Vacuum gripper

Abstract

To provide a vacuum gripper capable of safely transporting transported items such as fire bricks without damaging.SOLUTION: A vacuum gripper comprises a rubber plate 12 the lower face of which is an adsorption face 11 to adsorb transported items. A metal plate 13 is laminated on the upper face of the rubber plate 12 and connected. A tubular gripping part 20 is provided above the metal plate 13 and extends parallel to the metal plate 13. Connecting members 21, 22 connect mutually the metal plate 13 and the gripping part 20. A negative-pressure introduction mechanism 23 is installed in the gripping part 20 and connected to a negative-pressure source. The negative-pressure introduction mechanism 23 protrudes to the side of the metal plate 13 from the gripping part 20, has a vacuum tube 24 penetrating the metal plate 13 and the rubber plate 12, and opening to the adsorption face 11, and has a release tube 26 guiding the negative-pressure generated in the outside air or at a negative pressure source to the opening of the vacuum tube 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum gripper used for transporting heavy objects such as refractory bricks.

Background Art

[0002] In conventional furnace building work, when transporting bricks weighing about 10 kg, there has been a problem that when a worker installs the bricks at a predetermined position, the fingers may be pinched between the bricks and the ground, risking fracture. To solve this problem, a link mechanism called a block holder is known as a device that can transport bricks without directly touching them. The block holder converts the force of lifting the handle into a gripping force and can perform operations without directly touching the bricks. In addition, as a device that can be used for transporting refractory bricks, the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using a block holder, it is necessary to insert the claw portion of the block holder into the gap of the brick, so there is a risk of damaging the brick, and there is also a risk that the brick may come off the claw portion and fall during movement.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum gripper that can safely transport an object to be transported such as a refractory brick without damage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vacuum gripper according to the present invention includes a rubber plate whose lower surface is a suction surface for sucking an object to be transported, a metal plate laminated and connected to the upper surface of the rubber plate, a tubular gripping portion provided above the metal plate and extending parallel to the metal plate, a connecting member connecting the metal plate and the gripping portion to each other, and a negative pressure introduction mechanism provided in the gripping portion and connected to a negative pressure source. The negative pressure introduction mechanism includes a vacuum tube protruding from the gripping portion toward the metal plate side, penetrating the metal plate and the rubber plate, and opening to the suction surface, and a pressure control portion for guiding the negative pressure generated in the outside air or the negative pressure source to the opening of the vacuum tube. It is provided outside the gripping portion and includes a tube cover swingably supported on the gripping portion by a support member. The tube cover extends from the support member to both sides along the gripping portion, is located on one side of the support member and faces the upper surface of the gripping portion, and has a lid portion capable of closing an outside air suction port provided in the pressure control portion, and an operation portion located on the other side of the support member and facing the lower surface of the gripping portion.

[0007] The vacuum gripper includes, for example, a spring and a contact pin provided in the gripping portion. The contact pin protrudes from the gripping portion and contacts the operation portion, and the spring biases the operation portion downward.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a vacuum gripper that can transport an object to be transported, such as a refractory brick, without damage and safely.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum gripper 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This vacuum gripper 10 is used for transporting refractory bricks in a bricklaying operation, and has a rubber plate 12 whose lower surface is a suction surface 11 for sucking bricks, and a metal plate 13 laminated and connected to the upper surface of the rubber plate 12. The suction surface 11 has a size sufficient to suck on the upper surface of an object to be transported such as a refractory brick.

[0011] The rubber plate 12 and the metal plate 13 are substantially rectangular, and the rubber plate 12 includes a lower rubber layer 14 having a suction surface 11 and an intermediate rubber layer 15 located between the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14. As will be described later, the intermediate rubber layer 15 has a frame shape, and its outer shape, that is, its contour, is the same as the contours of the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14, whereby a space 30 (see FIG. 4) is formed inside the rubber plate 12.

[0012] A gripping portion 20 is provided above the metal plate 13. The gripping portion 20 is a tubular member extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the metal plate 13. The metal plate 13 and the gripping portion 20 are interconnected by connecting members 21 and 22. The connecting members 21 and 22 are a pair of bolts extending parallel to each other, passing through the metal plate 13 and the rubber plate 12, and fixed at the suction surface 11 of the metal plate 13 and the rubber plate 12.

[0013] A negative pressure introduction mechanism 23 is provided inside the gripping portion 20, and an introduction pipe 29 extending from the negative pressure introduction mechanism 23 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown). The negative pressure introduction mechanism 23 has a vacuum tube 24 that protrudes from the gripping portion 20 toward the metal plate 13 side, and the vacuum tube 24 is disposed between the connecting members 21 and 22, that is, a pair of bolts. The vacuum tube 24 protrudes from a hole 25 formed in the lower surface of the gripping portion 20, penetrates the metal plate 13 and the rubber plate 12, and opens to the suction surface 11. The negative pressure introduction mechanism 23 has a release pipe (pressure control portion) 26 for guiding the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure source to the opening 28 (see FIG. 2) of the vacuum tube 24. The release pipe 26 protrudes from a hole 27 formed in the lower surface of the gripping portion 20 toward the metal plate 13 side, and an outside air suction port 26a (see FIG. 2) is formed at the tip thereof.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum gripper 10 as viewed from below. As clearly shown in this figure, an opening 28 of the vacuum tube 24 is formed at the center of the suction surface 11, and bolt heads 21a and 22a, which are the tip portions of the connecting members 21 and 22, are located in the vicinity of the opening 28. The bolt heads 21a and 22a and the opening 28 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rubber plate 12, and the region of the suction surface 11 provided with the bolt heads 21a and 22a and the opening 28 is recessed from the outer peripheral edge of the suction surface 11. The opening 28 protrudes more than the bolt heads 21a and 22a, and a space S (see FIG. 4) for exerting a suction force on the object to be transported is formed in the vicinity of the bolt heads 21a and 22a.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the structure of the rubber plate 12 will be described. The intermediate rubber layer 15 has a rectangular frame shape and has substantially the same outer shape as the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14. Therefore, in a state where the metal plate 13, the intermediate rubber layer 15, and the lower rubber layer 14 are laminated, a space 30 is partitioned and formed therebetween. The bolt heads 21a and 22a of the connecting members 21 and 22 are engaged with the suction surface 11 via washers 31. In the connecting members 21 and 22, washers 33 and 34 are fitted above and below the metal plate 13, and a nut 35 is screwed onto the upper side of the upper washer 33.

[0016] By tightening the nut 35, the bolt heads 21a and 22a of the connecting members 21 and 22 are lifted toward the metal plate 13 side, and the washer 34 is clamped between the lower rubber layer 14 and the metal plate 13. As a result, in the space 30 formed between the metal plate 13, the intermediate rubber layer 15, and the lower rubber layer 14, the lower rubber layer 14 in the region including the connecting members 21 and 22 is curved toward the metal plate 13 side, the suction surface 11 is recessed, and a space S is formed near the bolt heads 21a and 22a. Note that the curved shape of the lower rubber layer 14 in this state can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the washer 34.

[0017] Referring again to FIG. 2, the release tube 26 will be described. The outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 is exposed to the outside air and can be closed by the fingertips of an operator. The release tube 26 communicates with the vacuum tube 24. When the outside air suction port 26a is closed, a negative pressure is introduced into the vacuum tube 24, and when the outside air suction port 26a is open, atmospheric pressure is introduced into the vacuum tube 24 from the introduction tube 29. Therefore, by closing the outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 with the suction surface 11 in close contact with the upper surface of an object to be transported such as a refractory brick, a negative pressure is introduced from the opening 28, and the object to be transported is adsorbed to the suction surface 11.

[0018] Next, the operation of the vacuum gripper 10 of the present embodiment will be described. In normal use, first, insert the middle finger between the connecting member 21 on the release tube 26 side and the vacuum tube 24, and insert the ring finger between the other connecting member 22 and the vacuum tube 24. In this state, lift the gripping portion 20 and bring the suction surface 11 into close contact with the upper surface of an object to be transported such as a refractory brick. Then, when the outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 is closed with the index finger, a negative pressure is introduced into the space between the suction surface 11 and the object to be transported, and the object to be transported can be lifted through the gripping portion 20. After transporting the object to be transported to a predetermined position, if the outside air suction port 26a is opened, the pressure between the suction surface 11 and the object to be transported approaches atmospheric pressure, and the object to be transported can be positioned at the predetermined position.

[0019] Thus, according to this embodiment, when transporting an object to be transported such as a refractory brick, it is only necessary to close the outside air suction port 26a of the release pipe 26 with the vacuum gripper 10 in close contact with the upper surface of the object to be transported and lift the gripping part 20. Therefore, the object to be transported can be safely transported without being damaged.

[0020] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that it has a tube cover 40. The tube cover 40 is provided outside the gripping part 20 and is swingably supported on the gripping part 20 by a support member 41. The tube cover 40 extends from the support member 41 along the gripping part 20 to both sides, and has a lid part 42 located on one side of the support member 41, that is, on the introduction pipe 29 side and facing the upper surface of the gripping part 20, and an operation part 43 located on the other side of the support member 41, that is, on the side opposite to the introduction pipe 29 and facing the lower surface of the gripping part 20.

[0021] The lid part 42 of the tube cover 40 has a semi-cylindrical shape covering the upper surface of the gripping part 20, and the operation part 43 has a semi-cylindrical shape covering the lower surface of the gripping part 20. A spring 44 and a contact pin 45 are provided on a cylindrical member 49 provided in the gripping part 20, and the contact pin 45 projects downward from the gripping part 20 and contacts the operation part 43. On the other hand, an outside air suction port 29a is formed in the introduction pipe 29, and an opening 48 is formed in the gripping part 20 corresponding to the outside air suction port 29a. When the lid part 42 is in close contact with the gripping part 20, the outside air suction port 29a is closed, and at this time, the operation part 43 retracts the contact pin 45 into the gripping part 20 against the spring 44.

[0022] The operation of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but the operation of the tube cover 40 is different. That is, instead of directly closing the outside air suction port 29a to introduce or release negative pressure to the suction surface 11, the operator only needs to displace the tube cover 40 toward the gripping portion 20. Specifically, when the tube cover 40 is grasped and the operation portion 43 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the gripping portion 20, the lid portion 42 closes the outside air suction port 29a, whereby negative pressure is introduced to the suction surface 11. On the contrary, when the tube cover 40 is released, the contact pin 45 protrudes from the gripping portion 20 by the elastic force of the spring 44, whereby the operation portion 43 swings downward and the lid portion 42 swings upward to communicate the outside air suction port 29a with the atmosphere, and the atmosphere is introduced to the suction surface 11. That is, in the second embodiment, the introduction pipe 29 is the pressure control portion.

[0023] Therefore, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained also by the second embodiment. However, since the outside air suction port 29a is closed not with the index finger but with the lid portion 42 of the tube cover 40, the outside air suction port 29a can be closed more reliably.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0024] 11 Suction surface 12 Rubber plate 13 Metal plate 20 Gripping portion 21, 22 Connecting member 23 Negative pressure introduction mechanism 24 Vacuum tube 26 Release tube 28 Opening 29 Introduction pipe

Claims

1. A rubber plate whose underside is an adsorption surface for adsorbing the object to be transported; a metal plate laminated and connected to an upper surface of the rubber plate; A tubular gripping portion provided above the metal plate and extending parallel to the metal plate; A connecting member that connects the metal plate and the gripping portion to each other; a negative pressure introduction mechanism provided in the gripping portion and connected to a negative pressure source; the negative pressure introduction mechanism includes a vacuum tube that protrudes from the gripping portion toward the metal plate, penetrates the metal plate and the rubber plate, and opens at the suction surface, and a pressure control portion that introduces a negative pressure generated in the outside air or the negative pressure source to the opening of the vacuum tube, a tube cover provided on an outer side of the gripping portion and supported by a support member so as to be swingable on the gripping portion; The vacuum gripper is characterized in that the tube cover extends on both sides from the support member along the gripping portion, and has a lid portion located on one side of the support member facing the upper surface of the gripping portion and capable of closing an outside air suction port provided in the pressure control unit, and an operating portion located on the other side of the support member facing the lower surface of the gripping portion.

2. A spring and an abutment pin are provided in the gripping portion, 2. The vacuum gripper according to claim 1, wherein the abutment pin protrudes from the gripping portion to abut against the operating portion, and the operating portion is biased downward by the spring.

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