JP2003171080A - Sucking pad and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a useful sucking pad and a manufacturing method thereof. <P>SOLUTION: While a cylindrical pipe member 26 made from a polytetrafluoroethylene resin is rotated, a cutting edge 32C of a cutting tool 32 is made to abut on the pipe member 26 from its inside and outside so as to form an outer groove 36 in the outside and an inner groove 40 in the inside, thereby forming a bellows portion composing the sucking pad. Then, by cutting the pipe member 26 from a base end of a base portion continuing to the bellows portion, the sucking pad can be obtained. Thereby, even if polytetrafluoroethylene resin is hard material, the bellows portion having a required wall thickness and length can be formed. Consequently, the sucking pad having enough cushioning performance and sucking force and good chemical resistance can be manufactured by a simple machining device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suction pad for sucking an object to be conveyed, and a method for manufacturing the suction pad, and more particularly, to a suction pad which is easy to use and a method for manufacturing the suction pad.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a suction pad connected to a vacuum generation source is used to suck and convey a work (object to be conveyed). Hereinafter, a conventional suction pad will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing an example of a conventional suction pad. In the suction pad 110, a base portion 112 connected to a vacuum source such as a vacuum suction pump via a pipe or a tube, and the base portion 1
12 and the bellows part 114 integrally provided. The tip side of the bellows portion 114 has a substantially conical skirt portion 1
It is formed as 16.

As shown in FIG. 15, this suction pad 11
When the work W is attracted by 0, the skirt portion 1
16 is brought into close contact with the work W, the vacuum generation source is operated, and the air in the suction pad 110 is sucked from the base 112 by the vacuum generation source. As a result, the pressure inside the suction pad 110 is reduced, and a high suction force is generated on the contact surface side of the skirt portion 116, and the work W is suctioned.

By the way, such a conventional suction pad is made of rubber by press molding. Therefore, when a chemical unfavorable to rubber adheres to the surface of the work W to be adsorbed, there is a problem that the adsorption pad 110 (mainly the skirt portion 116) is corroded or deteriorated by the chemical.

As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to manufacture and use a chemical resistant resin suction pad by blow molding. However, since such a chemical resistant resin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene resin) is generally hard,
Blow molding does not provide a good suction pad with the required wall thickness.

Further, when the work W is at a high temperature, the suction pad 110 (mainly the skirt portion 116) is melted, deformed, or deteriorated, and the suction function as the suction pad is lost. There was also.

As a countermeasure against this, it is possible to use a metal suction pad. However, a metal suction pad often uses a cylindrical metal pipe as it is, and therefore has a drawback that a large impact is applied to the work when the work is brought into contact with the suction pad. In addition, it is possible to use a metal suction pad manufactured by blow molding, but since the metal is hard, it is not possible to obtain a good suction pad with the required wall thickness by blow molding, and the moldability It is doubtful that is enough.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a suction pad which is easy to use and a method of manufacturing the suction pad.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bellows-shaped bellows portion and an air suction hole for sucking air in the bellows portion. Thus, in the adsorption pad for adsorbing the transported object on the tip side of the bellows portion, the bellows portion is formed by cutting a chemical resistant resin or metal.

Thus, a chemical resistant suction pad having a bellows portion or a heat resistant suction pad having a bellows portion is realized. Therefore, since the suction pad has a cushioning property due to the bellows portion, the work can be sucked without giving an impact. Moreover, in the case of a chemical resistant suction pad,
Even if a workpiece with chemicals is adsorbed by this adsorption pad, the adsorption pad will not be damaged by the chemicals.In the case of a heat-resistant adsorption pad, the workpiece in high temperature will be adsorbed by this adsorption pad. However, the heat does not damage the suction pad.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adsorption pad having an air suction hole for sucking air, and suctioning air from the air suction hole to suck an object to be conveyed at the suction portion.
A cap member made of a chemical resistant resin is attached to the suction surface side of the suction portion.

As a result, it is possible to realize a suction pad which can be sucked without giving a shock to a work and which is not damaged by a chemical. Also, the suction pad can be easily manufactured in a significantly short time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bellows-shaped bellows portion made of a hard member, and an air suction hole for sucking air in the bellows portion. By air suction from the air suction hole, A method of manufacturing a suction pad for sucking a conveyed object on the tip side of the bellows part, in a state in which a cylindrical pipe member is rotated, abutting a cutting tool from outside and inside of the pipe member, An outer groove on the outside of the pipe member,
It is characterized in that the bellows portion is formed by forming inner grooves respectively inside.

As a result, the bellows portion made of a hard material and having a desired wall thickness and length can be formed.
A good suction pad having sufficient cushioning property and suction force can be manufactured with a simple processing apparatus.

Examples of the hard member include a chemical resistant member such as polytetrafluoroethylene resin and a heat resistant member such as metal.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, when the bellows portion is formed, the outer groove and the inner groove which are adjacent to each other are alternately formed from one side.

Since the outer groove and the inner groove are alternately and sequentially formed from one direction side, that is, the front end side or the rear end side in the axial direction of the pipe member (in other words, the front end side or the rear end side of the suction pad). It is difficult for the cut part to escape when forming the groove. Therefore,
The bellows portion can be accurately formed with the intended thickness.

If the shape of the cutting edge of the cutting tool is matched with the shapes of the outer groove and the inner groove, one cutting edge is advanced once in the thickness direction of the pipe member to form one groove. Can be formed. Further, even if the cutting edge of the cutting tool is formed only on one side, the above-mentioned bellows portion can be formed by one cutting tool by rotating the machine tool in the reverse direction and rotating the pipe member in the reverse direction. Is possible.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, when the bellows portion is formed, the outer groove and the inner groove that are adjacent to each other are sequentially formed simultaneously from one side.

As a result, the bellows portion can be accurately formed with the intended thickness, and the time required for manufacturing can be greatly shortened as compared with the invention described in claim 4.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

[First Embodiment] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a suction pad 10 described in the first embodiment has a base portion 12 having an air suction hole 11 for sucking air, and the base portion 1.
2 and a bellows portion 14 which is integrally provided.
The tip end side of the bellows portion 14 is formed as a substantially conical skirt portion 16.

The suction pad 10 is made of a chemically resistant fluororesin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene resin).

The base portion 12 is formed in a substantially short tubular shape, is attached to the tip of a robot arm 18 (hereinafter, simply referred to as arm 18), and is a vacuum suction pump via a pipe or a tube (not shown). Etc. is connected to an air suction source (not shown).

In order to suck and convey a work using the suction pad 10, the arm 18 having the suction pad 10 at its tip is moved to move the suction pad 10 to the work W.
Move to the position.

Then, air is sucked from the air suction hole 11, and the suction pad 10 is brought close to the work to suck the suction portion 14.
Is brought into contact with the work W to be adsorbed and held (see FIG. 2), and the arm 18 is moved and conveyed.

The work W is adsorbed, held, and conveyed by, for example, four adsorption pads attached to four arms, respectively.

The thickness t, the inner diameter d, the outer diameter D, the length L, and the pitch P of the bellows portion 14 are too large for the work W when the suction pad 10 is brought into contact with the work W. It is determined that no impact is applied and the work W can be sufficiently sucked by the suction pad 10. When the material of the suction pad 10 is polytetrafluoroethylene resin, the bellows portion 1
As an example of the dimension of 4, the wall thickness t is 0.2 mm and the inner diameter d is
Is 6.2 mmφ, the outer diameter D is 10.5 mmφ, the length L is 9.5 mm, and the pitch P is 0.5 mm.

In order to manufacture the suction pad 10, a pipe member 26 consisting of a portion 22 corresponding to the base portion 12 and a pipe portion 24 integrally continuous with the base portion 12 is previously prepared.
Are processed by cutting or the like (see FIG. 3). that time,
A hole is formed in the pipe portion 24 in consideration of the number of steps of the bellows and the thickness of the bellows. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the pipe portion 24 are the bellows portion 1.
The inner diameter d and the outer diameter D of 4 are the same. Further, the tip end surface side (suction surface side) of the bellows portion 14 is also processed into a predetermined shape. The shape of the tip surface side is not particularly limited.

Then, the pipe member 26 is attached to the bellows portion 1.
No. 4, the chuck portion 30 of the cutting machine 28 (see FIG.
(See (A)). In order to prevent the pipe member 26 from being damaged, the chuck portion 30 may be made of resin such as nylon.

The pipe member 2 is rotated by rotating the chuck portion 30.
6 is rotated, the cutting edge 32C of the cutting tool 32 of the cutting machine 28 is abutted from the outside of the pipe member 26 at a position corresponding to the bellows end, and the thickness direction T of the pipe member 26 is increased.
By moving the cutting tool 32 to the set position (position where the tip of the cutting edge 32C reaches the groove depth), one outer groove 36A is formed on the outside (see FIG. 4).

After the formation of the outer groove 36A is completed, the cutting tool 32 is retracted in the wall thickness direction T so that the pipe member 2 is removed.
6 and is further inserted inside the pipe member 26. Then, the position of the cutting edge 32C is adjusted so that the inner groove 40A adjacent to the outer groove 36A is formed, and then the inner edge of the pipe member 26 is brought into contact with the inner groove 40A having the same depth as the outer groove 36A. Formed (see FIG. 5). When abutting, the cutting edge 32 is adjusted so that the wall thickness t of the bellows portion 14 becomes a desired thickness.
Adjust the position of C.

Further, an outer groove 36B is formed next to the outer groove 36A (see FIG. 6), then an inner groove 40B is formed next to the inner groove 40A (see FIG. 7), and a similar cutting process is performed. The bellows portion 14 is formed by sequentially repeating the pipe member 26 from the front end side to the base end side. The dimensions of each outer groove are all the same, and the dimensions of each inner groove are all the same.

After the bellows portion 14 is formed, the base portion 12
The suction pad 10 is obtained by cutting the pipe member 26 from the base end of.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the chemical-resistant suction pad 10 having the bellows portion 14 having the desired wall thickness t is obtained, so that the work W to which the chemical is attached is obtained.
When adsorbing and transporting, the work W can be favorably adsorbed with a sufficient adsorbing force without giving a shock to the work W, and the adsorption pad is not damaged by chemicals.

In the first embodiment, the cutting edge 32C is formed integrally with the cutting tool 32, but the cutting edge may be a chip shape that can be attached to and removed from the cutting tool. Further, when the bellows portion is formed by cutting, as shown in FIG. 8, another cutting tool 42 having a cutting edge 42C having a shape different from the cutting edge 32C may be used.

[Second Mode] Next, the second mode will be described. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a cutting machine 48 provided with two cutting tools 44 and 46 is used to manufacture the same suction pad 10 as described in the first embodiment. The cutting edges 44C and 46C of the cutting tools 44 and 46 have the same dimensions as the cutting edge 32C of the cutting tool 32 described in the first embodiment. In the second mode, the same components as those in the first mode are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the pipe member 26 described in the first embodiment is held by the chuck portion 50 of the cutting machine 48.

While the pipe member 26 is rotated, the cutting edge 44C of the cutting tool 44 is abutted from the outside of the pipe member 26 so that the outer groove 36A is formed, and the inner groove 40A is formed. The cutting edge 46C of the cutting tool 46 is brought into contact with the pipe member 26 from the inside (FIG. 9).
reference).

After the outer grooves 36A and the inner groove 40A are formed by moving the cutting tools 44 and 46 to the set position in the wall thickness direction T of the pipe member 26 (see FIG. 10), the cutting tools 44 and 46 are fleshed. It is retracted in the thickness direction T and separated from the pipe member 26. Then, the cutting edge 44C of the cutting tool 44 is abutted from the outside of the pipe member 26 so that the outside groove 36B (see FIG. 7) is formed, and the inside groove 40 is formed.
The cutting edge 46C of the cutting tool 46 is brought into contact with the inside of the pipe member 26 so that B (see FIG. 7) is formed.

In this way, the outer groove and the inner groove adjacent to the outer groove are simultaneously formed sequentially from the tip side of the pipe member 26. This makes it possible to reduce the time required to form the bellows portion by about half as compared with the first embodiment.
The production efficiency can be greatly improved.

[Third Mode] Next, the third mode will be described. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the suction pad 60 is made of a general-purpose metal (for example, stainless steel), and the bellows portion 64 is also made of this metal.

In order to manufacture the suction pad 60, a metal pipe member (the shape is the same as that of the first or second embodiment)
Is manufactured in advance.

Then, the pipe member is held and rotated by the chuck portion of the cutting machine, and the cutting tool is contacted to form the outer groove 66 and the inner groove 70 from one direction side (for example, the tip end side of the pipe member). To form the bellows portion 64.

Then, the suction pad 60 is obtained by cutting from the base end of the base portion which is continuous with the bellows portion 64.

According to the third embodiment, the bellows portion 6 having a desired wall thickness t.
Since the heat-resistant adsorption pad 60 having No. 4 is obtained, even if a workpiece in a high temperature state is adsorbed by this adsorption pad, it can be adsorbed without giving a shock to this workpiece, and the adsorption pad 60 is melted by heat. , Does not deform or deteriorate.

[Fourth Mode] Next, the fourth mode will be described. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the suction pad 80 described in the fourth embodiment has a base portion 82 having an air suction hole 81 for sucking air, and a bellows portion 84 provided integrally with the base portion 82. A cap member 92 made of a chemical-resistant fluororesin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene) is attached to an existing rubber suction pad 90 made up of
Is attached.

As a result, even if the work to which the chemical is attached is adsorbed by the adsorption pad 80, the chemical is attached only to the cap member 92. Therefore, when a work to which a chemical is attached is adsorbed and conveyed, the work can be adsorbed without giving an impact to the work, and the adsorption pad is not damaged by the chemical.

To manufacture the suction pad 80, the cap member 92 is manufactured in advance according to the size of the skirt portion 86 forming the tip side of the bellows portion 84 of the rubber suction pad 90, and the cap member 92 is manufactured. It is manufactured by fitting the skirt portion 86 into 92. That is, since it can be manufactured by fitting the existing suction pad 90 manufactured by a simple method such as press molding into the cap member,
It is not necessary to perform the groove processing as in the case of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

As a result, it is possible to easily manufacture the suction pad 80 which can be sucked without giving a shock to the work and whose suction surface is not damaged by chemicals in a significantly short time.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, this embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0053]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, a suction pad which is easy to use can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a side sectional view and a partially enlarged side sectional view showing a suction pad according to a first embodiment, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where a work is sucked by the suction pad according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a pipe member used when manufacturing the suction pad according to the first embodiment.

4A and 4B are respectively a perspective view and a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the first embodiment is formed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the first embodiment is formed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the first embodiment is formed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the first embodiment is formed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a side view and a front view, respectively, showing another example of the cutting tool used when manufacturing the suction pad according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the second embodiment is formed.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing that the bellows portion of the suction pad according to the second embodiment is formed.

11 (A) and 11 (B) are respectively a third diagram.
It is a side sectional view showing a suction pad concerning a form, and a partial expanded side sectional view.

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view showing a suction pad according to a fourth mode.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a suction pad according to a fourth mode.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a conventional suction pad.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state where a work is sucked by a conventional suction pad.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Adsorption pad 11 Air suction hole 14 Bellows 26 Pipe members 32 bytes (cutting tool) 36 outer groove 40 inner groove 42 bytes (cutting tool) 44 bytes (cutting tool) 46 bytes (cutting tool) 60 suction pad 64 bellows 66 outer groove 70 inner groove 80 Adsorption pad 81 Air suction hole 84 Bellows 90 Suction pad 92 Cap member W work

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Issei Suzuki             3 33-3 Yaguchi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock market             Company (72) Inventor Masahiro Homitsu             3 33-3 Yaguchi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock market             Company (72) Inventor Haruo Shimura             1-34-25 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company STEC F-term (reference) 3C007 FT10 FU00                 3F004 FA04 FA10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bellows-shaped bellows portion and an air suction hole for sucking air in the bellows portion are provided, and an object to be conveyed is moved toward the tip end side of the bellows portion by air suction from the air suction hole. In the suction pad for suction, the bellows part is formed by cutting a chemical resistant resin or metal. 2. A suction pad that has an air suction hole for sucking air, and sucks an object to be conveyed at the suction portion by air suction from the air suction hole, wherein chemical resistance is provided on the suction surface side of the suction portion. A suction pad having a cap member made of resin attached thereto. 3. A bellows-shaped bellows portion made of a hard member, and an air suction hole for sucking air in the bellows portion, and the transported object is sucked by the air suction hole from the air suction hole. Is a method for manufacturing an adsorption pad that adsorbs on the tip side of a pipe member, wherein a cylindrical pipe member is rotated, and a cutting tool is brought into contact with the pipe member from the outer side and the inner side of the pipe member, A method for manufacturing a suction pad, characterized in that the bellows portion is formed by forming a side groove and an inner groove inside. 4. The manufacture of a suction pad according to claim 3, wherein when the bellows portion is formed, the outer groove and the inner groove which are adjacent to each other are alternately formed from one direction side. Method. 5. The method of manufacturing an adsorption pad according to claim 3, wherein when the bellows portion is formed, the outer groove and the inner groove that are adjacent to each other are sequentially formed simultaneously from one side. .