Clamping Device

Abstract

To provide a clamp device capable of clamping workpiece by proper force.SOLUTION: A clamp device 1 comprises: a drive transmission member 4; a clamp member 5; and a support member 6. The drive transmission member 4 receives power from a drive source 3 for moving in a first direction D1 in a housing 2, and has a transmission face 41 for transmitting first force F1 in the first direction D1 according to the movement. The clamp member 5 comprises: a slide contact face 511 slide contacting the transmission face 41 so as to convert the first force F1 received from the transmission face 41 into second force F2 in a second direction D2; and a clamp face 531 directed to the second direction D2 for clamping workpiece W. The support member 6 has a contact face 61 contacting a face 42 which is directed to a third direction D3 side opposite to the second direction D2 in the drive transmission member 4, and is fixed to the housing 2 in a detachable state, for supporting the drive transmission member 4 so that the drive transmission member 4 resists reaction force F3 applied from the clamp member 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamping device. [Background technology]

[0002] A machine tool such as a cutting machine is provided with a clamping device for clamping a workpiece to be machined. This type of clamping device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0003] The clamping device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a wedge-shaped clamping block connected to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder as a drive source, and a clamping block for clamping a workpiece. In this clamping device, the wedge-shaped clamping block is arranged in contact with the inner surface of a workpiece pressing frame forming the outer structure of the clamping device. The wedge-shaped clamping block transmits force to the clamping block by moving in sliding contact with the inner surface of the workpiece pressing frame in response to the movement of the piston rod. The clamping block clamps the workpiece by moving toward the workpiece in response to the force transmitted from the wedge-shaped clamping block. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Jpn. Jpn. Published Examination No. 61-16024 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the clamp device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the clamp block clamps the workpiece, the workpiece pressing frame supports the wedge-shaped clamping block so as to resist the reaction force that the wedge-shaped clamping block receives from the clamp block. If this workpiece pressing frame becomes excessively worn due to sliding contact with the wedge-shaped clamping block, there is a risk that the workpiece pressing frame will not be able to properly support the wedge-shaped clamping block. In this case, at least a part of the wedge-shaped clamping block may be displaced in a direction away from the workpiece due to the reaction force received from the clamp block, and the clamping force of the clamp block for the workpiece may decrease. As a result, the clamp block will no longer be able to clamp the workpiece with an appropriate force.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device capable of clamping a workpiece with an appropriate force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A clamping device according to one aspect of the present invention is a device for clamping a workpiece. The clamping device includes a housing, a drive transmission member provided in the housing in a state in which the drive transmission member is movable in a first direction by receiving power from a drive source and has a transmission surface for transmitting a first force in the first direction corresponding to the movement of the drive transmission member, a clamping member provided in the housing in a state in which the movement in the first direction is restricted and the movement in a second direction intersecting the first direction is permitted, the clamping member having a sliding surface that is in sliding contact with the transmission surface so as to receive the first force from the transmission surface and convert the first force into a second force in the second direction, and a clamping surface facing the second direction to clamp the workpiece, and a support member having a contact surface that is in contact with a surface of the drive transmission member facing a third direction opposite to the second direction, the support member being detachably fixed to the housing to support the drive transmission member against a reaction force received by the drive transmission member from the clamping member. The housing has a housing support surface that comes into contact with a supported surface of the support member that faces the third direction side opposite to the contact surface, and supports the support member against the reaction force.

[0008] According to this clamping device, the drive transmission member moves in a first direction within the housing by receiving power from the drive source, and transmits a first force in the first direction corresponding to the movement from the transmission surface to the clamping member. The clamping member receives the first force from the transmission surface of the drive transmission member at a sliding surface. The clamping member moves in the second direction by the sliding surface coming into sliding contact with the transmission surface so as to convert the first force from the transmission surface into a second force in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and clamps the workpiece by pressing the workpiece with the clamping surface with the second force in the second direction corresponding to the movement.

[0009] Here, the drive transmission member is disposed in the housing in contact with a contact surface of a support member fixed to the housing. In this case, the drive transmission member moves while sliding against the contact surface of the support member in response to receiving power from the drive source, thereby transmitting a first force in a first direction from the transmission surface to the clamp member. With the contact surface in contact with the drive transmission member, the support member supports the drive transmission member so as to resist a reaction force that the drive transmission member receives from the clamp member. This support member is detachably fixed to the housing with a supported surface opposite to the contact surface in contact with the drive transmission member in contact with a housing support surface of the housing.

[0010] Since the support member is fixed to the housing in this manner, friction between the supported surface of the support member and the housing support surface of the housing can be suppressed. This makes it possible to suppress wear on the housing support surface of the housing, and therefore the appropriate support state of the support member by the housing support surface can be maintained. Moreover, since the support member is detachable from the housing, when the contact surface of the support member is worn due to sliding contact with the drive transmission member, it can be replaced with a new support member. This makes it possible to prevent the support member from being unable to appropriately support the drive transmission member due to wear of the support member in response to replacement of the support member. Therefore, the support function of the support member, which supports the drive transmission member against the reaction force that the drive transmission member receives from the clamp member, can be maintained in response to replacement of the support member. As a result, the second force in the second direction from the clamp member to the workpiece, which is a force opposite to the reaction force that the drive transmission member receives from the clamp member, can be stabilized, and the clamp member can clamp the workpiece with an appropriate force.

[0011] The clamp device may further include a movement restricting member attached to the housing so as to restrict movement of the support member in the first direction.

[0012] In response to receiving power from the drive source, the drive transmission member moves in a first direction while sliding against the contact surface of the support member. At this time, the movement restricting member restricts the movement of the support member in the first direction in association with the sliding contact of the drive transmission member. This makes it possible to maintain a fixed state of the support member relative to the housing, and therefore makes it possible to more reliably suppress friction between the supported surface of the support member and the housing support surface of the housing. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress wear on the housing support surface of the housing, and therefore makes it possible to maintain an appropriate support state of the support member by the housing support surface.

[0013] In the above clamp device, the movement restricting member may be configured to be attached to the housing in a state in which a force in a direction opposite to the first force is applied to the support member.

[0014] In this aspect, the movement restricting member is attached to the housing while applying a force to the support member in a direction opposite to the first force, thereby more reliably restricting the movement of the support member in the first direction caused by sliding contact of the drive transmission member.

[0015] The clamp device may further include a position restricting member provided within the housing and restricting the clamp member from being tilted with respect to the second direction.

[0016] The clamp member moves in the second direction as the sliding contact surface comes into sliding contact with the transmission surface of the drive transmission member. At this time, the attitude regulating member regulates the clamp member from being tilted with respect to the second direction. This makes it possible to regulate the clamp member from moving in an orientation tilted with respect to the second direction. Therefore, the clamp member can efficiently convert the first force of the drive transmission member in the first direction into a second force in the second direction. As a result, the clamp member can properly clamp the workpiece with the second force in the second direction.

[0017] In the above clamping device, the contact surface of the support member may be configured by a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamping member when viewed along the second direction.

[0018] The support member supports the drive transmission member so that the drive transmission member resists the reaction force received from the clamp member when the contact surface is in contact with the drive transmission member. At this time, the drive transmission member receives the reaction force from the clamp member within the range of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamp member. For example, when the drive transmission member is viewed in the second direction, if a supported portion that is in contact with the contact surface of the support member and supported by the support member is displaced in the first direction relative to the contact area, and a non-supported portion that is not in contact with the contact surface of the support member and is not supported by the support member overlaps the contact area, a bending force is generated on the drive transmission member with the support portion as the center. In this case, in the drive transmission member that receives the reaction force from the clamp member, stress is concentrated near the boundary between the supported portion and the non-supported portion, and damage such as cracks may occur starting from the vicinity of the boundary.

[0019] Therefore, the contact surface of the support member is configured as a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction in the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamp member when viewed along the second direction. In this configuration, the drive transmission member is in contact with the contact surface of the support member and supported by the support member over the entire range in the first direction in the contact area between the transmission surface and the sliding surface when viewed along the second direction. This makes it possible to suppress damage such as cracks from occurring in the drive transmission member that receives a reaction force from the clamp member.

[0020] In the above clamping device, the housing support surface of the housing may be configured by a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamping member when viewed along the second direction.

[0021] The drive transmission member receives a reaction force from the clamp member within a contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamp member. The support member supports the drive transmission member so as to resist the reaction force received by the drive transmission member from the clamp member when the contact surface is in contact with the drive transmission member. For example, when the support member is viewed in the second direction, if a housing support portion that is in contact with the housing support surface of the housing and supported by the housing is displaced in the first direction with respect to the contact area, and a housing non-support portion that is not in contact with the housing support surface of the housing and is not supported by the housing overlaps the contact area, a bending force is generated in the support member with the housing support portion as the center. In this case, in the support member that supports the drive transmission member that receives a reaction force from the clamp member, stress is concentrated near the boundary between the housing support portion and the housing non-support portion, and damage such as cracks may occur starting from the vicinity of the boundary.

[0022] Therefore, the housing support surface of the housing is configured as a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamp member when viewed along the second direction. In this configuration, the support member is in contact with the housing support surface of the housing and supported by the housing over the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface and the sliding surface when viewed along the second direction. This makes it possible to prevent damage such as cracks from occurring in the support member that supports the drive transmission member that receives a reaction force from the clamp member. Effect of the Invention

[0023] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a clamping device capable of clamping a workpiece with an appropriate force. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a schematic overall configuration of a clamp device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the clamp device, showing a state in which the drive transmission member is located at a standby position and the clamp member is located at a clamp release position. FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the drive transmission member is placed in a transmission position and the clamp member is placed in a clamping position in the clamp device. FIG. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are perspective views each showing an outline of the operation of the clamp device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, a clamping device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 shows a front cross-sectional view of the clamping device 1, Figs. 2 and 3 show side cross-sectional views of the clamping device 1, and Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the main part of the clamping device 1. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line L shown in Fig. 2. The clamping device 1 according to this embodiment can be applied to various machine tools, and is a device for clamping a workpiece W to be machined. An example of the machine tool is a rotary cutting device. The rotary cutting device includes a clamping device 1 for clamping the workpiece W to be cut, and a plurality of rotary cutters for cutting the workpiece W. The rotary cutting device is a device for cutting the workpiece W by positioning and fixing the workpiece W at a cutting position using the clamping device 1, and rotating the outer periphery of the workpiece W while pressing the rotating rotary cutter against the workpiece W. The rotary cutter cuts the workpiece W by rotating around the outer periphery of the workpiece W while rotating around its own axis, and gradually cutting the workpiece W toward its center. Here, an example in which the clamp device 1 is applied to a rotary cutting device will be described.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the clamping device 1 is a device that clamps a workpiece W such as a cylindrical or polygonal tubular steel material by clamping it from multiple directions (for example, four directions). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the clamping device 1 includes a housing 2, a driving source 3, a drive transmission member 4, a clamping member 5, and a support member 6. In the clamping device 1, a number of clamping structures, each of which is a set of the drive transmission member 4, the clamping member 5, and the support member 6, is provided according to the number of clamping directions of the workpiece W. When the workpiece W is clamped from four directions as in the example shown in FIG. 1, four sets of the clamping structures are provided. Note that, regarding the driving source 3, one driving source 3 may be provided for each clamping structure, or a driving source 3 may be provided for each clamping structure.

[0027] The housing 2 includes a housing body 21 and a housing lid 22. The housing body 21 is formed in a tubular shape (e.g., cylindrical shape) having a horizontally extending storage space capable of storing each of the clamp structures and an opening that opens the storage space in the horizontal direction. The housing lid 22 is detachably attached to the opening of the housing body 21. The housing lid 22 is formed in an annular shape (e.g., annular) so as to allow the workpiece W to be inserted into the housing body 21 through the opening of the housing body 21. In the rotary cutting device equipped with the clamp device 1, a rotary cutter is disposed outside the housing lid 22 in the axial direction (horizontal direction) of the housing 2. In this case, the target portion of the workpiece W to be clamped by each of the clamp structures is inserted into the housing body 21 so that the target portion to be cut by the rotary cutter is located outside the housing lid 22 in the axial direction.

[0028] The housing body 21 is provided with a housing support portion 211 having a housing support surface 2111 for supporting a support member 6 in each of the clamp structures, which will be described later. The housing support portion 211 will be described in detail later.

[0029] The driving source 3 is a mechanism that generates power for moving the driving transmission member 4 in each clamp structure in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 opposite to the first direction D1 in the housing main body 21. In this embodiment, the driving source 3 is configured by a hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod 31 fixed to a piston in the cylinder. In this case, in the driving source 3, the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil is applied to the piston in the cylinder, so that the piston rod 31 moves in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 in the housing main body 21. As a result, the driving transmission member 4 connected to the piston rod 31 receives power from the driving source 3 in response to the movement of the piston rod 31, and moves in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4. The first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 in which the driving transmission member 4 moves are not particularly limited, but are directions along a horizontal plane in this embodiment.

[0030] The driving source 3 is not limited to a hydraulic cylinder, and a wide variety of mechanisms can be used as long as they are capable of moving the drive transmission member 4 in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4. For example, the driving source 3 may be configured with a screw mechanism or a cam mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear motion.

[0031] Next, the drive transmission member 4, clamp member 5, and support member 6 constituting each of the clamp structures will be described. In each clamp structure, the drive transmission member 4 is connected to a piston rod 31 of the drive source 3, and receives power from the drive source 3 in response to the movement of the piston rod 31, thereby moving in a first direction D1 and a fourth direction D4 within the housing main body 21. The clamp member 5 moves in a second direction D2 intersecting (perpendicular to) the first direction D1 in response to the movement of the drive transmission member 4 in the first direction D1, and moves in a third direction D3 opposite to the second direction D2 in response to the movement of the drive transmission member 4 in the fourth direction D4. The support member 6 supports the drive transmission member 4 from the third direction D3 side of the drive transmission member 4.

[0032] The drive transmission member 4 is connected to the piston rod 31 and is a wedge-shaped member whose thickness on the tip side away from the connecting portion is thinner than that of the connecting portion. The drive transmission member 4 is provided in the housing main body 21 in a state in which it can move in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 by receiving power from the drive source 3.

[0033] The drive transmission member 4 moves from a standby position (FIG. 2) in the first direction D1 to a transmission position (FIG. 3), and moves from the transmission position to the standby position in the fourth direction D4. The drive transmission member 4 has a transmission surface 41 for transmitting a first force F1 in the first direction D1 to the clamp member 5 in response to the movement from the standby position to the transmission position. The transmission surface 41 is a surface that extends from a portion located substantially in the center of the drive transmission member 4 in the first direction D1 to the tip on the first direction D1 side, and is inclined toward the third direction D3 as it approaches the tip so as to face the second direction D2. The drive transmission member 4 has a contacted surface 42 that faces the third direction D3 side opposite to the transmission surface 41 and comes into contact with the support member 6.

[0034] Further, an engagement recess 43 that opens laterally and in the third direction D3 and engages with an engagement protrusion 512 of the clamp member 5 described below is formed on a side surface of the drive transmission member 4 that faces the side perpendicular to the first to fourth directions D1 to D4. The engagement recess 43 has an engaged surface 431 that comes into contact with an engagement surface 512A of the engagement protrusion 512 of the clamp member 5.

[0035] The clamp member 5 is a member for clamping the workpiece W. The clamp member 5 is provided in the housing body 21 in a state in which movement in the first direction D1 and the fourth direction D4 is restricted and movement in the second direction D2 and the third direction D3 is permitted. The clamp member 5 moves between a clamp release position (FIGS. 2 and 4(A)) where the clamp of the workpiece W is released and a clamp position (FIGS. 3 and 4(B)) where the workpiece W is clamped in response to movement of the drive transmission member 4. The clamp member 5 moves from a state where it is disposed in the clamp release position to a state where it is disposed in the clamp position by moving in the second direction D2 in response to movement of the drive transmission member 4 in the first direction D1. In addition, the clamp member 5 moves from a state where it is disposed in the clamp position to a state where it is disposed in the third direction D3 in response to movement of the drive transmission member 4 in the fourth direction D4, and thus becomes a state where it is disposed in the clamp release position.

[0036] The clamp member 5 includes a clamp body 51 and a clamp portion 53 connected via a base portion 52 to an end portion of the clamp body 51 on the second direction D2 side.

[0037] The clamp body 51 has a sliding surface 511 facing the third direction D3 that is in sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4, and an engagement protrusion 512 having a portion extending in the third direction D3 from the sliding surface 511 on the side of the sliding surface 511 and a portion extending from this portion toward the drive transmission member 4. The sliding surface 511 is a surface that spreads from one end of the clamp body 51 on the fourth direction D4 side to the other end on the first direction D1 side, and is inclined toward the third direction D3 as it moves from the one end to the other end. When the drive transmission member 4 moves in the first direction D1, the sliding surface 511 is in sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 so as to receive a first force F1 in the first direction D1 from the transmission surface 41 and convert the first force F1 into a second force F2 in the second direction D2. The clamp member 5 moves in the second direction D2 by the sliding contact surface 511 coming into sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 so as to convert the first force F1 from the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 into a second force F2 in the second direction D2.

[0038] The engaging protrusion 512 is a portion of the clamp body 51 that engages with the engaging recess 43 of the drive transmission member 4, and has an engaging surface 512A that comes into contact with the engaged surface 431 of the engaging recess 43. When the drive transmission member 4 moves in the fourth direction D4 with the engaging protrusion 512 engaged with the engaging recess 43, the clamp member 5 moves in the third direction D3 in response to the movement of the drive transmission member 4.

[0039] The clamp portion 53 constitutes the end portion of the clamp member 5 on the second direction D2 side. The clamp portion 53 has a clamp surface 531 facing the second direction D2 to clamp the workpiece W. The clamp member 5 moves in the second direction D2 by the sliding contact surface 511 coming into sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 so as to convert the first force F1 from the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 into a second force F2 in the second direction D2, and clamps the workpiece W by pressing the workpiece W with the clamp surface 531 with the second force F2 in the second direction D2 corresponding to the movement.

[0040] The support member 6 is a plate-shaped member for supporting the drive transmission member 4 from the third direction D3 side of the drive transmission member 4. The support member 6 has a contact surface 61 facing the second direction D2 and in contact with the contacted surface 42 of the drive transmission member 4, and a supported surface 62 facing the third direction D3 and in contact with the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211 of the housing main body 21.

[0041] When the clamp member 5 clamps the workpiece W by pressing the workpiece W with the clamp surface 531 with the second force F2 in the second direction D2, the drive transmission member 4 receives a reaction force F3 in the third direction D3 from the clamp member 5. The support member 6 is detachably fixed to the housing support portion 211 of the housing main body 21 by the screw member SC in order to support the drive transmission member 4 against the reaction force F3 that the drive transmission member 4 receives from the clamp member 5. When the housing lid 22 is removed from the housing main body 21, the end of the support member 6 on the first direction D1 side is exposed. In this state, the support member 6 can be removed from the housing support portion 211 by releasing the fixation by the screw member SC.

[0042] The housing support portion 211 supports the support member 6 against the reaction force F3 in a state in which the housing support surface 2111 is in contact with the supported surface 62 of the support member 6.

[0043] In the clamp device 1 configured as described above, the drive transmission member 4 moves in the first direction D1 within the housing main body 21 by receiving power from the drive source 3, and transmits a first force F1 in the first direction D1 corresponding to the movement from the transmission surface 41 to the clamp member 5. The clamp member 5 receives the first force F1 from the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 at the sliding contact surface 511. The clamp member 5 moves in the second direction D2 by the sliding contact surface 511 coming into sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 so as to convert the first force F1 from the transmission surface 41 into a second force F2 in the second direction D2, and clamps the workpiece W by pressing the workpiece W with the clamp surface 531 with the second force F2 in the second direction D2 corresponding to the movement.

[0044] Here, the drive transmission member 4 is disposed in the housing main body 21 in a state of contact with a contact surface 61 of a support member 6 fixed to the housing support portion 211. In this case, the drive transmission member 4 moves while sliding against the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 in response to receiving power from the drive source 3, thereby transmitting a first force F1 in a first direction D1 from the transmission surface 41 to the clamp member 5. With the contact surface 61 in contact with the drive transmission member 4, the support member 6 supports the drive transmission member 4 so as to resist a reaction force F3 that the drive transmission member 4 receives from the clamp member 5. This support member 6 is detachably fixed to the housing support portion 211 in a state in which a supported surface 62 opposite to the contact surface 61 in contact with the drive transmission member 4 is in contact with the housing support surface 2111.

[0045] Since the support member 6 is fixed to the housing support portion 211 in this manner, friction between the supported surface 62 of the support member 6 and the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support portion 211 can be suppressed. This suppresses wear on the housing support surface 2111, and therefore the appropriate support state of the support member 6 by the housing support surface 2111 can be maintained. Moreover, since the support member 6 is detachable from the housing support portion 211, when the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 is worn due to sliding contact with the drive transmission member 4, it can be replaced with a new support member 6. This makes it possible to prevent the support member 6 from being unable to appropriately support the drive transmission member 4 due to wear of the support member 6 in response to replacement of the support member 6. Therefore, the support function of the support member 6, which supports the drive transmission member 4 so as to resist the reaction force F3 that the drive transmission member 4 receives from the clamp member 5, can be maintained in response to replacement of the support member 6. As a result, the second force F2 in the second direction D2 from the clamp member 5 to the workpiece W, which is a force opposite to the reaction force F3 that the drive transmission member 4 receives from the clamp member 5, can be stabilized, so that the clamp member 5 can clamp the workpiece W with an appropriate force.

[0046] As described above, in a state where the support member 6 is fixed to the housing support portion 211 by the screw member SC, the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 is in sliding contact with the drive transmission member 4. For this reason, it is necessary to improve the wear resistance of the contact surface 61 of the support member 6. As a material for forming the support member 6, it is considered to use a steel material such as SKD11 having high wear resistance. However, SKD11 is a material that has excellent wear resistance but has relatively brittle characteristics. For this reason, if the support member 6 is formed from SKD11, the wear resistance of the contact surface 61 can be improved, but when the support member 6 supports the drive transmission member 4 against the reaction force F3 received from the clamp member 5, there is a risk of cracks or the like occurring in the support member 6 near the insertion hole through which the screw member SC is inserted.

[0047] Therefore, in this embodiment, the support member 6 is made of chrome molybdenum steel such as SCM440. Chromium molybdenum steel is a steel material having a characteristic that the surface is hardened by carburizing and quenching treatment that diffuses and penetrates carbon into the surface of the steel. Therefore, the support member 6 made of chrome molybdenum steel such as SCM440 has a mechanical characteristic of high tensile strength in the internal bulk characteristic, and the outer surface has excellent wear resistance due to hardening by carburization. That is, the support member 6 has a mechanical characteristic of tensile strength higher than the housing support part 211, and the contact surface 61 that contacts the drive transmission member 4 has excellent wear resistance. As a result, in the support member 6, the contact surface 61 has excellent wear resistance, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracks and the like in the vicinity of the insertion hole through which the screw member SC is inserted when fixing to the housing support part 211.

[0048] 2 to 4, the positional relationship between the clamp member 5 and the support member 6 is set so that the center 511A of the sliding surface 511 and the center 531A of the clamp surface 531 in the clamp member 5, and the center 61A of the contact surface 61 and the center 62A of the supported surface 62 in the support member 6 are located on the same straight line L extending along the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. This allows the clamp member 5 to accurately clamp the workpiece W with the second force F2 in the second direction D2, and allows the support member 6 to support the drive transmission member 4 so as to accurately resist the reaction force F3 in the opposite direction to the second force F2.

[0049] As described above, the support member 6 supports the drive transmission member 4 so as to resist the reaction force F3 that the drive transmission member 4 receives from the clamp member 5 when the contact surface 61 is in contact with the drive transmission member 4. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive transmission member 4 receives the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5 within the range of the contact area AR between the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 and the sliding surface 511 of the clamp member 5. For example, when the drive transmission member 4 is viewed along the second direction D2, if the supported portion that is in contact with the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 and supported by the support member 6 is displaced in the first direction D1 with respect to the contact area AR, and the non-supported portion that is not in contact with the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 and is not supported by the support member 6 overlaps the contact area AR, a bending force is generated on the drive transmission member 4 with the support portion as the center. In this case, in the drive transmission member 4 that receives the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5, stress is concentrated near the boundary between the supported portion and the non-supported portion, and damage such as cracks may occur starting from the vicinity of the boundary.

[0050] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 is configured by a surface that expands to include the entire range in the first direction D1 in the contact area AR between the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 and the sliding surface 511 of the clamp member 5 when viewed along the second direction D2. In this configuration, the drive transmission member 4 is supported by the support member 6 in contact with the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 in the entire range in the first direction D1 in the contact area AR when viewed along the second direction D2. This makes it possible to suppress damage such as cracks from occurring in the drive transmission member 4 that has received the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5. Note that in this embodiment, the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 is configured by a surface that expands to include the entire range in the first direction D1 in the sliding surface 511 of the clamp member 5 when viewed along the second direction D2. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress damage from occurring in the drive transmission member 4 that has received the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5.

[0051] Furthermore, for example, when the support member 6 is viewed in the second direction D2, if a housing support portion that is in contact with and supported by the housing support portion 211 and the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support portion 211 is displaced in the first direction D1 with respect to the contact area AR and a housing unsupported portion that is not in contact with the housing support surface 2111 and is not supported by the housing support portion 211 overlaps the contact area AR, a bending force is generated with the housing support portion as the center on the support member 6. In this case, in the support member 6 that supports the drive transmission member 4 that receives the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5, stress is concentrated near the boundary between the housing support portion and the housing unsupported portion, and damage such as cracks may occur starting from the vicinity of the boundary.

[0052] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211 is configured by a surface that expands to include the entire range in the first direction D1 of the contact area AR between the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4 and the sliding surface 511 of the clamp member 5 when viewed along the second direction D2. In this configuration, the support member 6 is supported by the housing support part 211 in contact with the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211 over the entire range in the first direction D1 of the contact area AR when viewed along the second direction D2. This makes it possible to suppress damage such as cracks from occurring in the support member 6 that supports the drive transmission member 4 that receives the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5. In this embodiment, the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211 is configured by a surface that expands to include the entire range in the first direction D1 of the sliding surface 511 of the clamp member 5 when viewed along the second direction D2. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent damage to the support member 6 that supports the drive transmission member 4 receiving the reaction force F3 from the clamp member 5.

[0053] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp device 1 further includes a movement restricting member 7 and a posture restricting member 8. As shown in FIG.

[0054] The movement restricting member 7 is a member attached to the housing cover 22 of the housing 2 so as to restrict the movement of the support member 6 in the first direction D1. The drive transmission member 4 moves in the first direction D1 while sliding against the contact surface 61 of the support member 6 in response to receiving power from the drive source 3. At this time, the movement restricting member 7 restricts the movement of the support member 6 in the first direction D1 accompanying the sliding contact of the drive transmission member 4. This makes it possible to maintain the fixed state of the support member 6 relative to the housing support part 211, and therefore makes it possible to more reliably suppress friction between the supported surface 62 of the support member 6 and the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress wear on the housing support surface 2111 of the housing support part 211, and therefore makes it possible to maintain an appropriate support state of the support member 6 by the housing support surface 2111.

[0055] The material constituting the movement restricting member 7 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, chrome molybdenum steel having high tensile strength mechanical properties such as SCM435 can be applied. By forming the movement restricting member 7 from a material having high tensile strength mechanical properties, it is possible to suppress damage to the movement restricting member 7 when restricting the movement of the support member 6 in the first direction D1.

[0056] The movement restricting member 7 may be attached to the housing lid 22 in a state where a force opposite to the first force F1 is applied to the support member 6. Specifically, the movement restricting member 7 is configured by a bolt member having a male thread, and is fixed to the housing lid 22 in a state where a force opposite to the first force F1 is applied to the support member 6 by being screwed into a tapped hole having a female thread formed in the housing lid 22. In this case, the movement restricting member 7 is fixed to the housing lid 22 so as to abut on the center position in the thickness direction and width direction of the end face of the support member 6 on the first direction D1 side. In addition, the movement restricting member 7 configured by the bolt member is restricted from loosening due to vibration or the like by screwing a lock nut from the outside of the housing lid 22. The movement restricting member 7 configured in this way can more reliably restrict the movement of the support member 6 in the first direction D1 accompanying the sliding contact of the drive transmission member 4.

[0057] The attitude restricting member 8 is provided in the housing main body 21, and is a member for restricting the clamp member 5 from being tilted in the second direction D2. The attitude restricting member 8 is provided so as to surround an area on the second direction D2 side of the sliding contact surface 511 of the clamp main body 51 of the clamp member 5 in a state where it is pressed into the cylindrical holder member 81. The holder member 81 into which the attitude restricting member 8 is pressed is fixed to the housing main body 21 by a bolt member or the like together with a retaining member for retaining the attitude restricting member 8 from being removed from the holder member 81. In addition, it is preferable that the attitude restricting member 8 is disposed in a position as close as possible to a position (clamping position) where the clamp surface 531 of the clamp member 5 contacts the workpiece W when the workpiece W is clamped by the clamp member 5 in the second direction D2.

[0058] The clamp member 5 moves in the second direction D2 as the sliding surface 511 comes into sliding contact with the transmission surface 41 of the drive transmission member 4. At this time, the posture regulating member 8 regulates the clamp member 5 from being tilted with respect to the second direction D2. This makes it possible to regulate the clamp member 5 from moving in a direction tilted with respect to the second direction D2. Therefore, the clamp member 5 can efficiently convert the first force F1 in the first direction D1 of the drive transmission member 4 into the second force F2 in the second direction D2. As a result, the clamp member 5 can appropriately clamp the workpiece W with the second force F2 in the second direction D2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Clamping device 2. Housing 2111 Housing support surface 3. Power Source 4. Drive transmission member 41 Transmission Surface 42 Contacted surface 5 Clamping member 511 Sliding surface 531 Clamp surface 6 Supporting member 61 Contact surface 62 Supported surface 7. Movement restriction member 8. Posture control member AR contact area D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction D3 Third direction F1 1st force F2 2nd force F3 Reaction Force Double work

Claims

1. A clamping device for clamping a workpiece, comprising: Housing and a drive transmission member that is disposed within the housing in a state capable of moving in a first direction by receiving power from a drive source, the drive transmission member having a transmission surface for transmitting a first force in the first direction in response to the movement of the drive transmission member; a clamp member provided in the housing in a state in which movement in the first direction is restricted and movement in a second direction intersecting the first direction is permitted, the clamp member having a sliding surface that is in sliding contact with the transmission surface so as to receive the first force from the transmission surface and convert the first force into a second force in the second direction, and a clamp surface that faces the second direction to clamp the workpiece; a support member having a contact surface that contacts a surface of the drive transmission member facing a third direction side opposite to the second direction, the support member being detachably fixed to the housing to support the drive transmission member against a reaction force received by the drive transmission member from the clamp member, the housing has a housing support surface that contacts a supported surface of the support member facing the third direction side opposite to the contact surface and supports the support member against the reaction force, a movement restricting member attached to the housing so as to restrict movement of the support member in the first direction, The movement restricting member is attached to the housing in a state in which a force opposite to the first force is applied to the support member.

2. The clamp device according to claim 1 , further comprising a position restricting member provided within the housing and configured to restrict the clamp member from being tilted with respect to the second direction.

3. 3. The clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the support member is configured by a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamp member when viewed along the second direction.

4. A clamping device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing support surface of the housing is configured by a surface that extends to include the entire range in the first direction of the contact area between the transmission surface of the drive transmission member and the sliding surface of the clamping member when viewed along the second direction.

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