JPH0539121U - Flexible tube with coating - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Flexibility that prevents damage to the elastic resin coating due to contact and sliding with surrounding members and damage from the pressure from the inside, and that does not impair bending flexibility. Provide the tube. [Structure] An elastic resin coating 4 is formed on the outer peripheral side of a flexible metal tube body 2, and a heat-shrinkable tube 5 is inserted from the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating 4 and heat-shrinked to heat the tube. The covered flexible tube 1 is configured so that the shrinkable tube 5 and the elastic resin coating 4 can slide. Flexible tube 1
Is reinforced by the heat-shrinkable tube 5, wear resistance, pressure resistance and airtightness can be improved, and flexibility is not impaired.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a coated flexible tube used for, for example, a machine tool or an articulated industrial robot, and particularly, a coated flexible tube suitable for containing and protecting internal wiring of a painting robot or the like. Regarding a flexible tube.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 In general, machine tools and industrial robots are provided with a flexible tube made of metal or the like having rigidity so that the internal wiring does not come into contact with an obstacle or the like at a bending portion such as a joint portion and is not damaged. The wiring is housed and protected in the flexible tube.

Here, a coating robot is taken as an example of the use of the flexible tube. Generally, the coating robot is bendable to the robot main body provided with a control device and the like. The arm is roughly composed of an arm provided via a joint and the like, and a paint spray nozzle that is provided at the tip of the arm and sprays paint onto an object to be coated.

In addition, inside or outside of the arm, various sensors and actuators provided in the arm and the inside of the robot main body are provided to adjust the amount of paint sprayed onto the object to be coated, the angle of spray nozzle, the distance, etc. Lead wires are provided as wiring for connecting to the control device provided in the. The lead wire is housed and protected in a flexible metal tube in order to prevent the lead wire from being damaged by being contacted with, interfering with, or bent by surrounding members and the like due to movement of the arm, bending or the like. ing.

[0007] Here, the flexible tube is fused to a tube body that is formed so as to be bendable by combining thin metal plates, and is fused to the outer peripheral surface of the tube body. It is generally composed of a thin film elastic resin coating formed from a synthetic resin material having elasticity such as vinyl chloride so as to maintain airtightness. Then, the flexible tube accommodates a lead wire inside, and is attached between the robot body and the arm via a connecting member provided at each end.

Further, if paint thinner enters the flexible tube, electric sparks or the like may cause ignition or explosion. Therefore, an inert gas or compressed air (hereinafter, Compressed air) is sent to make the inside of the tube a positive pressure, and the elastic resin coating fused to the outside of the tube body does not impair the flexibility of the tube body, and the metal plate that makes up the tube body It prevents the air from leaking through the gap.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the elastic resin coating covering the tube main body is made of a thin film of the elastic resin material fused to the tube main body, and the strength of the elastic resin coating is not sufficient, so that the operation of the arm At times, when the flexible tube comes into contact with and interferes with surrounding members, there is a problem that the elastic resin coating is damaged due to friction and the like, and compressed air leaks.

Further, since pressure of compressed air is applied to the elastic resin coating from the inside, there is a problem that the elastic resin coating expands and is easily peeled off from the tube body.

On the other hand, if the elastic resin coating is formed thick and the strength of the elastic resin coating is increased, there is a problem that the flexibility of the flexible tube is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the present invention provides a flexible tube with a cover, which can enhance the durability of the elastic resin film without impairing the bending freedom. Is intended to provide.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The structure adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is to cover a metal tube body having flexibility and through which wiring to be protected is inserted, and an outer peripheral surface of the tube body. , An elastic resin coating provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tube body by fusion to give airtightness to the tube body, and a cylindrical elastic member slidably inserted on the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating. Consists of a protective tube.

[0012]

[Action]

 With the above configuration, the elastic resin coating of the flexible tube is protected by the elastic protection tube, the flexible tube can improve wear resistance, pressure resistance, and airtightness, and slides between the elastic resin coating and the elastic protection tube. By making it possible, flexibility can be maintained.

[0013]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a flexible tube with a coating according to this embodiment, and the flexible tube 1 is a tube body 2 formed by combining a spiral metal plate 3 described later, and will be described later. It is composed of an elastic resin coating 4 and a heat-shrinkable tube 5.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a spiral metal plate that constitutes the tube body 2. The spiral metal plate 3 is formed by bending a thin metal plate such as iron-zinc plated steel strip, and the spiral metal plate 3 is formed. The cross section of the plate 3 has a substantially S-shape formed by combining a convex lid portion 3A and a concave bottom portion 3B, which are "U" -shaped opposite to each other, and is located between the convex lid portion 3A and the concave bottom portion 3B. Is the turn-back section 3C. Further, a lid side flange portion 3D and a bottom side flange portion 3E are formed on both widthwise ends of the spiral metal plate 3. Then, the tube main body 2 is formed by combining the spiral metal plate 3 so as to be wound in a cylindrical shape (spiral shape), and in this case, the tube main body 2 is formed in the convex lid portion 3A of the first round in the second round. By engaging the bottom side flange portion 3D to form an overlapping portion where the convex lid portion 3A and the concave bottom portion 3B mesh with each other, and repeating this operation in sequence, the tube main body 2 is formed into a bendable stepped tubular shape. ..

Reference numeral 4 denotes an elastic resin coating provided on the outer peripheral side of the tube main body 2. The elastic resin coating 4 is made of a synthetic resin material having elasticity, such as soft vinyl chloride, in the form of a thin cylinder. By being fused to the outer peripheral surface of the tube body 2, the tube body 2 is made airtight. Here, the elastic resin coating 4 is formed in a bellows shape by forming a spiral convex portion 4A and a spiral groove 4B at locations corresponding to the outside of the convex lid portion 3A and the concave bottom portion 3B of the tube body 2, and forms a bellows shape. It is surrounded by a bend.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a heat-shrink tube serving as an elastic protective tube provided on the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating film 4. The heat-shrink tube 5 is made of an elastic resin material such as vinyl chloride in a tubular shape, and is made of hot air or the like. It is designed to shrink mainly in the radial direction when it is applied and heated.

That is, the heat-shrinkable tube 5 is inserted into the tube body 1 from the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating 4 and then is shrunk by heating without being fused to the outer peripheral surface of the elastic resin coating 4. It is designed to cover.

At this time, the tube body 2 becomes slidable on the inner peripheral side of the heat-shrinkable tube 5, and the spiral groove 4B is present on the surface of the elastic resin coating 4, so that the flexible tube 1 is externally applied. When a bending stress in the directions of arrows A and B shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the heat-shrinkable tube 5, the heat-shrinkable tube 5 is elastically deformed, and the inner circumferential side of the heat-shrinkable tube 5 and the spiral convex portion 4A slide, The space between the spiral grooves 4B is widened on the outer side of the beam and narrowed on the inner side, so that the flexible tube 1 exhibits flexibility as shown by a chain double-dashed line.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a connecting member which is provided at the end of the flexible tube 1 and constitutes a part of the flexible tube 1. The connecting member 6 is a flexible tube as shown in FIG. The opening 1A of No. 1 is fitted to the outside of the mouthpiece 7 and the mouthpiece 7 fixed by crimping so as to sandwich the opening 1A from the inside and the outside of the opening 1A by the outer tube portion 7A and the inner tube portion 7B. A stepped tubular cylindrical joint 8 having large and small external threaded portions 8A, 8B formed on the outer peripheral sides of both ends, and a bag shape for fastening the tubular joint 8 from one side of the coated flexible tube 1 It is composed of a nut 9. In addition, 10 is an O-ring as a seal member, 11 is a seal ring, and 12 is a washer.

The flexible tube 1 is connected to the painting robot via the connecting member 6, the lead wire is housed and protected inside the tube body 2, and compressed air is sent from the connecting member 6 side. It has become.

The flexible tube 1 according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, and there is no particular difference from the prior art in that it protects the lead wire or the like as the internal wiring of the coating robot. ..

However, in this embodiment, the elastic resin film 4 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the flexible tube body 2, and the heat-shrinkable tube 5 is inserted from the outside of the elastic resin film 4 to shrink the heat. Since the elastic resin coating 4 of the tube body 2 can be slid and bent inside the heat-shrinkable tube 5, for example, when the coating robot arm is actuated, the flexible tube 1 is surrounded by a peripheral member. Even if it comes into contact with or interferes with, the heat-shrinkable tube 5 can protect the elastic resin film 4, and it is possible to effectively prevent the elastic resin film 4 from peeling or being damaged. Even when the flexible tube 1 is bent as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2, the heat shrinkable tube 5 is displaced relative to the elastic resin coating 4 on the tube body 2 side, so that the tube body 2 side It is possible to reliably prevent the heat-shrinkable tube 5 from generating a resistance force at the time of bending, and it is possible to give the tube main body 2 a large degree of bending freedom.

Further, by reinforcing the elastic resin coating 4 of the tube main body 2 from the outer peripheral side with the heat-shrinkable tube 5, it becomes possible to send high-pressure compressed air into the tube main body 2 and, by any chance, the elastic resin coating. Even if a pinhole or the like is generated in 4, the air-leakage can be prevented by the heat-shrinkable tube 5, so that the covered flexible tube 1 is also effective when used in a long length.

In the above embodiment, the case where the heat shrinkable tube 5 is used as the elastic protective tube has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is made of, for example, oil-resistant synthetic rubber or the like. A tube may be used as long as it can protect the elastic resin film 4.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the invention is applied to the painting robot has been described as an example, but instead of this, the invention may be applied to a machine tool or the like.

[0027]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a flexible tube body made of metal, into which wiring to be protected is inserted, and an outer peripheral surface of the tube body are provided. An elastic resin coating provided by fusion bonding to the outer peripheral surface of the tube to provide airtightness to the tube body, and a tubular elastic protection tube slidably fitted on the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating. Since the flexible tube with coating is configured, the elastic resin coating can be protected by the elastic protection tube even if the flexible tube repeatedly contacts and interferes with surrounding members, and the durability of the flexible tube The pressure resistance and bending flexibility can be improved, and the airtightness can be improved by doubling the outer circumference of the tube body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view of a broken main part showing a flexible tube with a cover and a connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the flexible tube shown in FIG.

3 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG. 2 showing an elastic resin coating, a heat shrinkable tube and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Flexible Tube 2 Tube Body 4 Elastic Resin Coating 5 Heat Shrink Tube (Elastic Protection Tube) 6 Connection Member

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A tube body made of metal which is flexible and through which wiring to be protected is inserted, and fusion-bonded to the outer surface of the tube body so as to cover the outer surface of the tube body. A flexible cover with a cover formed of an elastic resin coating provided to the tube body to provide airtightness and a tubular elastic protection tube slidably fitted on the outer peripheral side of the elastic resin coating. Sex tube.