JP7583391B2 - Vacuum Gripper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum gripper used to transport heavy objects such as firebricks.

In conventional kiln construction work, when transporting bricks weighing approximately 10 kg, a worker could get his fingers caught between the brick and the ground when placing the brick in the designated position, which could result in a fracture. To solve this problem, a link mechanism called a block holder is known as a device that allows the worker to transport bricks without directly touching them. A block holder converts the force of lifting the handle into a gripping force, making it possible to work without directly touching the bricks. The configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a device that can be used to transport firebricks.

JP 2020-1913 A

When using a block holder, the claws of the block holder need to be inserted into the gaps between the bricks, which can damage the bricks and can also cause the bricks to come loose from the claws and fall while being moved.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a vacuum gripper that can transport objects such as firebricks safely without damaging them.

The vacuum gripper according to the present invention comprises a rubber plate whose underside is an adsorption surface for adsorbing an object to be transported, a metal plate stacked and connected to the upper surface of the rubber plate, a tubular gripping section provided above the metal plate and extending parallel to the metal plate, a connecting member connecting the metal plate and the gripping section, and a negative pressure introduction mechanism provided within the gripping section and connected to a negative pressure source. The negative pressure introduction mechanism is characterized by having a vacuum tube that protrudes from the gripping section toward the metal plate, penetrates the metal plate and the rubber plate, and opens onto the adsorption surface, and a pressure control section that directs negative pressure generated in the outside air or the negative pressure source to the opening of the vacuum tube.

The pressure control section is, for example, a release tube with an outside air suction port formed at its tip. The connecting member preferably extends through the metal plate and the rubber plate and is fixed to the rubber plate. For example, the connecting member is a pair of bolts extending parallel to each other, and the vacuum tube is disposed between the pair of bolts. Preferably, on the suction surface, the tip of the connecting member and the opening of the vacuum tube are recessed further than the outer periphery of the suction surface. The rubber plate may include a lower rubber layer having an suction surface, and a frame-shaped intermediate rubber layer located between the metal plate and the lower rubber layer.

The vacuum gripper may also include a tube cover that is provided on the outside of the gripping portion and supported by a support member so that it can swing freely on the gripping portion. In this case, the tube cover extends from the support member to both sides along the gripping portion, and has a lid portion located on one side of the support member facing the upper surface of the gripping portion and capable of closing the outside air suction port provided in the pressure control portion, and an operating portion located on the other side of the support member facing the lower surface of the gripping portion. In this configuration, the vacuum gripper may, for example, include a spring and an abutment pin provided in the gripping portion, and the abutment pin protrudes from the gripping portion to abut against the operating portion, and the spring urges the operating portion downward.

The present invention provides a vacuum gripper that can safely transport objects such as firebricks without damaging them.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum gripper according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum gripper of the first embodiment as viewed from below. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an intermediate rubber layer. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a metal plate and a rubber plate by a connecting member. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a vacuum gripper according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vacuum gripper according to a second embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view showing a vacuum gripper 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This vacuum gripper 10 is used to transport firebricks in furnace construction work, and has a rubber plate 12 whose lower surface is an adsorption surface 11 for adsorbing the bricks, and a metal plate 13 stacked and connected to the upper surface of the rubber plate 12. The adsorption surface 11 has a size sufficient to adsorb to the upper surface of a transported object such as a firebrick.

The rubber plate 12 and the metal plate 13 are generally rectangular, and the rubber plate 12 comprises a lower rubber layer 14 having an adsorption surface 11, and an intermediate rubber layer 15 located between the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14. As described below, the intermediate rubber layer 15 is frame-shaped, and its outer shape, i.e., its outline, is the same as the outlines of the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14, thereby forming a space 30 (see Figure 4) inside the rubber plate 12.

A gripping portion 20 is provided above the metal plate 13. The gripping portion 20 is a tubular member that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the metal plate 13. The metal plate 13 and the gripping portion 20 are connected to each other by connecting members 21 and 22. The connecting members 21 and 22 are a pair of bolts that extend parallel to each other, extend through the metal plate 13 and the rubber plate 12, and are fixed between the metal plate 13 and the suction surface 11 of the rubber plate 12.

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

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum gripper 10 as seen from below. As can be seen clearly in this figure, an opening 28 of the vacuum tube 24 is formed in the center of the suction surface 11, and the bolt heads 21a, 22a, which are the tips of the connecting members 21, 22, are located near the opening 28. The bolt heads 21a, 22a and the opening 28 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rubber plate 12, and the area of the suction surface 11 where the bolt heads 21a, 22a and the opening 28 are provided is recessed from the outer periphery of the suction surface 11. The opening 28 protrudes beyond the bolt heads 21a, 22a, and a space S (see Figure 4) that exerts suction force on the transported object is formed near the bolt heads 21a, 22a.

The structure of the rubber plate 12 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The intermediate rubber layer 15 is a rectangular frame and has approximately the same outer shape as the metal plate 13 and the lower rubber layer 14. Therefore, when the metal plate 13, the intermediate rubber layer 15, and the lower rubber layer 14 are laminated, a space 30 is defined between them. The bolt heads 21a, 22a of the connecting members 21, 22 engage with the suction surface 11 via a washer 31. In the connecting members 21, 22, washers 33, 34 are fitted above and below the metal plate 13, and a nut 35 is screwed onto the top side of the upper washer 33.

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

The release tube 26 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 again. The outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 is exposed to the outside air and can be closed with the fingertip of the worker. The release tube 26 is connected to the vacuum tube 24, and when the outside air suction port 26a is closed, negative pressure is introduced to the vacuum tube 24, and when the outside air suction port 26a is open, atmospheric pressure is introduced to the vacuum tube 24 from the introduction tube 29. Therefore, by closing the outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 with the suction surface 11 in close contact with the top surface of the transported object such as a firebrick, negative pressure is introduced from the opening 28, and the transported object is adsorbed to the suction surface 11.

Next, the operation of the vacuum gripper 10 of this embodiment will be described. In normal use, first insert your middle finger between the connecting member 21 on the release tube 26 side and the vacuum tube 24, and your ring finger between the connecting member 22 on the other side and the vacuum tube 24. In this state, lift the gripper 20 and press the suction surface 11 against the top surface of the transported object, such as a firebrick. Then, when you close the outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 with your index finger, negative pressure is introduced into the space between the suction surface 11 and the transported object, and the transported object can be lifted via the gripper 20. After transporting the transported object to a specified position, open the outside air suction port 26a, and the pressure between the suction surface 11 and the transported object approaches atmospheric pressure, allowing the transported object to be set in the specified position.

In this way, according to this embodiment, when transporting an object such as a firebrick, all that is required is to close the outside air suction port 26a of the release tube 26 while the vacuum gripper 10 is in close contact with the top surface of the object, and then lift the gripping portion 20, so that the object can be transported safely without being damaged.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a tube cover 40. The tube cover 40 is provided on the outside of the gripping portion 20 and is supported by a support member 41 so that it can swing freely on the gripping portion 20. The tube cover 40 extends from the support member 41 to both sides along the gripping portion 20, and has a lid portion 42 located on one side of the support member 41, i.e., on the introduction tube 29 side, facing the upper surface of the gripping portion 20, and an operating portion 43 located on the other side of the support member 41, i.e., on the opposite side to the introduction tube 29, facing the lower surface of the gripping portion 20.

The lid 42 of the tube cover 40 has a semi-cylindrical shape that covers the upper surface of the grip 20, and the operating part 43 has a semi-cylindrical shape that covers the lower surface of the grip 20. A spring 44 and abutment pin 45 are provided on a cylindrical member 49 provided in the grip 20, and the abutment pin 45 protrudes downward from the grip 20 and abuts against the operating part 43. Meanwhile, an outside air suction port 29a is formed in the introduction tube 29, and an opening 48 is formed in the grip 20 corresponding to the outside air suction port 29a. When the lid 42 is in close contact with the grip 20, the outside air suction port 29a is closed, and at this time the operating part 43 retracts the abutment pin 45 into the grip 20 against the spring 44.

The operation of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but the operation of the tube cover 40 is different. That is, the operator does not directly block the outside air suction port 29a to introduce or release negative pressure to the suction surface 11, but simply displaces the tube cover 40 toward the gripping part 20. Specifically, when the operator holds the tube cover 40 and abuts the operating part 43 against the lower surface of the gripping part 20, the lid part 42 blocks the outside air suction port 29a, thereby introducing negative pressure to the suction surface 11. In contrast, when the tube cover 40 is released, the abutment pin 45 protrudes from the gripping part 20 due to the elastic force of the spring 44, which causes the operating part 43 to swing downward and the lid part 42 to swing upward, so that the outside air suction port 29a is connected to the atmosphere, and the atmosphere is led to the suction surface 11. That is, in the second embodiment, the introduction pipe 29 is the pressure control part.

The second embodiment therefore provides the same effect as the first embodiment, but since the outside air suction port 29a is not blocked by the index finger but by the lid portion 42 of the tube cover 40, the outside air suction port 29a can be blocked more reliably.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11: suction surface 12: rubber plate 13: metal plate 20: gripping portion 21, 22: connecting member 23: negative pressure introduction mechanism 24: vacuum tube 26: release tube 28: opening 29: introduction tube

Claims (5)

A rubber plate having an adsorption surface for adsorbing an object to be transported;
a metal plate laminated and connected to an upper surface of the rubber plate;
A tubular gripping portion provided above the metal plate and extending parallel to the metal plate;
A connecting member that connects the metal plate and the gripping portion to each other;
a negative pressure introduction mechanism provided in the gripping portion and connected to a negative pressure source;
the negative pressure introduction mechanism includes a vacuum tube that protrudes from the gripping portion toward the metal plate, penetrates the metal plate and the rubber plate, and opens at the suction surface, and a pressure control portion that introduces a negative pressure generated in the outside air or the negative pressure source to the opening of the vacuum tube,
The connecting members are a pair of bolts extending parallel to each other through the metal plate and the rubber plate, the heads of the bolts engage with the suction surface of the rubber plate, and nuts are screwed onto the upper surface of the metal plate of the bolts.
A vacuum gripper comprising: The vacuum gripper according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure control unit is a release tube with an outside air suction port formed at the tip. 2. The vacuum gripper of claim 1, wherein the vacuum tube is disposed between the pair of bolts. The vacuum gripper according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the connecting member and the opening of the vacuum tube are recessed from the outer periphery of the suction surface. 2. The vacuum gripper according to claim 1, wherein the rubber plate comprises a lower rubber layer having the suction surface, and a frame-shaped intermediate rubber layer located between the metal plate and the lower rubber layer.

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