JPH0457729B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an automatic high-frequency hardening device, and more particularly to an automatic high-frequency hardening device that automatically hardens a linear motion guide surface in a machine tool or the like.

B. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an automatic high-frequency hardening device equipped with a gap sensor that detects a gap between the workpiece and the workpiece coil by pressing a stylus against the surface of the workpiece to be processed. By providing a position control means that brings the gap sensor into contact with and away from the surface to be processed of the workpiece according to the detection signal of the part, damage to the gap sensor can be prevented and the workability of the hardening operation can be improved.

C. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY Conventionally, an induction hardening device that automatically hardens a linear motion guide surface of a machine tool or the like while heating it by high-frequency induction heating has been used to harden a workpiece (machine tool) 1 as shown in FIG. An alignment unit 2 is provided above the surface to be treated (surface to be hardened) 1a, supported by a gate-shaped frame (not shown). This matching unit 2 includes a touch engine, a matching transformer, etc., and is connected to a high frequency power source (not shown) via a cable.
The alignment unit 2 is relatively movable back and forth along the processing surface 1a of the workpiece 1 by means of a traveling device (not shown), and in the vertical and perpendicular directions orthogonal to the traveling direction by means of a positioning device (not shown). It is provided so that it can move forward and backward in the horizontal direction.

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 (right direction in FIG. 4) and extend in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the running direction. 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 gap sensors 4 and 5 are each comprised of a differential transformer in which a coil 9 and a core 10 are housed in a cylindrical body 8, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. A shaft 12 of a stylus portion 11 at the tip of the gap sensors 4, 5 is coaxially fixed to the core 10. axis 12
A steel ball 13 is provided at the tip of the steel ball 13 to reduce sliding resistance.
3 is constantly biased by a spring 14 so as to press against the surface of the workpiece 1 to be processed. 15 is the stylus portion 11
The cover is made of rubber.

On the other hand, the alignment unit 2 supports a control section 16 which together with the positioning device constitutes a gap control means, and the detection signals (measured values) detected by the respective gap sensors 4 and 5 are transmitted through signal lines 17,
The signal is input to the control unit 16 via 18. and,
This control unit 16 controls the operation of the positioning device of the alignment unit 2 to
The gap between a and the work coil 3 is automatically corrected and maintained at a predetermined value (gap control).

The alignment unit 2 also includes an edge detection sensor 19 that detects the edge of the surface 1a to be processed of the workpiece 1.
It is attached via a support arm 20 at an appropriate position in front of each gap sensor 4, 5 in the running direction. The edge detection sensor 19 detects, for example, the surface to be processed 1.
An optical sensor consisting of a light emitting part and a light receiving part using reflection of light a is used, and is connected to the control part 16 via a signal line 21. The detection signal of the edge detection sensor 19 is input to the control unit 16 via the signal line 21, and the positioning device maintains the gap between the surface to be processed 1a and the work coil 3 at the set value at the time of detection of the edge for a predetermined time. At the same time, the traveling device is operated for a predetermined period of time.

D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, as shown in FIG. 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 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, 5, the work must be inserted into the work coil 3 from the traveling direction of the work 1 relative to the surface to be processed 1a.

In this case, the stylus portions 11 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, the surface to be treated 1a
When setting the gap sensors 4 and 5, the operator has to move the gap sensors 4 and 5 while holding the stylus 11 in the retracted state, resulting in extremely poor work efficiency.

E Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve such conventional problems, the present invention provides the following:
The automatic high-frequency hardening device was constructed as follows.

The work coil is provided so as to be relatively movable back and forth along the surface to be processed of the work by a traveling device or the like. In addition, a gap sensor is provided whose stylus portion presses against the surface to be processed of the workpiece to detect the gap between the workpiece and the workpiece coil, and the gap between the workpiece and the workpiece coil is determined according to the detection signal of this gap sensor. The work coil is provided with a gap control means for moving the work coil forward and backward in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the work coil in order to maintain the same value. Furthermore, an edge detection sensor is provided for detecting the edge of the surface to be processed of the workpiece, and a position control means is provided for bringing the gap sensor into contact with and away from the surface to be processed of the workpiece in accordance with a detection signal from the edge detection sensor.

F Effect According to the induction hardening apparatus having the above configuration, the end detection sensor detects the surface to be processed (starting end) of the workpiece and the position control means of the gap sensor operates according to the signal.
Bring the gap sensor into contact with the surface to be treated. Then, hardening is performed while maintaining the gap between the work coil and the work coil at a predetermined value in accordance with the detection signal of the gap sensor. Next, when the end detection sensor detects the end (terminus) of the surface to be processed of the workpiece, the position control means for the gap sensor is activated in accordance with the detection signal to move the gap sensor away from the surface to be processed.

G Example Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. It should be noted that the same parts as in the prior art are indicated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 4, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

The high-frequency automatic hardening apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. An end detection sensor 22 for detecting the end of the surface 1a is attached via a support arm 23 at an appropriate rear position of each gap sensor 4, 5 in the running direction. The end detection sensor 22 uses an optical sensor like the end detection sensor 19, and is connected to the control section 16 via a signal line 24.

On the other hand, each gap sensor 4, 5 is coaxially fixed to each piston of an air cylinder 26, 27, which is attached to the alignment unit 2 via a support arm 25, 7, respectively. Air cylinder 26,2
Reference numeral 7 constitutes a position control means in conjunction with the control section 16, which operates according to the detection signals of the end detection sensors 19 and 22, and the gap sensors 4 and 5 control the workpiece by the operation of the air cylinders 26 and 27. It is brought into contact with and separated from the processed surface 1a of No. 1.

According to the high-frequency automatic hardening apparatus having such a configuration, the alignment unit 2 is moved by the traveling device, and the work coil 3, gap sensors 4, 5, and edge detection sensors 19, 22 are moved along the processing surface 1a of the work 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the end detection sensor 22 reaches the position where it detects the end (starting end) of the surface to be processed 1a, the air cylinders 26 and 27 automatically operate according to the detection signal of that end The gap sensors 4 and 5 are brought into contact with the surface to be processed 1a. Then, according to the detection signals of these gap sensors 4 and 5, the processing target surface 1a of the work 1 and the work coil 3 are
Induction hardening is performed while correcting and maintaining the gap between the two parts at an appropriate value.

Further, the alignment unit 2 is caused to travel, and when the end detection sensor 19 reaches the position where it detects the end (terminus) of the surface to be processed 1a as shown in FIG. 3, the air cylinder 26 , 27 automatically operate, and the gap sensors 4 and 5 detect the surface to be processed 1.
separated from a. At the same time, the position of the work coil 3 is fixed at the position at the time when the gap sensors 4 and 5 are separated, and the work coil 3 is further moved to complete hardening to the end (terminus).

In addition, in order to sequentially harden a plurality of works 1 in a row, the above-mentioned operation is repeated.

In the above embodiment, two edge detection sensors 19,
22 is used, however, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the embodiment with only one end detection sensor 19 on one side (front in the traveling direction). That is, when the end detection sensor 19 detects the end (starting end) of the surface to be processed 1a, the air cylinders 26 and 27 are automatically activated after a certain period of time or after traveling a certain distance, and the gap sensors 4 and 5 are activated. is brought into contact with the surface to be processed 1a. Thereafter, induction hardening is performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the gap sensors 4 and 5 again use the edge detection sensor 19 to detect the edge of the surface to be treated 1a.
is separated from the surface to be processed 1a.

Further, the end detection sensors 19 and 22 are not limited to optical ones, but may be mechanical ones using air pressure or electrical ones. In the case of electrical devices, it is desirable to provide shielding with an electromagnetic shield.

Further, the position control means for the gap sensors 4 and 5 is not limited to a fluid cylinder such as an air cylinder, and various drive devices such as a motor drive can be used.

On the other hand, when the gap sensors 4 and 5 are separated from the surface to be processed 1a, the position of the work coil 3 is
It is fixed at the position at the time of departure,
This may be controlled according to the detection signal of the end detection sensor 19, or the gap sensor 4,
The gap control circuit may be locked in accordance with a detection signal indicating that the gap amount of the gap itself is greater than a predetermined value.

H. Effects of the Invention As described above, the automatic induction hardening apparatus of the present invention includes a position control means that automatically brings the gap sensor into contact with and away from the surface to be processed of the workpiece in accordance with the detection signal of the surface to be processed of the workpiece. Since we have set up
Not only can damage to the gap sensor be prevented, but also automatic induction hardening can be automated and its workability can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the automatic induction hardening apparatus of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of essential parts for explaining the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. The figure is a perspective view of a conventional high-frequency automatic hardening device, Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a gap sensor, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a conventional high-frequency automatic hardening device.
The figure is a side view showing the main part of FIG. 4. 1... Workpiece, 1a... Surface to be processed, 3... Work coil, 4, 5... Gap sensor, 11...
Stylus section, 16...control section, 19, 22...end detection sensor, 26, 27...air cylinder.

[Claims]

1. Obtain a diffraction line showing the relationship between the diffraction angle and the X-ray intensity by irradiating the hardened steel to be evaluated with X-rays using an X-ray diffraction device or an X-ray stress measurement device,
Using the parameter (constant: hereinafter referred to as GCP) of a Gaussian curve that approximates the vicinity of the peak of this diffraction line, the sharpness of the sharp diffraction line peak characteristic of incompletely hardened steel is measured. GCP
By comparing this with the previously determined GCP of fully hardened steel with the same carbon content,
X-ray diffraction characterized by evaluating the completeness of quenching or hardenability of incompletely hardened steel by measuring the incompleteness of quenching of incompletely quenched steel or the area ratio of troostite structure or pearlite structure to martensitic structure A method for evaluating the hardenability of steel.