Work vise, and intermediate jaw and work base of work vise

Abstract

To manufacture a small work at a low cost by providing a work vice for collectively machining a large number of semi-finished products of small parts machined into a round shaft of a predetermined length by using a machining center after turning.SOLUTION: The main vise serving as a base body includes a base having a linear guide, a pair of main jaws that approach and separate from each other to fix and release a workpiece, and one or a plurality of intermediate jaws disposed between the main jaws so as to be freely movable in a longitudinal direction of the base. The gripping surface of the workpiece has a lateral V-shape that widens toward the workpiece to be gripped. The intermediate jaws or the workpiece table arranged between them are provided with stops which define the axial position of the workpiece and with pushers which push the workpiece axially against the stops.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a work vise that is attached to the table of a machining center directly or via a mounting base such as a column and is used to fasten and fix multiple small workpieces, as well as an intermediate jaw and work table that are attached to the work vise. [Background technology]

[0002] 10 and 11 are diagrams showing examples of workpieces machined using the work vise of the present invention. Workpiece Wa in Fig. 10 is a workpiece with a keyway 42 machined into a round shaft 41, and workpiece Wb in Fig. 11 is a pin with a square flange 43 at one end of the round shaft 41 and a through-hole 44 at the other end that is parallel to one side of the flange 43.

[0003] The workpiece Wa shown in Fig. 10 is machined in two steps: the round shaft 41 is machined on a lathe, and then the keyway 42 is machined with an end mill. If a multi-purpose lathe equipped with a tool post that can be fitted with a bar feeder and rotary tools is used, the workpieces can be machined and cut out one by one from the bar material.

[0004] On the other hand, the workpiece Wb shown in Fig. 11 is machined in three steps using a bar material with a square cross section: first, the flange 43 at the end is machined, and then the round shaft 41 and the through-hole 44 are machined. This workpiece Wb can also be machined and cut out piece by piece from square bar material by using a multi-purpose lathe equipped with a bar feeder and a tool post to which a rotary tool can be attached. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-1346 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-136567 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-29571 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, if the workpieces shown in Figures 10 and 11 are relatively large, it is considered appropriate to machine them using a combined lathe equipped with a bar feeder. However, workpieces of this type are often relatively small and are manufactured in large quantities. Furthermore, combined lathes are relatively large and expensive, so there is a problem that when they are used to machine small workpieces, the manufacturing costs of the workpieces become extremely high.

[0007] On the other hand, small ordinary lathes equipped with bar feeders are widely used and the processing costs are low, but after processing the round shaft 41, the processing of the keyway 42, the periphery of the flange 43, and the through-hole 44 must be performed by mounting each workpiece processed on the lathe on a dedicated machine, which requires a great deal of time and effort.

[0008] In view of the fact that the round shaft portion can be machined and cut to a predetermined length using an ordinary lathe equipped with a bar feeder, this invention aims to provide a workpiece fixing means that enables the machining center to perform all the machining operations after machining the round shaft 41 portion, thereby making it possible to inexpensively and effortlessly manufacture a large number of small workpieces having the shapes shown in Figures 10 and 11. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The work vise of this invention is a work vise used when multiple workpieces are machined at once in a machining center. The main vise base 1, which forms the base of the work vise of this invention, has a constant linear cross-sectional shape equipped with a linear guide 11. At both ends of the base 1 in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the workpiece is gripped), a pair of main jaws 2 (2a, 2b) are provided, similar to a conventional vise, which move toward and away from each other to fix and release the workpiece. Between the opposing main jaws 2a, 2b, one or more intermediate jaws 4 are mounted, guided by the guide 11, so as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the base 1. If necessary, a work table 31 for supporting the workpiece just before gripping is mounted, guided by the guide 11, so as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the base 1, between the intermediate jaw 4 and the main jaw 2 or between the intermediate jaws 4.

[0010] The main jaw 2 and the intermediate jaw 4 are equipped with jaws 5 and 6 that directly grip the workpiece W. In the illustrated embodiment, the jaw 6 of the intermediate jaw 4 is integral with the intermediate jaw 4. The shape of the abutment surface 7 of the jaws 5 and 6 with the workpiece W is such that when the opposing main jaw 2 moves in the workpiece gripping direction, the workpiece W is centered by the movement, i.e., the workpiece's machining center axis c is positioned at a predetermined position. Specifically, the abutment surface is made up of two flat surfaces that form a horizontal V-shape widening toward the workpiece to be gripped in side view. Since the gripped portions of many machined parts have cylindrical or hexagonal cylindrical peripheral surfaces, a jaw equipped with an abutment surface 7 with an apex angle of 120 degrees and an intersection line 8 parallel to the workpiece's machining center axis c is the most versatile.

[0011] A stopper 21 that determines the axial position of the lightly gripped workpiece is attached to the intermediate jaw 4 or the workpiece table 31. Furthermore, the intermediate jaw 4 or the workpiece table 31 is provided with a pushing tool 23 that pushes the workpiece toward the stopper 21 in the direction of the machining central axis c. The pushing tool 23 is provided on the opposite side to the stopper 21. The stopper 21 and the pushing tool 23 can both be provided on the intermediate jaw 4 or the workpiece table 31, or one can be provided on the intermediate jaw 4 and the other on the workpiece table 31.

[0012] The push tool 23 comprises a push shaft 26 that can move back and forth in the axial direction of the workpiece held by the intermediate jaw 4, a push piece 27 attached to the tip of the push shaft, and a spring 25 that urges the push shaft 26 in the retracting direction.

[0013] The push piece 27 and stopper 21 are shaped to protrude from the jaw 6 attached to the intermediate jaw by a length shorter than the radius of the workpiece to be gripped on both sides in the workpiece gripping direction of the intermediate jaw 4 to which they are attached or the work table 31 adjacent to the intermediate jaw, and to abut against the end face of the workpiece gripped by the jaw. The push piece 27 and stopper 21 are preferably attached replaceably with bolts or the like so that they can be replaced according to the length and processing position of the workpiece.

[0014] If the workpiece to be machined has a flange 43 or head that protrudes in the circumferential direction of the round shaft 41, the stopper 21 is not necessary. When the workpiece has a square flange or head and the workpiece is held in a position that requires machining in a direction related to the side of the flange or head, the shape of the stopper 21 or the pushing piece 27 that comes into contact with the workpiece can be devised to position the workpiece in the axial direction and also determine the phase of the workpiece (angle around the machining center axis c). Specifically, the pushing surface 37 of the stopper or pushing piece that comes into contact with the workpiece is made a flat surface that is inclined obliquely toward the workpiece. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] By using the work vise of this invention, it is possible to machine a large number of small workpieces at once or continuously in a machining center, whereas in the past, round shafts 41 were machined on a lathe and cut to a predetermined length, and then the workpieces were mounted one by one on a dedicated machine to machine keyways, radial holes, and flat surfaces. This makes it possible to efficiently machine relatively small workpieces that are produced in large lots and have machining areas on the periphery that cannot be machined on a normal lathe, such as keyways and flat surfaces, and has the effect of reducing the machining costs of such workpieces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a work vise according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the work vise of the first embodiment as seen from the opposite side of FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 1 is a plan view of a work vise according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of part A in Figure 1 [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of part B in Figure 1 [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example in which the work vise of the first embodiment is attached to the table of a machining center. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a work vise according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 2 is a plan view of a work vise according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 1 is an enlarged plan view of the contact portion between the pressing piece of the pressing tool and the flange of the workpiece; [Figure 10] A diagram showing the first example of the workpiece [Figure 11] A diagram showing a second example of the workpiece DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The work vise of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing first and second embodiments. Figures 1 to 6 show the first embodiment, and Figures 7 to 9 show the second embodiment. In the drawings, workpieces Wa and Wb in a gripped state are shown by imaginary lines.

[0018] The work vise of this invention comprises a main vise having opposing main jaws 2 (2a, 2b) on both ends of a base 1, one or more intermediate jaws 4 slidably guided by linear guides 11 provided on the base 1, and a work table 31 slidably guided by the guides 11 between the intermediate jaws 4 and between the intermediate jaws 4 and the main jaw 2. One of the main jaws in the figure is a fixed jaw 2a fixed to the base 1, and the other is a movable jaw 2b that is movable along the guide 11.

[0019] The movable jaw 2b is connected to the movable table 3 located adjacent to it on the side opposite the fixed jaw by a threaded rod 9 (only the head of which is visible in Figure 1) that screws into it. The movable table 3 is provided with a through pin hole 14, and the base 1 is provided with pin holes 13 at equal intervals along a guide 11. The movable table 3 is fixed in its movement position by aligning the through pin hole 14 with a desired one of the pin holes 13 provided in the base and inserting a fixing pin 12. By rotating the threaded rod 9, the movable jaw 2b advances and retreats relative to the fixed jaw 2a, using the position of the movable table 3 as a reference.

[0020] Between the opposing main jaws 2 (2a, 2b), intermediate jaws 4, the number of which corresponds to the number of workpieces to be machined at once (three in the illustrated example), are attached so as to be freely movable along guides 11. Between adjacent intermediate jaws 4 and between the intermediate jaws 4 and the main jaws 2a, 2b, work tables 31 are attached so as to be freely movable along guides 11. The movable table 3, movable jaw 2b, intermediate jaws 4, and work table 31 can be removed from the side of the base opposite the fixed jaw by removing the fixing pins 12.

[0021] A main jaw 5 is fixed to the opposing surface of the main jaw 2, and is provided with a horizontal V-shaped abutment surface 7 with an apex angle of 120 degrees when viewed from the side (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1). A horizontal V-shaped jaw 6 with an apex angle of 120 degrees when viewed from the side is integrally provided on both opposing sides of the intermediate jaw 4, on the fixed jaw side and the movable jaw side. The width dimensions (dimensions perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1) of the main jaw 5 and intermediate jaw 6 are all the same, and the abutment surfaces 7 that come into contact with the workpiece all have the same shape, and the height (distance or dimension) of the intersection line 8 of the horizontal V-shaped abutment surfaces from the base 1 is precisely the same.

[0022] A stopper 21 for axially positioning the workpiece W (Wa, Wb) to be gripped is attached to one side of the intermediate jaw 4 with a bolt 22, and a pusher 23 is provided on the other side. As shown in Fig. 5, the pusher 23 has a structure in which a push shaft 26 biased in a retracting direction by a spring 25 is inserted into a horizontal hole 24 formed in the intermediate jaw 4, and a push piece 27 is replaceably attached to the tip of the push shaft 26. A guide pin 28 is erected adjacent to the horizontal hole 24, and the push piece 27 has a through hole 29 through which the guide pin is inserted, preventing the push piece 27 from rotating around the push shaft 26. The push piece 27 and the stopper 21 described above have a shape that protrudes from the intermediate jaw 6 by a length that does not reach the axis c of the workpiece gripped by the intermediate jaw 6 and abuts against the axial end of the workpiece (see Fig. 3).

[0023] 10, a workpiece that does not have a flange or the like that serves as a machining reference in the axial direction is inserted between the jaws 5 and 6 with the stopper 21 attached to the intermediate jaw 4 and the pushing piece 27 pulled out. The inserted workpiece abuts against the stopper 21 due to the biasing force of the pushing tool 23, and if the movable jaw 2b is advanced in this state to grip the workpiece W, all of the workpieces inserted between the main jaw 2 and the intermediate jaw 4 and between the intermediate jaws 4 are fixed with the end abutting against the stopper 21 as the machining reference in the axial direction and the distance from the base 1 to the intersection 8 of the abutment surfaces 7, 7 as the machining reference.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 6, the work vise with the above structure is mounted on a machining center by fixing the base 1 with bolts to the table 51 of the machine tool or to a column 52 attached to the table. The position of each workpiece in the gripping direction can be calculated based on the position of the contact surface 7 of the fixed jaw 2a when the main vise is fixed to the table and the shapes of the contact surface and the intermediate jaw.

[0025] In addition, in Figures 1 to 3, two workpieces are held between the opposing nozzles 6, 6 of the intermediate jaw 4, but this shows that more workpieces can be held in this way, and it is of course also possible to hold one workpiece at a time.

[0026] A workpiece having a flange 43 that serves as a processing reference in the axial direction of the workpiece can be inserted between the opposing jaws 5 and 6 with the stopper 21 removed and the flange protruding from the jaws 5 and 6 toward the pressing tool 23, thereby allowing multiple workpieces to be gripped together with their axial position and axis center position kept constant using the same procedure as above.

[0027] The workpiece Wb in Fig. 11 has a square flange 43 at one end of a round shaft 41, and a through-hole 44 parallel to one side of the flange 43 at the other end. When machining the periphery of the flange 43 and the hole 44 of such a workpiece, it is necessary to restrict the phase of the workpiece around its axis as well as the axial position of the workpiece when gripping it in a work vice. Figs. 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of a work vice for gripping such a workpiece.

[0028] In the second embodiment, in order to define the direction of the side of the flange 43 when the presser 23 abuts against the side of the jaws 5 and 6, the press surface 37 of the press piece 27 that abuts against the workpiece Wb is perpendicular to the base 1 and inclined obliquely toward the workpiece (see FIG. 9 ). By providing such a press surface 37 on the press piece 27, if the press piece 27 is pulled out and one side of the flange 43 is approximately perpendicular to the base 1 and the workpiece Wb is inserted between the opposing jaws 5 and 6, when the press piece 27 retracts toward the workpiece, the side of the workpiece that abuts against the press surface 37 will be in the same direction as the direction of the press surface 37, i.e., the direction of the base 1 of the work vise, due to the inclination of the press surface 37, and the flange 43 will be pressed against the side of the jaws 5 and 6. Therefore, the workpiece Wb will have a posture that defines the axial direction 1 and the phase around the axis. Therefore, the movable jaw 2b can be advanced in this state to grip the workpiece. It should be noted that the workpiece Wb has a flange 43, so no stopper is required.

[0029] 7 to 9, due to the relationship between the size of the flange 43 and the required size of the pushing piece 27, two workpieces are held side by side between the jaws 6, 6 of the intermediate jaw 4 and between the jaws 6 of the intermediate jaw and the main jaw 5, and the side of the adjacent intermediate jaw where the pushing tool 23 is provided is on the opposite side. Therefore, the second workpiece Wb cannot be positioned from the main jaw, and the workpiece cannot be machined, so the workpiece must be removed and returned to the unmachined workpieces.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, if the base 1 of the work vice to which multiple workpieces W are fixed as described above is fixed to the side of a column 52 attached to a table 51 of a machining center with its longitudinal direction facing up and down, and the cutter is moved up and down at the position of the flange 43, one side of the flange 43 (the upper side in Figure 7) can be machined in one operation. Next, the movable jaw 2b is loosened, the pushing piece 27 is pulled to rotate the workpiece Wb by 90 degrees, the movable jaw 2b is tightened, the cutter is moved up and down to machine the newly rotated side, and this operation is repeated, and when the first or last side is machined, the through holes 44 are simultaneously drilled. In this procedure, all of the workpieces Wb held in the work vice can be machined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 base 2 Lord Joe 2a Fixed Jaw 2b Movable jaw 4 Middle jaw 5 Main cap 6 Intermediate nozzle 7. Contact surface of jaws 5 and 6 with the workpiece 8 Intersection line of contact surface 7 11 Guide Wa, Wb Work

Claims

1. A work vise comprising: opposing main jaws, at least one of which is fixedly and movably provided along a linear guide of a base fixed to a table of a machining center, and one or more intermediate jaws arranged to be freely movable along the guide between the opposing main jaws; and the opposing jaws are moved in directions approaching each other to fix a workpiece between the main jaw and the intermediate jaw and between the intermediate jaws themselves, A work vise in which the work gripping surfaces of the jaws attached to the main jaw and the intermediate jaw have side shapes that fix the machining center axis of the work at the same height from the base by the fixing and moving operation when fixing the work, and which is equipped with positioning means for the machining center axis directions of multiple workpieces fixed to the same vise, A work vise comprising a work table disposed freely movably on the base between the intermediate jaws or between the intermediate jaws, and the positioning means is provided on the intermediate jaw or the work table.

2. 2. A work vise according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means is a pressing tool that is biased toward the intermediate jaw or work table by a spring built into the intermediate jaw or work table, parallel to the machining axis of the work.

3. 3. A work vise according to claim 2, wherein the contact portion of said pressing tool with the workpiece comprises a linear contact surface that contacts the edge of the end face of the workpiece obliquely.

4. 3. A work vise as described in claim 2, wherein a stopper that abuts against a workpiece pushed by the pressing tool is fixed to the intermediate jaw on which the pressing tool is provided or to the side of the work table adjacent to the intermediate jaw opposite to the side on which the pressing tool is provided.

5. In an intermediate jaw, the intermediate jaw is provided with a base that is a vise main body, a slider that is inserted freely into a linear guide that guides the moving jaw, and a jaw that fixes a workpiece, The intermediate jaw of the work vise is provided with a pressing tool that is biased in a retracting direction that intersects the guide at right angles to the work fixed to the jaw or the jaw of an adjacent intermediate jaw.

6. A slide table is inserted freely into a linear guide that guides the moving jaw on a base that is the main body of the vise, and a work table that temporarily supports the work just before it is fixed. The work table of the work vise is provided with a pressing tool that is biased in a retracting direction that intersects the guide at right angles to the work fixed to the mouthpiece of the intermediate jaw adjacent to the work table.

7. 3. A method for machining a workpiece, comprising mounting the workpiece vise according to claim 1 or 2 on a machining center and machining a plurality of workpieces fixed to said workpiece vise continuously or simultaneously.

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