JPH05133407A - Rodless cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reciprocate a slide table smoothly without causing a piston to stop by preventing the inside diameter of a bore from changing, especially even when lateral force works upon a slide table. CONSTITUTION:There are provided a cylinder tube 12 and a slide table 14. Moreover, there are also provided the first holding mechanism 52 and the second holding mechanism 54 which guides the slide table 14 when a piston 70 reciprocates and supports the load working upon the slide table 14 for prevention of the inside diameter of a bore 16 from changing, at arm parts 51a, 51b extending both the ends in a shorter direction of a plate piece 50 which forms the slide table 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rodless cylinder which promotes a reduction in occupied space and can be smoothly operated without being influenced by a horizontal load.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various rodless cylinders have been adopted as a work transfer device in factories and the like.

A rodless cylinder can have a shorter stroke length than a cylinder having a rod. Therefore, it occupies a small area, is easy to handle, and has dust inside the cylinder as compared with a cylinder having a rod. This is because it is possible to prevent the invasion of the like, and as a result, it is possible to perform an advanced positioning operation and the like.

For example, US Pat. No. 4,373,427 or German Patent 3124915 disclose such a rodless cylinder. In particular, German patent 31249
In the rodless cylinder according to No. 15, a guide groove is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder tube and the upper surface of the cylinder in which the slit is defined, and the guide groove extends from both ends of the slide table to the cylinder tube side. Different guide means provided on the section are configured to engage with each other. According to German Patent 3124915, when the lateral force is applied, the guide means are engaged with each other to prevent the slit from widening.

[0005]

However, according to the aforementioned German patent 31 24 915, it is necessary to extend the legs from the slide table further outward than the outer surface of the cylinder tube and hold the guide means. Therefore, when the guide means are engaged with each other when a lateral force is applied, one end face of the cylinder tube forcibly defining the slit is forced to the other end face of the cylinder tube defining the other slit. The inner diameter of the bore is reduced and the piston is forcibly stopped. That is, it has been pointed out that the piston is stopped due to the application of a lateral force, which unexpectedly stops the transfer action on the work, which is very dangerous.

The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems, and in particular, it is possible to prevent the bore inner diameter from changing even when a lateral force acts on the slide table, thereby stopping the piston. An object of the present invention is to provide a rodless cylinder that can smoothly reciprocate the slide table without causing the slide table.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a cylinder and a slide table, the cylinder reciprocating in a cylinder tube and a bore defined in the cylinder tube. Forming a slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube for communicating the outside with the bore, and the slit is engaged with the first seal member engaging with the piston and the slide table. And a second seal member which is fitted to the cylinder tube and the slide table. The cylinder tube and the slide table guide the slide table during the reciprocating movement of the piston and support a load acting on the slide table to support the inner diameter of the bore. It is characterized in that a first holding mechanism and a second holding mechanism that can prevent changes are provided.

[0008]

According to the rodless cylinder of the present invention, the first holding mechanism and the second holding mechanism capable of supporting the load acting on the slide table and preventing the change of the bore inner diameter are provided. The force can be received by the first holding mechanism when the force is applied to the slide table in the vertical direction, and can be received by the second holding mechanism when the force is applied to the slide table in the horizontal direction.
In particular, even if an unexpected lateral force is applied, it is possible to reliably prevent the inner diameter of the bore from being reduced, and it is possible to prevent the piston from being stopped while the work is being conveyed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a rodless cylinder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The rodless cylinder 10 has a cylinder tube 12 and a slide table 14. The cylinder tube 12 is
As shown in FIG. 3, it is to be suspended from the mounting wall surface 15 at the time of use, and has a bore 16 extending in the longitudinal direction therein (see FIG. 2). It is in communication with the outside through the slit 18 defined by. As shown in FIG. 3, on the side surface portion of the cylinder tube 12, long grooves 20a to 20d for sensor mounting are defined extending in the longitudinal direction, and fluid bypass passages 22a and 22b for centralized piping are also formed. Is defined to extend in the longitudinal direction.

In FIG. 3, the corner portions of the cylinder tube 12 are cut out below the long grooves 20a and 20c to form a first groove.
The recesses 28 and the second recesses 30 are formed, and the first side surfaces 32a and 32b defining the first and second recesses 28 and 30 are formed.
Is slightly (a few degrees) in the opposite direction to the horizontal direction.
On the other hand, the second side surfaces 34a, 34b that are inclined and define the recesses 28, 30 are inclined at a predetermined angle, for example, 45 °, in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vertical direction. As described above, the slit 18 communicates the bore 16 with the outside, and the side wall defining the slit 18 is provided with step portions 36a and 36b so as to open toward the bore 16 side. Then, the surface extending downward from the inner side surface of the slit 18 is configured as a horizontal plane, and once it becomes a vertical plane,
It connects to the first and second recesses 28, 30.

Both ends of the cylinder tube 12 constructed as described above are hermetically closed by end caps 40a, 40b having ports 38a, 38b defined therein (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 3, reference numeral 42 indicates a sensor for detecting the position of the piston or the slide table 14.

Next, the slide table 14 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide table 14 includes a relatively thick U-shaped plate body 50, and an arm portion 51a extending upward in FIG. 3 from both ends in the lateral direction of the plate body 50. , 51b and the first and second recesses 28, 30 of the cylinder tube 12 for guiding the slide table 14 during the reciprocating motion of the piston (described later) and supporting the load acting on the slide table 14 to the bore. 16
Holding mechanism 52 and second holding mechanism 52 capable of preventing changes in the inner diameter of the
A holding mechanism 54 is provided. The first holding mechanism 52 is
In fact, it is possible to support a load acting vertically on the slide table 14, while the second holding mechanism 54 is supported.
Can support a load acting on the slide table 14 in the horizontal direction.

The first holding mechanism 52 includes arms 51a and 51b.
A plurality of rods 55a, 55b which are fixed to the wall surfaces facing each other with a slight inclination in directions opposite to the horizontal direction (downward with respect to the directions close to each other in FIG. 3).
And guide rollers (rotating bodies) 56a and 56b rotatably attached to the tip ends of the rods 55a and 55b, and the guide rollers 56a and 56b fixed to the first side surfaces 32a and 32b of the cylinder tube 12. It includes moving rail members 58a and 58b.

Similarly, the second holding mechanism 54 includes the arm portion 51.
45 in opposite directions (directions close to each other in FIG. 3) with respect to the vertical direction on the respective opposing wall surfaces of a and 51b.
A plurality of rods 55c and 55d that are fixed while being inclined,
Guide rollers 56c and 56d that are rotatably mounted on the tip ends of the rods 55c and 55d, and a rail member 58c that is fixed to the second side surfaces 34a and 34b of the cylinder tube 12 and on which the guide rollers 56c and 56d roll. 5
8d and.

A groove 62 is defined which extends through the central portion of the slide table 14 in the longitudinal direction, and the central portion of the groove 62 is circularly expanded to form a space 64. Groove 62
4 has a curved concave portion 66 directed to the lower surface 50a of the plate body 50 of FIG. 3 opposite to the cylinder tube 12, as can be seen from FIG.

The piston 70 is shown in FIG. The piston 70 has a first pressure receiving surface 72 and a second pressure receiving surface 74 on the opposite side thereof, and the cushion seals 76a, 7 are provided inside thereof.
6b is provided (see FIG. 6). Belt separators 78a and 78b are fixed to a piston yoke 80 above the cylindrical piston 70, and a roller 84 is fixed above the piston yoke 80 via a coupler 82. As shown in FIG. 6, inside the slide table 14, scrapers 84a and 84b are provided, and the coupler 82 has a plane circular shape and is configured to be fitted into the circular space 64. There is. Note that FIG.
In the figure, reference numeral 86 indicates a passage for a first sealing member, which will be described later, to enter into the piston, and reference numeral 87.
Indicates a cushion ring.

FIG. 7 shows a seal member fitted to the step portions 36a and 36b. The first seal member 90 includes the tongue pieces 92a, 92.
b, and bulging portions 94a and 94b are further provided above the tongue pieces 92a and 92b. The bulging portions 94a, 9
4b, the engaging piece 9 is directed upwards and slightly expanded.
6a and 96b are extended. The bulged portions 94a, 94
b is for engaging the stepped portions 36a, 36b when an internal pressure is applied to the inside of the piston 70, and the engaging pieces 96a, 96b are inner surfaces 98a, 98b for defining the slit 18. Engage with. This first seal member 9
0 is integrally formed of a flexible synthetic resin body as a whole. On the other hand, the second seal member 97 includes the slit 18
And is fitted in a groove 99 extending in the longitudinal direction from above the slit defined in the upper end surface of the cylinder tube 12. The first seal member 90 is
It penetrates into the passage 86 of the piston 70, and its both ends are the second
End caps 40a and 40b together with the seal member 97
Is stuck to.

Next, the operation of the rodless cylinder 10 thus constructed will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, after the cylinder tube 12 is suspended from the mounting wall surface 15, the work W is fixed to the lower surface 50a of the slide table 14. When the compressed air is introduced from the port 38a, the compressed air presses the first pressure receiving surface 72 through the passage defined inside the cushion ring 87. As a result, the piston 70 is displaced leftward (in the direction of arrow X) in FIG. At this time, since the coupler 82 is fitted in the space 64 of the slide table 14, the piston 70 displaces the slide table 14 integrally and similarly transfers it to the left side. At this time, the belt separators 78a, 7
8b serves to separate the first seal member 90 and the second seal member 97 between the slide table 14 and the piston 70. Therefore, the work W placed on the slide table 14 can be transferred to the left side in FIG. When compressed air is introduced into the port 38b, the opposite action is performed.

Incidentally, the roller 84 is for slidingly contacting the second seal member 97 during the transfer thereof to facilitate the transfer thereof.

By the way, in FIG. 3, when a relatively heavy work W is fixed to the slide table 14,
A vertical load F acts on the slide table 14, and a horizontal load tends to act on the arm portions 51a and 51b via the moment M. At that time, in the present embodiment, the guide rollers 56a forming the first holding mechanism 52,
Vertical load F due to 56b and rail members 58a and 58b
The guide roller 56c that can effectively receive the guide roller 56c that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and that constitutes the second holding mechanism 54.
The load acting in the horizontal direction via the moment M can be reliably received by 56d and the rail members 58c, 58d. Here, the axes of the guide rollers 56a and 56b forming the first holding mechanism 52 are slightly inclined downward in the direction in which they are close to each other with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, for the moment M acting on the slide table 14,
The piston 70 can be displaced without increasing the width of the slit 18.

Moreover, in particular, by providing the second holding mechanism 54, even if an unexpected load is applied to the slide table 14 laterally, for example, in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, this load is mediated by the guide roller 56c. Rail member 58c
It is possible to reliably prevent the arms 51a and 51b from being deformed by being transmitted to and held by the arm. Therefore, even if an unexpected load is applied to the slide table 14, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the piston 70 is stopped due to the reduction of the inner diameter of the bore 16 as shown in the related art. The effect is obtained.

The sensor 42 is the slide table 1
The positions of the piston 70 and the slide table 14 are detected through a detection member such as a magnet provided directly on the arm portion 51b of No. 4.

Next, a rodless cylinder 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
The same reference numerals as those of the rodless cylinder 10 according to the first embodiment indicate the same components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The rodless cylinder 100 comprises a cylinder tube 102 and a slide table 103,
A first recess 104 is formed on each side of the cylinder tube 102.
a and 104b are formed, and second recesses 106a and 106b are formed in the lower surface of the cylinder tube 102. First defining the first recesses 104a, 104b
The rail members 58a, 58b are fixed to the side surfaces 108a, 108b, while the rail members 58c, 5 are provided on the second side surfaces 110a, 110b that define the second recesses 106a, 106b.
8d is fixed.

The arm portion 112a of the slide table 103,
The guide rollers 56a and 56b forming the first holding mechanism 52 are supported by the 112b with their axes oriented horizontally, and the guide rollers 56c forming the second holding mechanism 54 are provided at the corners of the slide table 103. , 56d are supported with their axes inclined from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle. Rod 5 supporting this guide roller 56d
A threaded portion 120 is formed on 5d.
The nut member 122 is engaged with the guide roller 56d.
Is configured so that its position can be adjusted in the axial direction. The position is not limited to the guide roller 56d, and other guide rollers 56a to 56c may be selectively position-adjustable.

In the rodless cylinder 100 thus constructed, the work W is fixed to the lower surface of the slide table 103 after the cylinder tube 102 is suspended from the mounting wall surface 15. Therefore, this rodless cylinder 100, like the rodless cylinder 10 described above, applies this load to the first and second holding mechanisms 52 and 54 even if a load acts on the slide table 103 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The piston 70 can be reliably received through, and the smooth movement operation of the piston 70 can be performed.

The guide rollers 56a and 56b forming the first holding mechanism 52 can be formed to be inclined like the rodless cylinder 10 according to the first embodiment.

Further, a rodless cylinder 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same reference numerals as those of the rodless cylinder 10 according to the first embodiment indicate the same constituent elements, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

This rodless cylinder 200 comprises a cylinder tube 202 and a slide table 204,
At the time of use, the slide table 204 is mounted on the cylinder tube 202 so as to be movable back and forth. The first recesses 206a and 206b are provided on both sides of the slide table 204.
And the second recesses 208a and 208b are formed in the upper surface of the cylinder tube 202. Cylinder tube 20 corresponding to the first recesses 206a and 206b
Rail members 58a, 5 on the upper end surfaces 210a, 210b of
8b is fixed, the rail members 58c, on the side surfaces 212a, 212b that define the second recesses 208a, 208b.
58d is fixed.

At the corner of the slide table 204, the first
Guide rollers 56a, 56b forming the holding mechanism 52
And a guide roller 56c that constitutes the second holding mechanism 54,
56d is supported, and the axes of the guide rollers 56a and 56b are tilted by a desired angle from the horizontal direction as needed, while the axes of the guide rollers 56c and 56d are inclined from the vertical direction by a predetermined angle (for example, 45 °). Only tilted.

As a result, in the rodless cylinder 200 according to the third embodiment, the first and second holding mechanisms 5 are
2, 54 can reliably receive the load acting on the slide table 204 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction,
It is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the rodless cylinder 10 described above.

Furthermore, a rodless cylinder 300 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the rodless cylinder 20 according to the third embodiment.
The same reference numerals as 0 indicate the same components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The rodless cylinder 300 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the second holding mechanism 54 described above in that
The second holding mechanism 302 includes a holding mechanism 302. The second holding mechanism 302 defines a pair of guide members 304a and 304b fixed to the slide table 204 and extending in the moving direction thereof, and second recesses 208a and 208b of the cylinder tube 202. A synthetic resin body 306 that is fixed to the side surfaces 212a and 212b and on which the pair of guide members 304a and 304b slide.
a and 306b. This synthetic resin body 306a, 3
06b is formed of a material having excellent swinging characteristics and excellent wear resistance.

Therefore, in the rodless cylinder 300, the guide members 304a and 304b are made of synthetic resin 306.
The slide table 204 can be smoothly moved by sliding on the a and 306b. In addition, the second holding mechanism 302 includes the guide members 304a and 304b and the synthetic resin body 3
06a and 306b, the first holding mechanism 5
2 can be adopted. In addition, the synthetic resin body 306
a, 306b without using guide members 304a, 3
It is also possible to coat a desired surface portion of 04b with a wear-resistant surface treatment layer such as a synthetic resin film or a hard alumite coating so that the coated surface is in sliding contact with the side surfaces 212a and 212b.

[0036]

According to the present invention, even if an excessive load is applied to the slide table as described above, it is possible to reliably prevent the bore inner diameter from being reduced, and the slide table and the piston are stopped. Smooth operation is achieved without any. Even if an unexpected unexpected lateral force is applied, it is possible to effectively prevent the inner diameter of the bore from being reduced and prevent the piston from being stopped while the work is being conveyed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of a rodless cylinder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of a cylinder tube of the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a slide table and a cylinder tube of the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view of a slide table that constitutes the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a piston of the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view of the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 7 is a partially omitted vertical sectional view showing an engagement state of a first seal member and a slit of the rodless cylinder.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a rodless cylinder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a rodless cylinder according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a rodless cylinder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Rodless cylinder 12 ... Cylinder tube 14 ... Slide table 16 ... Bore 28, 30 ... Recess 52, 54 ... Holding mechanism 56a-56d ... Guide roller 58a-58d ... Rail member 70 ... Piston 100 ... Rodless cylinder 102 ... Cylinder Tube 103 ... Slide table 104a, 104b, 106a, 106b ... Recessed portion 200 ... Rodless cylinder 202 ... Cylinder tube 204 ... Slide table 206a, 206b, 208a, 208b ... Recessed portion 300 ... Rodless cylinder 302 ... Retaining mechanism 304a, 304b ... Guide Members 306a, 306b ... Synthetic resin body

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder and a slide table,
The cylinder has a cylinder tube and a piston that reciprocates in a bore defined in the cylinder tube, and defines a slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube to communicate the outside with the bore. The slit is closed by a first seal member that engages with the piston and a second seal member that engages with the slide table, and the slide table is attached to the cylinder tube and the slide table when the piston reciprocates. A rodless cylinder, comprising: a first holding mechanism and a second holding mechanism capable of guiding a load and supporting a load acting on the slide table to prevent a change in the bore inner diameter. 2. The rodless cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the first and / or the second holding mechanism includes a pair of parallel rail members extending in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube, and a pair of rail members on the rail member. A rodless cylinder, comprising: at least one pair of rolling bodies that roll. 3. The rodless cylinder according to claim 2, wherein at least a pair of rail members constituting the second holding mechanism are arranged on both sides of a bore defined in the cylinder tube, and The at least one set of rotating bodies constituting the two holding mechanism is arranged so as to engage with the set of rail members toward the outside of the bore when a load acts on the slide table. A rodless cylinder. 4. The rodless cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the rotating bodies constituting the first and / or the second holding mechanism is configured to be positionally adjustable in the axial direction thereof. A rodless cylinder. 5. The rodless cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the first and / or the second holding mechanism include a pair of parallel guide members extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube, and the at least one pair of guide members. A rodless cylinder comprising: a synthetic resin body on which a guide member slides. 6. The rodless cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the first and / or second holding mechanism includes a pair of parallel guide members extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube, and the at least one pair of guide members. A rodless cylinder, comprising: a wear-resistant surface treatment layer provided on a sliding portion of the guide member.