into the joint member 65. At the lower (return) position shown in the left half of FIG. 6, the engagement between the claw portion 73 and the projection 74 at the tip of the output shaft 62 is released, and the The protruding portion 71 is engaged with a restraining member 76 formed on the end plate 75 of the casing 66 and having an annular arrangement of projections.

However, in such a configuration, the joint member 65 itself driven by the engagement of the claw portion 73 with the projection 74 of the output shaft 62 of the rotary actuator 61 includes:
Since it receives the action of the pressure fluid together with the piston 68, it is extremely difficult to make the angle of the joint member 65 externally adjustable. Therefore, the accuracy of the swing stop position depends on the rotary actuator 61. However, in many cases, since the rotary actuator does not have an angle adjusting function, it takes time and effort to adjust the index device when it is installed. Rather, the lowering of the stop position accuracy tends to cause galling of the respective engaging portions when the engaging members are disengaged due to the vertical movement of the joint members 65. Further, even if the rotary actuator 61 has an angle adjusting function,
The projection 74 of the output shaft 62 of the actuator and the joint member 6
Since the radius of rotation of the engagement portion 5 with the claw portion 73 is small, adjustment is very difficult, and sufficient accuracy cannot be expected.

Further, the rotary actuator 61
Since the drive projection 74 is directly provided at the end of the output shaft 62, a general-purpose product cannot be used. Further, as described above, the rotary actuator has no angle adjustment function, and Since sufficient accuracy of the stop position cannot be obtained, there is no compatibility between the rotary actuators when replacing the rotary actuators. Further, the rotary actuator 61 is provided with a projection 74 directly on the output shaft 62 in the joint member 65 as a means for transmitting the oscillating motion and engages the projection 74 with the claw 73 on the inner periphery of the joint member 65. The turning radius of the engaging portion is small, and it is also difficult to secure sufficient strength of the projection 74 and the claw portion 73.

[0007]

A technical object of the present invention is to provide an index device using the above-mentioned rotary actuator, which is driven by the rotary actuator in order to improve the accuracy of the swing stop position and obtain an accurate index operation. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to install an angle adjusting mechanism from the outside in the swinging motion part. Another technical problem of the present invention is to obtain compatibility of a swing unit constituted by a rotary actuator by giving the function to the transmission unit side without requiring the above-described angle adjustment function for the rotary actuator. . Another technical problem of the present invention is:
An object of the present invention is to improve the maintainability by dividing the index device into a plurality of units.

In the market, index table units are provided at both ends of the index shaft in the axial direction, and power transmission for holding, releasing, and swinging the table in these index table units is synchronized. Therefore, there is a demand for an indexing apparatus that can perform the above-described operations, and accordingly, a technical problem of the present invention is to provide an indexing apparatus with a simple structure that can satisfy the needs of the market as described above.

[0009]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an index device including a swing unit, a transmission unit, and first and second indexing table units, wherein the swing unit is , A rotary actuator having a power transmission mechanism provided on the output shaft is connected to the case body of the transmission unit in a juxtaposed state, and the first and second indexing table units are respectively engaged with a plurality of back surfaces. A table provided with a groove is rotatably supported at both ends of a case body of the transmission unit, and a piston is slidably fitted into a cylinder member rotatably fitted into the case body of the transmission unit. A transmission part, which has a cylinder hole to be transmitted and from which a rotational force is transmitted from an output shaft of a rotary actuator via the power transmission mechanism. And a convex portion located on the peripheral side of the transmission member, and an adjuster in which the convex portion abuts at a swing end when the cylinder member rotates and swings is provided on the case body of the transmission unit. At one stroke end of the piston fitted into the cylinder hole, engages with the engagement groove of each table in the first and second indexing table units, and at least one of the table units Engage with one fixed part to hold the table in the fixed position, and at the other stroke end, engage the engagement groove of each table in the first and second indexing table units and the cylinder member to Power transmission means for transmitting torque to the table is provided.

In the above index device, as a power transmission means in the transmission unit, the piston is engaged with the engagement groove of the table in the first and second indexing table units at one stroke end, and the table is rotated. A projection that engages with an engagement groove provided in at least one of the positioning guides that are freely supported to hold those tables at a fixed position, and that is located in a cylinder hole of a cylinder member and that is located around the piston. On the side, the protrusions engaged with the engagement grooves of the respective tables engage with the engagement grooves provided on the inner bottom of the cylinder hole while maintaining the engagement state, and rotate with respect to the respective tables. Protrusions for transmitting the force can be provided.

[0011] In the index device having the above structure, the piston in the transmission unit is held at one stroke end, and the engagement grooves of the respective tables in the first and second indexing table units are provided. In a state where the protrusion on the piston is engaged with the engagement groove of one of the positioning guides, even if the rotary actuator of the swing unit is driven, the rotational force is not transmitted to both tables, and those tables stop. Held in state. Further, while holding the piston at the other stroke end, while holding the projections engaged with the engagement grooves of the respective tables in the engaged state,
When the protruding portion of the piston is engaged with the engaging groove provided on the inner bottom of the cylinder hole in the cylinder member, and when the rotary actuator is driven in this state, the rotational force is transmitted to each table and provided on the cylinder member. The projection swings to a position where the projection comes into contact with the adjuster of the case body. Therefore, by selectively driving the rotary actuator and the piston, the respective tables can be synchronously index-rotated.

At the time of such an indexing operation, an adjuster, which is a mechanism for adjusting the swing angle from outside, is installed in the swinging movement portion driven by the rotary actuator, so that the accuracy of the swing stop position is improved. Accurate indexing operation can be obtained, and the function of the angle adjustment is not required for the rotary actuator, but the function is provided on the transmission unit side, so that the compatibility of the swing unit constituted by the rotary actuator is obtained. This eliminates the need to adjust the swing angle when the rotary actuator is mounted or replaced, and can be easily mounted.
In addition, since the index device is divided into a swinging unit, a transmission unit, and two indexing table units, the maintainability is improved. Further, the first and second indexing table units provided at both ends in the axial direction of the index shaft are a simple mechanism using one cylinder, and hold, release, and swing the table in the indexing table units. Power transmission for movement can be performed in synchronization.

[0013]

1 to 5 show a preferred embodiment of an index device according to the present invention. As shown clearly in FIG. 3, the index device includes a swinging unit 1, a transmission unit 2, and first and second indexing table units 4A and 4B. It is configured by combining as shown in FIG. These combinations are performed by fitting the respective units in a predetermined state and connecting them to each other with bolts (not shown), but any other connecting means may be used.

Here, a case is shown in which the swing unit 1 is constituted by a vane type rotary actuator driven by compressed air. That is, vane 1
2 is rotatably accommodated in the casing 10 and the swinging shaft 11 is swung within a certain angle range by compressed air alternately introduced to both sides of the vane 12, and is swung. An output shaft 13 integrated with the shaft 11 leads to the outside. Although the above-described vane type rotary actuator is shown in the drawing, not only the vane type but also an arbitrary actuator performing a swinging motion can be adopted.

The transmission unit 2 is connected to one side outer surface of the case body 20 by fixing a casing 10 of a rotary actuator constituting the swinging unit 1 with bolts or the like so that the actuators are juxtaposed. A space 21 is provided at the lower end of the case body 20 for accommodating a gear 52 meshing with a gear 51 attached to the output shaft 13 of the rotary actuator and a cylindrical shaft-shaped transmission member 50 to which the gear 52 is attached. , The body connecting portion 20a is fitted and fixed. Further, a cylinder member 22 is provided in the case body 20 of the transmission unit 2.
Is rotatably and airtightly fitted by a bearing. The cylinder member 22 is provided with a cylinder hole 24 into which a piston 25 is slidably fitted, and has a cylindrical shaft shape to which rotational force is transmitted via the gear 52. Of transmission members 50 are integrally connected. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder member 22 is positioned on the peripheral side of the transmission member 50 and as much as possible on the periphery of the cylinder member 22 so that the pivot end of the cylinder member 22 pivots on the case body 20 when the cylinder member 22 rotates. A convex portion 26 is provided which comes into contact with the provided adjuster 28. This projection 26
Has a function as a stopper that limits the swing of the cylinder member 22, and the adjusters 28 and 29 with which the projection 26 abuts are provided for setting the rotation angle of the rotary actuator. is there. Therefore, a plurality of the convex portions 26 can be in contact with the adjusters 28 and 29.

The cylinder member 22 constructed as described above
Has a function as a stopper when stopping rocking, a function as a cylinder tube, and a power transmission function by attaching a gear, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the size can be shortened. , Also can increase rigidity. The gear 52 provided on the transmission member 50 side of the cylinder member 22 is
By forming a gear on the transmission member 50, the transmission member 50 can be integrally formed, whereby the rigidity can be further increased.

Further, the convex portions 2 on the adjusters 28 and 29 are provided.
6 is stopped via the convex portion 26 having a large radius of rotation provided at the peripheral portion of the cylinder member 22, so that the joint member 65 is stopped as in the conventional example (FIG. 6).
As compared with the case where the claw portion 73 on the inner circumference is engaged with the projection 74 at the tip of the output shaft of the rotary actuator 61 with a small rotation radius, the mechanical strength can be increased and the accurate angle adjustment can be facilitated. it can.

On the other hand, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first and second indexing table units 4A and 4B are frame-shaped to be attached to the case body 20 and the body connecting portion 20a of the transmission unit 2, respectively. Positioning guide 41A,
Tables 42A and 42B provided with a plurality of engagement grooves 43A and 43B on the back thereof are rotatably supported on bearings 41A and 44B, and positioning guides 41A and 41B.
The engagement grooves 45A and 45 corresponding to the engagement grooves of each table are also provided.
B is provided. In particular, the second
Positioning guide 4 in indexing table unit 4B
The engagement groove 45B of 1B is provided on an inward flange 47 protruding from the back surface of the positioning guide 41B with a gap 46 therebetween.

The piston 25 slidably fitted in the cylinder hole 24 of the cylinder member 22 has a seal member 30 which is in air-tight contact with the inner surface of the cylinder hole 24, and is provided on the lower and upper sides of the seal member 30, respectively. An upward movement pressure chamber 31 and a downward movement pressure chamber 32 are formed.
1 is provided with compressed air supply / discharge passages 33 and 34 communicating with the pressure chambers 31 and 32. These supply / discharge paths 33, 3
Numeral 4 is connected to a pressure source via a control valve for driving the index device together with a pressure fluid supply / discharge flow path of the rotary actuator.

At both ends of the piston 25, at the stroke end where the piston has moved upward, first and second
Power transmission means acting on the indexing table units 4A and 4B is provided. That is, at the upper end of the piston 25, the engagement groove 43A on the back surface of the table 42A in the first indexing table unit 4A and the positioning guide 41A
The table 4 is engaged with both engagement grooves 45A provided in the
A projection 35A for positioning the 2A at a predetermined indexing position is provided, and a tip of the shaft 27 protruding from the lower end of the piston 25 and penetrating through the transmission member 50 can be seen from FIGS. As described above, the second indexing table unit 4
B, a projection 35B that engages with both the engagement groove 43B on the back surface of the table 42B and the engagement groove 45B provided on the inward flange 47 of the positioning guide 41B to position the table 42B at a predetermined fixed position. Engagement ring 3 provided with
8 is fitted. The engagement grooves 45A, 45B
Is not limited to the positioning guides 41A and 41B, and may be provided on a fixed portion such as the case body 20.

Further, the piston 25 also moves to the other stroke end where the piston 25 has moved downward. However, the engagement groove 43A provided on the back surface of the table 42A is still in the downward movement state. The engagement groove 43B of the table 42B in the second indexing table unit 4B is also formed to a depth that is always engaged with the projection 35B of the engagement ring 38. Is formed. In addition, when the piston 25 moves downward, the projection 35A provided on the piston is disengaged from the engagement groove 43A provided on the table 42A, and the projection 35B provided on the engagement wheel 38 is turned inward with the positioning guide 41B. Flange 47
Are formed so as to be positioned within the gap 46 between them and to be disengaged from the engagement groove 43A. On the other hand, when the piston 25 moves downward, it engages with an engagement groove 36 provided in the inner bottom of the cylinder hole 24, and the table 42A, 42
A projection 37 for transmitting the rotational force to B is provided. Therefore, when the piston moves downward, the protrusions 35 engaged with the engagement grooves 43A and 43B of the respective tables are provided.
With A and 35B holding the engaged state, the protruding portion 37 in the peripheral portion of the piston 25 is engaged with the engaging groove 36 in the cylinder hole 24, and the rotational force is transmitted to each table. .

In the above configuration, if the number of projections and depressions of each of the engagement grooves 36 and the protrusions 37 uniformly arranged on the circumference is n, and the swing angle of the rotary actuator is 360 ° / n, Each table can be rotated forward or backward synchronously with n divisions. When the positioning guide 41A is used as a reference for positioning, the engagement groove 43B of the positioning guide 41B in the second indexing table unit 4B is engaged with the engagement ring 38 fitted to the lower end of the piston 25.
Since it plays an auxiliary role in holding the position with respect to the protruding portion 35B, the positioning guide 41B
It is not always necessary to provide the engaging groove 45B. The same applies when the positioning guide 41B is used as a reference for positioning. In this embodiment, the case where the gears 51 and 52 are used to transmit rotational power from the rotary actuator to the transmission member 50 of the cylinder member 22 is shown, but a chain drive using a sprocket, a timing belt drive, or the like is used. , Any power transmission mechanism can be used.

In the index device having the above structure, the piston 25 of the transmission unit 2 is held at the upper stroke end, and the respective tables 42A, 4B of the first and second indexing table units 4A, 4B are held.
2B engaging grooves 43A, 43B and positioning guides 41A,
The piston 25 is inserted into both the engagement grooves 45A and 45B of the piston 41B.
In the state where the protrusions 35A, 35B at the upper and lower ends are engaged, even if the rotary actuator in the swing unit 1 is driven, the rotational force is not transmitted to both the tables 42A, 42B, and the tables 42A, 42B. Is held in a stopped state, and the position of the table is
B is bound. Further, the pistons 25 are held at the lower stroke ends, and the protrusions 35A, 35B engaged with the engagement grooves 43A, 43B of the tables 42A, 42B.
When the rotary actuator is driven while the projection 37 of the piston 25 is engaged with the engagement groove 36 provided on the inner bottom of the cylinder hole 24 while maintaining the engagement state, the two tables 42A, 42B , A rotational force is transmitted, and the convex portion 26 provided on the cylinder member 22 swings to a position where it contacts the adjusters 28 and 29 of the case body 20. Therefore, the indexes of the tables 42A and 42B can be rotated by the selective drive of the rotary actuator and the piston.

In the above-described index device, the adjusters 28 and 29, which are swing angle adjusting mechanisms from the outside, are installed in the swinging motion portion driven by the rotary actuator during such indexing operation. The accuracy of the swing stop position can be improved, and an accurate index operation can be obtained. Further, since the function of this angle adjustment is provided on the transmission unit 2 side without requiring the rotary actuator, the function of the rotary actuator can be achieved. Compatibility of the oscillating unit 1 can be obtained, and there is no need to adjust the oscillating angle when mounting or exchanging the rotary actuator, and the mounting can be performed easily. In addition, the index device is divided into the swing unit 1, the transmission unit 2, and the first and second indexing table units 4A and 4B, so that the maintainability can be improved. Furthermore, index table units 4 are provided at both ends in the axial direction of the index shaft.
A, 4B are provided, and the tables 42A, 4 in the indexing table units 4A, 4B are provided by one cylinder.
Since the power transmission for holding, releasing, and swinging the position of 2B is performed in synchronization, the apparatus can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an index device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the engagement wheel.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the second indexing table unit.

FIG. 6 shows a forward movement state (right half) and a backward movement state (left half) of a conventional example.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Swinging unit 2 Transmission unit 4A 1st indexing table unit 4B 2nd indexing table unit 13 Output shaft 20 Case body 22 Cylinder member 24 Cylinder hole 25 Piston 26 Convex part 27 Shaft part 28, 29 Adjuster 35A, 35B Projection Part 36 Engagement groove 37 Projection part 38 Engagement ring 41A, 41B Positioning guide 42A, 42B Table 43A, 43B Engagement groove 45A, 45B Engagement groove 50 Transmission member 51, 52 Gear

Claims (2)

[Claims] An oscillating unit, a transmission unit, and first and second indexing table units, wherein the oscillating unit includes a rotary actuator provided with a power transmission mechanism on an output shaft, and a case of the transmission unit. The first and second indexing table units are rotatably supported at both ends of a case body in a transmission unit, the first and second indexing table units each having a plurality of engagement grooves on the back surface. The cylinder member rotatably fitted into the case body of the transmission unit is provided with a cylinder hole into which a piston is slidably fitted, and is provided from the output shaft of a rotary actuator via the power transmission mechanism. A transmission member to which the rotational force is transmitted, and a projection located on the peripheral side of the transmission member. The base body is provided with an adjuster in which the convex portion abuts at the swing end when the cylinder member rotates and swings, so that it can be adjusted forward / backward from the outside. , The first and second indexing table units engage with the engaging grooves of the respective tables and engage with at least one of the fixed portions of the table units to hold the table in the fixed position, and the other stroke end. A power transmission unit for engaging the engagement groove of each table and the cylinder member in the first and second indexing table units to transmit a rotational force to the tables. apparatus. 2. The index device according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission means in the transmission unit includes a piston,
At one stroke end, it engages with the engagement groove of the table in the first and second indexing table units and engages with the engagement groove provided on at least one of the positioning guides that rotatably supports the table. The projections that hold the tables at fixed positions and the projections that are in the cylinder holes of the cylinder member and that engage with the engagement grooves of An indexing device provided with a projection for transmitting a rotational force to each table by engaging with an engagement groove provided in an inner bottom of the cylinder hole while holding the table.