The invention relates to the systems used for clamping, locking, fixing, positioning, conveying, gripping, holding, pushing or pulling the objects in machine tools, machining centers, turning machine, transfer line, metal machine, robot, robot arms, robot hands, rotary tables, fixtures etc.
The invention particularly relates to an object hold, clamp and position system which enables directly or through holders holding the object to be positioned and clamped on the machine or robots by means of pull the link elements, and at the same time to be locked by the slider.
Today, objects are placed on the devices for gripping, holding or pulling object in the areas of machine tools, transfer lines, rotary tables, fixtures etc. and also clamping mechanisms are used to fix like holders on machines.
The clamping mechanisms used in the present art generally have a ball mechanism that clamps on the holders by means of the link element. Like link element, which is connected to the holder at one end of it and also called pull stud, is fixed to the clamping mechanism so that it can be removed from the other circular shaped end. The ball mechanism, which performs the fixing process to the link element in the clamping mechanism, in general structure, has a body, a plurality of balls surrounding the inner surface of the body and a spring assembly that ensures the ball remains in
the locking position continuously. The balls are kept in the locking position continuously by means of the spring assembly and are clamped by gripping the end of the link piece located inside the body. In order to be able to apply opening force to the balls, it is provided that the balls are passed to the open position by using pressurized oil or air. However, in accordance with the working principle of ball
mechanisms in compression systems in the state of the art, only the clamping process is carried out by means of the ball mechanism and the locking process is realized by this clamping process. Therefore, the only effective clamping process in which the ball mechanism performs with balls in especially heavy work pieces, may lead the system not to operate safely.
As an example of the state of the art in the research performed in the literature, document numbered DE10118809 A1 can be shown. Said document relates to the quick-clamping device. In the said invention, it is mentioned that the nipple used as the interconnection element is clamped to the central receiver hole of the cylinder by means of the balls placed circumferentially in the cylinder. In order to clamp the nipple releasably into the cylinder, a suction duct is opened that allows oil or air to be delivered to the center of the cylinder.
As an example of the state of the art, document numbered DE10118808 A1 can be shown. Said document relates to a ball-pool quick-clamping device. In the said
invention, the balls, which are placed in the cylinder in the circumferential direction, are clamped to the interconnection element by the piston moving under the action of the energy accumulator. With the said invention, the balls are allowed to be clamped to the interconnection members having large locking sections and large locking depths.
As an example of the state of the art, document numbered DE10317350 A1 can be shown. Said document relates to a quick-action clamping cylinder consisting of a housing and a cover which covers the housing and has a central recess for receiving an insert nipple that is arranged on the lower side of a workpiece pallet. Said insert nipple is locked in a spring-loaded manner in the housing by means of a plurality of locking balls that are spring-loaded in the locking position on the outer periphery of the insert nipple. Said locking balls are disengaged from the insert nipple in the unlocked position by means of displacement of a piston actuated by a pressurised medium.
In all the above-mentioned documents, systems that performs only the clamping process to the interconnection element connected to the holder holding the work piece are mentioned. Therefore, in the state of the art, a need arises for a system that is clamped to the holder holding the work piece and can be locked at the same time.
As a result, the existence of the above problems and the inadequacy of the existing solutions made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.
The present invention relates to a self-clamping system that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and brings new advantages to the relevant technical field.
The main object of the invention is to obtain an object hold, clamp and position system which enables directly objects or through holders holding the object to be clamped on the machines or robots by means of pulling link element, and at the same time to be positioned, oriented and locked by the inclined slider.
The object of the invention is to provide a single or double acting clamping system according to the field of use.
Another object of the invention is to provide an object hold, clamp and position system driven by hydraulic, pneumatic or servo.
Another object of the invention is to ensure that conveying, gripping, holding, pushing, pulling or transferring processed of the objects are performed safely by self-locking inclined slider which has form closed geometry.
The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood thanks to the figures below and the detailed description written by referring to these figures. For this reason, the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.
disassembled, exploded condition.
The system is suitable for clamping and holding or clamping, holding and positioning or clamping, holding, positioning and orientation.
As it seen in
(P) to be positioned, oriented and clamped on the machine or robots by means of pull the link elements (S), and at the same time to be locked by a lock system (A) or a robot gripper (B).
In a preferred embodiment, holder (T) includes at least one pin (T1) which engages into at least one orientation hole (503) of the lock system (A) to provide exact position and orientation of the object (P).
A robot gripper (B) can be used also individually or together with the lock system (A). In this case, at least one pin (B1) which is formed on the robot gripper (B) engages into an orientation hole (T2) formed on the holder (T) to provide exact position and orientation of the object (P).
In this detailed description, the preferred alternatives of the lock system (A) and robot gripper (B) according to the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject and in such a way that they will not create any conflict effect.
In
The main body (10) is the main structure of the lock system (A) according to the invention and has a cylinder hole (12) in which air and oil is introduced. The side cover (20) is sealed to the side surfaces of the main body (10) by means of the connection element (70).
An inclined housing (30) has been placed in the cylinder hole (12) inside the main body (10), so that it can move back and forth. Said inclined housing (30) generally consists of a piston (31) in circular form and an inclined slider (32) connected to the inside of the piston (31). On the inclined slider (32), there is an inclined T shaped channel (321) having a sloped structure. The slope of said inclined T shaped channel (321) is 7° or less than 7°.
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The lock system (A) of the invention can be used on the machine table and also in an alternative embodiment of the invention, it can also be used on robots as a robot gripper (B). In this case, as seen in
As seen in
The main body (10) is connected to a source such as hydraulic, pneumatic or servo motor on the machine table or robot.
The link element (S) is positioned downwardly in the conical chamber (41) in the clamping mechanism (40) to engage the link element (S) connected from any surface of it to the holder (T) holding the object (P) from one end with the lock system (A) or the robot gripper (B).
With the link element (S) being positioned inside the conical chamber (41), the link element (S) activates the clamping mechanism (40) and the rollers (42) surrounding the inner surface of the conical chamber (41) roll on the inclined surface of the link element (S). Meanwhile, the conical chamber (41) moves upward within the support disk (43) by means of the extensions (411) passing through the support disc (43) together with the lower body (44) connected to its lower surface. With the upward movement of the conical chamber (41) and the lower body (44), the clamping mechanism (40) is provided to clamp the link element (S) by means of the conical chamber (41) and rollers (42) surrounding the inner surface of the conical chamber (41).
In order for the clamping mechanism (40) to lock the link element (S), the inclined housing (30) is moved inside the main body (10) by means of air or oil transferred into the main body (10). With the movement of the inclined housing (30), the T shaped slide (441) moves in the T shaped channel (321) of the inclined slider (32) with an inclination angle of 7° or less than 7° and the clamping mechanism (40) is provided to lock the link element (S). Hence, the lock system (A) connected to the machine table or the robot gripper (B) of a robot, is connected to the holder (T) holding the object (P).
In the alternative embodiment of the invention, if the clamping mechanism (40) is not wanted to lock the link element (S), the inclination angle of the inclined slider (32) may be more than 7°. The force can be increased or decreased by changing the inclination angle of the inclined slider (32).
The lock system (A) or the robot gripper (B) of the object holding and positioning system, comprises a sloped structure in the form inclined slider (32), it can be a helical slider or double inclined slider which can utilize female form closed channel.
Wedge transmission ratio provides high mechanical advantage, which increase clamp force up to 9 times of actuation piston force. This fact enables the device to be used for variety of pull forces by control cylinder pressure and without changing the device size.
Due to development by two separate mechanism modules device has another usage as robotic gripper (B) arm by simply altering the T bar length. In such a case orientation pin position holes (503) are replaced with two diameter stepped pin (B1) which has conical tip. Again that two diameter stepped pin is precisely located.
The guide cover (50) of the lock system (A) or robot gripper (B), comprises a flat seat surface (501) on the top which has accurate diameter hole (502) in the middle for draw and release of link element (S).
When connected in position link element (S) axis and machining axes are perpendicular, it is possible to machine rectangular prismatic object, normal to 5 of it's surfaces since remainder 6th face has been used to clamp.
In case that we need to machine object opposite/across two face/both side we are able to make it in one clamp to use window type holder (W) wherein said object is positioned inside the window. For example upper surface of the object is machined, after that window type holder (W) is rotated and positioned in desired angle and the other opposite surface can be machined without disconnecting the object (P).
At least one air outlet hole (504) is formed on the flat seat surface (501) for seat check. If the work piece object (P) is not in contact with the flat seat surface (501), pressure drops in seat check line rises in alert.
Piston (31) with inclined slider (32) builds in inclined housing (30) in order to make the system assembly possible via radially inward bolts or any kind of bond to connect the parts through the openings on the bottom of main body (10).
Inclined housing (30) can be adopted to any foot print shape. It does not have to be circular. Ports for pressurized fluid can be placed on three mutually perpendicular surfaces. Even ports may be placed in any angle.
The lock system (A) can also be used as push or pull clamp in perpendicular direction of actuation piston (31). In this case, rollers (42) of the clamp mechanism are not used.
The inclined slider (32) has rectangular shape to restrict rotation of the cylindrical piston (31) assembly about its own axis. There is no physical feature that restrains the angular piston (31) motion about its axis. Hence axial motion of cylindrical piston (31) assembly is protected for rotation in angular direction. The inclined slider (32) and lower body (44) are allowed to move in transverse direction relative to each other.
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If it is needed to machine object opposite/across two face/both side, it can be machined in one clamp to use window type holder (W) wherein, the upper surface of an object (P) is machined, after that window type holder (W) is rotated in desired angle and the other opposite surface of the same object (P) can be machined without disconnecting the object (P) from the holder.
Penetrating inserts (T3) can have square, rectangular, polygonal, triangular, circular cross sections. A montage method such as welding, soldering, press fit, bolt, pin, weld-on is used to mount the fasteners (T3) fixedly on the holder (T) or window type holder (W) or a vise.
teeth are opened and the link elements are mounted on the cylinder block. Lock system fixes the cylinder block in the desired place.
Function of assembly line is to connect two components. As example to connect to first component to another component (to connect to main assembly, subassembly)
with required accuracy. On a rigid plane in specific place lock systems (A) are connected, and holes related to the cad data in the first component during production are added to connect link element (S) (from now on where the link elements in the space are known). The main body is located in the this lock system (A) with link element (S) .The other component that need to be connected to the said main body, during production also accurate positioning hole for link element (S) are added. Robot gripper (B), brings the component exactly to the place. To bring the components exactly to the place need to be correlation between the first component to the second component.
It's mean robot need to follow to the solid plane and positioning in the solid plane.
Touch probe sensor connected to the robot gripper (B). The touch probe sensor detects the plane and the positioning of lock system (A) calculates with software the deviation between cartesian coordinate systems by transformation and finds user frame and tool frame. It mean from now on robot and the base is match each other and act as one cartesian coordinate transformation system. This software package can be used separately from lock system.
In assembly lines the purpose is to combine parts or cluster of parts which may require to be connected with accurate position and repeatability.
On a rigid station lock systems (A) are precisely placed. Link elements (S) are installed to accurate correspondent places on the part No 1.
As a result the part No 1 has been positioned in space in close accordance with the theoretical model. Other part No 2 is put on part No 1 with respect to same theoretical model.
Robot transports part No 2 near to part No 1 and positions the part No 2 to be assembled.
As part No 2 is also needed to have precise position resembling the same theoritical model in same space. For this reason another link element (S) is installed on the part No 2.
Touch probe connected via link element (S) to robot gripper side assigns the coordinate frame to part No 1.
The touch probe sensor is used to establish correlation among actual positions of assembly parts and theoretical model.
The auto teaching (Y) software utilizing coordinate frame transformation serves to establish coordinate systems and calculate the relative deviation among them.
With this solution coordinate system attached the robot for part No 1 and the part No 2 are established.
If extra accuracy request to define the gripper frame a stationary touch probe ca be utilized.
This auto teaching (Y) solution can be used with complete solution or separately.
The 3D vector calculation with transformation matrices behind the auto teaching (Y) software is as follows:
a
11
TCP
X
a
12
TCp
y
a
13
TCP
z
+a
14
b
11
TCP
X
+b
12
TCP
y
b
13
TCP
z
+b
14[(Rota−Rotb)]×[TCPXTCPYTCPX]T=−[tā−t
This formula useable to define coordinate frame for any object in the space.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/TR2020/050757 | 8/25/2020 | WO |