Work Support

Abstract

To provide a workpiece support tool, when the weight of a workpiece is light, capable of reducing a contact area with the workpiece without changing the part of an overall structure to be mounted with the workpiece to improve the quality of the workpiece and free from the exchange of the part of the overall structure to be mounted with the workpiece even when the part in contact with the workpiece is worn.SOLUTION: A workpiece support tool 1 is used in a heating device 100 executing heating treatment with respect to a workpiece 10, and supports the workpiece 10. The workpiece support part 1 comprises: a receiving member 11 receiving the workpiece 10 by the mounting of the workpiece 10; and plural contact members 12 each having a contact face with the workpiece 10 smaller than the area of the upper face of the receiving member 11 and arranged at the upper face of the receiving member 11 so as to be contacted with the lower end part of the workpiece 10. Each contact member 12 is a separate body from the receiving member 11 and provided removably with respect to the receiving member 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece support tool that is used in a heating device that applies heat treatment to a workpiece and supports the workpiece. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART The workpiece support disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a workpiece support used in a heating device that applies heat treatment to a workpiece and supports the workpiece.

[0003] The work support disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to include a support table on which the workpiece is placed. The work support of Patent Document 1 is configured such that multiple protrusions are provided on the upper surface of the support table in an area that contacts the workpiece, and the multiple protrusions contact the workpiece placed on the support table. As a result, with the work support of Patent Document 1, the protrusions on the upper surface of the receiving member contact the lower end surface of the workpiece supported by the work support, allowing the protrusions to make contact with a small contact area without covering the lower end surface of the workpiece, thereby improving the quality of the heat treatment of the lower end surface of the workpiece. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-242854 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the workpiece support disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a workpiece is placed on the support table, all of the multiple protrusions on the upper surface of the support table come into contact with the workpiece, thereby supporting the workpiece. Therefore, even if the weight of the workpiece supported by the workpiece support is light, all of the multiple protrusions on the upper surface of the support table come into contact with the workpiece. On the other hand, when the weight of the workpiece supported by the workpiece support is light, the contact surface pressure at the portion of the workpiece support that comes into contact with the workpiece is sufficiently small. In this case, the contact surface pressure is sufficiently small and has a sufficient margin relative to the surface pressure level at which the contact surface pressure acting on the workpiece from the workpiece support becomes too high and leaves marks on the lower end surface of the workpiece. Therefore, when the weight of the workpiece is light, it is desirable to reduce the contact area of ​​the workpiece support with the workpiece to further improve the quality of the workpiece.

[0006] However, with the work support of Patent Document 1, if the weight of the workpiece is light, it is necessary to replace the entire support base provided with multiple protrusions in order to reduce the contact area between the workpiece and the workpiece. In other words, with the work support of Patent Document 1, if the weight of the workpiece is light, it is necessary to replace all of the parts of the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed in order to reduce the contact area between the workpiece and the workpiece.

[0007] Furthermore, with the work support of Patent Document 1, when the work support is used repeatedly, the convex portions provided on the upper surface of the support base repeatedly come into contact with the workpiece, causing the convex portions to wear out. For this reason, with the work support of Patent Document 1, when the convex portions wear out due to repeated use, it becomes necessary to replace the entire support base on which the convex portions are provided. In other words, with the work support of Patent Document 1, when the parts that come into contact with the workpiece wear out, it becomes necessary to replace all of the parts of the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed.

[0008] Furthermore, since the material that constitutes the workpiece support used in the heating device that heat-treats the workpiece is a material that can withstand high temperatures for a long period of time, the cost of the material itself is high, and the cost of processing the material to manufacture the workpiece support is also high. For this reason, with the workpiece support of Patent Document 1, if you want to reduce the contact area with the workpiece, or if the part that comes into contact with the workpiece wears out, it is necessary to replace all of the parts of the entire structure on which the workpiece is placed, which is not preferable from a cost perspective.

[0009] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a work support that can reduce the contact area with the work without changing the overall structure on which the work is placed, thereby improving the quality of the work when the work is light in weight, and that does not require the replacement of the overall structure on which the work is placed, even if the part in contact with the work wears out. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (1) In order to solve the above problem, a work support according to one aspect of the present invention is used in a heating device that applies heat treatment to a workpiece, and is a work support that supports the workpiece, and includes: a receiving member on which the workpiece is placed and receives the workpiece; and a plurality of contact members that have a contact surface with the workpiece that is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member, are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member, and come into contact with a lower end of the workpiece, and the contact members are provided separately from the receiving member and detachably relative to the receiving member. The workpiece is a hollow member, and the workpiece support tool further includes a plurality of support members that are arranged on the upper surface side of the receiving member and abut against the inner periphery of the workpiece to support the workpiece from the inside, and the support members are provided separately from the receiving member and detachably relative to the receiving member. are.

[0011] According to this configuration, when a workpiece is heated in the heating device, the workpiece is heated while supported by the workpiece support. The workpiece is placed on a receiving member and supported by the workpiece support while in contact with a plurality of contact members arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member. Therefore, the workpiece support makes contact with the lower end surface of the workpiece supported by the workpiece support with the contact members on the upper surface of the receiving member, without covering the lower end surface of the workpiece, and the contact members make contact with the lower end surface of the workpiece over a small contact area, thereby improving the quality of the heat treatment of the lower end surface of the workpiece.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the contact members that contact and directly support the workpiece are provided separately from the receiving member and are detachable from the receiving member. Therefore, the number of contact members arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member, i.e., the number of contact members that contact and directly support the workpiece, can be changed depending on the workpiece supported by the work support. This allows the number of contact members to be changed depending on the workpiece to be supported, within a range that reduces the contact pressure acting on the workpiece from the work support to a level below the level at which the contact pressure becomes too high and leaves marks on the lower end surface of the workpiece. Therefore, when the weight of the workpiece is light, the number of contact members arranged on the receiving member that contact the workpiece can be reduced without changing the receiving member, and the workpiece can be supported by the work support. In other words, when the weight of the workpiece is light, reducing the number of contact members arranged on the receiving member can reduce the contact area with the workpiece, further improving the heat treatment quality of the lower end surface of the workpiece. Furthermore, there is no need to change the receiving member, which is part of the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed. Therefore, according to the above configuration, when the weight of the workpiece is light, the contact area with the workpiece can be reduced without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece.

[0013] Furthermore, with the above configuration, since the contact member is provided separately from the receiving member and is detachable from the receiving member, when the contact member wears out due to repeated use of the work support, only the contact member can be replaced. Therefore, even if the part of the work support that comes into contact with the work wears out, it is possible to realize a work support that does not require replacement of the entire receiving member, which is a part that constitutes the overall structure on which the work is placed. Furthermore, with the above configuration, when the workpiece is supported by the workpiece support, the workpiece, which is configured as a hollow member, is also supported from the inner peripheral side of the workpiece, so that the workpiece as a hollow member can be supported in a stable state. Furthermore, with the above configuration, the support member is provided separately from the receiving member and is detachable from the receiving member. Therefore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece supported by the workpiece support changes, the support member can be replaced with one having dimensions corresponding to the inner diameter of the workpiece. Therefore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece changes, the workpiece can be stably supported by the workpiece support by simply replacing the support member without changing the receiving member.

[0014] Therefore, with the above configuration, when the weight of the workpiece is light, the contact area with the workpiece can be reduced without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece. Even if the part in contact with the workpiece wears out, there is no need to replace the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed. Furthermore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece changes, the workpiece can be supported in a stable state by simply replacing the support member without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed. A work support may be provided.

[0015] (2) The contact member may be provided as a spherical or cylindrical roller-shaped member and disposed on the upper surface of the receiving member so as to be able to roll relative to the receiving member.

[0016] According to this configuration, the contact member can roll relative to the receiving member, so the position of the contact member that contacts the workpiece can be changed. Because the contact member rolls relative to the workpiece, for example, each time a workpiece is placed on the receiving member to support the workpiece, the portion of the contact member that faces the workpiece changes, and the position of the contact member that contacts the workpiece changes. Furthermore, when the workpiece supported by the workpiece support is subjected to vibration due to some influence, the contact member rolls on the receiving member, and the position of the contact member that contacts the workpiece changes. According to the above configuration, the position of the contact member that contacts the workpiece can be changed, so uneven wear on the contact member can be suppressed and the service life of the contact member can be extended. Furthermore, because the contact member is provided as a spherical or cylindrical roller-shaped member, it can be manufactured more easily than a polygonal shape.

[0017] (3) The upper surface of the receiving member is provided with a plurality of recesses in which the contact members are respectively arranged so as to be able to roll freely, and the recesses may have an arc-shaped cross section that matches the outer diameter of the contact members.

[0018] According to this configuration, the recess on the receiving member in which the contact member is placed has an arc-shaped cross section, which reduces the contact pressure between the recess and the contact member compared to recesses with a square or polygonal cross section, for example, and improves wear resistance.

[0021] ( 4 ) The workpiece may be made of metal, and at least the surface portion of the contact member that comes into contact with the workpiece may be made of ceramic.

[0022] With this configuration, for a metal workpiece, at least the surface portion of the contact member that comes into contact with the workpiece is made of ceramic, so that welding between the contact member and the workpiece can be prevented when the workpiece supported by the workpiece support is subjected to heat treatment.

[0023] ( 5 ) The workpiece may be made of metal, and at least the surface portion of the support member that comes into contact with the workpiece may be made of ceramic.

[0024] With this configuration, for a metal workpiece, at least the surface portion of the support member that comes into contact with the workpiece is made of ceramic, so that when the workpiece supported by the workpiece support is subjected to heat treatment, welding between the support member and the workpiece can be prevented. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, when the weight of the workpiece is light, the contact area with the workpiece can be reduced without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece. Even if the part in contact with the workpiece wears out, there is no need to replace the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed. Furthermore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece changes, the workpiece can be supported in a stable state by simply replacing the support member without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece is placed. A work support may be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a heating device in which a workpiece support according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(A) is a front view showing a heating coil in a heating device, and FIG. 2(B) is a front view showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on the heating coil. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a workpiece is placed on a heating coil in the heating device. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of a workpiece support according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the workpiece support is supporting the workpiece. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a receiving member in the work support. [Figure 8] FIG. 8(A) is a perspective view showing a contact member in the work support, and FIG. 8(B) is a perspective view showing a support member in the work support. [Figure 9] 9(A) and 9(B) are diagrams showing examples of arrangement of contact members in the workpiece support. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are plan views showing a work support device according to a first modified example, in which FIG. 10A shows a state in which all of the multiple contact members are arranged on the receiving member, and FIG. 10B shows a state in which some of the multiple contact members are not arranged on the receiving member. [Figure 11]11A and 11B are plan views showing a work support device according to a second modified example, in which FIG. 11A shows a state in which all of the multiple contact members are arranged on the receiving member, and FIG. 11B shows a state in which some of the multiple contact members are not arranged on the receiving member. [Figure 12] 12A and 12B are plan views showing a work support device according to a third modified example, in which FIG. 12A shows a state in which all of the multiple contact members are arranged on the receiving member, and FIG. 12B shows a state in which some of the multiple contact members are not arranged on the receiving member. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a workpiece support according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 14] 14A and 14B are cross-sectional views of the work support shown in FIG. 13, where FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 13, and FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 14 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of contact members in the workpiece support shown in FIG. 13. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is used in a heating device that applies heat treatment to a workpiece, and can be widely applied to various uses as a workpiece support that supports the workpiece. In the following explanation, first, a heating device in which the workpiece support is used will be described, and then a workpiece support according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0028] [Heating device] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a heating device 100 in which a workpiece support 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2(A) is a front view showing a heating coil 103 in the heating device 100, and FIG. 2(B) is a front view showing a state in which a workpiece 10 is placed on the heating coil 103. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a workpiece 10 is placed on the heating coil 103 in the heating device 100. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the heating device 100 is configured as a device for performing a heat treatment on a workpiece 10 as a processing object. More specifically, the heating device 100 is configured as a device for performing a heat treatment on the workpiece 10 by induction heating using the heating coil 103. Examples of heat treatments that can be performed in the heating device 100 include annealing, tempering, and carburizing.

[0029] In this embodiment, the workpiece 10, which is the object to be heat-treated in the heating device 100, is a metal member, for example, a member made of steel. The workpiece 10 to be heat-treated in the heating device 100 is also a hollow member, for example, a hollow, axial member extending in a cylindrical shape. Examples of the workpiece 10 as a hollow, axial member extending in a cylindrical shape include a cylindrical steel pipe, a hollow, axial member whose cross-sectional area tapers along its length, a hollow, axial member whose cross-sectional area decreases stepwise along its length, and a tubular member having a cross-sectional shape other than a circular shape, such as a polygonal shape. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the workpiece 10 is configured as a hollow, axial member whose cross-sectional area decreases stepwise along its length.

[0030] Furthermore, the workpieces to be heat-treated in the heating device 100 are not limited to hollow shaft-shaped members, but may also include solid shaft-shaped members with a circular cross section, and short members such as gears or bearings. When heat-treating short gears or bearings, the gears or bearings may be stacked in multiple axial positions. Examples of materials for the workpiece 10 include SCM material (chromium-molybdenum steel), SCr material (chromium steel), SNCM material (nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel), and SUJ (high-carbon chromium bearing steel).

[0031] The heating device 100 is configured to include a conveying device 101, a heating bath 102, a heating coil 103, a rotation drive mechanism 104, and the like.

[0032] The transport device 101 is configured as a device that supports the workpiece 10 in a suspended state and transports the supported workpiece 10 to the heating bath 102. The transport device 101 includes, for example, a main body 101a installed above the heating bath 102, a horizontal movement part 101b supported by the main body 101a, and a vertical movement part 101c supported by the horizontal movement part 101b.

[0033] The horizontal moving unit 101b is configured to move horizontally by being driven by the main body 101a to rotate around a vertical axis. In FIG. 1, the up-down direction is indicated by a double-headed arrow X1, and the horizontal direction is indicated by a double-headed arrow X2. The vertical moving unit 101c is configured to support the workpiece 10 in a suspended state and to be driven by the horizontal moving unit 101b to move in the vertical direction. The vertical moving unit 101c also has a support shaft 101d that supports the workpiece 10 in a suspended state. The support shaft 101d is supported by the horizontal moving unit 101b while extending in the vertical direction so as to be freely movable in the vertical direction. A workpiece support 1 of this embodiment, which will be described later, is attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d. The workpiece support 1 is configured to receive the lower end of the workpiece 10 and support the workpiece 10 when attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d. That is, the workpiece 10 is supported on the support shaft 101d via the workpiece support 1 attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d. The support shaft 101d is configured to suspend and support the workpiece 10 via the workpiece support 1 in a state in which the support shaft 101d passes through the workpiece 10, which is a hollow shaft-shaped member, in the vertical direction.

[0034] The transport device 101 supports the workpiece 10 by suspending it with the vertical movement unit 101c, and drives the vertical movement unit 101c by the horizontal movement unit 101b to move it downward, thereby inserting the workpiece 10 into the heating bath 102 from above. Once the workpiece 10 has been inserted into the heating bath 102, the transport device 101 drives, for example, the horizontal movement unit 101b horizontally by the main body unit 101a to move the workpiece 10 until it reaches a position where it is heated by a heating coil 103 (described later), and positions the workpiece 10 in proximity to the heating coil 103. With the workpiece 10 positioned in proximity to the heating coil 103, a heat treatment is performed on the workpiece 10. Once the heat treatment of the workpiece 10 is completed, the transport device 101 drives, for example, the horizontal movement unit 101b horizontally by the main body unit 101a to move the workpiece 10 to a position spaced apart from the heating coil 103. Then, the conveying device 101 drives the vertical moving part 101c by the horizontal moving part 101b to move upward, and lifts the workpiece 10 from the heating bath 102. After lifting the workpiece 10 from the heating bath 102, the conveying device 101 transports the workpiece 10, for example, to be subjected to the next process.

[0035] The heating tank 102 constitutes a processing chamber in which the workpiece 10 is subjected to heat treatment, and the workpiece 10 is loaded into the heating tank 102 when the workpiece 10 is to be heat-treated. The heating tank 102 is configured, for example, as a cylindrical processing chamber with an open top, and when the workpiece 10 is loaded, the workpiece 10 is inserted into the heating tank 102 through the opening at the top. Note that the heating tank 102 does not have to be configured as a cylindrical processing chamber with an open top. For example, the heating tank 102 may be configured as a processing chamber with a door that can be opened and closed on the front side. In this case, the workpiece 10 is loaded into the heating tank 102 with the door of the heating tank 102 open. When the heating tank 102 is configured with a door that can be opened and closed on the front side, the workpiece 10 is loaded into and unloaded from the heating tank 102 without using the transfer device 101. When the heating device 100 is configured to perform carburizing treatment as the heat treatment on the workpiece 10, carburizing gas is supplied into the heating tank 102. A heating coil 103 is also arranged inside the heating tank 102.

[0036] The heating coil 103 is disposed in the heating tank 102, and is configured to perform a heat treatment by induction heating on the workpiece 10 carried into the heating tank 102. When the workpiece 10 is heat treated by the heating coil 103, the workpiece 10 supported by the support shaft 101d and the workpiece support 1 is positioned in proximity to the heating coil 103. Then, with the workpiece 10 positioned in proximity to the heating coil 103, a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coil 103, and the workpiece 10 is subjected to a heat treatment by induction heating.

[0037] 1, 2(B), and 3, when the workpiece 10 is subjected to a heat treatment, the workpiece 10 supported by the support shaft 101d and the workpiece support 1 is placed at a heating position close to the heating coil 103. The heating coil 103 is provided as a hollow shaft-shaped member and extends around the workpiece 10 over the entire length of the workpiece 10 in the vertical direction while the workpiece 10 is placed at the heating position. More specifically, the heating coil 103 is configured to include one end 103a and the other end 103b connected to a high-frequency power supply (not shown), and a first current path 103c, a second current path 103d, a third current path 103e, a fourth current path 103f, and a fifth current path 103g that extend continuously between the one end 103a and the other end 103b.

[0038] The first current path 103c, the second current path 103d, the third current path 103e, the fourth current path 103f, and the fifth current path 103g of the heating coil 103 extend continuously in this order between one end 103a and the other end 103b, and are arranged to extend vertically around the periphery of the workpiece 10 placed at the heating position, surrounding the workpiece 10. The first current path 103c is arranged to extend downward from the one end 103a along the vertical direction of the workpiece 10. The second current path 103d is arranged to extend continuously from the lower end of the first current path 103c and to extend approximately halfway around the circumferential direction of the workpiece 10 near the lower end of the workpiece 10. The third current path 103e is arranged to extend continuously from the second current path 103d and to extend upward along the vertical direction of the workpiece 10. The fourth current path 103f extends continuously from the upper end of the third current path 103e and is provided so as to extend approximately halfway around the circumferential direction of the workpiece 10 near the upper end of the workpiece 10 along the circumferential direction of the workpiece 10. The fifth current path 103g extends continuously from the fourth current path 103f and extends downward along the up-down direction of the workpiece 10, and is provided so as to be continuous with the other end 103b. With the first current path 103c, the third current path 103e, and the fifth current path 103g extending in the up-down direction, the heating coil 103 is configured to extend vertically around the periphery of the workpiece 10 placed at the heating position, surrounding the workpiece 10 in the up-down direction.

[0039] The heating coil 103 does not have to be configured as described above in which the first to fifth current paths (103c to 103g) are provided. The heating coil 103 may have any configuration as long as it forms a current path through which a current flows around the workpiece 10 and can perform induction heating on the workpiece 10. For example, the heating coil 103 may have a current path that extends spirally in the vertical direction, and the workpiece 10 may be configured to be placed in an area surrounded by the spirally extending current path.

[0040] The rotation drive mechanism 104 is provided as a mechanism for rotating the workpiece 10, which is placed in the heating bath 102 while being supported by the support shaft 101d of the conveying device 101 and the workpiece support 1, around a vertical axis. The rotation drive mechanism 104 is configured to include a drive motor 104a, a drive shaft 104b, and a support base 104c. The drive motor 104a is provided as an electric motor and is connected to the drive shaft 104b. The drive shaft 104b is connected to the drive motor 104a while extending in the vertical direction, and is provided so as to be rotated around the vertical axis by the drive motor 104a. The support base 104c is provided at the upper end of the drive shaft 104b and is configured as a base to which the workpiece support 1 supporting the workpiece 10 is connected. The support base 104c is arranged inside the lower end side of the heating coil 103.

[0041] During the heat treatment of the workpiece 10, the workpiece 10, which is supported by the workpiece support 1 and suspended from the support shaft 101d, is transported by the transport device 101 and placed at a heating position close to the heating coil 103. When the workpiece 10 is placed at the heating position relative to the heating coil 103, the support base 104c of the rotation drive mechanism 104 is connected to the workpiece support 1. The support base 104c and the workpiece support 1 are connected, for example, by fitting a mating protrusion 104d provided at the upper end of the support base 104c into a mating hole provided at the lower end of the workpiece support 1. During the heat treatment of the workpiece 10, the workpiece 10 is placed at the heating position relative to the heating coil 103, and with the support base 104c and the workpiece support 1 connected, the drive motor 104a is operated to rotate the drive shaft 104b. As the drive shaft 104b rotates, the support table 104c rotates, and the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support tool 1 is rotated around the vertical axis together with the workpiece support part 1 connected to the support table 104c. The support shaft 101d connected to the workpiece support tool 1 is rotatably supported with respect to the horizontal movement part 101b, and when the workpiece 10 rotates together with the workpiece support part 1, the support shaft 101d to which the workpiece support tool 1 is attached also rotates. During heat treatment of the workpiece 10, the workpiece 10 is heated by induction heating using the heating coil 103, and is rotated around the vertical axis by the rotation drive mechanism 104. This allows the workpiece 10 to be heated uniformly in the circumferential direction.

[0042] [Overall structure of work support] Next, a workpiece support 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the workpiece support 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the workpiece support 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the workpiece support 1 is supporting a workpiece 10. Note that the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of the workpiece support 1 in a state in which it is supporting the workpiece 10, along with a cross-section of a portion on the lower end side of the workpiece 10 and a cross-section of a portion on the lower end side of the support shaft 101d of the transport device 101. Note that in the following description, the up-down direction X1 of the workpiece support 1 is defined as indicated by the double-headed arrow X1 in FIGS. 4 and 6. The up-down direction X1 of the workpiece support 1 is defined based on the up-down direction when the workpiece support 1 is attached to the support shaft 101d of the transport device 101 and used in the heating device 100.

[0043] 1 to 6, the workpiece support 1 is used in a heating device 100 that applies heat treatment to the workpiece 10, and is configured as a support that supports the workpiece 10. When the workpiece 10 is supported using the workpiece support 1 in the heating device 100, first, the support shaft 101d of the transport device 101 is inserted into the workpiece 10, which is a hollow shaft-shaped member, and the workpiece 10 is placed relative to the transport device 101 with the support shaft 101d passing through the workpiece 10 in the axial direction. In this state, the workpiece support 1 is attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d, and the lower end of the workpiece 10 is supported by the workpiece support 1. As a result, the workpiece 10 is suspended from the support shaft 101d of the transport device 101 via the workpiece support 1.

[0044] 4 to 6, the workpiece support 1 is configured to include a receiving member 11, a plurality of contact members 12, and a plurality of support members 13.

[0045] [Receiving member] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the receiving member 11 of the work support 1. Referring to Figs. 4 to 7, the receiving member 11 is provided as a member that receives the workpiece 10 by placing the workpiece 10 thereon. The receiving member 11 is made of a steel material, for example, stainless steel. When the receiving member 11 is made of stainless steel, it is made of, for example, SUS304.

[0046] The receiving member 11 is provided as a member having a basic outer shape formed in a disk shape. The outer shape of the receiving member 11 constitutes the basic outer shape of the workpiece support 1, and therefore the basic outer shape of the workpiece support 1 is a substantially disk-like shape. In the heating device 100, as described above, the workpiece support 1 is connected to the support table 104c of the rotation drive mechanism 104 while supporting the workpiece 10, and the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 is positioned at a heating position close to the heating coil 103. In this state, the rotation of the rotation drive mechanism 104 rotates the workpiece 10 together with the workpiece support 1 at a position close to the heating coil 103, and the workpiece 10 is heated uniformly in the circumferential direction by induction heating of the heating coil 103. The workpiece support 1 is formed in a substantially disk-like shape. Therefore, the workpiece support 1 is configured to be able to rotate together with the workpiece 10 at a position close to the heating coil 103.

[0047] The disk-shaped receiving member 11 is configured to include an outer portion 14 and an inner portion 15 that are integrally formed. The outer portion 14 is provided as the radially outer portion of the disk-shaped receiving member 11, and is provided as a thin, cylindrical portion whose outer periphery is formed in a circular shape and whose height is smaller than its diameter. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the receiving member 11, the lower end of the workpiece 10 is placed on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14.

[0048] The inner portion 15 is provided as a radially inner portion of the disk-shaped receiving member 11, and is provided as a cylindrical portion having a circular outer periphery and a height dimension smaller than its diameter dimension. The outer diameter dimension of the inner portion 15 is set smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the outer portion 14, and the inner portion 15 is disposed inside the outer portion 14. The outer portion 14 and the inner portion 15 are disposed concentrically. The height dimension of the inner portion 15 is set larger than the height dimension of the outer portion 14. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11, the upper end portion of the inner portion 15 is disposed inside the through-hole 10a extending axially in the workpiece 10, which is a hollow, shaft-shaped member (see FIG. 6).

[0049] The outer portion 14 and the inner portion 15 are integrally provided and connected together by a plurality of bridging portions 16. Each of the plurality of bridging portions 16 extends in the radial direction of the receiving member 11 and is configured to bridge the outer portion 14 and the inner portion 15 together, and in this embodiment, four of the plurality of bridging portions 16 are provided.

[0050] The upper surface of the receiving member 11 is provided with a plurality of recesses 17 in which a plurality of contact members 12 (described later) are respectively disposed so as to be rollable. In this embodiment, twelve recesses 17 are provided as the plurality of recesses 17. The plurality of recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. The plurality of recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer portion 14. Each of the plurality of recesses 17 is formed as a semi-cylindrical recessed region on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14. Each semi-cylindrical recess 17 is provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 with its cylindrical axis direction extending in the radial direction of the outer portion 14. Each recess 17 has an arc-shaped cross section. Furthermore, each recess 17 has an arc-shaped cross section that matches the outer shape of the contact members 12 (described later) that are provided as cylindrical roller members.

[0051] Additionally, a plurality of mounting grooves 18 are provided on the upper surface side of the receiving member 11, into which a plurality of support members 13, which will be described later, are fitted and attached. In this embodiment, four mounting grooves 18 are provided as the plurality of mounting grooves 18. The plurality of mounting grooves 18 are provided on the upper surface side of the inner portion 15 of the receiving member 11, and are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of bridge portions 16. Each of the plurality of mounting grooves 18 is provided on the upper surface side of the inner portion 15 as a groove extending in the radial direction of the inner portion 15.

[0052] Furthermore, a through hole 19 is provided in the inner portion 15 of the receiving member 11. The through hole 19 is provided in the radial center of the inner portion 15 and is provided as a hole that penetrates the inner portion 15 in the up-down direction X1. When the work support 1 is attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d of the conveyance device 101, the work support 1 is attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d through the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11. A male thread groove is provided on the outer periphery of the lower end of the support shaft 101d, and a female thread groove that screws into the male thread groove on the lower end of the support shaft 101d is provided in the upper half of the inner periphery of the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11. The work support 1 is configured to be attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d by screwing together the female thread groove on the upper half of the inner periphery of the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11 and the male thread groove on the outer periphery of the lower end of the support shaft 101d. The work support 1 and the support shaft 101d are not limited to being attached by screwing, and the work support 1 may be attached to the support shaft 101d in other ways. For example, a bolt may be provided that screws into the inner portion 15 along the radial direction of the inner portion 15, and the bolt may be tightened into the lower end of the support shaft 101d inserted into the through hole 19, thereby fixing and attaching the work support 1 to the support shaft 101d.

[0053] Furthermore, the lower half of the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11 is configured as a fitting hole that fits into a fitting protrusion 104d provided at the upper end of the support base 104c of the rotation drive mechanism 104. During heat treatment of the workpiece 10, the workpiece support 1, which is attached to the lower end of the support shaft 101d of the transport device 101 and supports the workpiece 10, is placed on the support base 104c so that the lower half of the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11 fits into the fitting protrusion 104d of the support base 104c. In this way, the through hole 19 of the receiving member 11 fits into the fitting protrusion 104d of the support base 104c, thereby connecting the workpiece support 1 and the support base 104c. Note that the connection between the workpiece support 1 and the support base 104c is not limited to the form in which the through hole 19 fits into the fitting protrusion 104d, and the workpiece support 1 and the support base 104c may be connected in other forms. For example, one of a recess and a protrusion may be provided on the lower surface of the receiving member 11, and the other of the recess and protrusion may be provided on the upper surface of the support base 104c, and the recess and protrusion on the receiving member 11 and the support base 104c may fit together to connect the work support tool 1 to the support base 104c.

[0054] [Contacting parts] Fig. 8(A) is a perspective view showing the contact members 12 in the work support 1. With reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8(A), the work support 1 is provided with a plurality of contact members 12. In this embodiment, twelve contact members 12 are provided as the plurality of contact members 12. The plurality of contact members 12 are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 and are provided as members that come into contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10.

[0055] The multiple contact members 12 are arranged on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 relative to the receiving member 11. Each of the multiple contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 is provided so as to come into contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10. The multiple contact members 12 are configured so as to have a contact area with the workpiece 10 that is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, the multiple contact members 12 are configured so that the total contact area between the multiple contact members 12 and the workpiece 10 is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member 11. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multiple contact members 12 are configured so that the total contact area between the multiple contact members 12 and the workpiece 10 is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 on which the workpiece 10 is directly placed on the receiving member 11.

[0056] Each of the plurality of contact members 12 is provided as a separate member from the receiving member 11 and is provided as a member that is detachable from the receiving member 11. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of contact members 12 is provided as a cylindrical roller member and is disposed on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 so as to be able to roll relative to the receiving member 11. More specifically, each of the plurality of contact members 12 is disposed so as to be fitted in a rollable state into each of the plurality of recesses 17 provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11.

[0057] The contact member 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the recess 17 in the receiving member 11 is formed so as to be recessed in a semi-cylindrical shape. The recess 17 in which the contact member 12 is placed is formed so that its cross section is arc-shaped to match the outer diameter of the contact member 12. In other words, the diameter of the arc of the cross section of the semi-cylindrical recess 17 is set to match the diameter of the circular cross section of the cylindrical contact member 12.

[0058] When the contact members 12 are disposed on the receiving member 11, the contact members 12 are disposed in the recesses 17 of the receiving member 11 with the cylindrical axis extending along the radial direction of the receiving member 11. By disposing the contact members 12 in the recesses 17, the contact members 12 are disposed relative to the receiving member 11 with approximately half of their cylindrical peripheral side surfaces exposed and protruding in a semicircular shape from the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 with the multiple contact members 12 disposed in the multiple recesses 17, the lower end of the workpiece 10 is not in direct contact with the upper surface 14a but is in contact with the multiple contact members 12. In this state, each of the multiple contact members 12 is in line contact or near line contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10 at a portion of its peripheral side surface.

[0059] The contact member 12 is provided as a member in which at least the surface portion that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic. More specifically, the contact member 12 has a cylindrical base material portion made of a steel material, and further has a ceramic coating layer formed by thermally spraying ceramic onto the surface of the cylindrical base material portion. The steel material that forms the cylindrical base material of the contact member 12 is, for example, stainless steel. When the base material portion is made of stainless steel, it is made of, for example, SUS304. The ceramic material that forms the ceramic coating layer on the surface of the contact member 12 is, for example, zirconia.

[0060] As described above, at least the surface portion of the contact member 12 that contacts the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, a material different from the metallic workpiece 10. The ceramic that constitutes the surface portion of the contact member 12 is a nonmetallic, inorganic solid material, excluding metal materials such as iron, aluminum, and copper, and organic materials such as plastic and wood. More specifically, typical ceramics include old ceramics such as porcelain, refractories (firebricks), glass, and cement, as well as new ceramics (fine ceramics). As described above, zirconia can be used as the ceramic material that constitutes the surface portion of the contact member 12. Zirconia (chemical formula: ZrO2) is zirconium dioxide, an oxide of zirconium. Zirconia exists as a white solid under normal conditions, has a high melting point of 2700°C at atmospheric pressure, and can be used as a heat-resistant ceramic material. Therefore, by constructing the surface portion of the contact member 12 from zirconia, the heat resistance of the contact member 12 of the workpiece support 1 used in the heating device 100 can be improved.

[0061] In this embodiment, the base material portion of the contact member 12 is made of a steel material, and the surface portion of the contact member 12 is made of a ceramic material, but this is not necessarily the case. As long as at least the surface portion of the contact member 12 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, the entire contact member 12 may be made of a ceramic material. For example, the entire contact member 12 may be made of zirconia.

[0062] [Supporting member] Fig. 8(B) is a perspective view showing the support members 13 in the work support 1. With reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8(B), the work support 1 is provided with a plurality of support members 13. In this embodiment, four support members 13 are provided as the plurality of support members 13. The plurality of support members 13 are arranged on the upper surface side of the receiving member 11, and are provided as members that abut against the inner periphery of the workpiece 10, which is a hollow, shaft-shaped member, to support the workpiece 10 from the inside.

[0063] Each of the multiple support members 13 is provided as a separate member from the receiving member 11 and is provided as a member that is detachable from the receiving member 11. Each of the multiple support members 13 is provided as a plate-like member and configured to be fitted into each of multiple mounting grooves 18 provided in the inner portion 15 of the receiving member 11. Each of the support members 13 is fitted into the mounting grooves 18 with both flat side surfaces of the plate-like support member 13 extending in the up-down direction X1 and along the radial direction of the inner portion 15.

[0064] Furthermore, when the support member 13 is fitted into the mounting groove 18 and attached, approximately half of the plate-shaped support member 13 is housed in the mounting groove 18 and is disposed on the upper surface side of the receiving member 11. The portion of the support member 13 protruding from the mounting groove 18 is disposed so as to extend along the radial direction of the receiving member 11 on the bridge portion 16 of the receiving member 11. In this embodiment, there are four mounting grooves 18 of the receiving member 11 and four support members 13. The mounting grooves 18 are disposed at 90° intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner portion 15. Therefore, when the support member 13 is fitted into the mounting groove 18 and attached to the receiving member 11, the support members 13 are disposed at 90° intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner portion 15.

[0065] Furthermore, the support member 13 attached to the inner portion 15 has a curved surface 13a and a tapered surface 13b at its end that protrudes from the mounting groove 18 and extends along the radial direction of the receiving member 11. The curved surface 13a is provided as a surface that has an arc-shaped cross section and extends along the up-down direction X1. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 and the lower end of the workpiece 10 is in contact with the multiple contact members 12, the support member 13 attached to the inner portion 15 is positioned inside the through hole 10a that extends axially in the workpiece 10, which is a hollow, shaft-shaped member. The curved surface 13a is provided as a surface that contacts the inner periphery of the through hole 10a of the workpiece 10 when the workpiece 10 is placed on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. The curved surfaces 13a of the multiple support members 13 contact the inner periphery of the through hole 10a of the workpiece 10 placed on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. The curved surfaces 13a of the multiple support members 13 contact and abut against the inner periphery of the through hole 10a of the workpiece 10, so that the workpiece 10 is supported from the inside by the multiple support members 13. In this embodiment, the curved surfaces 13a of the support members 13, which are arranged at 90° intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner portion 15, abut against the inner periphery of the workpiece 10 at positions spaced apart at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner periphery of the workpiece 10, thereby supporting the workpiece 10 from the inside. Therefore, the multiple support members 13 can stably support the workpiece 10 from the inside.

[0066] The tapered surface 13b of the support member 13 is arranged alongside the curved surface 13a in the vertical direction X1 and is provided above the curved surface 13a. The tapered surface 13b is provided as a surface that extends obliquely with respect to the vertical direction X1, and extends obliquely toward the inside in the radial direction of the receiving member 11 as it moves from bottom to top. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the receiving member 11, the inner periphery of the through hole 10a of the workpiece 10 is guided by the tapered surface 13b to a position where it contacts the curved surface 13a.

[0067] The support member 13 is provided as a member in which at least the surface portion that contacts the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic. More specifically, the support member 13 has a plate-shaped base material portion formed of a steel material, and further has a ceramic coating layer formed by thermally spraying ceramic on the surface of the plate-shaped base material portion. The steel material that forms the plate-shaped base material portion of the support member 13 is, for example, stainless steel. When the base material portion is made of stainless steel, the base material portion is made of, for example, SUS304. The ceramic material that forms the ceramic coating layer on the surface of the support member 13 is, for example, zirconia. As described above, at least the surface portion of the support member 13 that contacts the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, and is formed of a material different from the metal workpiece 10.

[0068] [Arrangement of contact member on receiving member] In the workpiece support 1, each of the multiple contact members 12 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1.

[0069] 4 and 5, when the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1 is heavy, all of the multiple contact members 12 can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all of the contact members 12. That is, in this case, all 12 contact members 12 can be arranged in all 12 recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, respectively, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all 12 contact members 12. On the other hand, when the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1 is light, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced.

[0070] 9(A) and 9(B) are diagrams showing examples of arrangements of the contact members 12 on the workpiece support 1. FIG. 9(A) illustrates an example in which eight of the twelve contact members 12 are arranged on the top surface of the receiving member 11. That is, FIG. 9(A) illustrates an example in which contact members 12 are arranged in eight of the twelve recesses 17 on the receiving member 11, and no contact members 12 are arranged in four of the recesses 17. When the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1 is light and of medium weight, for example, as shown in FIG. 9(A), the number of contact members 12 arranged on the top surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced to eight to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10.

[0071] 9(B) illustrates a configuration in which four of the twelve contact members 12 are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, FIG. 9(B) illustrates a configuration in which contact members 12 are arranged in four of the twelve recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, and no contact members 12 are arranged in eight of the recesses 17. If the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1 is even lighter, for example, as shown in FIG. 9(B), the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced to four to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10.

[0072] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the workpiece 10 is heat-treated in the heating device 100, the workpiece 10 is heat-treated while supported by the workpiece support 1. The workpiece 10 is placed on the receiving member 11 in the workpiece support 1 and is supported in contact with a plurality of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. Therefore, the workpiece support 1 contacts the lower end surface of the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 with the contact members 12 on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, and does not cover the lower end surface of the workpiece 10, but rather makes contact with the small contact area of ​​the contact members 12, thereby improving the quality of the heat treatment of the lower end surface of the workpiece 10.

[0073] According to this embodiment, the contact members 12 that come into contact with and directly support the workpiece 10 are provided separately from the receiving member 11 and are detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, i.e., the number of contact members 12 that come into contact with and directly support the workpiece 10, can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 supported by the work support 1. This makes it possible to change the number of contact members 12 depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported, within a range that can reduce the contact pressure acting on the workpiece 10 from the work support 1 to a level below the level at which the contact pressure becomes too high and marks are left on the lower end surface of the workpiece 10. Therefore, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the receiving member 11 and in contact with the workpiece 10 can be reduced, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by the work support 1 without changing the receiving member 11. That is, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the contact area with the workpiece 10 can be reduced by reducing the number of contact members 12 arranged on the receiving member 11, thereby further improving the heat treatment quality of the lower end surface of the workpiece 10. In addition, there is no need to change the receiving member 11, which is part of the overall structure on which the workpiece 10 is placed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the contact area with the workpiece 10 can be reduced without changing the part of the overall structure on which the workpiece 10 is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece 10.

[0074] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the contact member 12 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11, so when the contact member 12 wears out due to repeated use of the work support 1, only the contact member 12 can be replaced. Therefore, even if the part of the work support 1 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 wears out, it is possible to realize a work support 1 that does not require the entire receiving member 11, which is a part that constitutes the overall structure on which the workpiece 10 is placed, to be replaced.

[0075] Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the contact area with the workpiece 10 can be reduced without changing the overall structural part on which the workpiece 10 is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece 10, and a workpiece support 1 can be provided that does not require the replacement of the overall structural part on which the workpiece 10 is placed even if the part in contact with the workpiece 10 wears out.

[0076] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the contact member 12 can roll relative to the receiving member 11, so the position of the contact member 12 that contacts the workpiece 10 can be changed. Because the contact member 12 rolls relative to the workpiece 10, for example, each time the workpiece 10 is placed on the receiving member 11 to support the workpiece 10, the part of the contact member 12 that faces the workpiece 10 changes, and the position of the contact member 12 that contacts the workpiece 10 changes. Furthermore, when the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 is subjected to vibration due to some influence, the contact member 12 rolls on the receiving member 11, and the position of the contact member 12 that contacts the workpiece 10 changes. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the position of the contact member 12 that contacts the workpiece 10 can be changed, so uneven wear of the contact member 12 can be suppressed, and the service life of the contact member 12 can be extended. Furthermore, because the contact member 12 is provided as a cylindrical roller-shaped member, it can be manufactured more easily than a polygonal shape.

[0077] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the recess 17 on the receiving member 11 in which the contact member 12 is disposed has an arc-shaped cross section. Therefore, compared to a recess having a square or polygonal cross section, for example, the contact pressure between the recess and the contact member can be reduced, improving wear resistance.

[0078] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the workpiece 10 is supported by the workpiece support 1, the workpiece 10, which is configured as a hollow member, is also supported from the inner peripheral side of the workpiece 10, so that the workpiece 10 as a hollow member can be supported in a stable state. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the support member 13 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 changes, the support member 13 can be replaced with one having dimensions corresponding to the inner diameter of the workpiece 10. Therefore, even if the inner diameter of the workpiece 10 changes, the workpiece 10 can be supported in a stable state by the workpiece support 1 simply by replacing the support member 13 without changing the receiving member 11.

[0079] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the contact member 12 has at least the surface portion that comes into contact with the workpiece 10, which is made of ceramic, so that when the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 is subjected to heat treatment, welding between the contact member 12 and the workpiece 10 can be prevented.

[0080] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, for a metal workpiece 10, at least the surface portion of the support member 13 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, so that when the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1 is subjected to heat treatment, welding between the support member 13 and the workpiece 10 can be prevented.

[0081] [Variations] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to an embodiment, it is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the claims. For example, the following modifications may be implemented. In the following description of the modifications, differences from the above embodiment will be described, and configurations similar to or corresponding to those of the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings or by citing the same reference numerals, thereby omitting redundant description.

[0082] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which twelve contact members 12 were arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 as the plurality of contact members 12, but this is not necessarily the case. Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a work support 1a according to a first modified example, in which Fig. 10(A) is a diagram showing a state in which all of the plurality of contact members 12 are arranged on the receiving member 11, and Fig. 10(B) is a diagram showing a state in which some of the plurality of contact members 12 are not arranged on the receiving member 11.

[0083] 10, a workpiece support 1a according to a first modified example is provided with eight contact members 12 as the plurality of contact members 12. In addition, in the receiving member 11 of the workpiece support 1a, eight recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11, corresponding to the eight contact members 12. The eight recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction.

[0084] In the workpiece support 1a, each of the eight contact members 12 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1a.

[0085] 10(A), all eight contact members 12 can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all of the contact members 12. That is, in this case, all eight contact members 12 can be arranged in correspondence with all eight recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all eight contact members 12. On the other hand, if the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1a is light, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced.

[0086] FIG. 10(B) illustrates an example in which four of the eight contact members 12 are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, FIG. 10(B) illustrates an example in which contact members 12 are arranged in four of the eight recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, and no contact members 12 are arranged in the remaining four recesses 17. When the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1a is lighter, for example, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is half or less compared to when it is necessary to support it with all eight contact members 12, the contact members 12 can be arranged as shown in FIG. 10(B). That is, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced to four to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10.

[0087] As described above, the number of the contact members 12 that can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 is not limited to 12 as exemplified in the above embodiment, and may be set to 11 or less, as in the workpiece support 1a of the first modified example. Also, the number of the contact members 12 that can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 may be set to 13 or more.

[0088] (2) In the above embodiment, the multiple contact members 12 are arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, but this need not be the case. Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a work support 1b according to a second modified example, in which Fig. 11(A) shows a state in which all of the multiple contact members 12 are arranged on the receiving member 11, and Fig. 11(B) shows a state in which some of the multiple contact members 12 are not arranged on the receiving member 11.

[0089] 11, a workpiece support 1b according to a second modified example is provided with four contact members 12 as the plurality of contact members 12. In addition, in the receiving member 11 of the workpiece support 1b, four recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11, corresponding to the four contact members 12. The four recesses 17 are not provided at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11, but are provided at different angular intervals.

[0090] The workpiece support 1b is provided with contact members 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d as the four contact members 12. The receiving member 11 of the workpiece support 1b is provided with four recesses 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14. For example, the contact member 12a is arranged in the recess 17a, the contact member 12b is arranged in the recess 17b, the contact member 12c is arranged in the recess 17c, and the contact member 12d is arranged in the recess 17d.

[0091] The four recesses 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction in the stated order clockwise when viewing the receiving member 11 on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. The angular intervals between the recesses 17a to 17d in the circumferential direction of the outer portion 14 are set as follows: the angular interval between the recesses 17a and 17b is 120°, the angular interval between the recesses 17b and 17c is 60°, the angular interval between the recesses 17c and 17d is 60°, and the angular interval between the recesses 17d and 17a is 120°. Therefore, when the contact members 12a to 12d are arranged in the recesses 17a to 17d, respectively, the angular intervals between the contact members 12a to 12d in the circumferential direction of the outer portion 14 are the same as the angular intervals between the recesses 17a to 17d. That is, the angular interval between contact member 12a and contact member 12b is 120°, the angular interval between contact member 12b and contact member 12c is 60°, the angular interval between contact member 12c and contact member 12d is 60°, and the angular interval between contact member 12d and contact member 12a is 120°.

[0092] In the workpiece support 1b, each of the four contact members 12 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1b.

[0093] 11(A), all four contact members 12a to 12d can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all of the contact members 12a to 12d. That is, in this case, all four contact members 12a to 12d can be arranged in correspondence with all four recesses 17a to 17d in the receiving member 11, respectively, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by the four contact members 12a to 12d. On the other hand, if the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1b is light, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced.

[0094] 11(B) illustrates an example in which three of the four contact members 12a to 12d, namely, 12a, 12b, and 12d, are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, FIG. 11(B) illustrates an example in which the contact members 12a, 12b, and 12d are arranged in three of the four recesses 17a to 17d in the receiving member 11, namely, 17a, 17b, and 17d, and the contact member 12c is not arranged in the recess 17c. When the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1b is light, the contact members 12 can be arranged as shown in FIG. 11(B). That is, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced to three to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10. 11(B), the three contact members 12a, 12b, and 12d are arranged at equal angular intervals of 120° along the circumferential direction on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. Therefore, with the work support 1b, even if the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 is reduced to three, the workpiece 10 can be stably supported by the three contact members 12 arranged at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving member 11.

[0095] When the workpiece 10 is supported by the contact members 12, at least three contact members 12 are required. In order to change the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 depending on the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported, at least four contact members 12 are required, as in the case of the workpiece support 1b. Therefore, according to the second modified example, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the workpiece support 1b can be realized with a configuration that includes the minimum number of contact members 12, by reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10 without changing the overall structure on which the workpiece 10 is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece 10.

[0096] As in the work support 1b of the second modified example described above, when all of the multiple contact members 12 are placed on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, a configuration may be implemented in which the multiple contact members 12 are arranged at different angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving member 11 rather than at equal angular intervals.

[0097] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the basic external shape of the receiving member 11 is described as being disk-shaped, but this need not be the case. Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a work support 1c according to a third modified example, in which Fig. 12(A) shows a state in which all of the multiple contact members 12 are arranged on the receiving member 20, and Fig. 12(B) shows a state in which some of the multiple contact members 12 are not arranged on the receiving member 20.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), in the workpiece support 1c, the receiving member 20 on which the workpiece 10 is placed is provided as a member having a basic external shape formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The receiving member 20 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is configured to include an outer portion 21 and an inner portion 15 formed integrally therewith. The outer portion 21 has a rectangular outer peripheral shape, and a cylindrical space is formed inside in which the inner portion 15 is placed. The outer portion 21 is formed integrally with the inner portion 15 arranged inside it, and the outer portion 21 and the inner portion 15 are connected together by a plurality of bridge portions 16. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the receiving member 20, the lower end of the workpiece 10 is placed against the upper surface 21a of the outer portion 21.

[0099] A plurality of recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface of the receiving member 20, in which the plurality of contact members 12 are respectively disposed so as to be able to roll freely. In the work support 1c according to the third modified example, an embodiment in which eight recesses 17 are provided as the plurality of recesses 17 is exemplified. The plurality of recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 21a of the outer portion 21 of the receiving member 20. The plurality of recesses 17 are provided on the upper surface 21a of the outer portion 21, radially outside the inner portion 15, and lined up at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner portion 15.

[0100] The workpiece support 1c is provided with eight contact members 12 as a plurality of contact members 12 that are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 20 and come into contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10. Each of the eight contact members 12 is arranged in a rollable state in each of eight recesses 17 provided on the upper surface 21a of the outer portion 21 of the receiving member 20. Each of the eight contact members 12 is provided separately from the receiving member 20 and is detachable from the receiving member 20. Therefore, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 20 can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1c.

[0101] 12(A), all eight contact members 12 can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 20, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all of the contact members 12. That is, in this case, all eight contact members 12 can be arranged in correspondence with all eight recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all eight contact members 12. On the other hand, if the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1c is light, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced.

[0102] FIG. 12(B) illustrates an example in which four of the eight contact members 12 are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, FIG. 12(B) illustrates an example in which contact members 12 are arranged in four of the eight recesses 17 in the receiving member 11, and no contact members 12 are arranged in the remaining four recesses 17. When the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1c is lighter, for example, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is half or less compared to when it is required to be supported by all eight contact members 12, the contact members 12 can be arranged as shown in FIG. 12(B). That is, the number of contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 20 can be reduced to four to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10.

[0103] As in the workpiece support 1c according to the third modified example described above, the outer shape of the receiving member 20 may be formed into another shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped instead of a disk shape. For example, in the heating device 100, when the workpiece 10 supported by the workpiece support 1c is subjected to heat treatment without being rotated, a workpiece support having a receiving member of various shapes, not limited to a disk shape, may be implemented.

[0104] (4) In the above embodiment, the multiple contact members 12 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 are provided as cylindrical roller-shaped members, but this is not necessarily the case. The shape of the multiple contact members arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member may be a shape other than cylindrical roller shapes, such as a spherical shape or a columnar shape with a polygonal cross section. Also, the contact members may be provided as rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical members, and may be arranged so that they fit into recesses with a rectangular cross section or a cylindrical cross section provided on the upper surface of the receiving member.

[0105] Fig. 13 is a plan view showing a work support 1d according to a fourth modified example. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the work support 1d shown in Fig. 13, Fig. 14(A) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section at the position of the arrow AA in Fig. 13, and Fig. 14(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section at the position of the arrow BB in Fig. 13. The work support 1d according to the fourth modified example shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is provided with a plurality of contact members 22 provided as spherical members, and the receiving member 11 is provided with a plurality of recesses 23 in which the plurality of contact members 22 are arranged.

[0106] The upper surface of the receiving member 11 is provided with a plurality of recesses 23 in which the plurality of contact members 22 are respectively disposed so as to be able to roll freely. In this modified example, 20 recesses 23 are provided as the plurality of recesses 23. The plurality of recesses 23 are provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. Ten recesses 23, or half of the 20 recesses 23, are arranged in an inner peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14, at equal angular intervals on the same circumference along the circumferential direction of the outer portion 14. The remaining ten recesses 23, or the remaining half of the 20 recesses 23, are arranged in an outer peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14, at equal angular intervals on the same circumference along the circumferential direction of the outer portion 14. Each of the plurality of recesses 23 is formed as a hemispherically recessed region on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14.

[0107] The workpiece support 1d is provided with a plurality of contact members 22, which are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 and are provided as members that come into contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10. Note that the workpiece support 1d is provided with 20 contact members 22 as the plurality of contact members 22. The plurality of contact members 22 are arranged on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. The plurality of contact members 22 are configured to have a contact area with the workpiece 10 that is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member 11. That is, the plurality of contact members 22 are configured so that the total contact area between the plurality of contact members 22 and the workpiece 10 is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member 11. Furthermore, in this modification, the plurality of contact members 22 are configured so that the total contact area between the plurality of contact members 22 and the workpiece 10 is smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 on which the workpiece 10 is directly placed.

[0108] Each of the plurality of contact members 22 is provided as a separate member from the receiving member 11 and is provided as a member that is detachable from the receiving member 11. In this modification, each of the plurality of contact members 22 is provided as a spherical member and is disposed on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 so as to be able to roll relative to the receiving member 11. More specifically, each of the plurality of contact members 22 is disposed so as to be fitted in a rollable state into each of the plurality of recesses 23 provided on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11.

[0109] The contact member 22 is formed in a spherical shape, and the recess 23 in the receiving member 11 is formed to be recessed in a hemispherical shape. The recess 23 in which the contact member 22 is placed is formed so that its cross section is arc-shaped to match the outer diameter of the contact member 22. In other words, the diameter of the arc of the cross section of the hemispherically recessed recess 23 is set to match the diameter of the circular cross section of the spherical contact member 22.

[0110] When the contact members 22 are placed on the receiving member 11, the contact members 22 are placed relative to the receiving member 11 with approximately half of their spherical surface exposed and protruding hemispherically from the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. When the workpiece 10 is placed on the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11 with the multiple contact members 22 placed in the multiple recesses 23, the lower end of the workpiece 10 does not come into direct contact with the upper surface 14a, but comes into contact with the multiple contact members 22. In this state, each of the multiple contact members 22 is in point contact or near-point contact with the lower end of the workpiece 10 at a portion of its surface.

[0111] The contact member 22 is provided as a member in which at least the surface portion that contacts the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic. More specifically, the contact member 22 has a spherical base material formed of a steel material, and further has a ceramic coating layer formed by thermally spraying ceramic onto the surface of the spherical base material. The steel material that forms the spherical base material of the contact member 22 is, for example, stainless steel. When the base material is made of stainless steel, the base material is made of, for example, SUS304. The ceramic material that forms the ceramic coating layer on the surface of the contact member 22 is, for example, zirconia. In this way, at least the surface portion of the contact member 22 that contacts the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, and is formed of a material different from the metal workpiece 10.

[0112] In this modified example, the base material portion of the contact member 22 is made of a steel material, and the surface portion of the contact member 22 is made of a ceramic material, but this is not necessarily the case. As long as at least the surface portion of the contact member 22 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 is made of ceramic, the entire contact member 22 may be made of a ceramic material. For example, the entire contact member 22 may be made of zirconia.

[0113] In the workpiece support 1d, each of the 20 contact members 22 is provided separately from the receiving member 11 and is detachable from the receiving member 11. Therefore, the number of contact members 22 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be changed depending on the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1d.

[0114] 13, all 20 contact members 22 can be arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all of the contact members 22. That is, in this case, all 20 contact members 22 can be arranged in all 20 recesses 23 in the receiving member 11, respectively, and the workpiece 10 can be supported by all 20 contact members 22. On the other hand, if the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the work support 1d is light, the number of contact members 22 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced.

[0115] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the contact members 22 in the workpiece support 1d. FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which 10 of the 20 contact members 22 are arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11. More specifically, in the example of the arrangement shown in FIG. 15, the contact members 22 are arranged for 10 recesses 23 arranged side by side on the same circumference in the inner peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. In the example of the arrangement shown in FIG. 15, no contact members 22 are arranged for 10 recesses 23 arranged side by side on the same circumference in the outer peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14 of the receiving member 11. When the weight of the workpiece 10 to be supported by the workpiece support 1d is light and the radial dimension of the workpiece 10 is small, the arrangement of the contact members 22 as shown in FIG. 15 can be adopted. That is, the number of contact members 22 arranged on the upper surface of the receiving member 11 can be reduced to 10 to support the workpiece 10, thereby reducing the contact area with the workpiece 10. 13 and 15, the contact members 22 can be arranged in the recesses 23 in various arrangements. For example, the contact members 22 may be arranged only for the ten recesses 23 provided in the outer peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14, and no contact members 22 may be arranged for the ten recesses 23 provided in the inner peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14. Alternatively, the contact members 22 may be arranged such that the contact members 22 are arranged for every other recess, i.e., five recesses 23, which is half of the ten recesses 23 provided in the outer peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14, and the contact members 22 are arranged for every other recess, i.e., five recesses 23, which is half of the ten recesses 23 provided in the inner peripheral region of the upper surface 14a of the outer portion 14.

[0116] According to the fourth variant example described above, when the weight of the workpiece 10 is light, the contact area with the workpiece 10 can be reduced without changing the overall structural part on which the workpiece 10 is placed, thereby improving the quality of the workpiece 10, and a workpiece support 1d can be provided that does not require the replacement of the overall structural part on which the workpiece 10 is placed even if the part in contact with the workpiece 10 wears out.

[0117] Furthermore, according to the fourth modified example described above, the contact member 22 is capable of rolling relative to the receiving member 11, so that the position on the contact member 22 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 can be changed. And, because the position on the contact member 22 that comes into contact with the workpiece 10 can be changed, it is possible to prevent uneven wear on the contact member 22 and extend the service life of the contact member 22. Furthermore, because the contact member 22 is provided as a spherical member, it is easier to manufacture than a polygonal member.

[0118] (5) In the above embodiment, the multiple support members 13, which contact the inner periphery of the workpiece 10 and support the workpiece 10 from the inside, are provided separately from the receiving member 11 and are detachable from the receiving member 11. However, this is not necessarily the case. For example, the multiple support members 13 may be provided integrally with the receiving member 11. In this case, the multiple support members 13 are provided integrally with the inner portion 15 of the receiving member 11. Furthermore, when the multiple support members 13 are provided integrally with the inner portion 15 of the receiving member 11, a ceramic coating layer may be formed on the surface portions of the multiple support members 13 by thermally spraying ceramic onto the surfaces of the multiple support members 13 that protrude radially from the inner portion 15. This allows the surface portions of the support members 13, which are provided integrally with the inner portion 15 and contact the inner periphery of the workpiece 10, to be formed of a ceramic material, which can be made of a material different from the metal workpiece 10. This prevents the support members 13, which are provided integrally with the receiving member 11, from welding to the workpiece 10. [Industrial Applicability]

[0119] The present invention can be widely applied as a workpiece support used in a heating device that applies heat treatment to a workpiece and that supports the workpiece. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Work support 11, 20 Receiving member 12, 22 Contact member 13 Support member 17, 23 recess

Claims

1. A workpiece support tool used in a heating device that performs heat treatment on a workpiece, the workpiece support tool comprising: a receiving member on which the workpiece is placed to receive the workpiece; and a plurality of contact members that have a contact surface with the workpiece smaller than the area of ​​the upper surface of the receiving member, are disposed on the upper surface of the receiving member, and come into contact with a lower end of the workpiece, the contact member is provided separately from the receiving member and detachably relative to the receiving member, the workpiece is a hollow member, The workpiece support tool further includes a plurality of support members that are disposed on an upper surface side of the receiving member and contact an inner periphery of the workpiece to support the workpiece from the inside, The workpiece support tool, wherein the support member is provided separately from the receiving member and is detachable from the receiving member.

2. The workpiece support according to claim 1, The contact member is provided as a spherical or cylindrical roller-shaped member, and is disposed on the upper surface of the receiving member so as to be able to roll relative to the receiving member.

3. The workpiece support according to claim 2, a plurality of recesses are provided on an upper surface of the receiving member, in which the plurality of contact members are respectively rollably disposed; The recess has an arc-shaped cross section that matches the outer diameter of the contact member.

4. The workpiece support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The workpiece is made of metal, and at least a surface portion of the contact member that comes into contact with the workpiece is made of ceramic.

5. The workpiece support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The workpiece is made of metal, and at least a surface portion of the support member that comes into contact with the workpiece is made of ceramic.

Images