Holding jig

Abstract

To provide a workpiece gripping jig that can grip a series of workpieces arranged in a line with less force. [Solution] The gripping jig 1 has a first pressing part 3, a second pressing part 4, and an intermediate pressing part 5. The first pressing part 3 presses the bearing metal M1 at the front end of the bearing metal row MR from the front. The second pressing part 4 presses the bearing metal M24 at the rear end of the bearing metal row MR from the rear. The intermediate pressing part 5 presses the front bearing metal M12 located in the middle of the bearing metal row MR from the rear, and also presses the bearing metal M13 adjacent to it from the front.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gripping jig for gripping a plurality of workpieces in an aligned state in a batch.

Background Art

[0002] In a cylinder block of an engine, a bearing recess for supporting a journal portion of a crankshaft is provided with a semi-cylindrical bearing metal. The assembly of the bearing metal into the bearing recess may be automatically performed by a bearing metal supply device (see Patent Document 1 below) and an automatic assembly device (see Patent Document 2 below). Specifically, first, a plurality of bearing metals transported in a passing box are stored in a magazine of the bearing metal supply device in an aligned state. Then, the bearing metal supply device sets the bearing metals stored in the magazine one by one on a bearing metal setting table. Thereafter, the automatic assembly device holds the bearing metals set on the bearing metal setting table and automatically mounts them in the bearing recess.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The transfer of bearing metals from the returnable container to the magazine of the bearing metal supply device is performed manually by an operator. To prevent the adhesion of dust and other debris, the bearing metals are transferred using a jig rather than being directly touched by the operator's hands. For example, using a gripping jig 100 as shown in Figure 14 allows multiple bearing metals to be gripped at once, thereby improving work efficiency. This gripping jig 100 has a main body 103, a swinging arm 104 that is pivotably attached to the main body 103 around a rotation axis 105, a first pressing part 101 provided on the lower surface of the main body 103, and a second pressing part 102 provided at the lower end of the swinging arm 104.

[0005] The worker grasps the grip 106 fixed to the main body 103 and lifts it, positioning the two gripping parts 101 and 102 on both sides of a predetermined number of bearing metals M stored in the returnable container. In this state, by pushing the upper end of the swing arm 104 in the direction of arrow A, the swing arm 104 swings around the rotation axis 105, causing the first gripping part 101 to move in the direction of arrow B. This allows the two gripping parts 101 and 102 of the gripping jig 100 to grip multiple bearing metals M at once.

[0006] Normally, the number of bearing metals M that can be gripped by the gripping jig 100 is less than the number of bearing metals M that can be stored in the magazine. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the transfer of bearing metals M from the returnable container to the magazine using the gripping jig 100 multiple times. In this case, misalignment is likely to occur between the bearing metals M that were stored in the magazine earlier and those that were stored later, but it is very difficult to correct the misalignment of the bearing metals M within the magazine.

[0007] Therefore, instead of directly storing the bearing metal M gripped by the gripping jig 100 into the magazine, as shown in Figure 15(A), it is first set into the insertion jig 200. This process is repeated several times until the same number of bearing metal M as the number of bearing metal M to be stored in the magazine 300 are set into the insertion jig 200, as shown in Figure 15(B). In this state, any misalignment of the bearing metal M within the insertion jig 200 is corrected. Then, as shown in Figures 15(C) and (D), the bearing metal M within the insertion jig 200 are slid into the magazine 300 while maintaining their alignment.

[0008] However, the procedure described above requires multiple transfer operations of the bearing metal M from the returnable container to the insertion jig 200 using the gripping jig 100, and also necessitates correcting any misalignment of the bearing metal M after it has been set in the insertion jig 200, resulting in poor work efficiency.

[0009] For example, increasing the number of bearing metals M that can be held by the gripping jig 100 reduces the transfer work. In particular, if the gripping jig 100 can hold the same number of bearing metals M as the number stored in the magazine 300, the transfer work can be completed in one step, and the work of correcting the misalignment of the bearing metals M will also be unnecessary. However, according to the inventor's verification, if the number of bearing metals M to be gripped by the gripping jig 100 is doubled, for example, the force required to grip them will be more than tripled, which increases the burden on the worker and also increases the risk of the bearing metals M falling during transfer.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a gripping jig that can grip a series of workpieces, consisting of multiple aligned workpieces, all at once with less force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a gripping jig for gripping a workpiece row consisting of multiple workpieces aligned along a linear alignment direction, the gripping jig having: a first pressing portion that presses a workpiece located at one end of the workpiece row in the alignment direction from the one side in the alignment direction; a second pressing portion that presses a workpiece located at the other end of the workpiece row in the alignment direction from the other side in the alignment direction; and an intermediate pressing portion that, among a pair of adjacent workpieces located in the middle of the workpiece row in the alignment direction, presses the workpiece on one side from the other side in the alignment direction and presses the workpiece on the other side from the one side in the alignment direction.

[0012] Thus, the gripping jig of the present invention grips a row of workpieces, which consists of multiple aligned workpieces, not only with the first and second gripping portions, but also with an intermediate gripping portion provided between them. As a result, the frictional force generated between the workpieces in the middle of the row and the intermediate gripping portion can support the middle of the row of workpieces, thus reducing the gripping force required compared to gripping the row of workpieces by gripping only the workpieces at both ends.

[0013] In the gripping jig described above, it is preferable to separate the workpieces by using the intermediate pressing portion to push the pair of adjacent workpieces positioned in the middle of the workpiece row in the opposite direction to the alignment direction. This allows the workpiece row to be gripped in two separate parts: a first workpiece row consisting of workpieces gripped by the first pressing portion and the intermediate pressing portion, and a second workpiece row consisting of workpieces gripped by the second pressing portion and the intermediate pressing portion, thereby further reducing the force required for gripping.

[0014] When gripping a workpiece row with the gripping jig described above, it is necessary to insert an intermediate clamping portion into a predetermined position on the workpiece row. In this case, it is preferable that the gripping jig has a main body, with the first and second clamping portions fixed to the main body, and the intermediate clamping portion being movable relative to the main body. In this case, by adjusting the position of the intermediate clamping portion relative to the first and second clamping portions, the intermediate clamping portion is naturally inserted into the predetermined position on the workpiece row simply by positioning the first and second clamping portions on both sides of the workpiece row.

[0015] The intermediate clamping section can be made rotatable relative to the main body. In this case, by providing a sliding section that can move linearly relative to the main body and a motion conversion mechanism that converts the linear motion of the sliding section into rotational motion of the intermediate clamping section, the intermediate clamping section can be rotated with a simple mechanism.

[0016] The workpiece gripped by the gripping jig described above may be a bearing metal having a semi-cylindrical shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] As described above, the gripping jig of the present invention makes it possible to grip a series of workpieces consisting of multiple aligned workpieces all at once with less force. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a gripping jig according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a bottom view of the gripping jig shown above. [Figure 3] This is a bottom view of the gripping jig and bearing metal array shown above. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the gripping jig shown above. [Figure 5] The above is a front view of the gripping jig, showing the state in which it is gripping the bearing metal row. [Figure 6] This is a bottom view of a pair of bearing metals and an intermediate retaining portion located in the middle of a bearing metal row. [Figure 7]The bottom view of the above gripping jig, showing the state of gripping the bearing metal row. [Figure 8] The perspective view of the above gripping jig, showing the state of gripping the bearing metal row (not shown). [Figure 9] The plan view of the passage box and the bearing metals stored therein. [Figure 10] The front view showing the procedure of storing the bearing metal row in the magazine with the above gripping jig. [Figure 11] The plan view of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] The front view showing the state where the above gripping jig and the bearing metal row are advanced forward from FIG. 10. [Figure 13] The front view showing the state where the above gripping jig and the bearing metal row are further advanced forward from FIG. 12. [Figure 14] The perspective view of the gripping jig according to the reference example. [Figure 15] (A) to (D) are perspective views showing the procedure of storing the bearing metal in the magazine using the gripping jig of FIG. 14.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0020] A gripping jig 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 2, a first pressing portion 3, a second pressing portion 4, and an intermediate pressing portion 5, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The gripping jig 1 grips a series of workpieces, each consisting of multiple workpieces aligned along a linear alignment direction (left-right direction in Figures 1 and 2), all at once. In this embodiment, the workpieces are semi-cylindrical bearing metals M, and the case shown is for gripping a series of bearing metals MR consisting of 24 aligned bearing metals M all at once (see Figure 3). In the following description, one side of the bearing metal series MR in the alignment direction (left side in Figures 1-3) is referred to as the "front," and the other side in the alignment direction (right side) is referred to as the "rear." Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to both the alignment direction of the bearing metal series MR and the axial direction of the bearing metals M (up-down direction in Figure 1) (up-down direction in Figures 2 and 3) is referred to as the "width direction." Furthermore, in Figure 3, the bearing metals constituting the bearing metal row MR are labeled with the symbols M1, M2, ... from front to back.

[0021] The main body 2 has an upper plate 6, a lower plate 7 fixed below the upper plate 6, and a grip 8 fixed above the upper plate 6 (see Figure 1).

[0022] The first retaining portion 3 is provided at the front end of the main body 2. In the illustrated example, the first retaining portion 3 is integrally provided with a retaining member 9 fixed to the front end of the lower plate 7 and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lower plate 7. The pair of first retaining portions 3 are spaced apart in the width direction and are positioned symmetrically with respect to the widthwise center of the lower plate 7 (see Figure 2). The first retaining portion 3 has a retaining surface 3a that presses the bearing metal M1 at the front end of the bearing metal row MR from the front side. In the illustrated example, the retaining surface 3a has a concave cylindrical shape along the outer circumferential surface of the bearing metal M.

[0023] The first retaining portion 3 is preferably shaped to be insertable between the bearing metal M1 at the front end of the bearing metal row MR and a virtual bearing metal M' (see dotted line in Figure 3) adjacent to it on its front side and having the same shape as the bearing metal M. Furthermore, it is even more preferable that the first retaining portion 3 is shaped to be insertable between the outer circumferential surface of the front end bearing metal M1 and a surface L1 that passes through the top (front end) of the bearing metal M1 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

[0024] The second retaining portion 4 is provided at the rear end of the main body 2. In the illustrated example, the second retaining portion 4 is fixed to the center in the width direction of the rear end of the lower plate 7 and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the lower plate 7 (see Figure 1). The second retaining portion 4 has a retaining surface 4a that holds the bearing metal M24 at the rear end of the bearing metal row MR from the rear side (see Figure 2). In the illustrated example, the retaining surface 4a has a cylindrical shape with a radius of curvature smaller than the inner circumferential surface of the bearing metal M. Preferably, the second retaining portion 4 has a shape that can be inserted between the inner circumferential surface of the rear end bearing metal M24 and a surface L2 that passes through the rear end of the bearing metal M24 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

[0025] The intermediate retaining portion 5 is provided between the first retaining portion 3 and the second retaining portion 4. The intermediate retaining portion 5 is designed to be insertable between a pair of adjacent bearing metals M. Specifically, when the first and second retaining portions 3 and 4 are arranged on both sides of the bearing metal row MR, the position and shape of the intermediate retaining portion 5 are set so that it can be inserted between a pair of adjacent bearing metals M (between bearing metals M12 and M13 in Figure 3) located in the middle of the bearing metal row MR.

[0026] The gripping jig 1 in the illustrated example has a pair of intermediate pressing parts 5, which are positioned symmetrically with respect to the center of the upper plate 6 in the width direction (see Figure 2). Each intermediate pressing part 5 is elongated in the vertical direction (see Figures 1 and 4). Each intermediate pressing part 5 is movable relative to the main body 2. In this embodiment, each intermediate pressing part 5 is attached to the upper plate 6 of the main body 2 in a state that it can rotate around a vertical rotation axis passing through it.

[0027] Of the first pressing portion 3, the second pressing portion 4, and the intermediate pressing portion 5, at least the portion that contacts the bearing metal M is made of a material that is softer than the bearing metal M and has a higher coefficient of friction than the bearing metal M. For example, resin or rubber can be used as such a material. In this embodiment, the first pressing portion 3 is made of resin (for example, nylon), and the second pressing portion 4 and the intermediate pressing portion 5 are made of rubber.

[0028] The gripping jig 1 includes a slide member 11 that can move linearly relative to the main body 2, and a motion conversion mechanism 12 that converts the linear motion of the slide member 11 into rotational motion of the intermediate pressing part 5. The slide member 11 is mounted on the upper plate 6 of the main body 2 in a manner that allows it to move vertically. A handle 15 is fixed to the slide member 11. The motion conversion mechanism 12 of this embodiment includes a pulley 13 mounted on the main body 2 and a string-like member 14 wrapped around the pulley 13. The pulley 13 is mounted on the upper plate 6 of the main body 2 in a manner that allows it to rotate around a rotation axis in the width direction. One end of the string-like member 14 is attached to the slide member 11. The other end of the string-like member 14 is attached to the intermediate pressing part 5 at a position offset to the outer diameter side from the rotation center of the intermediate pressing part 5. When the handle 15 is pulled up to raise the slide member 11, the pair of intermediate pressing parts 5 can be rotated via the string-like member 14.

[0029] The gripping jig 1 has a spring 16 as a return means that rotationally biases the intermediate pressing portion 5 in the direction of returning it to the initial position shown in Figures 1 to 4. When the slide member 11 is lowered, the intermediate pressing portion 5 returns to the initial position due to the biasing force of the spring 16.

[0030] The following describes the procedure for storing the bearing metal row MR into the magazine of the bearing metal supply device using the gripping jig 1 described above.

[0031] First, the gripping jig 1 is used to grip and remove the bearing metal row MR from the returnable container 40 shown in Figure 9. In the returnable container 40, adjacent bearing metals M are arranged either in contact with each other or separated by a small gap. In the illustrated example, the returnable container 40 contains multiple rows of bearing metal row MR, each consisting of the same number of bearing metals M as the magazine 20 (24 in total). The front end of the bearing metal M1 at the front end of each bearing metal row MR, and the rear end of the bearing metal M24 at the rear end, are either in contact with the wall of the returnable container 40 or facing the wall of the returnable container 40 with a small gap between them.

[0032] The operator holds the grip 8 and lifts the gripping jig 1, positioning it in a location where it can grip any of the bearing metal rows MR inside the returnable container 40. Specifically, the first pressing portion 3 and the second pressing portion 4 of the gripping jig 1 are positioned on both sides of the bearing metal row MR, and the intermediate pressing portion 5 is inserted between the intermediate bearing metals M12 and M13 of the bearing metal row MR. At this time, the first pressing portion 3 can be inserted between the outer circumferential surface of the bearing metal M1 and the surface L1 that passes through the front end of the bearing metal M1 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction (see Figure 3), so it can be inserted between the front end bearing metal M1 and the wall surface of the returnable container 40. Also, the second pressing portion 4 can be inserted between the inner circumferential surface of the bearing metal M24 and the surface L2 that passes through the rear end of the bearing metal M24 and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction, so it can be inserted between the rear end bearing metal M24 and the wall surface of the returnable container 40.

[0033] As described above, the first pressing portion 3 and the second pressing portion 4 are positioned on both the front and rear sides of the bearing metal row MR, and at the same time, the intermediate pressing portion 5 is inserted between two adjacent bearing metals M (between bearing metals M12 and M13 in the illustrated example) that are located in a predetermined position in the middle of the bearing metals M1 to M24 that constitute the bearing metal row MR. In this way, with the gripping jig 1, the operator only needs to set the gripping jig 1 so that the first pressing portion 3 and the second pressing portion 4 are positioned on both sides of the bearing metal row MR stored in the returnable container 40, and the intermediate pressing portion 5 will be naturally inserted between the predetermined bearing metals M12 and M13. Then, the lower surface of the lower plate 7 of the gripping jig 1 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the bearing metal row MR (see Figure 5). At this time, the lower ends of the first pressing portion 3, the second pressing portion 4, and the intermediate pressing portion 5 of the gripping jig 1 are positioned slightly above the lower surface of the bearing metals M and do not come into contact with the bottom surface of the returnable container 40.

[0034] Next, the worker, while holding the grip 8 of the gripping jig 1 with their hand, pulls up the handle 15 with their index finger, raising the sliding member 11 (see arrow C in Figure 5). This pulls one end of the string-like member 14 (upper end in the figure) upward and the other end of the string-like member 14 (right end in the figure) forward (see arrow D in Figure 5). As a result, the intermediate pressing part 5 rotates in the direction of arrow E in Figure 6, pushing the adjacent bearing metals M12 and M13 in directions away from each other in the front-rear direction (see arrow F in Figure 6). Specifically, the outer ends of the pair of intermediate pressing parts 5 in the width direction push the bearing metal M12 forward, while the inner ends of the pair of intermediate pressing parts 5 in the width direction push the bearing metal M13 backward.

[0035] As a result, as shown in Figure 7, the first bearing metal row MR1, consisting of the front bearing metals M1 to M12, is held from both the front and rear sides by the first pressing part 3 and the intermediate pressing part 5, while the second bearing metal row MR2, consisting of the rear bearing metals M13 to M24, is held from both the front and rear sides by the second pressing part 4 and the intermediate pressing part 5. When the intermediate pressing part 5 rotates from the initial position shown by the dotted line in Figure 6 to the position shown by the solid line, a tensile force is generated in the spring 16 (see Figures 7 and 8), biasing the intermediate pressing part 5 in the direction of returning it to its initial position. The operator pulls up the handle 15 against this tensile force of the spring 16.

[0036] In this way, by providing the gripping jig 1 with an intermediate pressing portion 5 and pressing the intermediate pressing portion 5 against the intermediate bearing metals M12 and M13 of the bearing metal row MR, a frictional force is generated between the intermediate bearing metals M12 and M13 and the intermediate pressing portion 5, in addition to the frictional force between the front bearing metal M1 and the first pressing portion 3 and the frictional force between the rear bearing metal M24 and the second pressing portion 4. As a result, the bearing metal row MR can be lifted not only by the bearing metals M1 and M24 at both ends, but also by the intermediate bearing metals M12 and M13, making it easier to lift the bearing metal row MR.

[0037] In particular, in this embodiment, since the first pressing portion 3, the second pressing portion 4, and the intermediate pressing portion 5 are made of a material with a higher coefficient of friction than the bearing metal M, a large frictional force is generated at the contact points between these and the bearing metal M. This makes it possible to further reduce the normal force applied to these contact points, i.e., the force that clamps the bearing metal row MR from the front and back.

[0038] Furthermore, as described above, by pressing the bearing metals M12 and M13 in opposite directions in the front-rear direction with the intermediate pressing portion 5, these bearing metals M12 and M13 separate in the front-rear direction. In this way, by dividing the bearing metal row MR into a first bearing metal row MR1 consisting of the front bearing metals M1 to M12 and a second bearing metal row MR2 consisting of the rear bearing metals M13 to M24 and clamping each separately, the clamping force on the bearing metal row MR can be reduced compared to when the bearing metal row MR is clamped from only both sides in the axial direction.

[0039] As described above, by reducing the force that grips the bearing metal row MR, the burden on the worker is reduced, and damage to the bearing metal M can be prevented. In particular, in this embodiment, the first pressing portion 3, the second pressing portion 4, and the intermediate pressing portion 5 are made of a material softer than the bearing metal M, so they do not damage the bearing metal M.

[0040] According to the inventor's verification, when 24 bearing metals are held by clamping them from only both axial sides, more than three times the force required when 12 bearing metals are held by clamping them from only both axial sides is required. In contrast, when the bearing metal row MR, consisting of 24 bearing metals M1 to M24, is divided into two bearing metal rows MR1 ​​and MR2 via an intermediate holding portion 5, as in this embodiment, the force required can be reduced to about twice the force required when 12 bearing metals are held by clamping them from only both axial sides is required.

[0041] Furthermore, the motion conversion mechanism 12 converts the vertical sliding of the slide member 11 into rotation of the intermediate pressing part 5, allowing the intermediate pressing part 5 to be rotated with a simple mechanism, thus enabling miniaturization and weight reduction of the gripping jig 1. In addition, since the pair of rotating pressing parts 5 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the widthwise center of the bearing metal row MR, the pair of intermediate pressing parts 5 can press on the bearing metals M12 and M13 at symmetrical positions with respect to the widthwise center. This allows each bearing metal row MR1 and MR2 to be held stably, thus preventing misalignment between the bearing metals M.

[0042] With the gripping jig 1 holding the bearing metal row MR, that is, with the handle 15 fixed to the slide member 11 pulled up, the gripping jig 1 and the bearing metal row MR are lifted and stored in the magazine 20. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 10 to 13, the bearing metal row MR held by the gripping jig 1 is inserted into the magazine 20 via a guide jig 30 attached to the magazine 20.

[0043] The magazine 20 has a bottom portion 21, a pair of side portions 22 rising from both ends of the bottom portion 21, and an extended portion 23 extending inward in the width direction from the upper ends of the pair of side portions. The widthwise distance between the pair of side portions 22 is slightly greater than the widthwise dimension of the bearing metal M. The vertical distance between the bottom portion 21 and the extended portion 23 is slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the bearing metal M. The magazine 20 is placed flat with the bottom portion 21 facing downwards.

[0044] The guide jig 30 has a flat base 31 and a pair of guide members 32 fixed to the base 31. The pair of guide members 32 are provided with guide surfaces 33 that gradually narrow in width toward the front (left side in Figure 10). The widthwise spacing at the front end of the pair of guide surfaces 33 is equivalent to the widthwise spacing of the pair of side portions 22 of the magazine 20. The guide jig 30 is placed flat with the base 31 as the bottom surface. The upper surface of the base 31 of the guide jig 30 is continuous with the upper surface of the bottom portion 21 of the magazine 20 on the same plane. The front ends of the pair of guide surfaces 33 of the guide jig 30 are continuous with the widthwise inner wall surfaces of the pair of side portions 22 of the magazine 20. A groove 31a is provided on the upper surface of the base 31 (see Figure 11), but this is to reduce the sliding resistance between the bearing metal M and the base 31 and does not serve a guiding function.

[0045] First, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the bearing metal row MR held by the gripping jig 1 is placed on the base 31 of the guide jig 30. Then, while holding the bearing metal row MR with the gripping jig 1, the bearing metal row MR is moved forward and inserted between the pair of sides 22 of the magazine 20. At this time, as shown in Figure 12, the bearing metal M1 at the front end is guided by the pair of guide surfaces 33 provided on the guide jig 30, allowing the bearing guide row MR to be smoothly inserted between the pair of sides 22 of the magazine 20.

[0046] Subsequently, the bearing guide row MR is inserted further into the magazine 20 (see Figure 13), and the entire bearing guide row MR is housed inside the magazine 20. When the operator then releases the handle 15, the slide member 11 descends under its own weight, releasing the force that rotates the intermediate retaining part 5 via the string-like member 14 (see arrow E in Figure 6). At the same time, the tensile force of the spring 16 causes the intermediate retaining part 5 to rotate and return to its initial position (see dotted line in Figure 6). This releases the pressing force F on the bearing metals M12 and M13 by the intermediate retaining part 5, and the gripping jig 1 releases its hold on the bearing metal row MR. In this state, the operator lifts the gripping jig 1 by holding the grip 8, separating the gripping jig 1 from the bearing guide row MR housed in the magazine 20.

[0047] Subsequently, a magazine 20 containing a predetermined number (24) of bearing metals M1 to M24, which constitute a bearing metal row MR, is mounted on the bearing metal supply device. The magazine 20 is mounted on the bearing metal supply device with the alignment direction of the bearing metal row MR being vertical and the front facing downwards, that is, with the front bearing metal M1 positioned at the bottom and the rear bearing metal M24 positioned at the top.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but redundant explanations of points similar to those in the embodiments described above will be omitted.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the first and second pressing parts 3 and 4 are fixed to the main body 2, and the intermediate pressing part 5 is made movable relative to the main body 2. However, conversely, the intermediate pressing part 5 may be fixed to the main body 2, and the first and second pressing parts 3 and 4 may be made movable relative to the main body 2.

[0050] The configuration of the intermediate pressing portion 5 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the intermediate pressing portion 5 may be configured with a pair of claws that can move closer together and further apart in the front-rear direction. In this case, one claw and the first pressing portion 3 clamp the front bearing metal row MR1, while the other claw and the second pressing portion 4 clamp the rear bearing metal row MR2.

[0051] The number of intermediate pressing parts 5 is not limited to the above; for example, intermediate pressing parts 5 may be provided at multiple locations in the front-rear direction.

[0052] The bearing metal row MR, held by the gripping jig 1, may be inserted directly into the magazine 20 without using the guide jig 30.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to gripping jigs for holding bearing metals, but can also be applied to gripping jigs for holding other workpieces in an aligned state. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1. Workpiece gripping jig 2 Main unit 3. First pressing part 4. Second pressing part 5. Intermediate pressing section 6. Top plate 7. Lower plate 8 grips 11. Sliding member 12 Motion conversion mechanism 13 Pulley 14 String-like member 15 Handle 16 Springs 20 Magazines 30 Guide fixtures 40 returnable boxes M, M1~M24 bearing metal MR bearing metal row

Claims

1. In a gripping jig for simultaneously gripping a series of workpieces aligned along a linear alignment direction, A first pressing portion that presses down on the workpiece positioned at one end of the workpiece row in the alignment direction from one side in the alignment direction, A second pressing portion that presses down on the workpiece positioned at the other end of the workpiece row in the alignment direction from the other side in the alignment direction, A gripping jig having an intermediate pressing portion that presses one of the adjacent workpieces in the alignment direction from the other in the alignment direction, and presses the other workpiece from the one in the alignment direction, among a pair of adjacent workpieces arranged in the middle of the workpiece row in the alignment direction.

2. The gripping jig according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate pressing portion pushes the adjacent pair of workpieces in the opposite direction to the alignment direction, thereby separating the workpieces.

3. Having a main body, The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are fixed to the main body. The gripping jig according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate pressing portion is movable relative to the main body.

4. The gripping jig according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate pressing portion is rotatable relative to the main body.

5. A sliding part that can move in a straight line relative to the main body, The gripping jig according to claim 4, further comprising a motion conversion mechanism that converts the linear motion of the sliding portion into the rotational motion of the intermediate pressing portion.

6. The gripping jig according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the workpiece is a bearing metal having a semi-cylindrical shape.

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