JPH0116757Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a gap sensor for an induction hardening apparatus that detects a gap between a workpiece and a work coil.

B. Summary of the invention This invention is a gap sensor for induction hardening equipment in which the stylus of the sensor body presses against the surface to be processed of the workpiece to detect the gap between the workpiece and the workpiece coil. By arranging the gap sensor so that it can be fixed at a position where it can maintain contact with the processing surface of the workpiece and at a position where it can maintain separation from it, it is possible to prevent damage to the gap sensor and improve workability when setting the sensor.

C. Prior Art An induction hardening device that automatically hardens the linear motion guide surface of a machine tool, etc. while heating it by high-frequency induction heating is shown in Fig. 4. An alignment unit 2 is provided above the surface to be processed 1a, supported by a portal frame (not shown). This matching unit 2 is
It is connected to a high frequency power supply via a cable,
It consists of a touch engine, a matching transformer, etc. In addition, the matching unit 2
A positioning device (not shown) allows it to move relatively reciprocally along the surface 1a to be processed of the workpiece 1, and is also provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the direction of movement.

The alignment unit 2 has a surface 1a to be processed of the work 1.
A work coil 3 having a shape that follows the shape of is connected and supported. The alignment unit 2 also includes a vertical gap sensor 4 and a horizontal gap sensor 5, which are located in front of the work coil 3 in the running direction and extend in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the running direction (rightward in FIG. 4). are attached via support arms 6 and 7, respectively. Each gap sensor 4, 5 measures and detects the distance between the workpiece coil 3 and the processing surface 1a of the workpiece 1, which is usually about several millimeters.

The sensor bodies 8 and 9, which are the main parts of the gap sensors 4 and 5, are connected to a cylindrical body 10, for example, as shown in FIG.
It consists of a differential transformer in which a coil 11 and a core 12 are housed. A shaft 14 of a stylus portion 13 at the tip of the sensor bodies 8, 9 is coaxially fixed to the core 12. A steel ball 15 is provided at the tip of the shaft 14 to reduce sliding resistance, and the steel ball 15 is constantly urged by a spring 16 to press against the surface 1a of the workpiece 1 to be processed. 17 is a cover of the stylus portion 13 made of rubber.

The measured values detected by each gap sensor 4, 5 are inputted to a control section 18 supported by the matching unit 2 via signal lines 19, 20. and,
This control section 18 controls the operation of the positioning device of the alignment unit 2 to
The gap between a and the work coil 3 is automatically maintained at a predetermined value.

The alignment unit 2 also includes an edge detection sensor 21 that detects the edge of the surface 1a to be processed of the workpiece 1.
It is attached via a support arm 22 at an appropriate position in front of each gap sensor 4, 5 in the running direction. The end detection sensor 21 uses an optical sensor consisting of a light emitting part and a light receiving part that utilize reflection from the surface to be processed 1a, and is connected to the control part 18 via a signal line 23.

D Problems to be solved by the invention By the way, as shown in Fig. 6, when there are two or more surfaces 1a of the workpiece 1 that are located on the front and back sides, such as the upper and lower surfaces or the left and right sides, the workpiece Since the coil 3 and the gap sensors 4 and 5 are fixed to the same thing (the matching unit 2), the work coil 3 and the gap sensors 4 and 5 are set from 45° above the angle formed by the gap sensors 4 and 5, as shown in the direction of arrow A. Can not do it. That is, in the case shown in FIG. 6, when setting the work coil 3 and the gap sensors 4 and 5, the work 1 must be inserted into the work coil 3 from the traveling direction of the work 1 with respect to the surface to be processed 1a.

In this case, the stylus portions 13 of the gap sensors 4 and 5
are urged toward the surface to be processed 1a and protrude from the surface to be processed 1a, so if the gap sensors 4 and 5 are moved in this state, they will collide with the workpiece 1 and be damaged. Therefore, when setting, the operator must move the gap sensors 4 and 5 while holding the stylus portion 13 in a retracted state, resulting in extremely poor work efficiency.

E. Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve these conventional problems, the present invention has the following features:
A gap sensor for an induction hardening apparatus, which is located in front of the work coil in the traveling direction and in which a stylus at the tip of the sensor body presses against a surface to be processed of the work to detect a gap between the work and the work coil. The main body is provided in a metal cylinder, and the sensor main body is freely fixed to the metal cylinder at a position where the stylus portion can maintain contact with the surface to be processed of the workpiece and at a position where it can maintain separation.

F Function In the gap sensor of the induction hardening apparatus having the above configuration, in order to set the gap sensor on the workpiece, first fix the sensor body to the metal tube so that the stylus part is separated from the surface to be treated of the workpiece. . Then, the gap sensor is moved relative to the workpiece, and when the workpiece is located on the axis of the sensor body, the fixation is released, and the sensor body is moved to a position where the stylus can maintain contact with the surface to be processed of the workpiece. Fix it to the tube.

G Example Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The sensor main body is the same as the conventional one, so it is shown with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the gap sensor of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a hollow cylindrical sliding body 24 made of metal or resin is fitted around the outer periphery of the sensor body 8 excluding the stylus portion 13. The main body 8 is integrally fixed to the sliding body 24 by engaging with nuts 25 and 26 that are screwed into both ends of the sliding body 24.
The sliding body 24, which has the sensor body 8 at its axis, is slidably provided in a metal tube 27 that also serves as an electromagnetic shield. Moreover, one end side of the sliding body 24 (the first
The upper end side in the figure) has a small diameter, and the stepped portion 2
4a is formed.

Further, a flange 27a is formed at one end (the upper end in FIG. 1) of the metal tube 27 on the inside in the radial direction, and a spring 28 is provided between the flange 27a and the stepped portion 24a of the sliding body 24. equipped. This spring 28 has a significantly stronger spring force than the spring 16 provided on the stylus portion 13 of the sensor body 8. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the metal tube 27, a handle 30 screwed onto the sliding body 24 at right angles is inserted into an inverted L-shaped notch hole 29. The sliding body 24 is a spring 28
The handle 30 is biased toward the workpiece 1 side by
is engaged with the end 29a of the notch hole 29 on the workpiece 1 side, and the stylus portion 13 of the sensor main body 8 is fixed so as to be able to maintain contact with the surface to be processed 1a of the workpiece 1. Also,
The sliding body 24 is urged toward the workpiece 1 side by the spring 28, and the handle 30 is locked to the end 29b of the notch hole 29 on the side opposite to the workpiece 1, so that the stylus portion 13 of the sensor body 8 is pressed against the workpiece 1 side. It is fixed to the surface to be processed so that it can be maintained at a distance.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a mounting portion fixed to the outer periphery of the metal cylinder 27, which allows the gap sensor to be mounted on the alignment unit.

In the gap sensor having such a configuration, in order to set the gap sensor on the workpiece 1, first, before setting, pull the handle 30 against the force of the spring 28, and press the end 29b of the notch hole 29 on the side opposite to the workpiece 1.
(In FIG. 1, the mounting 30 is in the position shown by the chain line). In this state, the stylus portion 13 of the sensor body 8 is maintained separated from the surface to be processed 1a of the workpiece 1. Therefore, the sensor body 8
will not collide with workpiece 1 and cause damage. Next, move the gap sensor to workpiece 1,
When the workpiece 1 is positioned on the axis of the sensor body 8, the handle 30 is guided through the notch hole 29 and guided to the end portion 29a on the side of the workpiece 1 and locked therein. In this state, the stylus portion 13 of the sensor main body 8 is maintained in contact with the surface to be processed 1a of the workpiece 1.

H. Effect of the invention As described above, according to the gap sensor of the induction hardening apparatus of the invention, the sensor body is fixed at a position where the stylus part can be maintained in contact with the surface to be treated of the workpiece, and at a position where it can be maintained separated from the surface of the workpiece. Since it is freely provided, damage to the gap sensor due to collision with a workpiece can be prevented, and workability when setting the gap sensor can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the metal tube in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gap sensor shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the induction hardening device, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the sensor body. The front view and FIG. 6 are side views showing the main parts of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Workpiece, 1a... Surface to be processed, 3... Work coil, 8, 9... Sensor body, 13... Stylus portion, 27... Metal cylinder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A gap sensor for an induction hardening apparatus, which is located in front of the work coil in the traveling direction and in which a stylus at the tip of the sensor body presses against a surface to be processed of the work to detect a gap between the work and the work coil. The main body is provided in a metal tube, and the sensor body is provided so as to be freely fixed to the metal tube at a position where the stylus portion can maintain contact with the surface to be processed of the workpiece and at a position where it can maintain separation. Gap sensor for induction hardening equipment.