Encoder with c-shaped clamp structure, encoder frame, encoder mounting structure, and motor equipped with encoder

Abstract

To provide a modular encoder that can effectively avoid collision of a screw head and contact with a tool when the modular encoder is fixed to a mounting target such as a motor.SOLUTION: An encoder 10 with a C-shaped clamp structure is a modular encoder including an encoder disk, a substrate 9, and a frame 8 for supporting the substrate 9 and being mounted to a mounting target 20, the frame 8 being provided with a C-shaped clamp structure 2 for mounting to the mounting target 20. The C-shaped clamp structure 2 includes a fastener 5 such as a screw, a fastener insertion hole 3 through which the fastener 5 is inserted, and a fastener receiving part 4 for receiving the inserted fastener 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an encoder with a C-type clamp structure, an encoder frame, an encoder mounting structure, and an encoder-equipped motor, and in particular to a new improvement for improving assembly, focusing on the positional relationship between the fixed part of the encoder frame and the disk. [Background technology]

[0002] Fig. 6 is an explanatory perspective view mainly showing the encoder frame of a conventional modular encoder. Fig. 7 is a side view taken along arrow VII in Fig. 6. As shown in these figures, a conventional modular encoder 610 is configured to include an encoder disk 61, a substrate 69, and a frame 68 that supports the substrate 69 and is attached to an attachment object 620. The frame 68 is fixed to the attachment object 620, such as a motor, in the axial direction using two screws 62, 62.

[0003] Patent applications have also been filed in the past regarding technologies relating to the fixing and placement of encoders. For example, Patent Document 1, listed below, discloses an encoder disk fixing device that can fix an encoder disk in a balanced manner even during rotation, in which a tapered portion is provided on the outer periphery of a hub and a male threaded portion with a diameter larger than the maximum diameter of the tapered portion, a slit is provided on the outer periphery side in a direction parallel to the axis, the outer periphery of the clamp is cylindrical and a female thread is provided in the center that screws into the male threaded portion on the outer periphery of the hub, and an opening is provided in at least a portion of the clamp whose diameter exceeds the minimum diameter but is smaller than the maximum diameter of the tapered portion on the outer periphery of the hub, thereby engaging the hub and the clamp like a chuck. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-110959 "Encoder disk fixing device" Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional modular encoder 610 shown in Figure 6 etc., when inserting the screw 62 for fixing the frame 68, if the screw 62 is inserted straight into the screw hole from the axial direction, the head of the screw 62 will collide with the disk 61, so it is necessary to avoid the disk 61 while inserting the screw. In addition, there is a risk that the tightening tool will come into contact with the disk 61 when tightening the screw. The disk 61 is usually made of glass, although it can also be made of synthetic resin or with an aluminum vapor deposition seal, but in any case it is a part that requires high precision as a rotation detection element, and collisions of the screw head and contact with the tool are undesirable, so technology that can avoid these problems is needed.

[0006] Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to eliminate the problems associated with conventional modular encoders and to provide technology that can effectively avoid collisions with screw heads and contact with tools when fixing an encoder to an attachment object such as a motor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of studying the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of the present application discovered that by using a C-clamp structure to fix the frame and fastening it with the convex part on the housing and the inner diameter spigot joint, it is possible to avoid interference between the screw head and the disc, and based on this, they have completed the present invention. That is, the invention claimed in this application, or at least the invention disclosed therein, as a means to solve the above-mentioned problems is as follows.

[0008] [1] A modular encoder comprising an encoder disk, a substrate, and a frame that supports the substrate and is attached to an object to be attached, An encoder with a C-clamp structure, characterized in that the frame is provided with a C-clamp structure for attachment to the attachment object. [2] The encoder with a C-type clamp structure described in [1], characterized in that the frame is provided with a recess for tightening with an inner diameter spigot between the frame and the mounting object using the C-type clamp structure. [3] The encoder with a C-type clamp structure described in [1], characterized in that the frame is provided with a stress isolation structure to mitigate the effect of clamping by the C-type clamp structure on the substrate. [4] The encoder with a C-type clamp structure according to [3], wherein the stress separation structure is a slit.

[0009] [5] An encoder frame for forming an encoder with a C-type clamp structure according to any one of [1], [2], [3], and [4]. [6] An encoder mounting structure, characterized in that the encoder with a C-type clamp structure described in any one of [2], [3], and [4] is fastened to the mounting object with an inner diameter spigot by the recess. [7] The encoder mounting structure according to [6], characterized in that the mounting object has a protrusion corresponding to the recess. [8] An encoder-equipped motor, characterized in that an encoder with a C-type clamp structure according to any one of [1], [2], [3], and [4] is attached. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the encoder with C-clamp structure, encoder frame, encoder mounting structure, and encoder-equipped motor of the present invention are configured to be fixed to the frame using a C-clamp, and therefore, in a modular encoder, when fixing it to an object such as a motor, it is possible to effectively avoid collisions with screw heads or contact with tools. In other words, it is possible to prevent disk damage due to contact between the disk and screws or tools when fixing it to an object such as a motor housing, and this contributes to improving the workability of the assembly process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating an example of the configuration of an encoder with a C-type clamp structure according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of an encoder frame of the encoder with a C-type clamp structure of the present invention shown in FIGS. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, clearly showing a recess in the encoder with a C-type clamp structure of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective explanatory view of an encoder with a C-type clamp structure and an encoder mounting structure according to the present invention, viewed from a different direction from the previous figures. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view mainly showing an encoder frame in a conventional modular encoder. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view taken along arrow VII in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating an example of the configuration of an encoder with a C-clamp structure according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 1. As shown in these figures, this encoder with a C-clamp structure 10 is a modular encoder comprising an encoder disk (not shown), a substrate 9, and a frame 8 that supports the substrate 9 and is attached to an object 20 to be attached, and its main configuration is that the frame 8 is provided with a C-clamp structure 2 for attachment to the object 20. The C-clamp structure 2 can be composed of a fastener 5 such as a screw, a fastener insertion hole 3 through which the fastener 5 is inserted, and a fastener receiving portion 4 that receives the inserted fastener 5.

[0013] With this configuration having a C-clamp type frame, the encoder 10 with C-clamp structure is attached to the object 20 by the C-clamp structure 2 provided on the frame 8. That is, the C-clamp structure 2 of the encoder 10 is placed on an attachment portion on the object 20, and the C-clamp tightens the attachment portion, thereby attaching the encoder 10 to the object 20. This solves the problem of the prior art of interference between the screw head or tool and the disk.

[0014] The C-clamp structure 2 illustrated in the figure is configured to include a fastener 5 such as a screw, a fastener insertion hole 3, and a fastener receiving portion 4. Therefore, the above-mentioned tightening action is performed by inserting a fastener 5 such as a screw into the fastener insertion hole 3 and screwing the inserted fastener 5 into the fastener receiving portion 4 with the C-clamp structure 2 of the encoder 10 applied to the mounting portion on the mounting object 20.

[0015] Fig. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing the configuration of the encoder frame for the encoder with C-clamp structure of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The encoder frame 8 itself for forming the encoder with C-clamp structure 10, including the configuration examples described below, is within the scope of the present invention.

[0016] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, clearly showing the recess in the encoder with a C-clamp structure of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the encoder with a C-clamp structure 10 can be configured such that a frame 8 is provided with a recess 6 for fastening with an inner diameter spigot joint between the encoder and an attachment object 20 using a C-clamp structure 2. This recess 6 is placed against an attachment portion on the attachment object 20, and fastening with an inner diameter spigot joint is performed using the C-clamp structure 2.

[0017] As shown in the figure, the mounting portion of the motor or other mounting object 20, which is fastened with an inner diameter spigot, may be a convex portion 24 having a shape corresponding to the concave portion 6 on the frame 8 side of the encoder 10. Fastening and fixing with such an inner diameter spigot more effectively solves the problem of the prior art, that is, interference between the screw head or tool and the disk.

[0018] As shown in the above figures, the frame 8 of the encoder 10 with a C-clamp structure can be provided with a stress isolation structure 7 to mitigate the effect that clamping by the C-clamp structure 2 may have on the substrate 9. This separates the stress caused by clamping, and reduces the effect on the substrate 9.

[0019] The stress isolation structure 7 can be a slit as shown in the figure. The frame 8 has the function of supporting the substrate 9 located above in each figure with the upper part of the frame 8, and of attaching it to the attachment object 20 shown below with the C-clamp structure 2 provided at the lower part. By providing a slit as the stress isolation structure 7 between the upper and lower parts, the stress caused by clamping can be effectively separated, and the impact on the substrate 9 can be further reduced.

[0020] 5 is a perspective explanatory view of the encoder with a C-clamp structure and the encoder mounting structure of the present invention, seen from a different direction than the previous figures. As shown in the figure, an encoder mounting structure 30 in which an encoder with a C-clamp structure 10 having any of the above-described configurations is fastened to an object of mounting 20 by an inner diameter spigot joint using a recess 6 is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0021] As shown in the figure, the mounting object 20 can be provided with a protrusion 24 that corresponds to the recess 6 on the encoder 10 side. By making the protrusion 24 higher, it is possible to make the tightening with the inner diameter spigot joint more reliable and stable. This is because the contact area between the protrusion 24 and the recess 6 on the encoder 10 side becomes wider, thereby enhancing the tightening effect. Also, depending on the specifications of the mounting object 20, such as a motor, it may be provided with a portion that can be used as a protrusion from the beginning, in which case this portion can be used as the portion to be tightened with the spigot joint.

[0022] An encoder-equipped motor to which an encoder with a C-type clamp structure having any of the configurations described above is attached also falls within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0023] The encoder with C-clamp structure, encoder frame, encoder mounting structure, and encoder-mounted motor of the present invention can prevent disk damage due to contact between the disk and screws or tools when fastening to the mounting object, contributing to improved workability in the assembly process. Therefore, this invention has high industrial applicability in the fields of modular encoder manufacturing and use, and all related fields. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 2...C-clamp structure 3...Fixing tool insertion hole 4...Fixture receiving part 5...Screws and other fasteners 6...Recess 7...Stress isolation structure 8...Frame 9...Substrate 10...Encoder with C-type clamp structure 20...Installation target 24...Convex part 30...Encoder mounting structure 61...Encoder disk 62...Screw 68...Frame 69... Circuit board 610...Conventional modular encoder 620...Installation target

Claims

1. A modular encoder including an encoder disk, a substrate, and a frame that supports the substrate and is attached to an object, An encoder with a C-clamp structure, characterized in that the frame is provided with a C-clamp structure for attachment to the attachment object.

2. 2. The encoder with a C-clamp structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a recess for fastening with an inner diameter spigot joint between the frame and an object to be attached using the C-clamp structure.

3. 2. The encoder with a C-clamp structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with a stress isolation structure for mitigating the influence of clamping by the C-clamp structure on the substrate.

4. 4. The encoder with a C-clamp structure according to claim 3, wherein the stress isolation structure is a slit.

5. An encoder frame for forming an encoder with a C-clamp structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. 5. An encoder mounting structure, wherein the encoder with a C-clamp structure according to claim 2, 3 or 4 is fastened to an object to be mounted by means of an inner diameter spigot joint by the recess.

7. 7. The encoder mounting structure according to claim 6, wherein the mounting object has a protrusion corresponding to the recess.

8. 5. An encoder-equipped motor, comprising an encoder with a C-type clamp structure according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 attached thereto.

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