Coupling devices and coupling device sets

Abstract

To provide a connection device capable of being mounted while slid on a mounting member.SOLUTION: A connection device 4 includes: a main body 6 fixed to a mounted member 2; a movable body 7; and a shaft 8 inserted into the movable body 7. The movable body 7 has an operating portion 7a, and a cylindrical portion 7b inserted into the main body 6. The shaft 8 is movable between a release position and a connection position in a direction of a shaft center 8a with respect to the movable body 7. The movable body 7 is moved between a first position where the cylindrical portion 7b is not inserted into a mounting hole 1a of a mounting member 1 and a second position where the cylindrical portion 7b is inserted into the mounting hole 1a by longitudinal guide means 10, and is rotated between the second position and a third position by lateral guide means 11. When the movable body 7 is positioned between the first position and the second position including them by an interlock mechanism 12, the shaft 8 is located on the release position, and when the movable body 7 is located on the third position, the shaft 8 is located on the connection position and a pressing member 14 pressed by the shaft 8 presses an inner face of the mounting hole 1a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a mounting member and a mounted member, and a connecting device set. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a connecting device for connecting a mounting member and a mounted member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 20, this connecting device 33 includes a main body 34 fixed to a mounted member 32, a movable body 35, and a spherical pressing member 36. Here, the main body 34 is formed in a hollow shape, and has a tubular portion 34a on the lower side that is inserted into a mounting hole 31a of the mounting member 31, and a guide portion 34b on the upper end. A horizontal hole 34c is formed in the tubular portion 34a, and the pressing member 36 is inserted into the horizontal hole 34c. The movable body 35 is composed of a shaft 35a that is inserted into the main body 34 and an upper operating portion 35b, and a pin 37 facing horizontally is provided on the shaft 35a. Then, by operating the operating portion 35b to rotate the movable body 35, the pin 37 is guided by the guide portion 34b of the main body 34, and the movable body 35 slides downward. As the movable body 35 slides, the acting surface 35c provided on the peripheral surface of the shaft 35a pushes the pressing member 36 outward, and the pressing member 36 then presses the inner surface of the mounting hole 31a, thereby connecting the mounting member 31 and the mounted member 32. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-218814 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the conventional coupling device 33, when the coupling device 33 is attached to the workpiece 32, the tubular portion 34a of the main body 34 protrudes from the underside of the workpiece 32. For this reason, although it was possible to bring the workpiece 32 with the coupling device attached thereto close to the mounting member 31 from above the mounting member 31 and place it in a predetermined position, it was not possible to slide the workpiece 32 with the coupling device attached thereto over the mounting member 31 and place it in a predetermined position.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art, and its object is to provide a connecting device and a connecting device set that can be slidably positioned on a mounting member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the coupling device and coupling device set according to the present invention have the following configuration. The connecting device according to the invention of claim 1 is a connecting device for connecting a mounting member having a mounting hole and a mounted member, and includes a main body fixed to the mounted member, a movable body, and a shaft inserted into the movable body. The movable body has an operating section and a cylindrical section inserted into the main body. The axis of the shaft faces a direction perpendicular to a mating surface between the mounting member and the mounted member. Here, the connecting device includes a rotation restriction means between the shaft and the main body for restricting the shaft from rotating about the axis relative to the main body, and the shaft is movable between a release position located on one side in the axis direction relative to the movable body and a connection position located on the opposite side. The coupling device includes a vertical guide means between the movable body and the main body for guiding the movable body in the direction of the axis relative to the main body, and a horizontal guide means for guiding the movable body in a rotational direction about the axis relative to the main body, and the movable body is moved by the vertical guide means between a first position where the cylindrical part is not inserted in the mounting hole and a second position where the cylindrical part is inserted in the mounting hole, and is rotated between the second position and a third position by the horizontal guide means. The coupling device also includes an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the movable body with the movement of the shaft in the direction of the axis relative to the movable body. Thus, when the movable body is between the first position and the second position, including the second position, the shaft is in the release position by the interlocking mechanism, and when the movable body is in the third position, the shaft is in the coupling position. The coupling device also includes a pressing member inserted into a horizontal hole penetrating a side wall of the cylindrical part. When the shaft is in the released position, the pressing member is permitted to move inwardly toward the tubular portion, allowing the tubular portion to move in and out of the mounting hole, and when the shaft is in the coupled position, the pressing member is pressed by the shaft and presses against the inner surface of the mounting hole, preventing the tubular portion from coming out of the mounting hole.

[0007] According to this coupling device, the coupling device is attached to the member to which the coupling device is attached by fixing the main body to the member to which the coupling device is attached. When the movable body is in the first position, the cylindrical part of the movable body is not inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting member, so that the member to which the coupling device is attached can be slid on the mounting member to position the cylindrical part facing the mounting hole of the mounting member. Then, by moving the movable body to the second position, the cylindrical part enters the mounting hole. During this time, the shaft is in the release position, and the cylindrical part can enter and exit the mounting hole. After that, when the operating part is rotated to rotate the movable body from the second position to the third position, the shaft moves from the release position to the coupling position by the interlocking mechanism, and the pressing member pressed by the shaft presses the inner surface of the mounting hole, so that the cylindrical part, and therefore the movable body, are prevented from coming out of the mounting hole, and the mounting member and the member to which the coupling device are attached are coupled. Conversely, to release the connection, the operating part is rotated in the opposite direction to rotate the movable body from the third position to the second position, causing the shaft to move from the connected position to the released position, thereby releasing the connection between the mounting member and the member to be mounted.

[0008] The connecting device according to the invention of claim 2 is the connecting device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member that elastically biases the shaft in the other direction relative to the movable body. When the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the bias of the elastic member and the interlocking mechanism cause the movable body to rotate to the third position. Therefore, even if the hand is removed from the operating unit during this period, the movable body rotates to the third position, and the mounting member and the mounted member are reliably connected to each other.

[0009] The connecting device according to the invention of claim 3 is the connecting device according to claim 1, and includes an elastic member that elastically biases the shaft in the other direction relative to the movable body. The interlocking mechanism includes a guide portion provided on one of the movable body or the shaft, and a guided portion provided on the other and guided by the guide portion, and the guided portion or the guiding portion provided on the shaft is located on the side of the one direction relative to the guide portion or the guided portion provided on the movable body. The guide portion has an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the rotation direction centered on the axis, and when the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the guided portion or the inclined portion provided on the shaft is biased by the elastic member and presses the inclined portion or the guided portion provided on the movable body, so that the movable body rotates to the third position. Therefore, even if the hand is released from the operating portion during this period, the movable body rotates to the third position, and the mounting member and the mounted member are reliably connected.

[0010] The connecting device according to claim 4 is the connecting device according to claim 3, wherein the vertical guide means comprises a vertical groove provided on the main body and extending along the axis, and a protrusion provided on the movable body and entering the vertical groove, and the lateral guide means comprises a lateral groove provided on the main body and extending along the rotation direction about the axis, which is continuous with the vertical groove, and the protrusion, and the protrusion enters the lateral groove.

[0011] The connecting device according to the invention of claim 5 is the connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the guiding portion is provided on the movable body, and the guided portion is composed of a guided pin provided on the shaft. The rotation restricting means is composed of the vertical groove and the guided pin, and the guided pin is inserted into the vertical groove. By using the vertical groove constituting the vertical guiding means and the guided pin constituting the interlocking mechanism as the rotation restricting means, the structure of the connecting device can be simplified.

[0012] The invention of claim 6 provides a coupling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shaft has a recess on its circumferential surface, and an action surface on the side of the recess in the one direction, the action surface being located farther from the axis than the recess and inclined so as to move away from the axis as it moves away from the recess. Thus, when the shaft is in the release position, the recess of the shaft faces the pressing member, and the pressing member is allowed to move inwardly of the cylindrical portion. Then, when the shaft is in the connection position, the action surface of the shaft faces the pressing member, and the pressing member is pressed by the action surface to press the inner surface of the mounting hole.

[0013] The connecting device according to the invention recited in claim 7 is the connecting device recited in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising another elastic member that elastically biases the movable body relative to the main body in a direction from the mounting member toward the mounted member. By providing the other elastic member in the connecting device, when the movable body is moved from the first position to the second position, the operating part is pushed in against the biasing force of the other elastic member. Furthermore, when the movable body is rotated from the third position to the second position, the movable body is biased by the other elastic member to move from the second position to the first position.

[0014] A coupling device set according to the invention described in claim 8 includes the coupling device described in any one of claims 2 to 5, and a sensor attached to the mounting member and switching a switch corresponding to the position of the shaft. Here, the one direction is a direction from the mounting member toward the workpiece. The sensor switches the switch when the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, and at any position within the rotation range where the movable body rotates to the third position due to the bias of the elastic member and the interlocking mechanism. In other words, when the switch switches, it is guaranteed that the movable body will rotate to the third position, and the switch can be used to ensure that the mounting member and the workpiece are connected without fail, and to confirm that the connection has been established. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the connecting device and connecting device set of the present invention, when the movable body is in the first position, the tubular portion of the movable body is in a position where it is not inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting member, so that the mounted member with the connecting device can be slid over the mounting member and positioned in a predetermined position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the coupling device set when the movable body is in the first position and the shaft is in the release position. [Diagram 5] 5 is a perspective view of the operation unit shown in FIG. 4 by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 6] 5 is a perspective view of the main body shown in FIG. 4 with the operation unit removed, and the main body shown by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 4 in a position rotated 90° from that of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the coupling device set when the movable body is in the second position and the shaft is in the release position. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view of the operation unit shown in FIG. 9 by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 11] 10 is a perspective view of the main body shown in FIG. 9 with the operation unit removed, and the main body shown by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 13] 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 9, in a position rotated 90° from that of FIG. 12. [Figure 14]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the coupling device set when the movable body is in a third position and the shaft is in a coupling position. [Figure 15] 15 is a perspective view of the operation unit shown in FIG. 14 by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 16] 15 is a perspective view of the main body shown in FIG. 14 with the operation unit removed, and the main body shown by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 17] FIG. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 14. [Figure 18] 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the coupling device set shown in FIG. 14 in a position rotated 90° from that of FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connecting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] 1 to 19 show one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a mounting member, and this mounting member 1 has a mounting hole 1a. 2 denotes a member to which the attachment is applied. 3 denotes a sensor. 4 denotes a coupling device that couples the mounting member 1 and the member to which the attachment is applied 2. 5 denotes a coupling device set including the coupling device 4 and the sensor 3. The coupling device 4 and coupling device set 5 are suitably used, for example, in a factory, for detachably mounting a member to which the attachment is applied 2, such as an attachment, to the mounting member 1 located next to a manufacturing device or the like.

[0019] The connecting device 4 is attached to the workpiece 2. The connecting device 4 comprises a main body 6 fixed to the workpiece 2, a movable body 7, and a shaft 8 inserted into the movable body 7. The movable body 7 has an operating part 7a that is operated by hand, and a cylindrical part 7b that is inserted into the main body 6. The direction of the axis 8a of the shaft 8 is perpendicular to the mating surfaces 1b, 2b of the mounting member 1 and the workpiece 2.

[0020] Here, the connecting device 4 is provided with a rotation restriction means 9 between the shaft 8 and the main body 6, which restricts the shaft 8 from rotating around the axis 8a relative to the main body 6, and the shaft 8 is movable relative to the movable body 7 between a release position located on the side of one direction 4a in the direction of the axis 8a and a connecting position located on the side of the opposite other direction 4b.

[0021] Furthermore, the connecting device 4 includes, between the movable body 7 and the main body 6, a vertical guide means 10 for guiding the movable body 7 in the direction of the axis 8a relative to the main body 6, and a horizontal guide means 11 for guiding the movable body 7 in a rotational direction about the axis 8a relative to the main body 6. The vertical guide means 10 allows the movable body 7 to move between a first position (see Figs. 4 to 8) where the cylindrical portion 7b is not inserted into the mounting hole 1a of the mounting member 1, and a second position (see Figs. 9 to 13) where the cylindrical portion 7b is inserted into the mounting hole 1a, and the horizontal guide means 11 allows the movable body 7 to rotate between the second position and a third position (see Figs. 14 to 18).

[0022] Furthermore, the connecting device 4 includes an interlocking mechanism 12 that interlocks the rotation of the movable body 7 with the movement of the shaft 8 in the direction of the axis 8a relative to the movable body 7. Thus, due to the interlocking mechanism 12, when the movable body 7 is in any position between the first position and the second position, the shaft 8 is in the released position, and when the movable body 7 is in the third position, the shaft 8 is in the connected position.

[0023] The connecting device 4 includes a pressing member 14 inserted into a horizontal hole 7c penetrating the side wall of the cylindrical portion 7b. When the shaft 8 is in the release position, the pressing member 14 is allowed to move inwardly of the cylindrical portion 7b (more specifically, the peripheral surface of the shaft 8 is retracted from the horizontal hole 7c, thereby allowing the pressing member 14 to move inwardly of the cylindrical portion 7b), and the cylindrical portion 7b can enter and exit the mounting hole 1a. When the shaft 8 is in the connecting position (i.e., when the movable body 7 is in the third position and the shaft 8 is in the connecting position), the pressing member 14 is pressed by the shaft 8 (more specifically, the peripheral surface of the shaft 8) and presses the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a, thereby preventing the cylindrical portion 7b from coming off the mounting hole 1a.

[0024] In detail, the connecting device 4 includes an elastic member 13 that elastically biases the shaft 8 in the other direction 4b relative to the movable body 7. When the movable body 7 reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the movable body 7 is rotated to the third position by the bias of the elastic member 13 and the interlocking mechanism 12. That is, the movable body 7 is automatically rotated to the third position.

[0025] More specifically, the interlocking mechanism 12 includes a guide portion 12a provided on one of the movable body 7 or the shaft 8, and a guided portion 12b provided on the other and guided by the guide portion 12a, and the guided portion 12b or the guide portion 12a provided on the shaft 8 is located closer to the one direction 4a than the guide portion 12a or the guided portion 12b provided on the movable body 7. The guide portion 12a has an inclined portion 12c inclined with respect to the rotation direction about the axis 8a, and when the movable body 7 reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the guided portion 12b or the inclined portion 12c provided on the shaft 8 presses the inclined portion 12c or the guided portion 12b provided on the movable body 7 under the bias of the elastic member 13, so that the movable body 7 rotates to the third position. That is, the movable body 7 automatically rotates to the third position.

[0026] The vertical guide means 10 consists of a vertical groove 10a provided on the main body 6 and extending along the direction of the axis 8a, and a protrusion 10b provided on the movable body 7 and entering the vertical groove 10a. The horizontal guide means 11 consists of a horizontal groove 11a provided on the main body 6 and extending in the rotation direction about the axis 8a, subsequent to the vertical groove 10a, and the protrusion 10b, with the protrusion 10b entering the horizontal groove 11a.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the guiding portion 12a is provided on the movable body 7, and the guided portion 12b is composed of a guided pin 15 provided on the shaft 8. The rotation restricting means 9 is composed of the vertical groove 10a and the guided pin 15, and the guided pin 15 is inserted into the vertical groove 10a.

[0028] The shaft 8 also has a recess 8b on its circumferential surface, and an action surface 8c located on the side of the recess 8b in the one direction 4a, which is located farther from the axis 8a than the recess 8b and is inclined so as to move away from the axis 8a as it moves away from the recess 8b. When the shaft 8 is in the release position, the recess 8b of the shaft 8 faces the pressing member 14, and the pressing member 14 is allowed to move inwardly of the cylindrical portion 7b. When the shaft 8 is in the connection position, the action surface 8c of the shaft 8 faces the pressing member 14, and the pressing member 14 is pressed by the action surface 8c (more specifically, pushed outward by the action surface 8c) to press the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a.

[0029] The connecting device 4 also includes another elastic member 16 that elastically biases the movable body 7 relative to the main body 6 in a direction from the mounting member 1 toward the mounted member 2 .

[0030] In the connecting device set 5, the sensor 3 is attached to the mounting member 1. The sensor 3 has a switch that switches in response to the position of the shaft 8 (i.e., the position of the shaft 8 moving in the direction of the axis 8a). Here, the one direction 4a is the direction from the mounting member 1 toward the attached member 2, and the other direction 4b is the direction from the attached member 2 toward the mounting member 1. The sensor 3 has a switch that switches at any position within a rotation range in which the movable body 7 reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, and is rotated to the third position by the biasing force of the elastic member 13 and the interlocking mechanism 12.

[0031] Specifically, the mounting member 1 has a tapered surface 1c on the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a, the diameter of which increases toward the inner side where the cylindrical portion 7b is inserted (in other words, the diameter of which decreases toward the mounted member 2 side), and when the movable body 7 is in the third position (that is, when the shaft 8 is in the connecting position), the pressing member 14 presses the tapered surface 1c. In detail, the mounting member 1 includes a mounting member main body 101 having an auxiliary hole 1d, and a cylindrical mounting auxiliary member 102 that is fixed to the auxiliary hole 1d and has the mounting hole 1a on the inside. More specifically, the mounting auxiliary member 102 is attached to the auxiliary hole 1d using a nut 103. The sensor 3 is attached to the bottom wall of the mounting auxiliary member 102. The sensor 3 has an actuator 3a, and the switch of the sensor 3 is switched by pressing the actuator 3a with the tip of the shaft 8 on the side of the other direction 4b.

[0032] The mounted member 2 is formed, for example, in a plate shape, and is placed on the mounting member 1 (more specifically, the mounting member main body 101). The mounted member 2 has a mounting hole 2c, and the cylindrical portion 7b of the movable body 7 is inserted into the mounting hole 1a through the mounting hole 2c.

[0033] In the connecting device 4, the main body 6 is formed into a cylindrical shape as a whole. This main body 6 has a flange-like receiving portion 6a on the side of the attached member 2, and the receiving portion 6a abuts against a surface 2d of the attached member 2 opposite to a mating surface 2b with the mounting member 1. The main body 6 also has a positioning protrusion 6b that is inserted into the attached hole 2c. The main body 6 is then fixed to the attached member 2 by a fastener 17 such as a bolt.

[0034] The inside of the main body 6 has a first hole 6c on the opposite side (upper side) from the positioning protrusion 6b, and a second hole 6d formed with a smaller diameter than the first hole 6c on the positioning protrusion 6b side (lower side), and a step 6e is formed between the first hole 6c and the second hole 6d. The main body 6 is provided with the above-mentioned vertical groove 10a and horizontal groove 11a so as to penetrate the side wall and communicate the first hole 6c with the outside. In the illustrated embodiment, two sets of vertical groove 10a and horizontal groove 11a are provided, and they are located symmetrically with respect to the axis 8a.

[0035] As described above, the movable body 7 includes the operating portion 7a and the cylindrical portion 7b, and the operating portion 7a and the cylindrical portion 7b are integrated by a connecting pin 18 (a spring pin in the illustrated embodiment). In detail, the operating portion 7a is a cap-shaped knob that is placed on the upper end portion of the main body 6 (the tip portion opposite to the receiving portion 6a), and the connecting pin 18 is driven into the side walls of the operating portion 7a and the cylindrical portion 7b. At this time, the connecting pin 18 passes through the vertical groove 10a or the horizontal groove 11a of the main body 6, and the passing portion becomes the protruding portion 10b that constitutes the vertical guide means 10 or the horizontal guide means 11 described above. The operating portion 7a has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis 8a, and an indicator portion 7d formed on the peripheral surface of the operating portion 7a points to the display 6f displayed on the main body 6 (specifically, the receiving portion 6a). The indicator 6f consists of the characters "OFF" and "ON" and an arrow indicating the rotation between them. Here, the “OFF” position corresponds to the first or second position of the movable body 7, and the “ON” position corresponds to the third position of the movable body 7.

[0036] The cylindrical portion 7b is composed of a first cylindrical portion 7e on the side in the direction from the mounting member 1 toward the mounted member 2, and a second cylindrical portion 7f on the opposite side, which is smaller in diameter than the first cylindrical portion 7e. The first cylindrical portion 7e is inserted into the first hole 6c of the main body 6, and the second cylindrical portion 7f is inserted into the second hole 6d of the main body 6. The first cylindrical portion 7e has a protruding ring portion 7g protruding outward so as to be thick at its tip side, and a compression coil spring serving as the other elastic member 16 is disposed between the protruding ring portion 7g and the step portion 6e on the inside of the main body 6. The aforementioned guide portion 12a is provided at the tip of the first cylindrical portion 7e. This guide portion 12a has the aforementioned inclined portion 12c and a horizontal portion 12d facing the rotation direction around the axis 8a of the shaft 8. Therefore, when the movable body 7 is in the first position or the second position, the guided pin 15 is located on the horizontal portion 12d (more specifically, it engages with the engagement recess 12e provided in the horizontal portion 12d). FIG. 19 shows the guide portion 12a in an expanded view, and the relative positional relationship between the guide portion 12a and the guided pin 15 is shown by the position of the guided pin 15 with respect to the guide portion 12a. Here, reference numeral 15a denotes the guided pin 15 when the movable body 7 is between the first position and the second position, including the first position and the second position, and the shaft 8 is in the release position. Reference numeral 15b denotes the guided pin 15 when the movable body 7 is in an intermediate position between the second position and the third position, particularly when the switch of the sensor 3 is switched. Reference numeral 15c denotes the guided pin 15 when the movable body 7 is in the third position and the shaft 8 is in the connection position. The third position of the movable body 7 includes a state in which the guided pin 15 is in contact with the inclined portion 12c and the pressing member 14 is pressing the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a, and a state in which the movable body 7 is further rotated and the guided pin 15 moves away from the inclined portion 12c while the pressing member 14 is still pressing the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a.

[0037] The second cylindrical portion 7f is provided with the above-mentioned horizontal hole 7c. A plurality of horizontal holes 7c are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the second cylindrical portion 7f, and a pressing member 14 is inserted into each horizontal hole 7c. Here, the pressing member 14 is formed in a spherical shape, but the shape is not particularly limited as long as it can be pressed by the action surface 8c of the shaft 8 to press the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a. In addition, a guide tube 19 is provided in the operating portion 7a so as to span between the top wall of the operating portion 7a and the cylindrical portion 7b (more specifically, the first cylindrical portion 7e), and this guide tube 19 suppresses rattling of the movable body 7.

[0038] The shaft 8 is composed of a first shaft portion 8d on the side in the direction from the mounting member 1 toward the mounted member 2, and a second shaft portion 8e on the opposite side, the first shaft portion 8d being inserted into the first cylindrical portion 7e of the cylindrical portion 7b, and the second shaft portion 8e being inserted into the second cylindrical portion 7f of the cylindrical portion 7b. The first shaft portion 8d is provided with a spring receiving portion 8f formed to protrude like a brim at its base end (i.e., at the boundary portion with the second cylindrical portion 7f). On the other hand, a washer 21 supported by a retaining ring 20 is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 7b (specifically, the first cylindrical portion 7e), and a compression coil spring serving as the elastic member 13 described above is disposed between the washer 21 and the spring receiving portion 8f.

[0039] Further, the shaft 8 has a hole 8g penetrating in the horizontal direction at the tip portion of the first shaft portion 8d, and a guided pin 15 is inserted into the hole 8g. The portion of the guided pin 15 protruding from the hole 8g engages with the guide portion 12a of the movable body 7 (more specifically, the cylindrical portion 7b), and is inserted into the vertical groove 10a of the main body 6. The shaft 8 has the aforementioned recess 8b and acting surface 8c at the tip portion of the second shaft portion 8e.

[0040] Next, the effects of the coupling device 4 and the coupling device set 5 configured as above will be described. The coupling device 4 is attached to the workpiece 2 by fixing the main body 6 to the workpiece 2. When the movable body 7 is in the first position (see Figs. 4 to 8), the cylindrical portion 7b of the movable body 7 is not inserted into the mounting hole 1a of the mounting member 1. Therefore, the workpiece 2 with the coupling device can be slid on the mounting member 1 to position the cylindrical portion 7b facing the mounting hole 1a of the mounting member 1 (that is, the workpiece 2 with the coupling device can be placed in a predetermined position on the mounting member 1). Then, the operating portion 7a (movable body 7) is pushed in to place the movable body 7 in the second position (see Figs. 9 to 13), so that the cylindrical portion 7b (more specifically, the second cylindrical portion 7f) enters the mounting hole 1a. During this time, the shaft 8 is in the release position, and the cylindrical portion 7b can enter and exit the mounting hole 1a. Thereafter, when the operating portion 7a is rotated (in the illustrated embodiment, rotated clockwise) to rotate the movable body 7 from the second position to the third position (see Figs. 14 to 18), the shaft 8 moves from the release position to the coupling position by the interlocking mechanism 12, and the pressing member 14 pressed by the shaft 8 (specifically, the action surface 8c) presses the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a (specifically, the tapered surface 1c), so that the cylindrical portion 7b and thus the movable body 7 are prevented from coming off the mounting hole 1a, and the mounting member 1 and the mounted member 2 are coupled together. Here, when the movable body 7 reaches at least the third position between the second position and the third position, the movable body 7 is rotated to the third position by the biasing force of the elastic member 13 and the interlocking mechanism 12. Therefore, even if the hand is removed from the operating portion 7a during this period, the movable body 7 rotates to the third position, and the mounting member 1 and the mounted member 2 are reliably coupled together. Conversely, to release the connection, the operating portion 7a is rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise in the illustrated embodiment) to rotate the movable body 7 from the third position to the second position, and the shaft 8 moves from the connected position to the released position, thereby releasing the connection between the mounting member 1 and the mounted member 2.

[0041] Furthermore, by inserting guided pin 15 provided on shaft 8 into vertical groove 10a of main body 6, shaft 8 is restricted so as not to rotate about axis 8a relative to main body 6. In other words, by using vertical groove 10a constituting vertical guiding means 10 and guided pin 15 constituting interlocking mechanism 12 as rotation restricting means 9, the structure of coupling device 4 can be simplified.

[0042] The connecting device 4 also includes another elastic member 16 that elastically biases the movable body 7 relative to the main body 6 in a direction from the mounting member 1 toward the mounted member 2. For this reason, when the movable body 7 is moved from the first position to the second position, the operating portion 7a (i.e., the movable body 7) is pushed in against the biasing force of the other elastic member 16. When the movable body 7 is rotated from the third position to the second position, the movable body 7 is biased by the other elastic member 16 and moves from the second position to the first position.

[0043] In addition, the sensor 3 is configured such that when the movable body 7 reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, and the movable body 7 is rotated to the third position by the biasing force of the elastic member 13 and the interlocking mechanism 12 at any position in the rotation range, the switch is switched in response to the position of the shaft 8 moving in the direction of the axis 8a (in the illustrated embodiment, it is pressed by the tip of the shaft 8). In other words, when this switch is switched, it is guaranteed that the movable body 7 will rotate to the third position, and this switch can be used to connect the mounting member 1 and the mounted member 2 without fail, and can confirm that they are connected. Here, as a method of indicating the switching of the switch, for example, a lamp may be turned on or off by switching the switch, or the color of the lit lamp may be changed by switching the switch, and the display method is not limited to a lamp.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. For example, the inner surface of the mounting hole 1a in the mounting member 1 has a tapered surface 1c at the portion pressed by the pressing member 14, but this tapered surface 1c may not be present. Also, the diameter of the mounting hole 1a may be changed in a stepped manner so that the inner side has a larger diameter, and the pressing member 14 may be placed against the corner of the stepped portion.

[0045] The connecting device 4 also includes another elastic member 16, which elastically urges the movable body 7 relative to the main body 6 in the direction from the mounting member 1 toward the mounted member 2, but may instead elastically urge the movable body 7 in the opposite direction from the mounted member 2 toward the mounting member 1. Also, the other elastic member 16 may not be required.

[0046] Furthermore, the guide portion 12a has the inclined portion 12c and the horizontal portion 12d, but the horizontal portion 12d may be eliminated and the entire guide portion 12a may be the inclined portion 12c.

[0047] In addition, in the connecting device set 5, one direction 4a in the connecting device 4 is the direction from the mounting member 1 to the member to be attached 2, but if the sensor 3 is not used, the one direction 4a may also be the direction from the member to be attached 2 to the mounting member 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Mounting material 1a Mounting hole 1b Mating surface 2. Mounting material 2b Mating surface 3 Sensors 4 Coupling device 4a One Direction 4b Other Directions 5 Coupling Device Set 6 Main unit 7 Movable body 7a Control section 7b Cylindrical part 7c horizontal hole 8 Shaft 8a Axis center 8b Recess 8c Working surface 9 Rotation restriction means 10. Longitudinal guide means 10a vertical groove 10b Protrusion 11 Lateral guide means 11a Yokomizo 12 Interlocking mechanism 12a Information section 12b Guided part 12c Slope 13 Elastic member 14 Pressing member 15 Guided pin 16 Other elastic members

Claims

1. A connecting device for connecting a mounting member having a mounting hole to a mounted member, The device includes a main body that is fixed to the workpiece, a movable body, and a shaft that is inserted into the movable body, The movable body has an operation portion and a cylindrical portion that is inserted into the main body, The direction of the axis of the shaft is perpendicular to the mating surface between the mounting member and the mounted member, a rotation restriction means is provided between the shaft and the main body to restrict the shaft from rotating about the axis relative to the main body, and the shaft is movable between a release position located on one side in the direction of the axis relative to the movable body and a connection position located on the opposite side; Between the movable body and the main body, there are provided vertical guide means for guiding the movable body in the direction of the axis relative to the main body, and horizontal guide means for guiding the movable body in a rotational direction about the axis relative to the main body, the vertical guide means allowing the movable body to move between a first position in which the tubular portion is not inserted into the mounting hole and a second position in which the tubular portion is inserted into the mounting hole, and the horizontal guide means allowing the movable body to rotate between the second position and a third position, a linkage mechanism for linking the rotation of the movable body with the movement of the shaft in the direction of the axis relative to the movable body, When the movable body is in the first position and / or the second position, the shaft is in the released position, and when the movable body is in the third position, the shaft is in the coupled position, by the interlocking mechanism; a pressing member that is inserted into a horizontal hole that penetrates a side wall of the cylindrical portion, When the shaft is in the release position, the pressing member is permitted to move inwardly toward the cylindrical portion, and the cylindrical portion can enter and exit the mounting hole, a coupling device in which, when the shaft is in the coupled position, the pressing member is pressed by the shaft and presses against the inner surface of the mounting hole, thereby preventing the tubular portion from coming off the mounting hole.

2. an elastic member that elastically biases the shaft in the other direction relative to the movable body; 2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein when the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the movable body is caused to rotate to the third position by the force of the elastic member and the interlocking mechanism.

3. an elastic member that elastically biases the shaft in the other direction relative to the movable body; the interlocking mechanism includes a guide portion provided on one of the movable body or the shaft, and a guided portion provided on the other of the movable body or the shaft and guided by the guide portion, the guided portion or the guide portion provided on the shaft being located closer to the one direction than the guide portion or the guided portion provided on the movable body; 2. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the guiding portion has an inclined portion inclined with respect to a rotation direction about the axis, and when the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, the guided portion or the inclined portion provided on the shaft presses the inclined portion or the guided portion provided on the movable body under the force of the elastic member, thereby causing the movable body to rotate to the third position.

4. the longitudinal guide means includes a longitudinal groove provided on the main body and extending along the axis, and a protrusion provided on the movable body and inserted into the longitudinal groove; 4. The connecting device according to claim 3, wherein the lateral guide means comprises a lateral groove provided on the main body, the lateral groove being continuous with the longitudinal groove and extending along the rotation direction about the axis, and the protrusion, the protrusion being inserted into the lateral groove.

5. the guiding portion is provided on the movable body, and the guided portion is a guided pin provided on the shaft, 5. The connecting device according to claim 4, wherein said rotation restricting means comprises said vertical groove and said guided pin, said guided pin being inserted into said vertical groove.

6. the shaft has a recess on its circumferential surface, and an action surface on the side of the recess in the one direction, the action surface being located farther from the axis than the recess and inclined so as to move away from the axis as it moves away from the recess, When the shaft is in the release position, a recess of the shaft faces the pressing member, and the pressing member is allowed to move inwardly of the cylindrical portion, 6. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein when the shaft is in the coupled position, an operating surface of the shaft faces the pressing member, and the pressing member is pressed against the operating surface to press the inner surface of the mounting hole.

7. 6. The connecting device according to claim 1, further comprising another elastic member that elastically biases the movable body relative to the main body in a direction from the mounting member toward the mounted member.

8. A coupling device set comprising the coupling device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 and a sensor attached to the mounting member and configured to switch in response to a position of the shaft, The one direction is a direction from the mounting member to the mounted member, The sensor is a coupling device set in which the switch is switched at any position within the rotation range of the movable body, where the movable body reaches at least the third position side between the second position and the third position, and the movable body rotates to the third position due to the force of the elastic member and the interlocking mechanism.

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