Work vice and intermediate jaw of work vice

Abstract

To provide a workpiece fixing means capable of collectively machining a large number of workpieces by using a machining center for post-machining such as a through-hole and a plane after machining a peripheral surface by a lathe.SOLUTION: One or a plurality of intermediate jaws are freely movably mounted between the opposed main jaws of the main vice as a base body. The mouthpieces of the main jaw and the intermediate jaw come into contact with three portions p, q, r of a cylindrical or hexagonal peripheral surface of a workpiece to be gripped. Two places q and r are provided on one of the jaws facing each other across the workpiece, and the other place p is provided on the other jaw. The other position p advancing and retreating on a perpendicular bisector of a straight line connecting the two positions q and r advances toward the workpiece, thereby gripping the workpiece at three positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a work vise that is mounted on a machining center table directly or via a mounting base such as a column and is used to fasten and fix a plurality of small workpieces, and to an intermediate jaw that is mounted on the work vise. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a workpiece, such as a spool for a hydraulic switching valve, that has a round shaft with multiple shallow circumferential grooves and through holes that open into the circumferential grooves is machined on a lathe and cut to a predetermined length, and the resulting semi-finished product is then machined with a drill press or similar to form through holes into a finished product. When machining multiple through holes in different directions, it is necessary to change the position of the workpiece to match the direction of each through hole, which requires multiple jigs and a lot of setup time for machining. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-307649 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-146459 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 02 / 49809 Brochure Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Using a multi-purpose lathe equipped with a bar feeder and a tool post that can accommodate rotary tools, it is possible to efficiently machine workpieces with the above shapes, but such lathes are expensive, resulting in a high unit cost for machining. Small, conventional lathes are widely used and have low unit costs for machining. However, the semi-finished products machined on the lathe must be loaded one by one onto a machine used for post-processing, which requires a great deal of time and effort.

[0005] The object of this invention is to provide a workpiece fixing means that enables the post-processing of through holes and flat surfaces in different directions on a large number of workpieces at once using a machining center after the peripheral surfaces have been machined on a lathe, thereby enabling the inexpensive manufacture of a large number of small workpieces without much effort. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The work vise of this invention is a work vise used when machining multiple workpieces 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, and is equipped with a pair of main jaws 2 (2a, 2b) at both ends of the base 1 in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the workpiece is gripped), which, like a normal vise, move toward and away from each other to grip and release the workpiece. Between the opposing main jaws 2a, 2b, one or more intermediate jaws 4 are mounted so as to be guided by the guide 11 and to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the base 1.

[0007] The main jaw 2 and the intermediate jaw 4 are equipped with mouthpieces 5 (5a, 5b) that directly contact the workpiece W. The mouthpieces 5 contact three points p, q, and r on the cylindrical or hexagonal circumferential surface of the workpiece to be gripped. Two of the three points, q and r, are provided on the jaws facing each other across the workpiece, i.e., the main jaw and the adjacent intermediate jaw, and one of the adjacent intermediate jaws, while the other point p is provided on the other jaw. Thus, one of the main jaws 2 (2a or 2b) is provided with two points q and r, and the other (2b or 2a) is provided with one point p, and each intermediate jaw 4 is provided with two points q and r and one point p facing in opposite directions.

[0008] When a workpiece is gripped, the two points q and r and the one point p grip the workpiece in the same manner as a three-jaw chuck on a lathe. In a three-jaw chuck, the three points advance and retreat equally in the radial direction of the workpiece to grip and release it, whereas in the work vise of this invention, the other point p advances and retreats along the perpendicular bisector of the line connecting the two waiting points q and r, advancing toward the workpiece, thereby gripping the workpiece at three points.

[0009] The two locations q and r can be provided on one jaw 5b as shown in Fig. 3, or can be provided individually on two jaws 5a as shown in Fig. 5. In either case, it is preferable to attach the jaws to the main jaw 2 and intermediate jaw 4 via the mounting structure already proposed by the applicant in Patent Document 3, that is, a mounting structure 21 having a multi-stage sawtooth sliding surface that generates a component force in a direction that moves the jaws 5 downward, i.e., toward the base of the work vise, due to the reaction force generated when the workpiece is gripped. This prevents the gripped workpiece W from floating up, and makes it possible to accurately determine the machining reference in the axial direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] By using the work vise of this invention, the post-processing of a large number of semi-finished products, whose peripheral surfaces have been machined on a lathe and cut to a predetermined length, can be performed in a single, continuous process on a machining center.This makes it possible to efficiently machine relatively small workpieces with large lot sizes and which have processing areas on their peripheral surfaces, such as holes and recesses, that cannot be machined on a normal lathe, and has the effect of reducing the processing costs of such workpieces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a work vise according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a work vise according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] Enlarged plan view showing the gripping action of the workpiece between the opposing jaws [Figure 4] Cross section of line AA in Figure 3 [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 3 showing another example of a base. [Figure 6] Cross section of line BB in Figure 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The work vise of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. The work vise of the present invention comprises a main vise having main jaws 2 (2a, 2b) facing each other on both ends of a base 1, and one or more intermediate jaws 4 slidably guided by linear guides 11 provided on the base 1. One of the main jaws in the figure is a fixed jaw 2b fixed to the base 1, and the other is a movable jaw 2a that can move along the guide 11.

[0013] The movable jaw 2a is connected to the movable base 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 FIGS. 1 and 2) that screws into it. The movable base 3 is provided with a through-hole pin hole (not shown), and the base 1 is provided with pin holes 13 at equal intervals along a guide 11. The movable base 3 is fixed in its movement position by inserting a fixed pin 12 into a desired one of the pin holes 13 provided in the base. By rotating the threaded rod 9, the movable jaw 2a moves forward and backward relative to the fixed jaw 2b, using the position of the movable base 3 as a reference.

[0014] Between the opposing main jaws 2 (2a, 2b), one intermediate jaw 4 (the number of which is less than the number of workpieces to be machined at once) is mounted so as to be freely movable along a guide 11. The movable table 3, movable jaw 2a, intermediate jaw 4 and dust removal covers 8 provided between each jaw can be removed from the side of the base opposite the fixed jaw by removing the fixed pins 12.

[0015] Figures 3 and 4 show an example in which two of the three points p, q, and r that come into contact with the workpiece to be gripped are provided on one jaw 5b, and Figures 5 and 6 show an example in which the three points p, q, and r are provided on three jaws 5a.

[0016] 3 and 4, a receiving-side jaw 5b having a V-shaped abutment surface 7 with an apex angle of 120 degrees in a plan view is attached to the fixed jaw 2b, and a pushing-side jaw 5a having a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main vise in a plan view is attached to the movable jaw 2a. The intermediate jaw 4 has a receiving-side jaw 5b having a V-shaped abutment surface 7 with an apex angle of 120 degrees in a plan view, similar to that provided on the fixed jaw 2b, on the surface facing the movable jaw 2a, and a pushing-side jaw 5a having a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main vise, similar to that provided on the movable jaw 2a, attached to the surface facing the fixed jaw 2b.

[0017] In the example of Figures 5 and 6, a wide member 14 is fixed to the fixed jaw 2b and the intermediate jaw 4 on the side facing the movable jaw 2a, and each jaw 5a is attached to both ends of the wide member so that the abutment plane with the workpiece is at an angle of 120 degrees. On the other hand, a pushing-side jaw 5a having a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main vise in a plan view is attached to the side facing the fixed jaw 2b of the movable jaw 2a and the intermediate jaw 4, as in the example of Figures 3 and 4. The gripping and releasing action of the workpiece W is no different from the example of Figures 3 and 4.

[0018] When it is desired to prevent the workpiece W from floating up when gripping the workpiece and to accurately determine the axial position of the gripped workpiece, a mounting structure for the jaws 5b and 5a can be used that utilizes the gripping reaction force of the workpiece to push the workpiece in the axial direction, as proposed in Patent Document 3.

[0019] Figures 3 and 4 and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing two examples in which the jaw mounting structure proposed in Patent Document 3 is applied to the work vise of the present invention. Figures 3 and 4 show mounting structures 21 for the receiving jaw 5b and the pushing jaw 5a, which face each other across the workpiece W shown in imaginary lines. The receiving jaw 5b is a member that abuts against the workpiece W at two points q and r on both ends of its wide width, and the jaw 5a is flat, but the structure and function of its mounting structure 21 are the same, and the only difference between the receiving jaw 5b and the jaw 5a is the width of the jaw, and therefore the width of the mounting structure 21 to which it is attached.

[0020] 5 and 6 show mounting structures 21 for a receiving side consisting of two jaws 5a sandwiching the workpiece W and a single pushing jaw 5a facing the two jaws. In this case, the jaws 5a and mounting structures 21 all have the same structure and dimensions.

[0021] The mouthpiece 5 (5a, 5b) is attached to a base block 22 fixed to a jaw (main jaw 2 or intermediate jaw 4) via an attachment structure 21. The front surface of the base block 22 has a multi-step sawtooth shape and is provided with a plurality of oblique pressing surfaces 27 and a plurality of receiving surfaces 28 that are perpendicular to the pressing surfaces 27 in a side view. The back surface of the mouthpiece 5 is also sawtooth-shaped facing the front surface of the base block and is provided with a downward moving surface 24 that comes into sliding contact with the pressing surfaces 27 and a contact surface 25 that faces the receiving surfaces 28.

[0022] Elastic seals are provided on the bottom and both side surfaces of the mouthpiece 5 to allow slight rocking of the mouthpiece 5 and prevent dust from entering the mounting structure 21. The figure shows elastic seal 34 on the bottom surface of the mouthpiece. The elastic seals on the side surfaces are, for example, rubber plates fixed to the mouthpiece 5 and the side surfaces of the base block 22, but are not shown in the figure.

[0023] A shallow recess is formed in the center of the uppermost and lowermost receiving surfaces 28 of the base block 22, and a thin, wave-shaped spring strip 38 is housed in this recess. This spring strip 38 urges the contact surface 25, which faces the receiving surface 28, upward, applying a urging force in a direction that separates the receiving surface 28 and the contact surface 25.

[0024] A through hole 35 is provided in the center of the jaw 5, and a connecting bolt 36 inserted into this through hole is threaded into a threaded hole provided in the center of the base block 22. The base block 22 and jaw 5 are connected by this adjustment means, and by tightening the connecting bolt 36, the amount of downward movement of the jaw 5 when gripping a workpiece decreases, and by loosening it, the amount of downward movement of the jaw 5 increases. Although not shown in the figure, a lock screw is provided to fix the rotation of the connecting bolt 36 when it is set.

[0025] A cylindrical workpiece W, the cylindrical surface of which has been machined on a lathe and cut to a predetermined length, is inserted in an upright position between the opposing receiving jaws (receiving jaw 5b that abuts the workpiece at two points or two jaws 5a that abut the workpiece at one point) and the pushing jaw 5a with the movable jaw 2a loosened, and by closing the movable jaw 2a in this state, the workpiece is gripped between the main jaw 2 (2a, 2b) and the adjacent intermediate jaw 4, and between the adjacent intermediate jaws 4, in a manner similar to the three-jaw chuck of a lathe.

[0026] The work vise of this invention can accommodate a larger number of intermediate jaws by increasing the length of the base 1. In addition, multiple work vises can be lined up and fixed to a pallet or column, and the pallet or column can be attached to the table of a machining center.

[0027] A semi-finished product whose peripheral surface has been machined on a lathe and cut to a predetermined length is fixed to the work vise of this invention, and its base 1 is fixed to the side of a column attached to the table of a machining center with its longitudinal direction facing up and down. By machining recesses and through holes in the peripheral surface with an end mill or drill attached to the tool axis of the machining center, all semi-finished products attached to the table of the machining center can be continuously machined without requiring manual labor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 base 2 Lord Joe 2a Movable jaw 2b Fixed Jaw 4 Middle jaw 5(5a, 5b) nozzle 5a Jaw that contacts the workpiece at one point 5b Jaw that contacts the workpiece at two points 11 Guide 14 Wide members 21 Mounting structure 22-unit block 24 Lower moving surface 25 Hitting Surface 27 Press down surface 28 Receiving surface double work

Claims

1. A work vise is provided with opposing main jaws, at least one of which is movable along a linear guide on a base fixed to a table of a machining center, and one or more intermediate jaws are disposed between the opposing main jaws so as to be freely movable along the guide, and the opposing main jaws are moved in directions approaching each other to grip a workpiece between the main jaw and the intermediate jaw and between the intermediate jaws themselves, A work vise characterized in that one of the jaws that grips the workpiece between adjacent jaws abuts the workpiece at two points and the other abuts at one point in the workpiece gripping direction of the main jaw, and these three points are located at the vertices of an isosceles triangle with the workpiece gripping direction as the center line when viewed in a plane.

2. A work vise is provided with opposing main jaws, at least one of which is movable along a linear guide on a base fixed to a table of a machining center, and one or more intermediate jaws are disposed between the opposing main jaws so as to be freely movable along the guide, and the opposing main jaws are moved in directions approaching each other to grip a workpiece between the main jaw and the intermediate jaw and between the intermediate jaws themselves, A work vise comprising three jaws for gripping a workpiece between adjacent main jaws or intermediate jaws, two of the three jaws being provided on one of the adjacent jaws and one on the other, the two jaws being positioned equidistant from the width center on a line perpendicular to the center line of the main vise in the work gripping direction, and the one jaw being positioned on the width center line.

3. The main vise has a slide mounted on a base of the main vise so as to be freely movable along a linear guide that guides the moving jaw of the main vise, one jaw that contacts the workpiece at the center position in the width direction of the slide, and the other jaw that is positioned opposite to the one jaw, The other jaw is an intermediate jaw of a work vise, and the other jaw has two locations that abut against the workpiece at positions equidistant from the widthwise center of the sliding table in the width direction.

4. The main vise has a slide mounted on a base of the main vise so as to be freely movable along a linear guide that guides a moving jaw of the main vise, one jaw plate disposed at the center position in the width direction of the slide plate, and two jaw plates disposed back to back with respect to the one jaw plate, The two jaws are arranged at equal distances in the width direction from the center of the slide table in the width direction.

5. In a work vise in which the jaws are attached to the main jaw and the intermediate jaw via an attachment structure, The mounting structure is a base block that is substantially integral with the jaws, and the base block has a multi-stage sawtooth shape on its front surface, the multi-stage sawtooth shape being formed by a plurality of pressing surfaces that are inclined obliquely downward against the reaction force from the gripped workpiece and a plurality of receiving surfaces that intersect with the pressing surfaces; the base having a multi-stage sawtooth shape formed on its rear surface by a downward moving surface that slides against the pressing surface and a contact surface that faces the receiving surface; 3. A work vise according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member for biasing the receiving surface and the contact surface in a direction separating them from each other, and an adjusting means for loosely fastening the base block and the jaws.

6. In an intermediate jaw to which the mouthpiece is attached via a mounting structure, The mounting structure is a base block that is substantially integral with the slide, and the base block has a multi-stage sawtooth shape on its front surface, the multi-stage sawtooth shape being formed by a plurality of pressing surfaces that are inclined obliquely downward against the reaction force from the gripped workpiece and a plurality of receiving surfaces that intersect with the pressing surfaces; 5. The intermediate jaw according to claim 3, further comprising: a mouthpiece having a multi-stage sawtooth shape formed on its rear surface by a downward moving surface that slides against the pressing surface and an abutting surface that faces the receiving surface; an elastic material that biases the receiving surface and the abutting surface in directions away from each other; and an adjustment means that loosely fastens the base block and the mouthpiece.

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