Automatic level adjustment device and automatic level adjustment method

Abstract

To provide an automatic level adjustment device that moves up and down to automatically adjust a level of a base plate of a structure while propping up the base plate, which can accept the base plate in a broad area acceptance state and can prevent the structure from falling even if earthquake occurs so that strong horizontal vibration occurs.SOLUTION: The automatic level adjustment device comprises: a lifting mechanism part 10 that includes a lower driving block 11 and an upper driven block 12 whose inclined surfaces contact each other, which makes the driving block 11 move in a horizontal direction so that the driven block 12 is driven in a vertical direction while propping up a lower surface of a base plate B; a motion conversion / transmission mechanism part 20, provided unmovably and rotatably, whose screw shaft 21 is screwed with a screw hole 22 formed in the driving block 11; and a motor 31 for controlling that rotates the screw shaft 21. The motor for controlling is configured to perform driving-rotation until completing adjustment of a level of an upper surface of the base plate B, on the basis of output pulse from a digital level gauge 40 installed to detect levelness of the upper surface of the base plate B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method used when adjusting the level of a structure that requires level adjustment (leveling) of a base plate, such as a machine tool, and installing the structure. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, for example, in the manufacturing process of machine tools, it was necessary to adjust the level of the structure at each process, such as machining, assembly, and inspection. Specifically, for example, the machine tool was placed on a surface plate or the like for each process, and a level (also called a spirit level) was placed on the table or the like that served as the reference surface. While looking at this, the worker would turn the adjuster attached to the leg of the machine tool with a wrench to ensure that the machine tool was level, relying on experience and intuition. The plumbing of the structure was also done after adjusting the level of the workpiece placed on the surface plate or the like.

[0003] Machining machines that perform processing, assembly, inspection, etc. are designed to perform at their best when placed on a level (horizontal) surface. A level refers to the degree of horizontality, and for industrial machinery, achieving high-precision horizontality for each process, such as processing, assembly, and inspection, is fundamental and essential for maintaining operational accuracy.

[0004] In various processing machines, manufacturing equipment, assembly equipment, etc. (hereinafter referred to as structures), in order to fix a workpiece and perform highly precise horizontal and vertical flat and hole machining on the workpiece, the base plate of the machining machine and the surface plate that fixes the workpiece must be installed with highly precise level adjustment. Level adjustment is an essential task when installing equipment stands and base frames, and measuring floor levels and adjusting path lines are particularly important for transport equipment that transfers between machines.

[0005] If the surface plate on which the workpiece is fixed is not adjusted to a high level, for example, the wire cut of a wire-cut electric discharge machine that drills vertical holes with high precision cannot be adjusted to a high level, and since it cannot be set to a high-precision vertical position, high-precision vertical hole drilling cannot be achieved.

[0006] In machining machines where level adjustment has not been performed with high precision, even the slightest error in the levelness of the base plate or the top surface of the stand on which the workpiece is placed will prevent high-precision flat processing to create a horizontal surface on the workpiece or vertical hole drilling, resulting in defective products and shortening the lifespan of the machine and tools.In addition, because the level changes as industrial machinery is used due to its own weight, vibration, heat, etc., it is necessary to perform periodic level adjustments even after installation.

[0007] Similarly, highly precise level adjustment is also required in food processing machines, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and other industrial machines.

[0008] For many industrial machines, anchor bolts are basically buried in the floor of a factory or the like, and the industrial machine is lowered so that the heads of the anchor bolts are inserted into bolt holes provided on the periphery of the base plate of the industrial machine. The base plate is supported by a double nut acting as an adjuster that screws onto the bolt, and the level is adjusted manually by checking the height and angle by tightening and loosening the nuts while looking at a spirit level, dial gauge, laser level, convex, etc. placed on the base plate.

[0009] Manual level adjustment often takes a long time. When the weight of a structure is heavy, the force required to turn the wrench also increases, making fine adjustments difficult. Even an experienced worker could take several tens of minutes to level both the X and Y axes.

[0010] The level used is a digital level (digital precision level) that has a monitor that displays the measured value digitally in addition to the bubble, and can read not only horizontal and vertical but also subtle values ​​at various angles, and can also output pulses.In addition, the latest three-dimensional measuring machines are also used.

[0011] Therefore, an automatic leveling device has been proposed that can automatically perform highly accurate leveling in a short time, regardless of the skill level of the operator (Patent Document 1).

[0012] This automatic leveling device is configured so that one of the three vertices of the planar triangle on the underside of the structure is supported by a fixed support with a support leg in the middle of one side, and two points at each corner on the other side are supported by jacks.A spirit level is placed on the structure's reference surface to measure the inclination angles of the X and Y axes, and based on the sensor signals, the device controls the lifting and lowering of the two jacks to level the structure.The jack has a structure in which a lifting unit (lifting mechanism) and a drive unit (servo motor with a reducer) that drives it are detachably connected.After leveling is complete, the lifting units of the two jacks are left as support legs, and the drive units are removed.The removed drive units can then be combined with other jacks and used to level another structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2000-107962 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] [Regarding the second application of the automatic level adjustment device] In a structure manufacturing factory, the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 is used to level the top surface of the structure's base plate, and then another level is used to level the surface plate equipped on the structure, level or plumb the cutting tools, and plumb the wire cut line.When the structure is transported and installed at a user company's factory and the base plate is leveled, the base plate is manually leveled using a level in a short period of time.A second leveling using an automatic level adjustment device is not performed.This is because handling the base plate leveling in this manner maintains the leveling accuracy of the surface plate and other elements achieved after the first leveling, and does not cause any problems with processing accuracy.

[0015] However, the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 has the following problem. The automatic leveling operation is performed at the user company's final installation site. After completing leveling, the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1 removes the drive unit (a servo motor with a reducer), which constitutes part of the jack, and continues to use the lifting unit as a support leg for two of the three vertices of the planar triangle on the underside of the structure's base plate. This lifting unit includes a device frame, a worm wheel rotatable around a vertical axis, and a worm rotatable around a horizontal axis. The power rotation of the drive unit is input to the worm's rotation shaft. A lifting body, which cannot rotate around the vertical axis, is threaded into the female thread at the center of the worm wheel and can be raised and lowered. A saddle is provided at the top end of the lifting body. Therefore, when using the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1, the lifting body cannot be separated from the worm, worm wheel, etc. and used as a support leg. Because the servo motor with a reducer can be separated, this structure is costly and uneconomical. The saddle only supports the base plate over a small area and is not connected to it.

[0016] Furthermore, in the pinpoint support state in which the automatic leveling devices and one support leg of the two patent documents 1 are used near the edge of the underside of the base plate of the structure, and the three vertices of a plane triangle are selected as support parts, if there is a large lateral movement due to a major earthquake, for example, a large lateral displacement may occur in the pinpoint support part, which could result in an accident in which the structure falls. Therefore, it would be desirable to change from a point support state to a sufficiently wide-area support state so that accidents in which the structure falls can be prevented in advance.

[0017] When the inventor invented the new automatic level adjustment device, he targeted structures handled in manufacturing plants. That is, for structures handled in manufacturing plants, the automatic level adjustment device is used to perform the first automatic level adjustment of the structure's base plate, and a level separate from the automatic level adjustment device is used to perform level adjustments and plumbing adjustments of the structure's surface plates, cutting tools, wire cut lines, etc. Furthermore, when the structure is moved to the user company's installation site and a second level adjustment is performed, the structure's underside does not need to be used as a support leg, and level adjustment can be performed using a normal level and spacers instead of the automatic level adjustment device.

[0018] Thus, when the inventor invented a new automatic level adjustment device, he used the automatic level adjustment device in the manufacturing factory to support the underside of the base plate of the structure in a wide-area support state, thereby preventing the structure from falling off the automatic level adjustment device even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment, and thus completed the present invention.

[0019] The present invention has been devised in view of the above points, and aims to provide an automatic level adjustment device and method that can be used in manufacturing factories for structures that require level adjustment, with a wide support area to support the base plate of the structure, preventing it from coming loose and falling even if a large earthquake causes large lateral shaking, and that converts the power rotation of a motor that rotates around a horizontal axis into fine movement, linear movement, and high torque using a screw mechanism, and further converts the motion into fine movement and linear movement in the vertical upward direction using a wedge mechanism, and increases the lifting force, thereby providing sufficient lifting function even for large and heavy structures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the automatic level adjustment device of the present invention supports the base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment, raises and lowers it in small increments, measures the horizontality of the top surface of the base plate with a digital level, and automatically adjusts the level based on the output pulses.The device is equipped with a lifting mechanism, a motion conversion and transmission mechanism, and a rotational power unit.

[0021] The automatic level adjustment device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a lower driving block and an upper driven block whose inclined surfaces make surface contact with each other, and when the driving block moves horizontally, the driven block moves vertically, supporting the underside of a base plate of a structure with the upper surface of the driven block, thereby raising and lowering the device; a motion conversion transmission mechanism that is immovable in the axial direction but rotatable, and has a screw shaft that is threaded into a screw hole in the driving block, and converts the rotation of the screw shaft into horizontal movement of the driving block; and a control motor that rotates the screw shaft, and the control motor is configured to rotate based on the output pulses of a digital level that is installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed.

[0022] An automatic level adjusting device according to a second aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the invention, but in addition, the control motor is a servo motor or a pulse motor.

[0023] The automatic level adjustment device according to the third aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the invention, but is also provided with a brake device that disables the rotation of the screw shaft or the rotating shaft of the control motor when the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed and the control motor stops driving rotation, so that the screw shaft does not rotate in the reverse direction due to the load on the base plate of the structure.

[0024] The automatic level adjustment device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the invention, but is also configured such that the base plate of the structure is in close contact with the driven block and a pressure sensor is provided on the upper surface of the driven block to detect the load on the structure.

[0025] An automatic level adjustment method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes suspending the structure into the level adjustment work space and arranging automatic level adjustment devices according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention at multiple predetermined positions below a base plate of the structure, arranging a first digital level that detects level in the X direction and a second digital level that detects level in the Y direction on the upper surface of the base plate, outputting a pulse from one of the first and second digital levels, and performing automatic level adjustment using the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to that one digital level, and then outputting a pulse from the other digital level, and performing automatic level adjustment using the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level, thereby adjusting the levels of the upper surface of the base plate in the X and Y directions.

[0026] The automatic level adjustment method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the fifth aspect of the invention, but is configured such that the automatic level adjustment devices are installed on the floor of the level adjustment work space for the base plate of the structure at multiple positions where the base plate can be stably supported, and the base plate is placed on them.

[0027] An automatic level adjustment method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the invention, a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices and one or more pedestals whose upper surfaces are several millimeters higher than the upper surfaces of the driven blocks of the automatic level adjustment devices are installed on the floor of the level adjustment work space for the base plate of the structure at multiple positions where the base plate can be stably supported, and the base plate is placed on them.

[0028] The automatic level adjustment method according to the eighth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the fifth aspect of the invention, but is configured such that a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices are arranged in a state in which the upper surface of the driven block is several millimeters lower than the lower surface of the base plate before or after the structure is hung down, and the structure, on which support legs including bolts and nuts that can be tightened to adjust the height are attached to the four corners of the lower surface of the base plate, is hung down onto the floor of a level adjustment work space.

[0029] The automatic level adjustment method according to the ninth aspect of the present invention comprises, in addition to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the invention, four pedestals capable of supporting the base plate at a required height from the floor are installed at two corners in the X direction and two corners in the Y direction within the planned plane of the base plate of the structure to be lowered, and a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to the fourth aspect of the invention are arranged near the pedestals at the two corners in the X direction or the Y direction, and each of the control motors is driven to slightly raise each driven block until the pressure sensor detects that the driven blocks are in close contact with the underside of the base plate, and the driving of the control motor is terminated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to the present invention, an automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method can be provided that can be used in a manufacturing factory for structures that require level adjustment, have a wide receiving area to receive the base plate of the structure, and can prevent accidents such as the structure coming loose and falling even if a large earthquake occurs and large lateral shaking occurs, and the power rotation of a motor that rotates around a horizontal axis is converted by a screw mechanism into fine movement, linear movement, and high torque, and further converts the motion to fine movement and linear movement in the vertical upward direction by using a wedge mechanism and increases the lifting force, thereby providing sufficient lifting function even for large and heavy structures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an automatic level adjustment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating an automatic level adjustment method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating an automatic level adjustment method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating an automatic level adjustment method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] An automatic level adjustment device and an automatic level adjustment method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The first embodiment relates to an automatic level adjustment device, and the second to fourth embodiments relate to automatic level adjustment methods.

[0033] [First embodiment] 1 shows an automatic level adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic level adjustment device 1 supports a base plate B of a structure A that requires level adjustment, raises and lowers it in minute increments, measures the horizontality (inclination) of the top surface of the base plate B with a digital level 40, and automatically adjusts the level based on the output pulses. The automatic level adjustment device 1 comprises an elevation mechanism 10, a motion conversion and transmission mechanism 20, and a rotational power unit 30, all of which are held together in a device frame 60.

[0034] The lifting mechanism 10 includes a driving block 11 and a driven block 12, and has the function of supporting and lifting the underside of a base plate B of a structure A set as a structure for level adjustment work.

[0035] The lifting mechanism 10 includes a lower driving block 11 guided by the device frame 60 so as to be able to move horizontally in one direction, and an upper driven block 12 guided by the device frame 60 so as to be able to move vertically, and is configured so that a driving side inclined surface 11a formed on the upper surface of the driving block 11 and a driven side inclined surface 12a formed on the lower surface of the driven block 12 are in surface contact and can slide relative to each other.

[0036] In the lifting mechanism 10, the lower driver block 11 and the upper driven block 12 are arranged vertically so that they can slide relatively on the driver-side inclined surface 11a and the driven-side inclined surface 12a, so that when the driver block 11 moves horizontally, a wedge action is generated between the relatively sliding driver-side inclined surface 11a and the driven-side inclined surface 12a, causing the driven block 12 to move with double the vertical upward thrust, and the upper surface of the driven block 12 supports the underside of the base plate B, thereby lifting and lowering the base plate B. The slow movement of the driven block 12 due to the wedge action between the driver block 11 and the driven block 12, combined with the slow movement of the driver block 11 by the screw shaft 21, which will be described later, combines to cause the female screw 22 to generate an extremely large upward thrust and rise so that the height can be adjusted in submicron units.

[0037] The upper surface of the upper driven block 12 is preferably provided with a pressure sensor 14 for detecting that the base plate B of the structure A has been seated on the upper surface of the driven block 12 .

[0038] The pressure sensor 14 is used as follows: For example, when structure A is transported from a separate assembly factory to a factory where pre-shipment inspections are performed and is lowered by a crane or the like to a position where level adjustment is performed, the base plate B of structure A is received on pedestals or support legs prepared in advance at the four corners of the plate, and then two or three automatic level adjustment devices are inserted into base plate B, and the driven block 12 is raised until it is in close contact with base plate B, and when automatic level adjustment is performed, the pressure sensor 14 serves as detection means that detects this contact and stops the rise of the driven block 12.

[0039] The motion conversion transmission mechanism 20 is configured to include a screw shaft 21 that is supported on the device frame 60 so as to be rotatable but immovable in the axial direction, and a female screw 22 that is provided on the lower driving block 11 and screws into the screw shaft 21.Since the lower driving block 11 is supported on the device frame 60 so as to be imrotatable but movable in the axial direction, rotation of the screw shaft 21 causes the lower driving block 11 to move horizontally at a slow speed, increasing the thrust in the horizontal movement direction to push up the upper driven block 12.

[0040] The motion conversion transmission mechanism 20 is configured with a screw shaft 21 that is supported at its base end on the device frame 60 so that it cannot move horizontally but can rotate, with its axial direction coinciding with the horizontal movement direction of the driving block 11, and that is threadedly inserted into a screw hole 22 provided in the driving block 11.

[0041] The rotational power unit 30 includes a control motor 31 that is provided so that the motor output rotation is transmitted to the screw shaft 21 via a reducer 33. The reducer 33 reduces the speed of the motor output rotation, amplifies the torque, and transmits it to the screw shaft 21.

[0042] The control motor 31 is configured to input to the motor driver 32 an output pulse (horizontal LEVEL signal) that is output by a digital level (digital precision level) 40, which is installed to detect the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate B, until the horizontality reaches zero, and a dedicated application within the motor driver 32 receives and processes the output pulse (horizontal LEVEL signal) to generate a drive pulse required to drive the control motor 31, and the drive pulse is input to the control motor 31, so that the control motor continues to rotate until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B is completed.

[0043] The control motor 31 is a servo motor or pulse motor. A servo motor is a motor used in a servo mechanism that accurately achieves position, speed, rotational force (torque), etc. according to commands, and is generally an electric motor with a detector for feedback control. In this example, the pulses output from the digital level 40 are input to the motor driver 32, where they are multiplied to output motor drive pulses, and feedback control is performed so that the tilt angle value output by the digital level 40 converges to zero. A pulse motor is a motor that moves and rotates at a fixed angle by switching the phase through which current flows, allowing positioning without a sensor, and is easier to control than a servo motor.

[0044] The rotation power unit 30 is provided with a brake device 34 that disables the rotation of the screw shaft 21 or the rotating shaft of the control motor 31. The brake device 34 is designed to brake when the control motor 31 stops its driving rotation after completing the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate B, and prevents the screw shaft 21 from rotating in the reverse direction due to the load on the base plate B of the structure A, which would impair the level adjustment of the base plate B. In this embodiment, the brake device 34 is provided to brake the rotation of the disk 10 provided on the shaft coupling 35, but it may be provided in any appropriate position.

[0045] The digital level 40 can be a digital level manufactured by ANYDESIN or a digital level (Levelnic (registered trademark)) manufactured by Niigata Seiki Co., Ltd. The procedure for detecting level varies depending on the digital level manufacturer. For example, the digital level is operated by aligning the level detection direction in the X or Y direction on the top surface of base plate B, pressing the zero setting button until the display memory shows zero, then turning it 180 degrees and pressing the measurement button to display the value in the display memory. Pressing the half-value correction button will display half the value shown in the display memory, indicating the actual inclination. The digital level can output a certain number of pulses using the pulse output setting button until the inclination reaches zero (level), and these pulses can be used to drive a motor.

[0046] As has been explained above, according to the present invention, the rotation of the control motor 31 is transmitted to the screw shaft 21, and the rotation of the screw shaft 21 is transmitted to the driver block 11 via a female screw provided in the driver block 11 that screws onto the screw shaft 21, thereby converting the rotation into fine movement, linear movement, and a high horizontal thrust force for the driver block 11. Furthermore, the horizontal movement of the driver block 11 is converted into vertical upward movement of the driven block 12 by utilizing the wedge action that occurs when the driver block 11 and driven block 12 slide against each other on their inclined surfaces. As a result, the upper surface of the driven block 12, where the lifting force is increased squarely, can support the base plate, making it suitable for automatic level adjustment work for large and heavy structure A. Furthermore, since the underside of base plate B can be supported over a wide area, an automatic level adjustment device can be provided that can prevent the structure A from coming off the automatic level adjustment device and falling, even if a large earthquake occurs during automatic level adjustment.

[0047] Next, several examples of the automatic level adjustment method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0048] [Second embodiment] 2 shows an automatic level adjustment method according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which uses three automatic level adjustment devices 1 shown in FIG.

[0049] First, automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C are placed at three points among the four corners of the level adjustment work space (the flat space where base plate B of structure A is planned to be installed): two corners on one short side and the middle position on the other short side, as shown in Figure 2, and automatic level adjustment device 1C is also placed at the middle position on the short side.

[0050] At this time, in order to ensure that the level adjustment work is carried out efficiently, the base plate support heights of the three automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C are set to relative support heights, with 1C being the lowest, 1A being the lowest, and 1B being the lowest. For example, the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1C is set to be 2 mm lower than the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A, and the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A is further set to be 2 mm lower than the upper surface of the automatic level adjustment device 1B. When doing this, as will be explained below, automatic level adjustment does not need to be performed for the automatic level adjustment device 1B. Automatic level adjustment in the X direction is first performed by the automatic level adjustment device 1A, and then automatic level adjustment in the Y direction is performed by the automatic level adjustment device 1C, thereby allowing the level adjustment of the base plate B of the structure A to be carried out.

[0051] Structure A is hung down so that base plate B rests on the driven blocks 12 of the three automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C, which have been set to the above-mentioned relative support heights. The three automatic level adjustment devices 1 are positioned at the three vertices of a triangle in a plan view, and the center of the area of ​​the triangle in a plan view is located close to the center of gravity of structure A, so that structure A can be stably supported. Note that base plate B presses against pressure sensor 14 shown in Figure 1, but pressure sensor 14 is not used in this embodiment.

[0052] In this embodiment, the X direction is the direction along the short side of base plate B. A first digital level 41 that detects the horizontality in the X direction and a second digital level 42 that detects the horizontality in the Y direction are arranged on the top surface of base plate B of structure A, and the horizontality in the X direction and the Y direction of the top surface of base plate B are detected sequentially.

[0053] In this embodiment, the height of the upper surface of each of the driven blocks 12 of the three automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C is set as described above before the structure A is lowered, so that the first level adjustment involves measuring the level using the first digital level 41 and then outputting a pulse. Based on this output pulse, the control motor 31 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A is driven to raise the upper surface of the driven block 12, and the upper surface of the slotted plate 13 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A is raised little by little to adjust it to the same height as the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1B. In this way, the level of the base plate B in the X direction can be adjusted. Furthermore, when the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1B is set lower than the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A, the inclination angle is reversed in the first digital level 41, and in this case, the control motor 31 of the automatic level adjustment device 1B is driven based on the output pulse from the first digital level 41 to raise the upper surface of the driven block 12.

[0054] After adjusting the level of base plate B in the X direction, the second digital level 42 measures the level of base plate B in the Y direction (measures the inclination), and then outputs a pulse. Based on this output pulse, the control motor 31 of automatic level adjustment device 1C, which is located on the other side in the Y direction of the two automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B that have already had their level adjusted in the X direction, is driven to raise the upper surface of the driven block 12 and adjust it to the same height as the upper surfaces of the driven blocks 12 of the automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B. In this way, the level of base plate B in the Y direction can be adjusted.

[0055] After the level adjustment in the Y direction, the level is detected again using the first digital level 41 and the second digital level 42, and if the detected level is not a zero value, the level adjustment in the X direction and the Y direction may be repeated.

[0056] Next, for structure A, after the level adjustment of base plate B has been completed, the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. are also performed, so the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. are also performed. After that, only structure A, which has been received by automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C and is not connected, is lifted by a crane or the like and transported for shipping. In this way, only structure A, which does not include automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1B, and 1C, is moved from the manufacturing factory to the user's factory and placed directly on the floor. The level adjustment of base plate B can be performed again manually in a short time using a level and spacers, and the required high-precision level and plumb adjustment can be ensured without having to perform the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. again.

[0057] As can be seen from the description of this embodiment, as a modification, the automatic level adjustment device 1B may be replaced with a pedestal (or support leg) having an adjustable function. This allows the two automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C and the pedestal having an adjustable function to each have a wide support surface to support the base plate B of the suspended structure A. In this case, the heights at which the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C support the base plate before lowering the base plate B of the structure A are set as follows: the base plate support height of the automatic level adjustment device 1C is set to the lowest, the base plate support height of the automatic level adjustment device 1A is set to the second lowest, and the base plate support height of the pedestal or support leg is set to the highest. Next, the first digital level 41 and the automatic level adjustment device 1A are used to automatically adjust the X-direction of the base plate B, and then the second digital level 42 and the automatic level adjustment device 1C are used to automatically adjust the Y-direction of the base plate B. This allows the level of the base plate B of the structure A to be adjusted.

[0058] Furthermore, four automatic level adjustment devices may be used, but the plane is formed by three support points, and the fourth support point follows and supports the plane.

[0059] [Third embodiment] 3 shows an automatic level adjustment method according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This automatic level adjustment method uses four bases (or support legs) 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D, as well as two automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C.

[0060] First, pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D with adjuster functions are installed at each of the four corners of the level adjustment work space (the flat space where base plate B of structure A is planned to be installed), and an automatic level adjustment device 1A is placed near the inside of pedestal 50A, and an automatic level adjustment device 1C is placed in the middle position of pedestals 50C and 50D. In this case, the base plate support heights of pedestals 50C and 50D are set to the lowest, and the base plate support height of pedestal 50B is set to the second lowest, and the upper surfaces of the follower blocks 12 of the two automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C are set lower than the base plate support heights of pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D.

[0061] Then, structure A is hung so that base plate B rests on the four pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D, and then the control motors 31 of the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C are chopper-driven using pulses other than those of the digital level to raise each of the driven blocks 12, and when the pressure sensor 14 turns ON and it is detected that the blocks have come into close contact with base plate B, the brake devices 34 of the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C are activated, completing preparations for starting the automatic level adjustment.

[0062] The two automatic level adjusting devices 1A and 1C may be inserted below the base plate B after the structure A has been suspended from the pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D.

[0063] Next, in this embodiment, automatic level adjustment can be performed in the same manner as the automatic level adjustment method according to the second embodiment. As the first level adjustment, the first digital level 41 measures the level, and based on the output pulses of the first digital level 41, the brake device 34 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A is released and the control motor 31 is driven to raise the upper surface of the driven block 12, thereby adjusting the upper surface of the driven block 12 of the automatic level adjustment device 1A to the same height as the base plate support height of the pedestal 50B, thereby adjusting the level of the base plate B in the X direction and braking the brake device 34. Next, the second digital level 42 measures the level of the base plate B in the Y direction and outputs pulses. Based on these output pulses, the brake device 34 of the automatic level adjustment device 1C, which is aligned in the Y direction with respect to the automatic level adjustment device 1A and the pedestal 50B after the X direction level adjustment has been completed, is released and the upper surface of the driven block 12 is raised, thereby adjusting the level of the base plate B in the Y direction and braking the brake device 34. This allows the level of the base plate B of the structure A to be adjusted.

[0064] Next, for structure A, after the level adjustment of base plate B has been completed, the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. are performed, so the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. are also performed. After that, the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C use a crane or the like to lift only structure A, which is supported on pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D and not connected to it, and transport it for shipping. In this way, when only structure A, excluding pedestals 50A, 50B, 50C, and 50D, is moved from the manufacturing factory to the user's factory and placed back on the floor, the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C can manually adjust the level of base plate B in a short time using a level and spacers, ensuring the required high-precision level and plumb adjustments without having to perform the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plates, processing tools, etc. again.

[0065] [Fourth embodiment] Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment. In the automatic level adjustment method according to this embodiment, automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C are installed in the same manner as in the third embodiment. The structure A has four support legs (adjuster bolts) 50E-50H with adjuster functions attached to four foundation bolt holes provided on the periphery of the base plate B.

[0066] When structure A is suspended, base plate B is supported by the four support legs 50E-50H. Therefore, the two automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1C may be inserted under base plate B after structure A is suspended. The base plate support heights of support legs 50G, 50H are set to the lowest, the base plate support height of support leg 50F is set to 2-3 mm higher than support legs 50G, 50H, and the base plate support height of support leg 50E is set to 2-3 mm higher than support legs 50G, 50H. When structure A is suspended, the automatic level adjustment devices 1A, 1C are set to a state in which they do not support structure A. After the structure A is suspended, they raise each driven block 12 and use the pressure sensors 14 to bring each driven block 12 into close contact with the underside of base plate B, and then apply the brakes 34 to complete preparations for starting the automatic level adjustment. By doing so, the automatic level adjustment by the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C can be performed thereafter in the same manner as in the third embodiment.

[0067] In this embodiment, the base plate B is provided with four support legs 50E-50H with an adjustment function, so after the automatic level adjustment, the adjuster function parts (clamping nuts) of the four support legs 50E-50H are brought into close contact with the base plate B to maintain the level adjustment even without the automatic level adjustment devices 1A and 1C, and then the level and vertical adjustments are made to the base plate, processing tools, etc. of the structure A, and then the structure A with the four support legs 50E-50H still attached is lifted by a crane or the like and transported for shipment.

[0068] At the user's factory where the structure A is to be transported, it is installed with the support legs 50E-50H still attached, and the level is adjusted again manually using a spirit level, at which time the adjuster functional parts (clamping nuts) of the support legs 50E-50H are adjusted. Because the precise level adjustment at the manufacturing factory of structure A has already been completed and the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. have also been performed, the required high precision level and plumb adjustments can be ensured without having to perform the level and plumb adjustments of the surface plate, processing tools, etc. again.

[0069] According to the present invention, an automatic level adjustment device can be provided that is suitable for structures in which the level of the upper surface of a base plate of a structure is adjusted within a manufacturing factory for the structure, and further the level of a surface plate or the like that the structure is equipped with using another level, the level adjustment or plumbing of cutting tools or the like that are used to process, assemble or measure workpieces fixed to the surface plate or the like, and the plumbing of wire cut lines, etc.

[0070] Furthermore, according to the present invention, similar to the automatic leveling device of Patent Document 1, high-precision level adjustment can be achieved automatically in a short time regardless of the skill level of the operator.

[0071] In addition, the present invention is also implemented when the automatic leveling device of the present invention is used to implement the second to fourth automatic level adjustment methods described above at a user company's factory, rather than within a structure manufacturing factory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C...Automatic level adjustment device, 10...lifting mechanism part, 11...Moving block, 12...follower block, 11a...Driven side inclined surface, 12a...driven side inclined surface, 14...Pressure sensor, 20...Motion conversion and transmission mechanism part, 21...Screw shaft, 22...Screw hole, 30...Rotational power unit, 31...control motor, 32...Motor driver, 33...Reducer, 34...Brake device, 35...shaft joint, 40...Digital level, 41...First digital level, 42...Second digital level, A...Structure, B...Base plate 50A-50D...base, 50E-50H…support leg, 60...Device frame,

Claims

1. An automatic level adjustment device that supports a base plate of a structure that requires level adjustment and automatically adjusts the level of the upper surface of the base plate by raising and lowering it by a small amount, a lifting mechanism including a lower driving block and an upper driven block whose inclined surfaces are in surface contact with each other, wherein when the driving block moves in a horizontal direction, a wedge action is generated between the inclined surfaces, causing the driven block to move in a vertical direction, and the upper surface of the driven block supports the underside of a base plate of a structure, thereby lifting and lowering the structure; a motion conversion transmission mechanism that is immovable in the axial direction but rotatable, has a screw shaft whose axial direction coincides with the horizontal movement direction of the driving block, and is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the driving block, and converts the rotation of the screw shaft into the horizontal movement of the driving block; a control motor that rotates the screw shaft; a digital level that detects the horizontality of the upper surface of the base plate and outputs an output pulse or a horizontal LEVEL signal until the horizontality of the upper surface becomes zero; a means for receiving and processing the output pulse or horizontal LEVEL signal output by the digital level to generate a drive pulse required for driving the control motor, and by performing feedback control until the value of the tilt angle output by the digital level converges to zero, the control motor receives the drive pulse, rotates the screw shaft, and moves the driving block horizontally at a slow speed, and by combining this slow horizontal movement of the driving block with the slow movement of the driven block due to the wedge action, the driving rotation is continued until the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed; An automatic level adjustment device comprising:

2. The control motor is a servo motor or a pulse motor.

2. The automatic level adjustment device according to claim 1.

3. When the level adjustment of the upper surface of the base plate is completed and the control motor stops its driving rotation, a brake device is provided to disable the rotation of the screw shaft or the rotating shaft of the control motor so that the screw shaft does not rotate in the reverse direction due to the load of the base plate of the structure.

2. The automatic level adjustment device according to claim 1.

4. The base plate of the structure is in close contact with the driven block, and a pressure sensor is provided on the upper surface of the driven block to detect the load of the structure.

2. The automatic level adjustment device according to claim 1.

5. The structure is suspended in a level adjustment work space, and a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are arranged below a base plate of the structure, a first digital level that detects level in the X direction and a second digital level that detects level in the Y direction are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate, a pulse is output from one of the first and second digital level devices, automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to that one digital level, and then a pulse is output from the other digital level device, automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level, thereby adjusting the levels of the upper surface of the base plate in the X and Y directions. An automatic level adjustment method characterized by:

6. The automatic level adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is installed on the floor of a level adjustment work space for the base plate of the structure at a plurality of positions where the base plate can be stably supported, and the base plate is placed on them.

6. The automatic level adjustment method according to claim 5.

7. A plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and one or more pedestals whose upper surfaces are several mm higher than the upper surfaces of the driven blocks of the automatic level adjustment devices are installed on the floor of the level adjustment work space of the base plate of the structure at a plurality of positions where the base plate can be stably supported, and the base plate is placed on them.

6. The automatic level adjustment method according to claim 5.

8. A plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are arranged in a state in which the upper surface of the driven block is several mm lower than the lower surface of the base plate before or after the structure is lowered, and the structure, on which support legs including bolts and nuts that can be tightened to adjust the height are attached to the four corners of the lower surface of the base plate, is lowered onto the floor of a level adjustment work space.

6. The automatic level adjustment method according to claim 5.

9. 5. An automatic level adjustment method comprising: installing a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to claim 4 and one or more pedestals, the upper surfaces of which are several millimeters higher than the upper surfaces of the driven blocks of the automatic level adjustment devices, on a floor of a level adjustment work space for the base plate of the structure at a plurality of positions where the base plate can be stably supported; and placing the base plate on the pedestals; the structure is suspended in the level adjustment work space, and the plurality of automatic level adjustment devices according to claim 4 are arranged under a base plate of the structure; a first digital level for detecting levelness in the X direction and a second digital level for detecting levelness in the Y direction are arranged on an upper surface of the base plate; a pulse is output from one of the first and second digital level devices, and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to that one digital level device; then a pulse is output from the other digital level device, and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level device, thereby adjusting the levels of the upper surface of the base plate in the X and Y directions; 5. The automatic level adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein the control motors of the plurality of automatic level adjusting devices are driven to gradually raise the driven blocks, and when the pressure sensor detects that the driven blocks are in close contact with the lower surface of the base plate, the driving of the control motors is terminated. Automatic level adjustment method.

10. 5. An automatic level adjustment method comprising: arranging a plurality of the automatic level adjustment devices according to claim 4 in a state in which the upper surface of the driven block is several millimeters lower than the lower surface of the base plate before or after the structure is lowered; and suspending the structure, on a floor of a level adjustment work space, the structure having support legs including bolts and nuts that can be tightened to adjust the height, attached to the four corners of the lower surface of the base plate; the structure is suspended in the level adjustment work space, and the plurality of automatic level adjustment devices according to claim 4 are arranged under a base plate of the structure; a first digital level for detecting levelness in the X direction and a second digital level for detecting levelness in the Y direction are arranged on an upper surface of the base plate; a pulse is output from one of the first and second digital level devices, and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to that one digital level device; then a pulse is output from the other digital level device, and automatic level adjustment is performed by the automatic level adjustment device corresponding to the other digital level device, thereby adjusting the levels of the upper surface of the base plate in the X and Y directions; 5. The automatic level adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein the control motors of the plurality of automatic level adjusting devices are driven to gradually raise the driven blocks, and when the pressure sensor detects that the driven blocks are in close contact with the lower surface of the base plate, the driving of the control motors is terminated. Automatic level adjustment method.

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