Synchronous clamping device and clamping method

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of workpiece clamping devices, and particularly relates to a synchronous clamping device and a clamping method. A synchronous clamping device comprises a rack, two parallel rack shafts are arranged in the middle of the top of the rack, specifically, a rack shaft a and a rack shaft b, a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws are arranged on the rack shafts, one ends of the same pair of clamping jaws are in rigid connection with the rack shaft a or the rack shaft b, and the other ends of the same pair of clamping jaws are in sliding connection with the rack shaft a or the rack shaft b. A gear is arranged between the two parallel rack shafts, the gear is meshed with racks on the rack shafts, an oil cylinder is connected to a clamping jaw which is located in the middle of the rack shafts and is in rigid connection with the rack shafts, and a height adjusting bracket is further arranged on the top of the machine frame on the side face of the clamping jaw. Clamping jaw movement and gear and rack pair movement are combined into a whole, a rack serves as a synchronizing mechanism and also serves as a guide rod for clamping jaw movement, and meanwhile the height adjusting bracket is additionally arranged so as to adapt to workpieces of different sizes and specifications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of workpiece clamping devices, and specifically relates to a synchronous clamping device and clamping method. Background Technology

[0002] In the fields of workpiece production and machining, such as steel pipe hydrostatic testing machines and steel pipe chamfering machines, the height of the main machine head is usually fixed according to specific process requirements or the characteristics of the equipment itself. This brings up a key issue: it is necessary to accurately position pipes and bars of different diameters or specifications at the center height of the equipment and firmly clamp them in place for subsequent hydrostatic testing, end face chamfering, or other necessary production operations. Achieving reliable center height positioning and clamping of workpieces of different specifications is a fundamental requirement for ensuring smooth production processes and stable processing quality.

[0003] Currently, commonly used clamping device synchronization mechanisms mainly employ linkage mechanisms or rack and pinion mechanisms. However, both of these solutions have significant limitations. Due to their structural characteristics, linkage mechanisms have relatively poor motion accuracy, making it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of positioning and clamping repeatability in high-precision machining tasks. On the other hand, in existing rack and pinion clamping devices, the moving parts of the grippers are structurally independent from the gear and rack pair that drives the gripper movement. This means that they typically require separate guiding mechanisms to achieve motion. This separate design leads to a complex and bulky overall structure, increasing manufacturing costs and significantly raising the probability of mechanical failures, thus reducing the reliability and maintainability of the equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a synchronous clamping device and clamping method. This clamping device combines the movement of the gripper and the movement of the gear rack pair into one. The rack serves as both a synchronous mechanism and a guide rod for the movement of the gripper. Additionally, a height adjustment bracket is added to accommodate workpieces of different sizes and specifications.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: a synchronous clamping device, including a frame, wherein two parallel rack shafts, specifically rack shaft a and rack shaft b, are provided at the middle position of the top of the frame, and multiple pairs of grippers are provided on the rack shafts, one end of each pair of grippers being rigidly connected to rack shaft a or rack shaft b, and the other end being slidably connected to rack shaft a or rack shaft b, a gear being provided between the two parallel rack shafts, the gear meshing with the racks on the rack shafts, a hydraulic cylinder being connected to the gripper located at the middle position of the rack shaft and rigidly connected to the rack shaft, and a height adjustment bracket being provided on the side of the gripper and the top of the frame.

[0006] The height adjustment bracket includes two guide rods, which are perpendicular to the top plane of the frame and have a support block on them. A lead screw is provided between the two guide rods below the support block, and a handwheel is provided at the bottom of the lead screw.

[0007] The top of the support block has a V-shaped structure, and the center line of the V-shaped structure is on the same plane as the center line of the gripper.

[0008] The gripper has three pairs. The first pair of grippers includes gripper a and gripper b. The second pair of grippers includes gripper c and gripper d. The third pair of grippers includes gripper e and gripper f. Gripper a, gripper c, and gripper e are rigidly connected to rack shaft a on one side and slidably connected to rack shaft b on the other side. Gripper b, gripper d, and gripper f are rigidly connected to rack shaft b on one side and slidably connected to rack shaft a on the other side. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to gripper c.

[0009] The same pair of grippers uses a finger-crossing clamping structure on the gripper surface.

[0010] The rack on the rack shaft is a circular rack shaft.

[0011] A synchronous clamping method, using a synchronous clamping device as described above, includes the following steps: S1. During operation, adjust the height of the height adjustment bracket to make the center height of the workpiece consistent with the center height of the gripper. S2. The hydraulic cylinder acts as the actuator to push the gripper. The rack and pinion shaft and the gear form a rack and pinion pair to achieve synchronous opposite or reciprocating motion of the same pair of grippers, thereby clamping and releasing the gripper.

[0012] The technical advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention combines the movement of the gripper and the movement of the gear and rack pair into one. The rack serves as both a synchronization mechanism and a guide rod for the movement of the gripper. At the same time, a height adjustment bracket is added to accommodate workpieces of different sizes and specifications. 2. This invention achieves the up-and-down movement of the support block by rotating the handwheel to drive the lead screw, thereby adjusting workpieces of different sizes and specifications to a suitable position. The up-and-down movement of the support block is guided by the guide rod to ensure smooth movement.

[0013] The following will provide further explanation in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a synchronous clamping device according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a synchronous clamping device according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the synchronous clamping principle of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4This is a structural diagram of the height adjustment bracket of the present invention.

[0018] Reference numerals: 1-clamp a; 2-clamp b; 3-clamp c; 4-clamp d; 5-clamp e; 6-clamp f; 7-cylinder; 8-frame; 9-height adjustment bracket; 10-rack shaft; 11-gear; 901-support block; 902-guide rod; 903-lead screw; 904-handwheel; 101-rack shaft a; 102-rack shaft b. Detailed Implementation Example 1

[0019] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a synchronous clamping device includes a frame 8. Two parallel rack shafts 10, specifically rack shaft a101 and rack shaft b102, are located at the top center of the frame 8. Multiple pairs of grippers are provided on the rack shafts 10. One end of each pair of grippers is rigidly connected to rack shaft a101 or rack shaft b102, and the other end is slidably connected to rack shaft a101 or rack shaft b102. A gear 11 is located between the two parallel rack shafts 10. The gear 11 meshes with the rack on the rack shaft 10. A hydraulic cylinder 7 is connected to the gripper located at the middle position of the rack shaft 10 and rigidly connected to the rack shaft 10. A height adjustment bracket 9 is also provided on the top of the frame 8 on the side of the gripper.

[0020] In use, this invention adjusts the height of the height adjustment bracket 9 to align the center height of the workpiece with the center height of the gripper. The hydraulic cylinder 7 acts as the actuator, pushing the gripper. The rack shaft 10 and gear 11 form a rack and pinion pair, enabling synchronous, opposite, or simultaneous movements of the same pair of grippers, thus clamping and releasing the grippers. This invention combines the gripper movement and the rack and pinion pair movement into one. The rack serves as both a synchronizing mechanism and a guide rod for the gripper movement. Furthermore, the height adjustment bracket accommodates workpieces of different sizes and specifications. Example 2

[0021] Based on Embodiment 1, in this embodiment, preferably, the height adjustment bracket 9 includes two guide rods 902, which are perpendicular to the top plane of the frame 8 and have a support block 901 on them. A lead screw 903 is provided between the two guide rods 902 and below the support block 901, and a handwheel 904 is provided at the bottom of the lead screw 903.

[0022] In use, the height adjustment bracket 9 includes two guide rods 902, which are perpendicular to the top plane of the frame 8. A support block 901 is mounted on each guide rod. A lead screw 903 is located between the two guide rods 902 and below the support block 901. A handwheel 904 is located at the bottom of the lead screw 903. This invention achieves the vertical movement of the support block by rotating the handwheel to drive the lead screw, adjusting workpieces of different sizes and specifications to appropriate positions. The vertical movement of the support block is guided by the guide rods to ensure smooth movement. Example 3

[0023] Based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, in this embodiment, preferably, the top of the support block 901 has a V-shaped structure, and the center line of the V-shaped structure is on the same plane as the center line of the gripper.

[0024] When the present invention is used, the top of the support block 901 has a V-shaped structure, and the center line of the V-shaped structure is on the same plane as the center line of the gripper, which can adjust the center height of the workpiece to be consistent with the center of the gripper. Example 4

[0025] Based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 3, in this embodiment, preferably, the gripper is provided in three pairs. The first pair of grippers includes gripper a1 and gripper b2, the second pair of grippers includes gripper c3 and gripper d4, and the third pair of grippers includes gripper e5 and gripper f6. One side of gripper a1, gripper c3, and gripper e5 is rigidly connected to rack shaft a101, and the other side is slidably connected to rack shaft b102. One side of gripper b2, gripper d4, and gripper f6 is rigidly connected to rack shaft b102, and the other side is slidably connected to rack shaft a101. The output end of the hydraulic cylinder 7 is fixedly connected to gripper c3.

[0026] In use, when the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder 7 retracts, it drives the gripper c3 to move to the right. Simultaneously, the rack shaft a101, gripper a1, and gripper e5 move to the right in sync. Through the gear and rack pair, the rack shaft b102, gripper b2, gripper d4, and gripper f6 move to the left in sync, thereby achieving synchronous clamping action of the left and right grippers at the three workstations. Similarly, when the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder extends, it achieves the release action of the grippers. Example 5

[0027] Based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 4, in this embodiment, preferably, the claw surfaces of the same pair of grippers adopt a finger-crossing clamping structure.

[0028] When using this invention, the jaws of the same pair of jaws adopt a finger-crossing clamping structure, and the V-shaped clamping blocks on all jaws adopt a finger-crossing form. When clamping a small-sized circular cross-section workpiece, the clamping blocks on both sides can be staggered and overlapped for clamping, which can accommodate a wide range of circular cross-section workpieces with different diameters. Example 6

[0029] Based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 5, in this embodiment, preferably, the rack on the rack shaft 10 is a circular rack shaft.

[0030] When this invention is used, the rack on the rack shaft 10 is a circular rack shaft, which serves as both a synchronization mechanism and a guide shaft for the movement of the gripper. Example 7

[0031] Based on Example 1, in this embodiment, preferably, a synchronous clamping method using a synchronous clamping device as described above includes the following steps: S1. During operation, adjust the height of the height adjustment bracket 9 so that the center height of the workpiece is consistent with the center height of the gripper. S2 and the hydraulic cylinder 7 act as actuators to push the grippers. The rack shaft 10 and the gear 11 form a rack and pinion pair to achieve synchronous opposite or reciprocating motion of the same pair of grippers, thereby clamping and releasing the grippers.

[0032] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A synchronous clamping device, characterized in that: The machine includes a frame (8), and two rack shafts (10) that are parallel to each other are provided at the top middle position of the frame (8), specifically rack shaft a (101) and rack shaft b (102). Multiple pairs of grippers are provided on the rack shafts (10). One end of the same pair of grippers is rigidly connected to rack shaft a (101) or rack shaft b (102), and the other end is slidably connected to rack shaft a (101) or rack shaft b (102). A gear (11) is provided between the two parallel rack shafts (10), and the gear (11) meshes with the rack on the rack shaft (10). A hydraulic cylinder (7) is connected to the gripper that is rigidly connected to the rack shaft (10) at the middle position of the rack shaft (10). A height adjustment bracket (9) is also provided on the top of the frame (8) on the side of the gripper.

2. The synchronous clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height adjustment bracket (9) includes two guide rods (902), which are perpendicular to the top plane of the frame (8) and have a support block (901) on them. A lead screw (903) is provided between the two guide rods (902) and below the support block (901). A handwheel (904) is provided at the bottom of the lead screw (903).

3. The synchronous clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the support block (901) has a V-shaped structure, and the center line of the V-shaped structure is on the same plane as the center line of the gripper.

4. The synchronous clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gripper has three pairs. The first pair of grippers includes gripper a (1) and gripper b (2). The second pair of grippers includes gripper c (3) and gripper d (4). The third pair of grippers includes gripper e (5) and gripper f (6). One side of gripper a (1), gripper c (3), and gripper e (5) is rigidly connected to rack shaft a (101), and the other side is slidably connected to rack shaft b (102). One side of gripper b (2), gripper d (4), and gripper f (6) is rigidly connected to rack shaft b (102), and the other side is slidably connected to rack shaft a (101). The output end of the oil cylinder (7) is fixedly connected to gripper c (3).

5. The synchronous clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The same pair of grippers uses a finger-crossing clamping structure on the gripper surface.

6. The synchronous clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rack on the rack shaft (10) is a circular rack shaft.

7. A synchronous clamping method, using a synchronous clamping device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1. During operation, adjust the height of the height adjustment bracket (9) so that the center height of the workpiece is consistent with the center height of the gripper. S2, the oil cylinder (7) acts as the actuator to push the gripper, and the rack shaft (10) and gear (11) form a gear rack pair to realize the synchronous opposite or opposite movement of the same pair of grippers, thereby realizing the clamping and loosening of the gripper.

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