Positioning and fixing device

Abstract

To provide a positioning and fixing device that is downsized.SOLUTION: In the positioning and fixing device, a cylinder body includes: a small diameter part embedded in a base body; and a large diameter part protruding in a first direction from a second surface side on the opposite side to a first surface in the base body and having an outer diameter larger than that of the small diameter part. An engagement tool is provided on the small diameter part of the cylinder body, and a cylinder chamber that reciprocates a piston member is formed in the large diameter part of the cylinder body. A working medium passage through which a working medium can be supplied from an inner peripheral side of the piston member to the cylinder chamber is formed in a rod member. The positioning and fixing device drives a connection member in the first direction through the engagement tool to bring an object to be fixed with the first surface of the base body, so as to position the object in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present technology relates to positioning and fixation devices. [Background technology]

[0002] A positioning and fixing device capable of positioning an object to be fixed relative to a base body and then fixing the object has been conventionally known. As background art to this technology, the following Patent Documents 1 to 6 are mentioned. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Application Publication No. 2005 / 075145 [Patent Document 2] International Application Publication No. 2014 / 009201 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-285925 [Patent Document 4] JP 2019-14028 A [Patent Document 5] JP 2020-69556 A [Patent Document 6] German Utility Model No. 202018104109 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for a more compact device while maintaining the positioning and fixing function. Conventional positioning and fixing devices have room for further improvement in terms of miniaturization.

[0005] An object of the present technology is to provide a compact positioning and fixing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present technology may, in one embodiment, provide a positioning and fixing device as follows.

[0007] [1] A positioning and fixing device capable of attracting and fixing an object to be fixed to a first surface of a base body and positioning the object to be fixed relative to the base body, the positioning and fixing device comprising: a fluid pressure cylinder fixed to the base body; and a connecting member having an outer circumferential surface and attachable to the object to be fixed. The fluid pressure cylinder includes a cylinder body, an annular piston member capable of reciprocating in a first direction relative to the cylinder body, an engaging device that engages with the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member and drives the connecting member in the first direction in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the piston member, and a rod member fixed to the cylinder body and fitted to the inner circumferential side of the piston member. a cylinder body including a small diameter portion embedded in the base body and a large diameter portion protruding in a first direction from a second surface side opposite the first surface of the base body and having an outer diameter larger than the small diameter portion; an engaging device is provided on the small diameter portion of the cylinder body; a cylinder chamber for reciprocating the piston member is formed in the large diameter portion of the cylinder body; a working medium passage capable of supplying a working medium from the inner side of the piston member to the cylinder chamber is formed in the rod member; and a positioning and fixing device in which the connecting member is driven in the first direction via the engaging device to abut the fixed object against the first surface of the base body and position it in the first direction.

[0008] [2] The cylinder body further includes a hole portion having an inner circumferential surface that abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member, and the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member is abutted against the inner circumferential surface of the hole portion to position the connecting member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0009] [3] The positioning and fixing device according to [1] or [2], wherein the base body has an insertion hole, and the small diameter portion of the cylinder body is pressed into the insertion hole from the second surface side.

[0010] [4] A positioning and fixing device described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein a step surface is formed between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the cylinder body, and the step surface abuts against the second surface of the base body.

[0011] [5] The positioning and fixing device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the base body abuts against the object to be fixed in an area adjacent to the small diameter portion on the first surface.

[0012] [6] A positioning and fixing device described in any one of [1] to [5], wherein the piston member divides the large diameter portion of the cylinder body into a first chamber far from the base body and a second chamber close to the base body, and a through hole is formed in the piston member reaching from the inner side to the outer side of the piston member and connecting the working medium passage and the second chamber.

[0013] [7] The positioning and fixing device described in [6], wherein the piston member includes a first part that is fitted into the large diameter portion of the cylinder body and a second part that is fitted into the small diameter portion of the cylinder body, and a through hole is formed between the first part and the second part.

[0014] [8] A positioning and fixing device described in any one of [1] to [7], wherein the rod member includes a retaining portion that holds an engaging device provided on the small diameter portion of the cylinder body.

[0015] [9] A positioning and fixing device described in any one of [1] to [8], wherein the engaging device includes a plurality of steel balls arranged in a circumferential direction of the cylinder body, and the connecting member includes engaging recesses formed so that the plurality of steel balls can come into contact with each other.

[0016]

[10] A positioning and fixing device as described in [9], which positions and fixes the fixed object to the base body by driving the piston member in a direction approaching the fixed object and engaging each of the multiple steel balls with the engagement recesses, and releases the fixed object from the base body by driving the piston member in a direction away from the fixed object and disengaging each of the multiple steel balls from the engagement recesses.

[0017]

[11] A positioning and fixing device described in any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein the rod member has a recess for receiving the tip side of the connecting member.

[0018]

[12] The positioning and fixing device according to any one of [1] to

[11] , further comprising a biasing member housed in the cylinder chamber and biasing the piston member in a direction in which the object to be fixed is fixed. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present technology, a miniaturized positioning and fixing device can be obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a clamped state of the positioning and fixing device according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged view of the periphery of an engaging member in the positioning and fixing device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a positioning and fixing device according to one embodiment in an unclamped state (fixed object and connecting member). [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a positioning and fixing device according to one embodiment in an unclamped state (base body and fluid pressure cylinder). [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a clamped state of a positioning and fixing device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described. Note that the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference characters, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0022] In the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, amount, etc., the scope of the present technology is not necessarily limited to the number, amount, etc., unless otherwise specified. In addition, in the following embodiments, each component is not necessarily essential to the present technology, unless otherwise specified. In addition, the present technology is not necessarily limited to those that achieve all of the effects and advantages mentioned in the present embodiment.

[0023] In this specification, the words "comprise", "include" and "have" are open-ended, i.e., when a certain configuration is included, other configurations may or may not be included.

[0024] Furthermore, when geometric terms and terms expressing positional and directional relationships, such as "parallel," "orthogonal," "45° diagonal," "coaxial," and "along" are used in this specification, these terms allow for manufacturing errors and slight variations. When terms expressing relative positional relationships, such as "upper side" and "lower side," are used in this specification, these terms are used to indicate relative positional relationships in one state, and the relative positional relationships can be inverted or rotated to any angle depending on the installation direction of each mechanism (for example, by turning the entire mechanism upside down).

[0025] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a clamped state of a positioning and fixing device according to one embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. For convenience of illustration, connecting member 200 and bolt 200A are not shown in Fig. 2. Hereinafter, the up-down direction in Fig. 1 may be referred to as the "vertical direction" or "first direction", and the left-right direction in Fig. 1 or the direction perpendicular to the paper surface may be referred to as the "horizontal direction" or "second direction".

[0026] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the positioning and fixing device according to this embodiment includes a fluid pressure cylinder 100 fixed to a base body 1, and a connecting member 200 attached to an object 2 to be fixed by a bolt 200A.

[0027] The positioning and fixing device attracts and fixes the object to be fixed 2 to a first surface 10 serving as a reference seating surface (reference surface) of the base body 1. When the object to be fixed 2 comes into contact with the first surface 10 of the base body 1, it is possible to position the object to be fixed 2 relative to the base body 1 in the vertical direction.

[0028] Examples of the fixed object 2 include a work pallet for mounting a workpiece to be subjected to cutting processing, a mold, and the like, but the fixed object 2 in the present technology is not limited to these.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid pressure cylinder 100 includes a cylinder body 110, a piston member 120, an engagement member 130, a rod member 140, a biasing member 150, and a stopper 160.

[0030] The cylinder body 110 includes a large diameter portion 111 , a small diameter portion 112 , a hole portion 113 , and a step surface 114 .

[0031] The large diameter portion 111 protrudes in the vertical direction (first direction) from the second surface 20 (rear surface) of the base body 1. The large diameter portion 111 has an outer diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion 112.

[0032] The small diameter portion 112 is embedded in the base body 1. More specifically, the small diameter portion 112 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 30 of the base body 1 from the second surface 20 side. The first surface 10 of the base body 1 and the fixed object 2 come into contact with each other in a region adjacent to the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder main body 110.

[0033] The hole 113 is formed on the upper surface of the small diameter portion 112 so as to face the object 2 to be fixed. The inner peripheral surface of the hole 113 abuts against the outer peripheral surface 210 of the connecting member 200. The hole 113 of the cylinder body 110 abuts against the outer peripheral surface 210 of the connecting member 200, so that the object 2 to be fixed can be positioned relative to the base body 1 in the horizontal direction (second direction). The positioning in the horizontal direction may be positioning in both the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, or may be positioning in only one of the above two directions. Furthermore, in the present technology, positioning in the horizontal direction (second direction) is not essential, and the positioning and fixing device may perform positioning only in the vertical direction (first direction).

[0034] The step surface 114 is formed between the large diameter portion 111 and the small diameter portion 112. The step surface 114 abuts against the second surface 20 of the base body 1. When an external force acts on the object to be fixed 2 fixed to the base body 1, the external force is transmitted to the cylinder body 110 via the connecting member 200 and the engaging member 130. The external force transmitted to the cylinder body 110 can be transmitted to the base body 1 via the step surface 114. In this way, since the force acting on the object to be fixed 2 can be transmitted to the base body 1 via the step surface 114, when an external force acts in a direction to pull the object to be fixed 2 away from the base body 1, the external force can be received by the base body 1, and unintended positional displacement of the object to be fixed 2 can be suppressed.

[0035] A cylinder chamber 110A (first chamber) and a cylinder chamber 110B (second chamber) are formed inside the cylinder body 110. The cylinder chambers 110A and 110B are partitioned by a piston member 120. The cylinder chambers 110A and 110B are formed in a large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body 110.

[0036] When the object to be fixed 2 is to be fixed (clamped), working pressure is supplied to the cylinder chamber 110A. When the object to be fixed 2 is to be released from the fixing (unclamped), working pressure is supplied to the cylinder chamber 110B.

[0037] The piston member 120 is fitted into the large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body 110. The piston member 120 is an annular member, and the rod member 140 is fitted into the inner circumferential side thereof. The piston member 120 can be reciprocated in the vertical direction by the pressure of a working medium (typically working air, but not limited to this, may be working oil) supplied to and discharged from the cylinder chambers 110A and 110B.

[0038] The piston member 120 includes a first portion 121 that is fitted into the large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body 110, and a second portion 122 that is fitted into the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder body 110. Between the first portion 121 and the second portion 122, a through hole 123 is formed that extends from an internal space 110C formed on the inner periphery side of the piston member 120 to a cylinder chamber 110B formed on the outer periphery side of the piston member 120.

[0039] The engaging member 130 engages with the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member 200 and drives the connecting member 200 in the vertical direction (the opposite direction to the piston member 120) while moving horizontally in accordance with the vertical reciprocating motion of the piston member 120. The engaging member 130 is provided on the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder body 110.

[0040] 2, the engaging device 130 includes a plurality of steel balls arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the cylinder body 110. The connecting member 200 includes engaging recesses 220 formed so that the plurality of steel balls can come into contact with each other. The engaging recesses 220 are formed over the entire circumferential direction of the connecting member 200 such that an outer circumferential surface 210 of the connecting member 200 is recessed radially inward.

[0041] Referring again to FIG. 1, the rod member 140 is fixed to the cylinder body 110. The rod member 140 is fitted to the inner periphery of the piston member 120. The rod member 140 is formed with air passages 140A, 140B (working medium passages) capable of supplying air (working medium) from the inner periphery of the piston member 120 to the cylinder chambers 110A, 110B. The air passage 140A communicates with the cylinder chamber 110A. A through hole 123 formed in the piston member 120 communicates between the internal space 110C, which communicates with the air passage 140B, and the cylinder chamber 110B. As a result, the air passage 140B communicates with the cylinder chamber 110B.

[0042] The air passages 140A, 140B are supplied with working air from below in the vertical direction. The air passages 140A, 140B have a portion that extends vertically from the input port and a portion that extends radially or obliquely to reach the outer periphery of the rod member 140. The input ports of the air passages 140A, 140B are formed on the lower surface of the rod member 140, and the centers are located in an area that overlaps with the engaging member 130 when viewed from the vertical direction (first direction) or in an area on the inner periphery side of the engaging member 130. The working air supplied to the air passages 140A, 140B is supplied to the cylinder chambers 110A, 110B that reach an area on the outer periphery side of the engaging member 130 when viewed from the vertical direction (first direction).

[0043] The tip side of the rod member 140 is provided with a holding portion 141 that holds the engaging member 130 provided on the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder body 110, and a recess 142 that receives the tip side of the connecting member 200.

[0044] The biasing member 150 is housed in the cylinder chamber 110A on the lock side (clamp side). The biasing member 150 biases the piston member 120 vertically upward. That is, the biasing member 150 biases the piston member 120 in a direction in which the fixed object 2 is fixed. This makes it possible to maintain the fixed state of the fixed object 2 even if the supply of air pressure is interrupted.

[0045] The stopper 160 is provided for fixing the rod member 140 to the cylinder body 110. The stopper 160 restricts the displacement of the rod member 140 with respect to the cylinder body 110.

[0046] Seal members 171, 172, 173, 174, and 175 are provided inside the cylinder body 110. The seal member 171 is provided at a sliding portion between the large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body 110 and the first portion 121 of the piston member 120. The seal member 172 is provided at a sliding portion between the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder body 110 and the second portion 122 of the piston member 120. The seal member 173 is provided at a fitting portion between the rod member 140 and the large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body 110. The seal members 174 and 175 are each provided at a sliding portion between the inner circumferential surface of the piston member 120 and the rod member 140. The seal member 171 seals between the cylinder chambers 110A and 110B. The seal member 172 seals between the cylinder chamber 110B and the outside of the cylinder body 110. The seal member 173 seals between the cylinder chamber 110A and the outside of the cylinder body 110. The seal member 174 seals between the cylinder chamber 110A and the internal space 110C. The seal member 175 seals between the internal space 110C and the outside of the cylinder body 110. The seal members 171, 172, 173, 174, and 175 are formed of, for example, O-rings.

[0047] As described above, when positioning and fixing the object 2 to the base body 1, air pressure is supplied to the cylinder chamber 110A to drive the piston member 120 in a direction approaching the object 2, and the engaging member 130 is engaged with the engaging recess 220 of the connecting member 200. This drives the connecting member 200 vertically downward via the engaging member 130. As a result, the object 2 to be fixed abuts against the first surface 10 of the base body 1 to be positioned in the vertical direction, and the outer circumferential surface 210 of the connecting member 200 abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the hole 113 of the cylinder main body 110 to be positioned in the horizontal direction.

[0048] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the engaging member 130. As shown in Fig. 3, the second portion 122 of the piston member 120 is formed with a tapered surface 122A that is inclined radially outward as it approaches the fixed object 2, and the holding portion 141 of the rod member 140 is formed with a tip surface 141A that is inclined in the opposite direction to the tapered surface 122A of the piston member 120.

[0049] When air pressure is supplied to the cylinder chamber 110A, the piston member 120 is driven upward (toward the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder body 110). When the piston member 120 is driven upward, the engaging member 130 held by the holding portion 141 of the rod member 140 is pressed radially inward of the connecting member 200 by the tapered surface 122A. The engaging member 130 pressed radially inward engages with the engaging recess 220 of the connecting member 200, and drives the connecting member 200 vertically downward.

[0050] As a result, the object 2 is pushed downward. That is, the piston member 120 is driven in a direction approaching the object 2, and the engaging member 130 of the fluid pressure cylinder 100 is engaged with the engaging recess 220 of the connecting member 200, thereby fixing the object 2 to the base body 1.

[0051] The object to be fixed 2 is pressed down until it abuts against the first surface 10 of the base body 1. The first surface 10 realizes the positioning of the object to be fixed 2 in the vertical direction (first direction).

[0052] When the connecting member 200 is driven downward, the outer circumferential surface 210 of the connecting member 200 engages with the hole 113 of the cylinder body 110. Therefore, the connecting member 200 descends while being guided by the hole 113 of the cylinder body 110. This realizes positioning of the fixed object 2 in the horizontal direction (second direction).

[0053] 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the above-mentioned positioning and fixing device in an unclamped state (FIG. 4 shows the fixed object 2 and the connecting member 200, and FIG. 5 shows the base body 1 and the fluid pressure cylinder 100).

[0054] When releasing the positioning and fixing of the object to be fixed 2, air pressure is supplied to the cylinder chamber 110B to drive the piston member 120 in a direction away from the object to be fixed 2, and the engagement between the engaging member 130 and the engaging recess 220 of the connecting member 200 is released. As a result, the object to be fixed 2 is released from the base body 1, and the two can be separated, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0055] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a clamped state of a positioning and fixing device according to a modified example. In the example of Fig. 6, the attachment direction of a bolt 200A for fixing a connecting member 200 to a fixed object 2 is different from the examples of Figs. 1 to 5.

[0056] Although not shown in Fig. 6, also in this modified example, the above-mentioned air passages 140A, 140B (working medium passages) are formed in the rod member 140. In addition, as shown in Fig. 6, an air passage 140C is formed that extends from the lower end of the rod member 140 to the recess 142.

[0057] The inside of the cylinder body 110 can be cleaned by air (blow air) supplied from the air passage 140C to the recess 142. In addition, by detecting the air pressure in the air passage 140C, it is also possible to detect whether the object 2 is in close contact with the base body 1.

[0058] In the positioning and fixing device of this embodiment, air passages 140A, 140B are provided in rod member 140 which is fitted into the inner peripheral side of piston member 120, and operating air is supplied from the inner peripheral side of cylinder chambers 110A, 110B, so that operating air can be supplied and discharged from piping connected below fluid pressure cylinder 100. This makes it possible to make the entire mechanism smaller than when air passages are formed in base body 1.

[0059] Here, by providing the engaging device 130 that drives the connecting member 200 on the small diameter portion 112 of the cylinder main body 110, pressing the small diameter portion 112 into the insertion hole 30 of the base body 1, and causing the large diameter portion 111 to protrude from the second surface 20 side of the base body 1, it is possible to miniaturize the entire mechanism in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0060] Furthermore, by directly and firmly positioning and fixing the base body 1 and the object 2, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire mechanism in the vertical direction.

[0061] Furthermore, by forming the cylinder chambers 110A, 110B for reciprocating the piston member 120 in the large diameter portion 111 of the cylinder body, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire mechanism while ensuring the cylinder area.

[0062] Furthermore, by abutting the step surface 114 between the large diameter portion 111 and the small diameter portion 112 against the second surface 20 of the base body 1, the external force acting on the object to be fixed 2 can be received by the cylinder main body 110, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the entire mechanism while maintaining the clamping force.

[0063] Although the embodiment of the present technology has been described above, the embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present technology is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 base body, 2 fixed object, 10 first surface, 20 second surface, 30 insertion hole, 100 fluid pressure cylinder, 110 cylinder body, 110A, 110B cylinder chamber, 110C internal space, 111 large diameter portion, 112 small diameter portion, 113 hole portion, 114 step surface, 120 piston member, 121 first portion, 122 second portion, 122A tapered surface, 123 through hole, 130 engagement member, 140 rod member, 140A, 140B, 140C air passage, 141 holding portion, 141A tip surface, 142 recess, 150 biasing member, 160 stopper, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 seal member, 200 connecting member, 200A bolt, 210 Outer periphery, 220 engagement recess.

Claims

1. A positioning and fixing device capable of attracting and fixing an object to a first surface of a base body and positioning the object with respect to the base body, A fluid pressure cylinder fixed to the base body; a connecting member having an outer circumferential surface and attachable to the fixed object; the fluid pressure cylinder includes a cylinder body, a ring-shaped piston member reciprocatable in a first direction relative to the cylinder body, an engagement device that engages with the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member and drives the connecting member in the first direction in accordance with the reciprocation of the piston member, and a rod member that is fixed to the cylinder body and fitted into an inner circumferential side of the piston member, the cylinder body includes a small diameter portion embedded in the base body, and a large diameter portion protruding in the first direction from a second surface side of the base body opposite to the first surface and having an outer diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion; The engaging member is provided on the small diameter portion of the cylinder body, a cylinder chamber for reciprocating the piston member is formed in the large diameter portion of the cylinder body, a working medium passage capable of supplying a working medium from an inner circumferential side of the piston member to the cylinder chamber is formed in the rod member, A positioning and fixing device that drives the connecting member in the first direction via the engaging device to abut the fixed object against the first surface of the base body, thereby positioning the fixed object in the first direction.

2. The cylinder body further includes a hole having an inner circumferential surface that contacts the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member, The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of the connecting member is brought into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the hole portion to perform positioning in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The base body has a fitting hole, The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the small diameter portion of the cylinder body is press-fitted into the fitting hole from the second surface side.

4. 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a step surface is formed between the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion of the cylinder body, and the step surface abuts against the second surface of the base body.

5. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the base body abuts against the object at a region of the first surface adjacent to the small diameter portion.

6. the piston member divides the large diameter portion of the cylinder body into a first chamber far from the base body and a second chamber close to the base body, 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a through hole is formed in the piston member, the through hole extending from an inner periphery side to an outer periphery side of the piston member and connecting the working medium passage and the second chamber.

7. 7. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 6, wherein the piston member includes a first portion that is fitted into the large diameter portion of the cylinder body and a second portion that is fitted into the small diameter portion of the cylinder body, and the through hole is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

8. 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the rod member includes a holding portion that holds the engaging member provided on the small diameter portion of the cylinder body.

9. The engaging member includes a plurality of steel balls arranged in a circumferential direction of the cylinder body, 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member includes engaging recesses formed to be able to come into contact with each of said plurality of steel balls.

10. the piston member is driven in a direction approaching the fixed object, and the fixed object is positioned and fixed to the base body by engaging the plurality of steel balls with the engaging recesses, respectively; 10. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the piston member is driven in a direction away from the object to disengage the steel balls from the engaging recesses, thereby releasing the object from the base body.

11. 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the rod member has a recess for receiving a tip end of the connecting member.

12. 3. The positioning and fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member housed in said cylinder chamber and biasing said piston member in a direction in which said object to be fixed is fixed.

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