Non-contact support device

Abstract

To provide a non-contact support device capable of increasing the lift force of a workpiece.SOLUTION: A non-contact support device comprises a main body and a sub body 40. Each body 40 is formed with a supply passage portion through which gas is supplied. Each body 40 is formed with a gas passage portion that communicates between the supply passage portion and the inner peripheral side of an inner recess, extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction when viewed from the axial direction and jets gas in a direction that becomes an acute angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the inner recess so as to generate a swirling flow on the inner peripheral side of the inner recess. The gas passage portion extends in a curved shape in a direction in which the angle being the acute angle becomes smaller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a non-contact support device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a cyclone-type non-contact support device that supports a workpiece in a non-contact manner using negative pressure generated by an air flow is known. Specifically, when the non-contact support device is brought closer to the workpiece while ejecting air from the non-contact support device to the workpiece, air flows at high speed between the non-contact support device and the workpiece. As a result, a negative pressure state is created between the non-contact support device and the workpiece, and a lifting force acts on the workpiece. As a result, the workpiece is supported in a non-contact state by the non-contact support device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is still room for improvement in the technology for increasing the lifting force of a workpiece.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The main object of the present disclosure is to provide a non-contact support device capable of increasing the lifting force of a workpiece.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a non-contact support device that supports a workpiece in a non-contact state by ejecting a gas against the workpiece, comprising a body extending in an axial direction in which a central axis extends and a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction, At the first end portion of the body in the axial direction, a work support portion is formed which is annular about the central axis and faces the work. In the inner portion of the body in the radial direction relative to the work support portion, an inner concave portion is formed which is recessed toward the second end side of the body in the axial direction with respect to the work support portion. In the body, on the second end side of the bottom portion of the inner concave portion in the axial direction, a supply passage portion through which gas is supplied is formed. In the body, a gas passage portion is formed which communicates with the supply passage portion and the inner peripheral side of the inner concave portion, and extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction when viewed from the axial direction so as to inject gas in a direction that forms an acute angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the inner concave portion to generate a swirling flow on the inner peripheral side of the inner concave portion. The gas passage portion curves and extends in a direction in which the angle forming the acute angle becomes smaller.

[0007] In the present disclosure, the gas supplied to the supply passage portion jets into the inner concave portion through the gas passage portion formed in the body. When the work support portion of the body is brought close to the work in a state where the gas is jetted, the gas flows at high speed between the work support portion and the work. As a result, a negative pressure state is created between the non-contact support device and the work, and a lift force acts on the work. In order to increase the lift force, it is necessary to increase the speed of the swirling flow of the gas jetted into the inner concave portion to make the pressure between the inner concave portion and the work lower.

[0008] In the present disclosure, the gas passage portion extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction when viewed from the axial direction and injects gas in a direction that forms an acute angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the inner concave portion, and curves and extends in a direction in which the angle forming the acute angle becomes smaller. Thereby, the gas jetted from the gas passage portion into the inner concave portion can be made to flow along the inner peripheral surface of the inner concave portion, and the speed of the swirling flow of the gas in the inner concave portion can be increased. As a result, the pressure between the inner concave portion and the work can be further reduced, and the lift force of the work can be increased.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the non-contact support device according to the present disclosure is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings. The non-contact support device 10 of the present embodiment is a cyclone type non-contact support device.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the non-contact support device 10 includes a main body 20 and a sub-body 40. Hereinafter, the direction in which the central axis K of each body 20, 40 extends is defined as the axial direction, the direction that extends radially from the center of the central axis K and is orthogonal to the axial direction is defined as the radial direction, and the direction that extends circumferentially around the central axis K is defined as the circumferential direction.

[0012] By combining the main body 20 and the sub-body 40, the flow path of the gas (for example, compressed gas) supplied from the gas supply device (for example, a pump) has a structure formed in the main body 20 and the sub-body 40. In the present embodiment, the gas is air.

[0013] The main body 20 has a flat columnar outer shape. In the main body 20, a work support portion 21 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the side of the first end portion (lower end portion) in the axial direction of the non-contact support device 10. The work support portion 21 has a flat surface 21a and has an annular shape centered on the central axis K. The two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 indicates the work W facing the work support portion 21.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the inner portion in the radial direction of the main body 20 relative to the work support portion 21, an inner concave portion 22 that is recessed toward the second end portion (upper end portion) side in the axial direction of the non-contact support device 10 is formed with respect to the work support portion 21. The inner concave portion 22 has an annular shape centered on the central axis K. In the portion of the main body 20 adjacent to the inner side of the inner concave portion 22 in the radial direction, a columnar concave portion 30 that is recessed in a columnar shape toward the upper end portion side in the axial direction is formed with respect to the inner concave portion 22.

[0015] In the inner concave portion 22, a flat surface portion 23 and an inclined portion 24 are formed. The flat surface portion 23 has a flat surface 23a that extends in the radial direction and serves as the bottom of the inner concave portion 22. The flat surface portion 23 extends radially outward from the corner portion 33 between the flat surface portion 23 of the inner concave portion 22 and the columnar concave portion 30 and has an annular shape centered on the central axis K. The inclined portion 24 is a portion that connects the flat surface portion 23 and the work support portion 21. The inclined portion 24 has an inclined surface 24a whose radial dimension increases as it goes toward the lower end portion side of the non-contact support device 10 in the axial direction. The flat surface 23a of the flat surface portion 23, the inclined surface 24a of the inclined portion 24, and the opposing surface (flat surface 21a) of the work support portion 21 with respect to the work W are smoothly continuous.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the sub-body 40 includes a disc portion 41, a large-diameter portion 42, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 43. The disc portion 41 has a disc shape that extends radially outward centered on the central axis K.

[0017] The large-diameter portion 42 extends in the axial direction from the central portion of the disc portion 41. The radial dimension of the large-diameter portion 42 is smaller than the radial dimension of the disc portion 41. The large-diameter portion 42 gradually increases in radial dimension toward the lower end portion side of the non-contact support device 10 in the axial direction. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 43 extends in the axial direction from the central portion of the large-diameter portion 42 and has a cylindrical outer shape. The radial dimension of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43 is smaller than the radial dimension of the large-diameter portion 42.

[0018] The columnar recess 30 is a portion that is recessed in a columnar shape on the upper end portion side of the main body 20 in the axial direction with respect to the inner recess 22. The columnar recess 30 includes a bottom portion 31 having a flat surface 31a and an inner peripheral surface 32 that extends in the circumferential direction around the central axis K.

[0019] The axial end face of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43 abuts against the flat surface 31a of the bottom portion 31 of the columnar recess 30, and the outer peripheral surface 42a of the large-diameter portion 42 abuts against the inner peripheral surface 32 of the columnar recess 30 (specifically, for example, the corner portion 33 between the columnar recess 30 and the flat portion 23) over the circumferential direction. The space surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 32 of the columnar recess 30, the outer peripheral surface 43a of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43, and the large-diameter portion 42 is defined as a supply passage portion 50 having an annular shape around the central axis K.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, a supply hole 64 that extends in the axial direction and penetrates to the supply passage portion 50 is formed at the upper end portion of the main body 20. Air is supplied to the supply hole 64 from a gas supply device (not shown). Note that an attachment hole 65 for fixing the non-contact support device 10 to the attachment target portion of the non-contact support device 10 is formed at the upper end portion of the main body 20. The attachment hole 65 extends in the axial direction and a plurality (four are illustrated in the figure) are formed. The attachment target portion is, for example, the tip end portion of an arm of an industrial robot.

[0021] Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a configuration for fixing the sub-body 40 to the main body 20 will be described. A bolt insertion hole 60 that axially penetrates the disk portion 41, the large-diameter portion 42, and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43 is formed in the central portion in the radial direction of the sub-body 40. A seating surface 61 against which the head 71 of the bolt 70 abuts is formed at the peripheral edge of the bolt insertion hole 60 on the disk portion 41 side of the sub-body 40.

[0022] A female screw hole 62 into which the male screw of the shaft portion 72 of the bolt 70 is screwed is formed in the central portion in the radial direction of the main body 20.

[0023] An annular seal groove portion 63 is formed on the end face on the upper end side of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43. The seal groove portion 63 is formed over the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the bolt insertion hole 60 on the end face. An annular seal member 73 is disposed in the seal groove portion 63. The seal member 73 is formed of an elastic material (for example, a rubber material) and is, for example, an O-ring. The flat surface 31a of the bottom portion 31 that constitutes the columnar recess 30 serves as a seal surface against which the seal member 73 abuts.

[0024] With the seal member 73 disposed in the seal groove portion 63, the male screw of the shaft portion 72 of the bolt 70 is screwed into the female screw hole 62. Thereby, while sealing between the main body 20 and the bottom portion 31 of the sub-body 40, the main body 20 and the sub-body 40 are fixed. By the sealing, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where air leaks from the supply passage portion 50 to the bolt insertion hole 60.

[0025] Next, the gas flow path formed by each of the bodies 20 and 40 will be described.

[0026] In the main body 20, groove portions 51 that communicate with the supply passage portion 50 and the side peripheral surface 41a of the disk portion 41 are formed in the disk portion 41 and the large-diameter portion 42. The bottom portion 51a of the groove portion 51 has an arc shape as shown in FIG. 7. A plurality (four are illustrated in the figure) of the groove portions 51 are formed side by side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, at each groove portion 51, the end portion 53 on the supply passage portion 50 side is formed at a position radially opposed across the central axis K in the large-diameter portion 42 and the disk portion 41. Each end portion 53 is formed in a concentric shape centered on the central axis K.

[0028] The groove portion 51 extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction as viewed from the axial direction, and extends so that the angle with respect to the side peripheral surface 41a of the disk portion 41 is an acute angle. The groove portion 51 curves and extends along a specific rotation direction centered on the central axis K so that the acute angle becomes smaller. A gas passage portion 52 is formed by the main body 20 and the groove portion 51.

[0029] The air supplied from the gas supply device to the supply hole 64 flows into the supply passage portion 50. The air that has flowed into the supply passage portion 50 flows into the gas passage portion 52. The air that has flowed into the gas passage portion 52 jets out to the inner peripheral side of the inner concave portion 22 (specifically, for example, the inclined surface 24a of the inclined portion 24). As a result, a swirling flow of air is generated in the inner concave portion 22. When the work support portion 21 is brought close to the work W with the air being jetted, air flows at high speed between the work support portion 21 and the work W. As a result, the work W is supported in a non-contact state with respect to the work support portion 21.

[0030] FIG. 8 shows the calculation result of the flow of the air jetting from the gas passage portion 52 to the inner concave portion 22. FIG. 9 shows the calculation result of the air flow in the comparative example. The comparative example is a configuration in which the inner wall surface 51b of the gas passage portion 52 is linear. FIG. 10 shows the calculation result showing the relationship between the distance between the work support portion 21 and the work W in the axial direction and the lift force acting on the work W.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8, the gas passage portion 52 extends while curving in a direction in which the acute angle formed with the side peripheral surface 41a of the disk portion 41 becomes smaller. Thereby, the gas jetted from the gas passage portion 52 into the inner concave portion 22 can be caused to flow along the inner peripheral surface of the inner concave portion 22, and the speed of the swirling flow in the inner concave portion 22 can be increased. As a result, the pressure between the inner concave portion 22 and the work W can be further reduced, and as shown in FIG. 10, the lift force of the work W can be increased. In other words, the air flow rate for generating the same lift force can be reduced.

[0032] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, in the comparative example, the flow of the air jetted from the gas passage portion 52 is linear. As a result, the speed of the swirling flow cannot be sufficiently increased. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, in the comparative example, the lift force is lower than that of the present embodiment.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the inner wall surface 51b in the radial direction in the groove portion 51 is a smooth curved surface such that the radius of curvature R gradually increases toward the outlet side of the gas passage portion 52. Thereby, the inner wall surface 51b and the side peripheral surface 41a of the disk portion 41 are smoothly continuous. For this reason, the air jetted from the gas passage portion 52 into the inner concave portion 22 can be suitably caused to flow along the side peripheral surface 41a of the disk portion 41, and the speed of the swirling flow can be further increased. As a result, the lift force of the work W can be further increased.

[0034] In addition, in FIG. 5, B is the intersection of the inner wall surface 51b and the side circumferential surface 41a when the sub-body 40 is viewed in the axial direction. LC indicated by the dashed-dotted line is the tangent line of the intersection B (hereinafter referred to as the reference tangent line). A1 indicates the first point showing a predetermined position of the wall surface 51b when the sub-body 40 is viewed in the axial direction, and A2 is a point showing a predetermined position of the wall surface 51b, and is the second point on the outlet side from the first point A1. The angle θ2 formed by the tangent line of the relatively downstream second point A2 (two-dot chain line in the figure) and the reference tangent line LC is smaller than the angle θ1 formed by the tangent line of the relatively upstream first point A1 (two-dot chain line in the figure) and the reference tangent line LC. That is, when the sub-body 40 is viewed in the axial direction, the angle formed by the tangent line of the point showing the predetermined position of the wall surface 51b and the reference tangent line LC becomes smaller as the point showing the predetermined position is closer to the outlet side of the gas passage portion 52.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, in the groove portion 51, the radially outer wall surface 51c extends linearly from the supply passage portion 50 toward the inner concave portion 22. As a result, the passage area from the supply passage portion 50 side to the middle portion in the gas passage portion 52 gradually becomes smaller, and the passage area from the middle portion to the outlet in the gas passage portion 52 gradually becomes larger. As a result, the gas passage portion can be a Laval nozzle, and the flow velocity of the air can be increased. Thereby, the lift force can be increased.

[0036] In addition, in FIG. 5, DL is the distance from the outer wall surface 51c to the inner wall surface 51b. The distance DL is the distance between the wall surfaces 51b and 51c in the direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface 51c. The distance DL gradually becomes smaller from the supply passage portion 50 side to the middle portion of the gas passage portion 52, and gradually becomes larger from the middle portion to the outlet of the gas passage portion 52.

[0037] Unlike this embodiment, if the radially outer wall surface 51c is arranged along the side circumferential surface 41a in the portion on the outlet side of the gas passage portion 52, in the portion on the outlet side of the gas passage portion 52 in the disk portion 41, the portion where the radial wall thickness becomes small becomes long, and the strength may decrease. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the radially outer wall surface 51c in the gas passage portion 52 extends linearly. Thereby, while the gas passage portion 52 is a Laval nozzle, the strength of the disk portion 41 can be ensured.

[0038] The axial end face of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 43 abuts on the flat surface 31a of the bottom portion 31 of the columnar concave portion 30, and the outer peripheral surface 42a of the large-diameter portion 42 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the columnar concave portion 30 over the circumferential direction. Further, the end face of the disk portion 41 abuts on the flat surface 23a of the flat portion 23 over the circumferential direction. Thereby, the sub-body 40 can be stably supported with respect to the main body 20. As a result, displacement of the sub-body 40 with respect to the main body 20 can be suppressed, and occurrence of defects such as internal air leakage can be suppressed. Thereby, the gas passage portion 52 can function as the intended passage at the time of design.

[0039] The large-diameter portion 42 having a relatively large radial dimension can suppress warping of the disk portion 41 when the bolt 70 is screwed in. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the passage shape on the outlet end side of the gas passage portion 52 deviates greatly from the shape intended at the time of design.

[0040] <Other Embodiments> Note that the above embodiment may be modified and implemented as follows.

[0041] · The bottom of the groove portion 51 is not limited to an arc shape, and may be, for example, a rectangular shape or a V shape.

[0042] · In the portion on the outlet side of the gas passage portion 52, the radially outer wall surface 51c may be arranged along the side circumferential surface 41a of the disk portion 41.

[0043] · When manufacturing the non-contact support device with a 3D printer, the non-contact support device is not limited to being composed of two body members such as a main body and a sub-body, and may be composed of one body member.

[0044] · The gas supplied to the non-contact support device is not limited to air, and may be, for example, nitrogen.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10… Non-contact support device, 20… Main body, 21… Work support part, 22… Inner concave part, 40… Sub-body, 50… Supply passage part.

Claims

1. In a non-contact support device (10) that supports a workpiece (W) in a non-contact state by ejecting a gas onto the workpiece, a body (20, 40) extending in an axial direction in which a central axis (K) extends and in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction is provided, at a first end portion of the body in the axial direction, an annular workpiece support portion (21) that is centered on the central axis and faces the workpiece is formed, an inner concave portion (22) that is recessed toward a second end portion side of the body in the axial direction with respect to the workpiece support portion is formed in an inner portion of the body in the radial direction that is closer to the center than the workpiece support portion, a supply passage portion (50) to which gas is supplied is formed in a portion of the body on the second end portion side of the bottom portion (23) of the inner concave portion in the axial direction, a gas passage portion (52) that communicates with the supply passage portion and the inner peripheral side of the inner concave portion and that ejects gas in a direction that intersects the radial direction as viewed from the axial direction and that forms an acute angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the inner concave portion to generate a swirling flow on the inner peripheral side of the inner concave portion is formed in the body, The gas passage portion is curved and extends in a direction in which the acute angle becomes smaller. Non-contact support device.

2. The non-contact support device according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall surface (51b) in the radial direction in the gas passage portion is a smooth curved surface with a gradually increasing radius of curvature (R).

3. The non-contact support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of the gas passage portion from the supply passage portion side to an intermediate portion gradually decreases, and a cross-sectional area of the gas passage portion from the intermediate portion to an outlet gradually increases.

4. The non-contact support device according to claim 3, wherein an outer wall surface (51c) in the radial direction in the gas passage portion extends linearly from the supply passage portion toward the inner concave portion.

5. The body includes a main body (20) and a sub-body (40), an annular workpiece support portion is formed at the first end portion of the main body in the axial direction, an inner concave portion is formed in an inner portion of the main body in the radial direction that is closer to the center than the workpiece support portion, In a portion of the main body that is adjacent to the inside of the inner concave portion in the radial direction, a columnar concave portion (30) that is recessed in a columnar shape on the second end side in the axial direction with respect to the inner concave portion is formed. The sub-body is a disk portion (41) having a disk shape that extends outward in the radial direction around the central axis, a large-diameter portion (42) that extends in the axial direction from the central portion of the disk portion and has a radial dimension smaller than the radial dimension of the disk portion, a small-diameter cylindrical portion (43) that extends in the axial direction from the central portion of the large-diameter portion and has a columnar outer shape and a radial dimension smaller than the radial dimension of the large-diameter portion, and has an end portion of the small-diameter cylindrical portion in the axial direction abuts against the bottom portion (31) of the columnar concave portion, and an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion abuts against an inner peripheral surface of the columnar concave portion. An annular space surrounded by the columnar concave portion, the small-diameter cylindrical portion, and the large-diameter portion is the supply passage portion. In the disk portion, a groove portion (51) that extends from the supply passage portion side to a side peripheral surface (41a) of the disk portion is formed. The groove portion extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction when viewed from the axial direction. In the groove portion, an inner wall surface (51b) in the radial direction is a smooth curved surface whose radius of curvature (R) gradually increases toward the outlet side of the gas passage portion. The non-contact support device according to claim 2, wherein the gas passage portion is formed by the groove portion and the main body.

6. A bolt insertion hole (60) that penetrates the disk portion, the large-diameter portion, and the small-diameter cylindrical portion in the axial direction is formed in a central portion of the sub-body in the radial direction. A seating surface (61) against which a head portion (71) of a bolt (70) abuts is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the bolt insertion hole on the disk portion side of the sub-body. A female screw hole (62) into which a male screw of a shaft portion (72) of the bolt is screwed is formed in a central portion in the radial direction of a portion of the main body that faces the sub-body in the axial direction. The non-contact support device according to claim 5, wherein the male screw of the shaft portion of the bolt is screwed into the female screw hole with the head portion of the bolt abutting against the seating surface.

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