Rotary head and working device

Abstract

This rotary head is for applying rotation to a workpiece, and comprises: a tool holder which is formed at least partially in a rod shape and which detachably holds, in a first direction, a tool engageable with the workpiece; a base material which rotatably supports the tool holder with the first direction as a rotation axis; and a rotation unit which is fixed to the base material and rotates the tool holder. The tool holder includes a holding unit which is provided so as to be movable in the first direction and holds a base part of the tool, a holding unit biasing part which biases the holding unit in the first direction, and an engagement part which engages with a side surface part of the tool such that the tool can move in the first direction and can transmit rotation by the rotation unit to the tool.

Description

Rotating head and working device

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a rotary head that mainly performs an evaluation test by applying rotation to an evaluation object.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a structure in which a test device for performing an evaluation test on an automatic transmission can change tools depending on the object to be evaluated.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-311122

[0004] In general, in an apparatus for performing evaluation tests on devices that output / transmit power (rotation), there is a demand for technology that allows tools to be replaced more easily and that enables evaluation tests to be performed more appropriately.

[0005] An exemplary object of the present invention is to enable tools to be replaced more easily and to more appropriately realize evaluation tests.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a rotary head for applying rotation to a workpiece, comprising: a tool holder that is at least partially formed in a rod shape and that detachably holds a tool that can engage with the workpiece in a first direction; a base that rotatably supports the tool holder with the first direction as a rotation axis; and a rotation unit that is fixed to the base and rotates the tool holder, wherein the tool holder includes: a holding unit that is movable in the first direction and that holds a base of the tool; a holding unit biasing portion that biases the holding unit in the first direction; and an engagement portion that engages with a side portion of the tool so that the tool can move in the first direction and rotation by the rotation unit can be transmitted to the tool.

[0007] According to the present invention, tools can be replaced more easily and evaluation tests can be performed more appropriately.

[0008] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an evaluation test system. It is a perspective view showing the configuration of a rotary head. It is a diagram showing the detailed structure of a rotary head. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram for explaining the structure of the rotary head. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram for explaining the structure of the rotary head.

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the claimed invention, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] <Regarding System Configuration> Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an evaluation test system SY according to an embodiment. The evaluation test system SY is configured to be able to perform an evaluation test on a workpiece WK, and in this embodiment, includes a workpiece support unit 1, a rotary head 2, a tool changing mechanism 3, a detection unit 4, a system controller 5, and a base 6. In the figure, the X direction corresponds to the left-right direction or width direction, the Y direction corresponds to the front-rear direction or depth direction, and the Z direction corresponds to the up-down direction or height direction.

[0011] The workpiece support unit 1 is configured to be able to support the workpiece WK, and in this embodiment, it is a support table that supports the workpiece WK from below, but in other embodiments, it may be an assembly that holds or clamps the workpiece WK from the left and right. The workpiece WK may be anything that can be subjected to a predetermined evaluation test, and typical examples include vehicle engines and EDUs (Electric Drive Units) used in electric vehicles.

[0012] The rotating head 2, which will be described in detail later, rotates the workpiece WK using a tool 91 (see FIG. 2), thereby achieving an evaluation test. A pair of rotating heads 2 are provided on the left and right sides of the workpiece WK (referred to as rotating heads 2L and 2R, respectively, but when no distinction is made between them, they will simply be referred to as rotating heads 2). The rotating heads 2 are configured to be movable in the X direction, and can move closer to or farther away from the workpiece WK.

[0013] The tool changing mechanism 3 is an assembly for changing the tool 91 and is configured to be able to grasp the tool 91, for example. A pair of tool changing mechanisms 3 are provided, one on the left and one on the right, corresponding to the rotating heads 2L and 2R (referred to as tool changing mechanisms 3L and 3R, respectively, but simply referred to as the tool changing mechanism 3 when no particular distinction is made between them). Here, the tool 91 is an evaluation test tool that can be changed for each workpiece WK and can be configured at least partially rod-shaped. For example, the tool changing mechanism 3L can grasp the tool 91 attached to the rotating head 2L and remove the tool 91 from the rotating head 2L. The tool changing mechanism 3L can also grasp another tool 91 to be attached to the rotating head 2L and attach the other tool 91 to the rotating head 2L. The tool changing mechanism 3L is movable in the Y direction between an attachment / detachment position where the tool 91 can be attached to / detached from the rotating head 2L and a retracted position where the tool 91 can be replaced with another tool and where the rotating head 2L performs an evaluation test. The same applies to the tool changing mechanism 3R.

[0014] The detection unit 4 detects the behavior of the workpiece WK rotated by the rotary head 2, and obtains measurement values ​​indicating the evaluation items of the workpiece WK (for example, vibration, noise, torque, backlash, etc.) as detection results.

[0015] The system controller 5 controls the driving of the rotary head 2, the tool changing mechanism 3, and the detection unit 4 via a predetermined system bus. For example, first, the tool changing mechanism 3 holds a tool 91 corresponding to the workpiece WK at the retracted position (the tool changing mechanism 3 may be capable of holding multiple tools 91, or an arbitrary one of multiple tools 91 may be provided to the tool changing mechanism 3 from a storage unit that stores multiple tools 91). The system controller 5 moves the tool changing mechanism 3 holding the tool 91 to the attachment / detachment position and moves the rotary head 2 in the X direction to access the tool changing mechanism 3. This attaches the tool 91 to the rotary head 2. Thereafter, the system controller 5 retracts the tool changing mechanism 3, which has released the tool 91, to the retracted position, and moves the rotary head 2, to which the tool 91 is attached, to the workpiece WK, so that the tool 91 abuts or engages with the workpiece WK. In this state, the system controller 5 drives the rotary head 2 to rotate the workpiece WK via the tool 91. The system controller 5 detects the behavior of the workpiece WK to which the rotation is applied using the detection unit 4, and in this way, the desired evaluation test can be performed. Such an evaluation test is called a cold test, but in other embodiments, other known evaluation tests may be performed on other workpieces.

[0016] The above-mentioned elements 1 to 5 are arranged on a base 6, and in this embodiment, they are arranged symmetrically with respect to the work WK, work support unit 1 and detection unit 4, but the arrangement of the evaluation test system SY is not limited to this example.

[0017] <Configuration of the Rotating Head> Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of the rotating head 2. The rotating head 2 includes a tool holder 21, a rotating unit 22, a moving unit 23, a holding / releasing mechanism 24, and a base material 20. In this embodiment, the base material 20 includes a horizontal plate member 201 and a vertical plate member 202 connected in an L-shape, and the connection between them may be robustly realized by a predetermined bracket. The tool holder 21, details of which will be described later, is configured to be able to hold a tool 91, and is supported by the vertical plate member 202 so as to be rotatable together with the held tool 91.

[0018] The rotation unit 22 is configured to be able to rotate the tool holder 21, and is fixed to the horizontal plate member 201 on the opposite side of the vertical plate member 202 from the tool holder 21. A known electric motor may be used for the rotation unit 22, and its output rotation shaft may be connected to the tool holder 21.

[0019] The moving unit 23 includes a slider 231, a rail 232, a driver 233, and a stopper 234. The slider 231 is slidable along the rail 232 extending in the X direction and also functions as a mounting table on which the horizontal plate 201 of the base material 20 can be placed. The driver 233 is capable of generating power for realizing the reciprocating movement of the slider 231. For example, the driver 233 uses a known electric motor to rotate a shaft in one direction, thereby moving the slider 231 in the +X direction via a connection part that threads onto the shaft, and similarly rotates the shaft in the other direction to move the slider 231 in the −X direction. The stoppers 234 are arranged at one end and the other end in the X direction, thereby restricting the movable range of the slider 231.

[0020] With the above configuration, the tool holder 21 holding the tool 91 is capable of moving in the X direction together with the substrate 20 and the rotation unit 22 by receiving power from the moving unit 23, and is also capable of rotating together with the tool 91 by receiving power from the rotation unit 22. The rotation axis AX1 of the tool holder 21 and the tool 91 corresponds to the X direction.

[0021] The release mechanism 24, details of which will be described later, is an assembly for releasing the hold of the tool 91 by the tool holder 21, and is fixed to a vertical plate member 202 and extends in the X direction to the distal side of the tool holder 21.

[0022] 3 mainly shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the tool holder 21, as well as a perspective view, an enlarged view, and a transparent view showing a detailed structure of a portion thereof. The tool holder 21 includes a holding unit 210 that directly holds the tool 91, an inner annular member 211, an outer annular member 212, and a cylindrical housing (cylindrical member) 213 that at least partially houses each of these members.

[0023] The holding unit 210 is cylindrically configured so that the base of the rod-shaped tool 91 can be inserted at least partially therein. The holding unit 210 incorporates a plurality of radially movable engaging spheres (tool base engaging portions) 210B, which will be described in detail later. The engaging spheres 210B engage with the base of the inserted tool 91, thereby holding (or, alternatively, securing or gripping) the tool 91. In this embodiment, an engaging groove 913 is formed around the periphery of the base of the tool 91, and its cross-sectional shape is an arc that allows the individual engaging spheres 210B to engage. The holding unit 210 is also connected to the housing 213 via a spring (holding unit biasing portion) 219a. In this embodiment, the spring 219a biases the holding unit 210 in a direction that pushes it out of the housing 213 (the +X direction in the figure). The housing 213 is provided with a partition portion 213D, which restricts the holding unit 210 biased by the spring 219a.

[0024] The inner annular member 211 is a movable body that is provided around the outer periphery of the holding unit 210 and is movable in the X direction, and is connected to the holding unit 210 via a spring (moving body biasing portion) 219b. In this embodiment, the spring 219b biases the inner annular member 211 in the same direction as the spring 219a (the +X direction in the figure). A storage hole 211H is provided in the inner wall of the inner annular member 211 (the surface facing the holding unit 210), and although details will be described later, the engaging sphere 210B can be stored in the storage hole 211H.

[0025] The outer annular member 212 is a second movable body that is disposed around the outer periphery of the housing 213 and is movable in the X direction. The second movable body is connected to the housing 213 via a spring (second movable body biasing portion) 219c. In this embodiment, the spring 219c biases the outer annular member 212 in the same direction (+X direction in the figure) as the springs 219a and 219b. The cylindrical housing 213 is provided with a long hole 213S that penetrates from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface. The long hole 213S extends in the X direction. The outer annular member 212 is also provided with an extension portion 212E that extends radially inward and is capable of abutting against the inner annular member 211 and passing through the long hole 213S. This configuration allows the outer annular member 212 to move in the X direction relative to the housing 213, thereby allowing the inner annular member 211 to move in the X direction. The number of extensions 212E and elongated holes 213S is four in this example, but may be one or more, and may be provided symmetrically in the circumferential direction.

[0026] As described above, the housing 213 is a cylindrical member configured to at least partially accommodate each of the elements 210, 211, and 212, and rotates around the axis AX1 upon receiving power from the rotation unit 22. The housing 213 has a spline portion 2131 (see FIGS. 4A to 4B ), which will be described in detail later. The tool 91 can engage with the spline portion 2131 of the housing 213 via the spline portion 911 at the base. The tool 91 can also engage with the workpiece WK via the spline portion 912 provided on the side opposite the base. Therefore, the rotation of the housing 213 based on the power from the rotation unit 22 is transmitted to the tool 91 via the spline portion 2131 and the spline portion 911, and is then applied to the workpiece WK via the spline portion 912.

[0027] <Regarding Tool Holding and Release> FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional schematic diagrams for explaining the above-described configuration. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the tool holder 21 holds the tool 91, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the tool has been released from the holding state by the holding release mechanism 24.

[0028] In the cylindrical housing 213, a partition 213D that restricts the holding unit 210 biased by the spring 219a forms two spaces SP1 and SP2. The space SP1 mainly accommodates the holding unit 210, the inner annular member 211, the springs 219a and 219b, and the extension 212E of the outer annular member 212. The space SP2 is mainly an area through which the tool 91 can be inserted. Note that the shape of the space SP2 is not limited to the illustrated shape as long as it is possible to ensure the insertion of the base of the tool 91.

[0029] Here, the housing 213 has a spline portion 2131 that can engage with the spline portion 911 of the tool 91 to transmit the rotation of the housing 213 to the tool 91. That is, the tool 91 engages with the spline portion 2131 at the spline portion 911, and thereby rotates together with the housing 213 around the axis AX1 as the rotation axis.

[0030] The hold release mechanism 24 includes a contact / pressing unit 241 that contacts and presses the outer annular member 212, a drive unit 242 that drives the contact / pressing unit 241, and a rod-shaped support member 240 that extends in the X direction from the vertical plate member 202 and supports the drive unit 242. The contact / pressing unit 241 is movable in the X direction via a connection unit 243, and presses the outer annular member 212 in the −X direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4B based on a drive signal from the drive unit 242. A known drive mechanism such as an electric cylinder can be used for the drive unit 242 and the connection unit 243.

[0031] The pressure of the abutment / pressure portion 241 causes the outer annular member 212 to move in the direction (-X direction) against the bias of the spring 219c. The movement of the outer annular member 212 in the -X direction causes the extension portion 212E to abut and press against the inner annular member 211, which in turn causes the inner annular member 211 to move in the direction (-X direction) against the bias of the spring 219b. In this way, the inner annular member 211 moves to a position where the storage hole 211H is adjacent to the engaging sphere 210B in the X direction. As a result, the engaging sphere 210B becomes movable radially outward, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4B, and becomes receivable in the storage hole 211H. At this time, when the tool 91 is pulled out in the X direction, the holding state between the engagement groove 913 and the engagement sphere 210B is released, the engagement sphere 210B is stored in the storage hole 211H, and the tool 91 can be removed from the holding unit 210.

[0032] The biasing force of the spring 219a can be set to be greater than the biasing force of the spring 219b so that the holding unit 210 is positioned on the partition section 213D side even while the abutting / pressing section 241 is pressing.

[0033] Thereafter, after another tool 91 is attached to the holding unit 210, the pressure of the abutting / pressing portion 241 is released, thereby returning to the state shown in FIG. 4A.

[0034] This completes the replacement of tool 91. The positions of annular members 211 and / or 212 in Fig. 4A correspond to a holding position for engaging engagement sphere 210B with the base of tool 91 to maintain holding of tool 91. Similarly, the positions of annular members 211 and / or 212 in Fig. 4B correspond to a holding release position for moving engagement sphere 210B away from the base of tool 91 to release holding of tool 91.

[0035] As described above, the tool holder 21 rotates together with the tool 91. Meanwhile, the retention release mechanism 24 is provided with one or more cables (or wires) to provide a signal line for driving the contact / pressure unit 241 by the drive unit 242. However, the retention release mechanism 24 is installed independently of the tool holder 21 and is fixed to the vertical plate member 202 in this embodiment, and therefore does not rotate together with the tool holder 21. Therefore, in this structure, the installation of the cables for the retention release mechanism 24 is not limited by the rotatable configuration of the tool holder 21. Furthermore, in this structure, although the springs 219a to 219c are built into the tool holder 21, the installation of these springs 219a to 219c is not limited by the rotatable configuration of the tool holder 21. For these reasons, this embodiment can be said to enable the tool holder 21 to retain and release the tool 91 with a relatively simple configuration.

[0036] In this structure, the inner annular member 211 and the outer annular member 212 are configured as separate bodies independent of each other, but in other embodiments, they may be configured as an integrated body. In that case, the spring 219c may be omitted. This allows the number of parts to be reduced.

[0037] <Summary> As described above, the rotary head 2 according to this embodiment includes the tool holder 21 that detachably holds the tool 91, which is at least partially formed in a rod shape and can engage with the workpiece WK, in the X direction (the direction of the axis AX1). The tool holder 21 includes a holding unit 210 that is movable in the X direction and holds a base of the tool 91, and a spline portion 2131 that serves as an engagement portion that can engage with a side portion of the tool 91. The spline portion 2131 is configured so that the tool 91 can move in the X direction and can transmit rotation by the rotation unit 22 to the tool 91. This configuration makes it possible to relatively easily replace the tool 91 and also allows the rotation by the rotation unit 22 to be appropriately applied to the workpiece WK by the tool 91.

[0038] The spline portion 2131 is provided on the inner wall of the housing 213, which is a cylindrical member configured in a cylindrical shape, and the tool 91 attached to the tool holder 21 engages with the spline portion 2131 at the spline portion 911. As a result, the tool 91 rotates together with the housing 213 around the axis AX1 as the rotation axis.

[0039] The holding unit 210 includes an engagement sphere 210B serving as a tool base engagement portion that engages with the base of the tool 91, and an inner annular member 211 serving as a movable body disposed outside the engagement sphere 210B. The inner annular member 211 is movable between a position (see FIG. 4A ) in which the engagement sphere 210B engages with an engagement groove 913 at the base of the tool 91 to maintain the tool 91 in a holding state, and a position (see FIG. 4B ) in which the engagement sphere 210B is separated from the base of the tool 91 to release the tool from its holding state. This configuration makes it possible to further simplify replacement of the tool 91.

[0040] A cylindrical housing 213 is formed with an elongated hole 213S that penetrates from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface, and an outer annular member 212 is disposed around the elongated hole 213S. The outer annular member 212 has an extension 212E that extends inward and passes through the elongated hole 213S, and the extension 212E slides along the elongated hole 213S, allowing it to move freely in the X direction. When the outer annular member 212 moves in the X direction, the extension 212E comes into contact with the inner annular member 211, thereby realizing the movement of the inner annular member 211. This configuration allows the tool 91 to be replaced appropriately.

[0041] In the above description, for ease of understanding, each element is denoted by a name related to its function. However, each element is not limited to having the content described in the embodiment as its main function, but may have that function as an auxiliary function. For example, the evaluation test referred to in this specification may simply be expressed as evaluation or test, or may be broadly interpreted as part of a task. Therefore, the evaluation test system SY may be expressed as an evaluation system, a test system, or an operation system. Furthermore, individual functional units included in a certain element may be included in other elements or configured independently. For example, although the moving unit 23 is described in the embodiment as part of the rotating head 2, it may also be configured independently of the rotating head 2. To the same effect, the holding release mechanism 24 may also be configured independently of the rotating head 2.

[0042] Furthermore, the individual terms used in this specification are merely used for the purpose of describing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the strict meaning of the terms. For example, the term "apparatus" may be replaced with "unit," "system," "assembly," "device," "module," etc., and vice versa.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

[0044] WK: workpiece, 2: rotary head, 20: substrate, 21: tool holder, 22: rotary unit, 23: moving unit, 24: holding release mechanism, 3: tool changing mechanism, 4: detection unit, 5: system controller.

Claims

1. A rotary head for applying rotation to a workpiece, comprising: a tool holder that is at least partially formed in a rod shape and that detachably holds a tool that can engage with the workpiece in a first direction; a base that rotatably supports the tool holder with the first direction as an axis of rotation; and a rotation unit that is fixed to the base and rotates the tool holder, wherein the tool holder includes: a holding unit that is movable in the first direction and that holds a base of the tool; a holding unit biasing portion that biases the holding unit in the first direction; and an engagement portion that engages with a side portion of the tool so that the tool can move in the first direction and rotation by the rotation unit can be transmitted to the tool.

2. A rotary head as described in claim 1, characterized in that the holding unit includes a tool base engagement portion that engages with the base of the tool, and a movable body arranged outside the tool base engagement portion, and the movable body is movable in the first direction between a first position for maintaining the tool base engagement portion in a state engaged with the base of the tool, and a second position for moving the tool base engagement portion away from the base of the tool to release the holding of the tool.

3. The rotary head according to claim 2, wherein the holding unit further includes a moving body biasing portion that biases the moving body to the first position.

4. A rotary head according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool holder further includes a cylindrical member extending in the first direction, the holding unit is housed inside the cylindrical member so as to be movable in the first direction, and the engaging portion is provided on the inner wall of the cylindrical member.

5. A rotary head as described in claim 4, characterized in that the cylindrical member includes therein a first space for accommodating the holding unit and a second space spaced apart from the first space in the first direction, and the engaging portion is provided on the second space side.

6. A rotary head as described in claim 4, characterized in that: the cylindrical member has a long hole portion that penetrates from the inner surface to the outer surface; the tool holder further has an annular member that is arranged around the cylindrical member so as to be movable in the first direction; the annular member includes an extension portion that extends radially inward and is inserted into the long hole portion so as to be movable in the first direction; and the rotary head further has a retention release mechanism that releases the retention of the base of the tool by the holding unit by abutting the annular member.

7. A rotary head according to claim 6, characterized in that the retention release mechanism is fixed to the base material and includes: a contact portion that contacts the annular member; and a drive portion that moves the contact portion in the first direction.

8. A working device comprising: a rotary head according to any one of claims 1 to 7; a moving unit that moves the substrate and the rotary unit in the first direction so as to bring the tool into contact with the workpiece; and a tool changing mechanism that changes the tool held in the tool holder to another tool.

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