Pneumatic chuck

Abstract

The present invention provides a pneumatic chuck that prevents the finger members from freely displacing when the finger member support portion having a pair of finger members is detached from the chuck body portion. The pneumatic chuck includes: a finger member support portion (2) having a pair of finger members (5, 5) and a pair of locking shafts (13, 13), a chuck body portion (3) having an operating mechanism (6) for opening and closing the finger members (5), and a connecting mechanism (4) that detachably connects the chuck body portion and the finger member support portion. When the finger member support portion is connected to the chuck body portion, the connecting mechanism displaces the locking shafts (13) to a non-locking position to make the pair of finger members freely openable and closable. When the finger member support portion is detached from the chuck body portion, the connecting mechanism displaces the locking shafts to a locking position to lock the pair of finger members in a non-openable and non-closable state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air chuck having a pair of finger members that can be opened and closed, and more particularly to an air chuck in which a finger member support portion having the pair of finger members is detachable from and attachable to a chuck body portion that opens and closes the finger members. Background Art

[0002] For example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, an air chuck in which a finger member support portion and a chuck body portion are detachable from each other is known. The finger member support portion has a pair of finger members that can be opened and closed, and the chuck body portion has an operating mechanism for opening and closing the pair of finger members. By replacing the finger member support portion according to the type of workpiece, this type of air chuck can handle a variety of workpieces, and thus is efficient and cost-effective.

[0003] However, in a known air chuck, when the finger member support portion is removed from the chuck body portion, since the pair of finger members are in a free state, the pair of finger members displace freely and cannot maintain a fixed positional relationship. Therefore, when the finger member support portion is attached to the chuck body portion, it takes time and effort to accurately match the positions of the pair of finger members with the position of an operating mechanism (such as a piston) built into the chuck body portion. In particular, when automatically replacing the finger member support portion with a robot or the like, it is necessary to prepare a mechanism for adjusting the positions of the pair of finger members to match the operating mechanism and a mechanism for maintaining the adjusted state.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-41190

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-289090

[0008] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-290392 Summary of the Invention

[0009] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] A technical problem of the present invention is to prevent the finger members from displacing freely when the finger member support portion having a pair of finger members is detached from the chuck body portion having an operating mechanism for opening and closing the pair of finger members in an air chuck in which the finger member support portion and the chuck body portion are detachable from each other, so that the pair of finger members can always be maintained in a fixed positional relationship.

[0011] Technical Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] To solve the above problems, the pneumatic chuck of the present invention has a finger support portion, a chuck body portion, and a connecting mechanism. The finger support portion has a pair of fingers that can be opened and closed freely. The chuck body portion has an operating mechanism for opening and closing the pair of fingers. The connecting mechanism connects the chuck body portion and the finger support portion in a separable manner.

[0013] The finger support portion has a pair of locking shafts that can be displaced between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the finger support portion is connected to the chuck body portion, the pair of locking shafts are displaced to the unlocked position, making the pair of fingers freely openable and closable. When the finger support portion is separated from the chuck body portion, the pair of locking shafts are displaced to the locked position to lock the pair of fingers in a manner that they cannot be opened and closed.

[0014] In addition, two sets of connecting mechanisms are respectively provided corresponding to the pair of locking shafts. When each connecting mechanism connects the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, it displaces the corresponding locking shaft from the locked position to the unlocked position and connects the finger support portion and the chuck body portion to each other via the locking shaft.

[0015] In the present invention, preferably, the pair of locking shafts can be displaced freely between the locked position where they are respectively engaged with the pair of fingers and the unlocked position where they are not engaged with the pair of fingers, and are respectively biased by locking springs toward the locked position. The connecting mechanism has a shaft insertion hole and a shaft locking mechanism. The shaft insertion hole is formed in the main body of the chuck body portion for inserting the locking shaft. The shaft locking mechanism displaces the locking shaft to the unlocked position when the locking shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion hole and locks the locking shaft to the chuck body portion.

[0016] Preferably, the shaft locking mechanism has a locking surface, at least one locking body, a pressing member, and a pressing spring. The locking surface is formed on the locking shaft. The at least one locking body is housed inside a locking body receiving hole formed in the hole wall of the shaft insertion hole so as to be displaceable freely between a locking position where it is engaged with the locking surface of the locking shaft and a non-locking position where it is disengaged from the locking surface. The pressing member is displaceable freely between a pressing position where it presses the locking body toward the locking position and a non-pressing position where it does not press the locking body. The pressing spring biases the pressing member toward the pressing position. The locking surface of the locking shaft is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the axis of the locking shaft, and is configured to displace the locking shaft to the unlocked position when the locking body is engaged with the locking surface.

[0017] More preferably, the locking body is a sphere, the pressing member is cylindrical, and is disposed around the shaft insertion hole and the locking body so as to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction of the shaft insertion hole. A conical surface is formed on the inner surface of the pressing member, and this conical surface is configured to press the locking body toward the locking position when the pressing member is displaced to the pressing position, and to release the pressing of the locking body when the pressing member retreats to the non-pressing position.

[0018] In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting mechanism has a connection release mechanism for releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion.

[0019] In this case, it may also be that the connection release mechanism has a release piston that operates using air, and this release piston is configured to displace the pressing member to the non-pressing position when releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion.

[0020] Alternatively, it may also be that the connection release mechanism is constituted by a manual operation member, and this manual operation member is configured to displace the pressing member to the non-pressing position when releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion.

[0021] In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting mechanism has a locking body holding mechanism, and this locking body holding mechanism holds the locking body that has been displaced to the non-locking position at this non-locking position when separating the finger support portion from the chuck body portion.

[0022] In this case, the locking body holding mechanism has a holding rod that is displaceably inserted into the shaft insertion hole. When the locking shaft is pulled out of the shaft insertion hole as the finger support portion is separated from the chuck body portion, this holding rod is displaced in the shaft insertion hole under the action of compressed air or a holding spring, abuts against the locking body located at the non-locking position, and holds the locking body at the non-locking position.

[0023] Effects of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, since when detaching the finger support portion from the chuck body portion, the pair of fingers are always locked in a fixed position by the locking shaft, it is possible to easily disassemble, assemble, or replace the finger support portion. Particularly, in the case of automatically replacing the finger support portion with a robot or the like, since it is not necessary to adjust the positions of the pair of fingers in accordance with the operating mechanism, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for this adjustment, a mechanism for holding the adjusted fingers in the adjusted state, and the like.

[0025] In addition, since the finger support part is connected to the chuck body part via the locking shaft, the locking shaft has both the function of locking the pair of fingers and the function of connecting the finger support part to the chuck body part. Therefore, the structure of the connecting mechanism that connects the finger support part to the chuck body part can be made very reasonable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view obtained by observing the first embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention from an obliquely front side, showing a state in which the finger support part is connected to the chuck body part.

[0027] Figure 2 FIG. 7 is a perspective view obtained by observing Figure 1 the pneumatic chuck from an obliquely rear side.

[0028] Figure 3 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pneumatic chuck in a state where the finger support part is separated from the chuck body part.

[0029] Figure 4 FIG. 9 is a Figure 1 longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic chuck.

[0030] Figure 5 FIG. 10 is a Figure 4 partially enlarged view.

[0031] Figure 6 FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic chuck in a state where the pair of fingers are closed.

[0032] Figure 7 FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a state in the middle of separating the finger support part from the chuck body part.

[0033] Figure 8 FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the second embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention, showing a state in which the finger support part is connected to the chuck body part.

[0034] Figure 9 FIG. 14 is a main part enlarged view of the second embodiment of the pneumatic chuck in a state where the manual operation member is rotated to the operation position.

[0035] Figure 10 FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in the middle of separating the finger support part of the second embodiment of the pneumatic chuck from the chuck body part.

[0036] Figure 11 FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the third embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 12 FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the third embodiment of the pneumatic chuck in a state where the finger support part is separated from the chuck body part.

[0038] Description of Reference Numerals

[0039] 1A, 1B, 1C Pneumatic chucks

[0040] 2 Finger support part

[0041] 3 Chuck body part

[0042] 4 Linking mechanism

[0043] 5 Fingers

[0044] 6 Operating mechanism

[0045] 13 Locking shaft

[0046] 15 Locking spring

[0047] 18a Locking surface

[0048] 19 Locking body

[0049] 23 Main body

[0050] 44 Shaft insertion hole

[0051] 45 Shaft locking mechanism

[0052] 46 Linking release mechanism

[0053] 50 Locking body housing hole

[0054] 53 Pushing member

[0055] 53c Conical surface

[0056] 54 Pushing spring

[0057] 56 Locking body holding mechanism

[0058] 60 Release piston

[0059] 65 Holding rod

[0060] 66 Holding spring

[0061] 70, 80 Manual operating members Detailed Description of the Invention

[0062] Figures 1 - 7 The first embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention is shown. The pneumatic chuck 1A has a finger support part 2 and a chuck body part 3. The finger support part 2 has a pair of fingers 5, 5 that can open and close freely. The chuck body part 3 is internally provided with an operating mechanism 6 for opening and closing the pair of fingers 5, 5. The finger support part 2 and the chuck body part 3 are connected in a separable manner by a linking mechanism 4.

[0063] In the following description, up, down, front, back, left, and right are Figure 1 direction shown.

[0064] The finger support portion 2 includes a left and right elongated support rail 10 having a groove-shaped cross section. The pair of fingers 5 , 5 are supported in a guide groove 11 formed on the upper surface of the support rail 10 so as to be openably and closably supported along the support rail 10 .

[0065] The finger-like members 5, 5 are substantially T-shaped when viewed from the front, and have a rectangular block-shaped base portion 5a and a rectangular block-shaped gripping portion 5b rising upward from the base portion 5a, and the base portion 5a is slidably supported in the guide groove 11 of the support rail 10. In addition, a chuck attachment (not shown) is mounted on the gripping portion 5b, and a workpiece is gripped between the attachments.

[0066] The support rail 10 is provided with two sets of finger locking mechanisms 12, 12 for locking the pair of fingers 5, 5 in a state where they cannot be opened or closed when the finger support portion 2 is separated from the chuck body portion 3. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be seen that the two sets of finger-shaped locking mechanisms 12, 12 have the same structure as each other, and each has a locking shaft 13 corresponding to the pair of finger-shaped members 5, 5, respectively. Figure 4 In the manner in which the pair of fingers 5, 5 in the fully open position shown correspond to each other, one is provided at a position close to one end and another at a position close to the other end in the length direction of the support rail 10. Therefore, it can be said that the support rail 10 is provided with a pair of locking shafts 13, 13 corresponding to the pair of fingers 5, 5, respectively.

[0067] The locking shaft 13 has a cylindrical body 13a and a disc-shaped head 13b formed at the upper end (base end) of the body 13a. The diameter of the head 13b is larger than the diameter of the body 13a. In addition, the locking shaft 13 penetrates the support rail 10 and the guide member 14 fixed to the lower surface of the support rail 10 in a state where the head 13b is fitted into the circular recess 10a formed on the upper surface of the support rail 10, and extends downward from the support rail 10.

[0068] The guiding member 14 is a member in the shape of a circular container, having both the function of guiding the up-and-down movement of the locking shaft 13 and the function of being a spring seat. The locking spring 15 is clamped between the guiding member 14 and the head 13b of the locking shaft 13 in a compressed state, and the locking shaft 13 is always urged in the upward direction in the figure, that is, in the direction in which the upper surface of the head 13b is pressed against the lower surface of the base portion 5a of the finger member 5.

[0069] A locking projection 16 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the head 13b, and a locking recess 17 into which the locking projection 16 can be engaged is formed at the lower surface of the base portion 5a of the finger member 5. In the illustrated example, the locking projection 16 is in the shape of a frustum of a cone, and the locking recess 17 is in the shape of a conical hole, but the shapes of the locking projection 16 and the locking recess 17 may be other shapes than these.

[0070] In addition, an annular engaging recess 18 is formed at the lower end portion (front end portion) of the locking shaft 13. When the finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 are connected by the connecting mechanism 4, as will be described in detail later, the engaging body 19 of the connecting mechanism 4 is engaged with the engaging surface 18a of the engaging recess 18, so that the locking shaft 13 compresses the locking spring 15 while being displaced in the downward direction in the figure, that is, in the direction in which the locking projection 16 of the head 13b moves away from the locking recess 17 of the finger member 5.

[0071] The engaging surface 18a is an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction away from the central axis of the locking shaft 13 toward the front end (lower end) side of the locking shaft 13, and is a conical surface in the illustrated example.

[0072] Since the finger member locking mechanism 12 is configured in this way, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, when the finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 are connected, the engaging body 19 of the connecting mechanism 4 is engaged with the engaging surface 18a of the locking shaft 13, so that the locking shaft 13 is displaced to a position where the locking projection 16 of the head 13b moves away from the locking recess 17 of the finger member 5 (unlocked position). Therefore, the pair of finger members 5, 5 are in a state where they can be opened and closed. At this time, the support rail 10 of the finger member support portion 2 abuts against the upper end of the chuck body portion 3.

[0073] In addition, as Figure 3 and Figure 7 shown, when the finger member support portion 2 is separated from the chuck body portion 3, since the locking shaft 13 is urged by the locking spring 15 and displaced to a position where the locking projection 16 is engaged with the locking recess 17 (locked position), the pair of finger members 5, 5 are locked in a state where they cannot be opened and closed.

[0074] The chuck body portion 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body 23. At the central portion of the main body 23 in the left-right direction, there is provided the operating mechanism 6 for opening and closing the pair of finger members 5, 5. As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, this operating mechanism 6 has a set of cylinder devices 24 and two opening / closing levers 25, 25 for transmitting the operation of the cylinder devices 24 to the pair of finger members 5, 5.

[0075] The cylinder device 24 has a circular cylinder hole 26 extending in the up-down direction at the central portion of the main body 23 along the first axis L1. A short cylindrical lower plug 27 is airtightly installed at the lower end portion of the cylinder hole 26 via a sealing member 27a, and a short cylindrical upper plug 28 is airtightly installed at the upper end portion of the cylinder hole 26 via a sealing member 28a. A piston chamber 29 is defined between these lower plug 27 and upper plug 28, and an opening / closing piston 30 is slidably received inside the piston chamber 29 via a piston seal 30a.

[0076] In addition, the lower end portion of a cylindrical opening / closing rod 31 extending along the first axis L1 is integrally connected to the central portion of the upper surface of the opening / closing piston 30. This opening / closing rod 31 airtightly and slidably penetrates the upper plug 28 via a sealing member 31a, and the upper end of the opening / closing rod 31 projects into a lever receiving portion 32 formed in the upper portion of the main body 23. A plate-shaped support wall 31b for supporting the pair of opening / closing levers 25, 25 is formed at the upper end of the opening / closing rod 31.

[0077] Figure 4 The member labeled with reference numeral 33 in [[ ]] is an annular permanent magnet installed on the opening / closing piston 30 and is an object to be inspected for position detection. As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, sensor mounting grooves 34 for mounting magnetic sensors (not shown) are formed on the front surface and the rear surface of the main body 23. By detecting the permanent magnet 33 with the magnetic sensors installed in the sensor mounting grooves 34, the operation position of the opening / closing piston 30 can be detected. In this case, by installing two magnetic sensors in the sensor mounting grooves 34, both the rising end and the falling end of the opening / closing piston 30 can be detected.

[0078] Returning to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the piston chamber 29 is divided into a first pressure chamber 35 between the opening / closing piston 30 and the upper plug 28 and a second pressure chamber 36 between the opening / closing piston 30 and the lower plug 27. The first pressure chamber 35 is connected via a flow path (not shown) passing through the inside of the main body 23 to a first port 37 formed on the front surface of the main body 23 (refer toFigure 1 ) is connected, and the second pressure chamber 36 is connected to a second port 38 (see Figure 2 ) formed on the rear surface of the main body 23 via a through hole (not shown) inside the main body 23.

[0079] Therefore, when compressed air is supplied into the first pressure chamber 35 through the first port 37 from the Figure 4 state, and the second pressure chamber 36 is opened to the atmosphere through the second port 38, the opening and closing piston 30 and the opening and closing rod 31 descend as Figure 6 . In addition, when compressed air is supplied into the second pressure chamber 36 through the second port 38 from the Figure 6 state after the opening and closing piston 30 and the opening and closing rod 31 have descended, and the first pressure chamber 35 is opened to the atmosphere through the first port 37, the opening and closing piston 30 and the opening and closing rod 31 ascend as Figure 4 .

[0080] The opening and closing lever 25 is an L-shaped member having a first arm 25a extending toward the rod side and a second arm 25b extending toward the finger member 5 side. Two opening and closing levers 25, 25 are arranged in a lever receiving portion 32 at the upper end of the main body 23 so as to be opposed to each other left and right with the first axis L1 interposed therebetween. The middle portions of the first arm 25a and the second arm 25b of each opening and closing lever 25 are rotatably supported by the main body 23 by a lever shaft 39 extending in the front-rear direction of the main body 23.

[0081] A U-shaped notch 25c is formed at the front end of the first arm 25a of the opening and closing lever 25, and an operation pin 40 is engaged in the notch 25c. The operation pin 40 is fixed to the support wall 31b at the upper end of the opening and closing rod 31. The support wall 31b is a plate-shaped wall, and the operation pin 40 is mounted on the support wall 31b in a direction parallel to the lever shaft 39 such that one end and the other end of the operation pin 40 project toward the front surface side and the rear surface side of the support wall 31b, respectively. The notch 25c of one opening and closing lever 25 is engaged with the operation pin 40 on the front surface side of the support wall 31b, and the notch 25c of the other opening and closing lever 25 is engaged with the operation pin 40 on the rear surface side of the support wall 31b.

[0082] In addition, at the front end of the second arm 25b of the opening and closing lever 25, an engaging cam 25d having an arc-shaped cam surface on the outer surface is formed. The engaging cam 25d is fitted into an engaging recess 5c formed on the lower surface of the base portion 5a of the finger member 5 through an opening formed in the support track 10 in a swingable and separable manner.

[0083] Since the opening / closing lever 25 is configured in this way, when starting from Figure 4 the state where the opening / closing piston 30 and the opening / closing rod 31 of the cylinder device 24 descend, as shown in Figure 6 , by pulling down the front ends of the first arms 25a, 25a of the pair of opening / closing levers 25, 25 with the operation pin 40, the pair of opening / closing levers 25, 25 rotate in the direction in which the engagement cams 25d, 25d at the front ends of the second arms 25b, 25b approach each other, and the pair of finger members 5, 5 close.

[0084] In addition, when starting from the state where the pair of finger members 5, 5 are closed, as shown in Figure 6 , when the opening / closing piston 30 and the opening / closing rod 31 ascend, as shown in Figure 4 , since the pair of opening / closing levers 25, 25 rotate in the direction in which the engagement cams 25d, 25d at the front ends of the second arms 25b, 25b move away from each other, the pair of finger members 5, 5 open.

[0085] Through such opening / closing actions of the finger members 5, 5, a workpiece is held between the finger members 5, 5 or the held workpiece is released.

[0086] The connecting mechanism 4 connects the finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 via the locking shaft 13, and the two sets of connecting mechanisms 4, 4 corresponding to the pair of locking shafts 13, 13 are arranged symmetrically left and right at positions on the main body 23 that sandwich the operating mechanism 6 and face each other left and right. Therefore, since the locking shaft 13 forms a part of the connecting mechanism 4, it can be renamed as the "connecting shaft".

[0087] As shown in detail for one of the connecting mechanisms 4 in Figure 5 , the connecting mechanisms 4, 4 have: the locking shaft 13, a circular shaft insertion hole 44 into which the locking shaft 13 is inserted, a shaft locking mechanism 45 that displaces the locking shaft 13 to the unlocked position and locks the locking shaft 13 to the chuck body portion 3 when the locking shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 44, a connection release mechanism 46 that releases the connection between the finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3, and a retainer holding mechanism 56 that holds the retainer 19 in the non-retained position after separating the finger member support portion 2.

[0088] In order to form the shaft insertion hole 44, a circular through hole 47 extending along a second axis L2 parallel to the first axis L1 is formed in the main body 23. At a position near the upper end of the through hole 47, a cylindrical sleeve 48 having a smaller diameter than the through hole 47 is inserted, and the shaft insertion hole 44 is formed inside the sleeve 48.

[0089] The sleeve 48 has a flange portion 48a for fixing at the upper end. By clamping it between the plate 49 fixed on the upper surface of the main body 23 and the main body 23 in a state where the flange portion 48a is fixed to the upper surface of the main body 23, it is fixed in the through hole 47. In addition, the inner diameter of the entrance portion of the shaft insertion hole 44 is tapered so as to gradually increase in diameter toward the entrance side, that is, the upper end side of the sleeve 48.

[0090] A plurality of engaging body receiving holes 50 that open to the hole wall of the shaft insertion hole 44 are formed in the sleeve 48. The spherical engaging bodies 19 are received inside each engaging body receiving hole 50 in such a manner that they can displace freely between an engaging position where a part of them protrudes into the shaft insertion hole 44 and a non-engaging position where the engaging bodies 19 do not protrude into the shaft insertion hole 44.

[0091] In the illustrated example, three engaging body receiving holes 50 and three engaging bodies 19 received in each engaging body receiving hole 50 are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees around the second axis L2. However, the number of the engaging bodies 19 and the engaging body receiving holes 50 can be other numbers, for example, one or two, or four or more.

[0092] In addition, a cylindrical pressing member 53 is arranged between the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 48 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 47 so as to be displaceable along the sleeve 48 in the direction of the second axis L2. The pressing member 53 has a small-diameter portion 53a on the proximal end (upper end) side and a large-diameter portion 53b on the front end (lower end) side. The inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 53a is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 48, and the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 53b is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 47. The diameter of the large-diameter portion 53b is larger than the diameter of the small-diameter portion 53a.

[0093] On the inner surface of the pressing member 53, between the small-diameter portion 53a and the large-diameter portion 53b, a tapered surface 53c for pressing the engaging body 19 toward the engaging position is formed. The tapered surface 53c is inclined in a direction that gradually moves away from the second axis L2 toward the front end side of the pressing member 53. When the pressing member 53 advances to the downward pressing position, the tapered surface 53c pushes the engaging body 19 to the engaging position where the engaging body 19 protrudes into the shaft insertion hole 44. When the pressing member 53 retreats to the upward non-pressing position, the tapered surface 53c releases the engaging body 19 from the pressed state and enables it to displace to the non-engaging position.

[0094] A pressing spring 54 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 53a is interposed between the large-diameter portion 53b of the pressing member 53 and a spring seat 23a formed in the main body 23 in a compressed state, and the pressing spring 54 always applies a force to the pressing member 53 in the forward direction, which is the direction of pushing the locking body 19 toward the locking position.

[0095] Moreover, the locking surface 18a of the locking shaft 13, the locking body 19, the pressing member 53, and the pressing spring 54 constitute a shaft locking mechanism 45 for locking the locking shaft 13 to the chuck body portion 3.

[0096] The connection release mechanism 46 has a release piston 60 that operates using air, and the release piston 60 is disposed inside the through hole 47 in a slidable manner in the direction of the second axis L2 via a sealing member 60a. The position where the release piston 60 is disposed is below the sleeve 48 and the pressing member 53, and the upper end of the release piston 60 abuts against the lower end of the pressing member 53.

[0097] A release pressure chamber 62 is formed between the release piston 60 and a lower wall 61 that airtightly closes the lower end portion of the through hole 47 via a sealing member 61a. The release pressure chamber 62 communicates with a release port 63 (see Figure 1 ) that opens on the front surface of the main body 23 through a through hole (not shown) formed inside the main body 23. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied from the release port 63 to the release pressure chamber 62, the release piston 60 is displaced from the Figure 4 shown lowered position to the Figure 7 shown raised position, and at this time, the pressing member 53 is pushed upward against the pressing spring 54.

[0098] In addition, only one release port 63 is provided on the front surface of the main body 23 and is shared by the connection release mechanisms 46, 46 of the two sets of connection mechanisms 4, 4.

[0099] Furthermore, the locking body holding mechanism 56 has a holding piston 64 disposed inside the release pressure chamber 62 so as to be displaceable along the second axis L2 and a holding rod 65 extending upward along the second axis L2 from the holding piston 64. The holding rod 65 slidably penetrates the central portion of the release piston 60 via a sealing member 65a, and the front end (upper end) of the holding rod 65 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 44 and approaches or abuts against the lower end of the locking shaft 13.

[0100] There is a gap g through which air can flow between the outer periphery of the holding piston 64 and the inner periphery of the pressure release chamber 62. Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the pressure release chamber 62, the air pressure acts on the upper surface 64a and the lower surface 64b of the holding piston 64, and the air pressure force based on the pressure receiving area difference between the upper surface 64a and the lower surface 64b acts on the holding piston 64 upward.

[0101] In addition, the retaining spring 66 is sandwiched between the recessed portion 64c formed on the lower surface of the retaining piston 64 and the recessed portion 61b formed on the upper surface of the lower wall 61 in a compressed state, and the retaining piston 64 and the retaining rod 65 are always urged upward by the retaining spring 66.

[0102] Therefore, when compressed air is supplied to the release pressure chamber 62 , the holding piston 64 moves upward due to the combined force of the air pressure force and the urging force of the holding spring 66 .

[0103] The coupling release mechanism 46 and the locking body holding mechanism 56 operate as follows. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , when compressed air is supplied to the release pressure chamber 62 through the release port 63 from the state where the finger support portion 2 is connected to the chuck body portion 3, the release piston 60 rises, resists the push spring 54 and pushes up the push member 53, so that the push member 53 rises (retres) to the position where the finger support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 are connected. Figure 7 Therefore, the locking body 19 is released from the pushing of the pushing member 53 and becomes movable to the non-locking position, and the connection between the finger-shaped support part 2 and the chuck body part 3 is released. Therefore, by lifting the finger-shaped support part 2, the finger-shaped support part 2 can be moved to the non-locking position. Figure 7 status, such as Figure 3 As shown, it is separated from the chuck body 3.

[0104] At this time, when the lock shaft 13 is pulled out from the shaft insertion hole 44 while the finger support portion 2 is separated, the locking body 19 is laterally pushed by the conical locking surface 18a of the lock shaft 13 and displaced to the position of the locking body 19. Figure 7 non-stuck position.

[0105] In addition, the retaining rod 65 is pushed upward by the combined force of the air pressure acting upward on the retaining piston 64 and the force of the retaining spring 66, and rises together with the locking shaft 13, as shown in FIG. Figure 7As shown, it rises to the rising end position where the holding piston 64 abuts against the release piston 60. At this time, since the front end (upper end) of the holding rod 65 rises to a position above the locking body 19 inside the shaft insertion hole 44, the side surface of the holding rod 65 abuts against the locking body 19 that has been displaced to the non-locking position, and holds the locking body 19 at the non-locking position. Therefore, the pressing member 53 is held in the non-pressing position by being locked with the locking body 19, and also holds the non-pressing position after discharging the compressed air in the release pressure chamber 62. In addition, the release piston 60 also holds the rising end position.

[0106] The resultant force of the air pressure acting on the holding piston 64 and the force of the holding spring 66 can be set to such a magnitude that it can push up the locking shaft 13 to Figure 7 the position when the release piston 60 positions the pressing member 53 at the non-pressing position and eliminates the pressing of the locking body 19.

[0107] On the other hand, since the locking shaft 13 is pushed by the locking spring 15 and displaced to the locking position at the stage where the locking body 19 is displaced to the non-locking position as Figure 7 shown, the pair of finger members 5, 5 are locked in a non-openable and non-closable manner.

[0108] Next, when connecting the separated finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3, with the release pressure chamber 62 open to the atmosphere, as Figure 7 shown, the locking shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 44, and the holding rod 65 is pushed down by the locking shaft 13. Then, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, when the locking shaft 13 is pushed down to the position where the support rail 10 of the finger member support portion 2 abuts against the upper surface of the plate 49 of the chuck body portion 3 and the locking recess 18 of the locking shaft 13 is adjacent to the locking body 19, the pressing member 53 is pushed down (advanced) by the pressing spring 54, and the locking body 19 is displaced to the locking position where it is fitted into the locking recess 18 by the conical surface 53c. Therefore, the locking body 19 is locked with the locking surface 18a, and the finger member support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 are connected. At the same time, since the locking body 19 presses the conical locking surface 18a and pushes down the locking shaft 13 to the non-locking position, the pair of finger members 5, 5 become freely openable and closable. At this time, the release piston 60 is also pushed down by the pressing member 53 to Figure 4 and Figure 5 the descending position.

[0109] Figures 8 - 10Fig. 0 shows a second embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention. The difference between the pneumatic chuck 1B of this second embodiment and the pneumatic chuck 1A of the first embodiment is that: the connection release mechanism 46 is provided with a manual operation member 70 instead of the release piston 60 that operates with air pressure in the pneumatic chuck 1A. Therefore, in this pneumatic chuck 1B, the upper wall 68 provided in place of the release piston 60 is disposed inside the through hole 47 in a fixed state. In addition, the holding chamber 71 between the upper wall 68 and the lower wall 61 is not a pressure chamber and is open to the atmosphere through a through hole (not shown) formed in the main body 23. Therefore, no port for supplying compressed air to the holding chamber 71 is formed in the main body 23.

[0110] Since the structure of the pneumatic chuck 1B other than the above differences is substantially the same as that of the pneumatic chuck 1A of the first embodiment, the connection release mechanism 46, which is the difference, will be described below. For the components that are the same as those of the pneumatic chuck 1A, the main same components are labeled with the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0111] The connection release mechanism 46 is composed of a cylindrical manual operation member 70. This manual operation member 70 is installed in a circular installation hole 72 that penetrates the main body 23 of the chuck body portion 3 from the front surface to the rear surface in a manner that it can rotate freely in the forward and reverse directions around an axis orthogonal to the second axis L2. Hexagonal operation holes (not shown) for inserting and rotating tools such as a hexagon wrench are formed on the front end face and the rear end face of this manual operation member 70. Therefore, the rotation operation of the manual operation member 70 can be performed from either the front surface or the rear surface of the main body 23.

[0112] By providing external threads on a part or all of the outer circumference of this manual operation member 70 and internal threads on a part or all of the installation hole 72, the manual operation member 70 is installed in the installation hole 72 in a screwing manner and is configured to move forward and backward through rotation operation. However, this manual operation member 70 can also be configured such that it does not move forward and backward in the axial direction due to rotation operation by not forming threads on the manual operation member 70 and the installation hole 72.

[0113] The position where the manual operation member 70 is installed is a position that intersects with the push member 53 near the front end of the push member 53. An operation cam 73 for pushing up the front end of the push member 53 is formed at a portion where the manual operation member 70 is close to the front end of the push member 53.

[0114] The operation cam 73 is formed by cutting a part of the side surface of a cylinder in a substantially L shape and has an avoidance portion 73a and a contact portion 73b, as Figure 8As shown, when the manual operation member 70 rotates to the non-operation position, the lower end of the pressing member 53 is located within the avoidance portion 73a and is not pressed by the abutting portion 73b. Therefore, the pressing member 53 advances (descends) due to the force of the pressing spring 54 and occupies the pressing position for pressing the locking body 19 to the locking position. The finger support portion 2 is connected to the chuck body portion 3.

[0115] When the manual operation member 70 is rotated from this state and switched to the operation position, as Figure 9 shown, since the abutting portion 73b of the operation cam 73 abuts against the lower end surface of the pressing member 53 and pushes up the pressing member 53, the pressing member 53 retreats (ascends) while compressing the pressing spring 54 and occupies the non-pressing position for releasing the pressing of the locking body 19. Therefore, when the finger support portion 2 is lifted in this state to raise the locking shaft 13, since the locking body 19 is pushed by the locking surface 18a of the locking shaft 13 and displaced to the Figure 9 non-locking position shown by the dotted line in, it is possible to pass through the Figure 10 state and completely separate the finger support portion 2 from the chuck body portion 3.

[0116] At this time, the holding rod 65 of the locking body holding mechanism 56 is pushed upward by the holding spring 66 and rises together with the locking shaft 13, as Figure 10 shown, and stops at the rising end position where the holding piston 64 abuts against the upper wall 68. Then, the holding rod 65 abuts against the locking body 19 that has been displaced to the non-locking position and holds the locking body 19 in the non-locking position.

[0117] In addition, the force of the holding spring 66 can be set to a magnitude such that when the pressing member 53 is displaced to the non-pressing position by the manual operation member 70 and the pressing of the locking body 19 is eliminated, the locking shaft 13 can be pushed upward to the Figure 10 position.

[0118] Furthermore, when connecting the separated finger support portion 2 to the chuck body portion 3, as Figure 10 shown, the locking shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 44, and while pushing down the holding rod 65 of the locking body holding mechanism 56 with the locking shaft 13, the locking shaft 13 is pushed into the Figure 9 position shown. At this time, the locking body 19 is located at the Figure 9 dotted line position. And when the manual operation member 70 is rotated and restored to Figure 8When in the non-operating position, since the pressing member 53 is pressed downward (advanced) by the pressing spring 54, the locking body 19 is pressed by the conical surface 53c of the pressing member 53 and abuts against the locking surface 18a of the locking recess 18, pressing the locking shaft 13 downward and displacing it to the unlocked position, and connecting the finger support portion 2 to the chuck body portion 3 via the locking shaft 13.

[0119] In addition, certain marks can be provided on the manual operating member 70 and the main body 23 so that it can be visually confirmed whether the manual operating member 70 is in the operating position or the non-operating position.

[0120] Figure 11 and Figure 12 The third embodiment of the pneumatic chuck of the present invention is shown. The difference between the pneumatic chuck 1C of the third embodiment and the pneumatic chuck 1B of the second embodiment is that the manual operating member 80 of the connection release mechanism 46 is in the shape of a button and is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the main body 23. The structure other than this is substantially the same as that of the pneumatic chuck 1B of the second embodiment.

[0121] In the pneumatic chuck 1C of the third embodiment, button mounting holes 82 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the main body 23 at positions corresponding to the front end of the pressing member 53, and the manual operating member 80 is mounted in the button mounting holes 82 in a state supported by a mounting plate 83 so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the pressing member 53 in the left-right direction of the main body 23.

[0122] The manual operating member 80 is in the shape of a square block and has a cam surface 80a that slopes obliquely upward, that is, a cam surface 80a that slopes in a direction away from the second axis L2 from the lower surface side toward the upper surface side of the manual operating member 80.

[0123] In addition, the manual operating member 80 is configured to be displaceable to a non-operating position protruding from the main body 23 and an operating position pushed into the interior of the main body 23. When pushed from the non-operating position to the operating position, it holds the operating position by itself, and when pressed again, it returns to the non-operating position.

[0124] Figure 11 This refers to the state where the finger support portion 2 is connected to the chuck body portion 3. At this time, the manual operating member 80 is in the retracted non-operating position.

[0125] When the manual operating member 80 is pushed into the operating position from this state, as Figure 12As shown, since the cam surface 80a of the manual operation member 80 pushes up the lower end of the pressing member 53, the pressing member 53 rises and occupies a non-pressing position where the pressing of the locking body 19 is released. Therefore, when the finger support portion 2 is lifted, since the locking surface 18a of the locking shaft 13 presses the locking body 19 and displaces it to a non-locking position, the locking between the locking shaft 13 and the chuck body portion 3 is released, and the finger support portion 2 can be completely separated from the chuck body portion 3.

[0126] When connecting the separated finger support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3, the locking shaft 13 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 44, and while pushing down the holding rod 65 of the locking body holding mechanism 56 with the locking shaft 13, the locking shaft 13 is pushed into the Figure 11 position shown. And when the manual operation member 80 is returned to the non-operation position, since the pressing member 53 is pushed down (advanced) by the pressing spring 54, the locking body 19 is pressed by the tapered surface 53c of the pressing member 53 and abuts against the locking surface 18a of the locking recess 18, pushing down the locking shaft 13 and displacing it to the non-locking position, and connecting the finger support portion 2 and the chuck body portion 3 via the locking shaft 13.

Claims

1. A pneumatic chuck, the pneumatic chuck having a finger support portion, a chuck body portion, and a connecting mechanism, the finger support portion having a pair of fingers that can be opened and closed freely, the chuck body portion having an operating mechanism for opening and closing the pair of fingers, the connecting mechanism connecting the chuck body portion and the finger support portion in a separable manner, wherein the pneumatic chuck is characterized in that the finger support portion has a pair of locking shafts that displace between a locked position and an unlocked position. When connecting the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, the pair of locking shafts displace to the unlocked position to make the pair of fingers freely openable and closable. When separating the finger support portion from the chuck body portion, the pair of locking shafts displace to the locked position to lock the pair of fingers in a manner that they cannot be opened and closed. There are two sets of the connecting mechanism provided corresponding to the pair of locking shafts respectively. When connecting the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, each connecting mechanism displaces the corresponding locking shaft from the locked position to the unlocked position and connects the finger support portion and the chuck body portion to each other via the locking shaft.

2. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 1, wherein the pair of locking shafts are displaceable between the locked position where they are respectively engaged with the pair of fingers and the unlocked position where they are not engaged with the pair of fingers, and are respectively biased by locking springs toward the locked position. The connecting mechanism has a shaft insertion hole and a shaft locking mechanism. The shaft insertion hole is formed in the main body of the chuck body portion for inserting the locking shaft. The shaft locking mechanism displaces the locking shaft to the unlocked position when the locking shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion hole and locks the locking shaft with the chuck body portion.

3. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 2, wherein the shaft locking mechanism has a locking surface, at least one locking body, a pressing member, and a pressing spring. The locking surface is formed on the locking shaft. The at least one locking body is accommodated inside a locking body accommodation hole formed in the hole wall of the shaft insertion hole and is displaceable between a locking position where it is engaged with the locking surface of the locking shaft and a non-locking position where it disengages from the locking surface. The pressing member is displaceable between a pressing position where it presses the locking body toward the locking position and a non-pressing position where it does not press the locking body. The pressing spring biases the pressing member toward the pressing position. The locking surface of the locking shaft is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the axis of the locking shaft. When the locking body is engaged with the locking surface, the locking shaft is displaced to the unlocked position.

4. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 3, wherein the locking body is a sphere. The pushing member is cylindrical and is disposed around the shaft insertion hole and the locking body so as to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction of the shaft insertion hole. A tapered surface is formed on the inner surface of the pushing member. When the pushing member advances toward the pushing position, the tapered surface pushes the locking body toward the locking position, and when the pushing member retreats toward the non-pushing position, the pushing of the locking body is released.

5. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting mechanism has a connection release mechanism for releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion.

6. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the connecting mechanism has a connection release mechanism for releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, and the connection release mechanism has a release piston that operates using air. When releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, the release piston displaces the pushing member toward the non-pushing position.

7. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the connecting mechanism has a connection release mechanism for releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, and the connection release mechanism is constituted by a manual operation member. When releasing the connection between the finger support portion and the chuck body portion, the manual operation member displaces the pushing member toward the non-pushing position.

8. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the connecting mechanism has a locking body holding mechanism, and the locking body holding mechanism holds the locking body displaced to the non-locking position at the non-locking position when separating the finger support portion from the chuck body portion.

9. The pneumatic chuck according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking body holding mechanism has a holding rod that is displaceably inserted into the shaft insertion hole. Along with pulling out the locking shaft from the shaft insertion hole when separating the finger support portion from the chuck body portion, the holding rod is displaced in the shaft insertion hole by the action of compressed air or a holding spring, abuts against the locking body located at the non-locking position, and holds the locking body at the non-locking position.

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