JPH08210312A - Cylinder unit slider cover and mounting method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a slider cover for cylinder unit which can prevent a contact between a slider and the slider cover completely without increasing the number of parts item to be used or cost. CONSTITUTION: The cylinder tube 2 of a cylinder unit U1 is provided with a slider 4, and a frame 1 stores the cylinder tube 2. A pair of side plates 7, 8 are mounted at both the ends of the cylinder tube 2, and a long plateshaped slider cover 15 is provided between both the side plates 7, 8. At this time, suitable tension is applied in the longitudinal direction of the slider cover 15 by screwing in a bolt 24. It is thus possible to make it difficult to generate deflection in a laid slider cover 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slider cover of a cylinder unit used in a carrying device and the like, and a method of mounting the slider cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows an example of a conventional cylinder unit 40 used in a carrying device or the like. A cylinder tube 41 that constitutes the cylinder unit 40 includes a slider 43 that moves along two guide rails 42 that are provided in parallel with the cylinder tube 41. A mounting portion 44 for mounting a chuck or the like is provided on the upper surface of the slider 43. The cylinder tube 41 is housed in a frame 45 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. A pair of adjustment blocks 46 are provided at both ends of the cylinder tube 41. Each of these adjusting blocks 46 is provided with a stopper bolt 47 and a shock absorber 48. Further, a pair of side plates 49 is fixed to the outside of both adjustment blocks 46. One of the side plates 49 is provided with two joints 50 for supplying pressurized air into the cylinder tube 41.

Cylinder unit 4 constructed in this way
At 0, a slider cover 51 is generally installed between both side plates 49 for the purpose of reducing the amount of exposure of the slider 43. The slider cover 51 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the metal member is a thin and flat long plate-like metal member and has through holes 52 for inserting bolts at both ends. Both end surfaces of the slider cover 51 are fixed to the upper end surfaces of both side plates 49 by inserting bolts 53 into the through holes 52.

[0004]

However, with the slider cover 51 facing upward, the cylinder unit 40 is
8, the center portion of the slider cover 51 bends toward the slider 43 due to its own weight, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the upper surface of the slider 43 comes into contact with the inner side surface of the slider cover 51, which increases the movement resistance of the slider 43. Therefore, in order to avoid this, it is necessary to take measures such as disposing a cam follower or a roller on the upper surface of the slider 43. However, if such a configuration is adopted, the number of parts will increase, leading to an increase in overall cost. Even if a sliding member such as a roller is arranged, it is difficult to reliably avoid problems such as generation of sliding noise and generation of dust due to wear.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to reliably prevent contact between a slider and a slider cover without increasing the number of parts and increasing the cost. It is to provide a method for attaching a slider cover of a cylinder unit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a slider cover for a cylinder unit, which is advantageous in performing the above-described mounting method.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, a cylinder tube having a slider, a frame accommodating the cylinder tube, and both end surfaces of the cylinder tube are provided. A method of attaching a long plate-shaped slider cover between both side plates of a cylinder unit composed of a pair of side plates, wherein tension is applied in the longitudinal direction of the slider cover between the side plates. The gist is a method of mounting the slider cover of the cylinder unit on which the slider cover is installed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the tension is applied to the slider cover by screwing the end face of the slider cover to the side plate from the longitudinal direction thereof.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a step portion having a through hole is formed in the side plate, and a bolt is inserted through the through hole so that the slider cover is attached to the side plate. The end portion of the slider cover is placed on the step portion while being screwed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a cylinder tube having a slider, a frame accommodating the cylinder tube, and a pair of side plates provided on both end surfaces of the cylinder tube are provided between the side plates of the cylinder unit. The gist of the slider cover is a long plate-like slider cover that is installed in a cylinder unit and has a screw hole extending in the longitudinal direction at least at one end thereof.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a long plate-shaped slider cover which is provided between the side plates of the cylinder unit including the cylinder tube, the frame and the pair of side plates. A gist of a slider cover of a cylinder unit is one in which a screw hole extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in at least one end and a through hole extending in the thickness direction is formed in the other end.

[0011]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 3, since the slider cover is installed between both side plates while tension is applied in the longitudinal direction, the slider cover is less likely to bend.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as the fastener such as the bolt for fixing the slider cover is tightened, the tension along the longitudinal direction of the slider cover is applied to the slider cover.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the invention, if the screwing is performed using the screw holes extending in the longitudinal direction,
The slider cover can be installed between both side plates while reliably applying tension in the longitudinal direction to the slider cover.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a cylinder unit U1 used in a conveyor will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cylinder tube 2 is housed in a frame 1 which is a U-shaped section and which is made of an aluminum alloy and which constitutes the cylinder unit U1. The frame 1 of this embodiment is 2000 mm
It has a length. On both sides of the cylinder tube 2, a pair of stainless steel guide rails 3 extend in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder tube 2.

A slider 4, which is a moving body, is provided on the upper surface side of the cylinder tube 2. The rectangular plate member 5 forming the slider 4 is connected to a piston (not shown) movably provided in the cylinder tube 2. An engaging portion (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the plate member 5 is slidably engaged with the guide rails 3. On the other hand, on the upper surface of the plate member 5, mounting portions 6 for mounting a gripping means such as a chuck are provided at two locations.

At both ends of the cylinder tube 2, rectangular side plates 7 and 8 made of iron alloy are provided.
A plurality of component mounting holes 9 are formed through the side plates 7 and 8. A stopper bolt 10 and a shock absorber 11 are both screwed into the component mounting holes 9. The end surface of the slider 4 contacts the stopper bolt 10 and the shock absorber 11 at the end of the stroke. The stopper bolt 10 is a member for restricting the movement of the slider 4. The position of the end of the stroke is determined by adjusting the screwing degree of the stopper bolt 10. The shock absorber 11 is
It is a member for absorbing the impact caused by the contact of the end surface of the slider 4 by the action of air.

Two additional component mounting holes 9 are provided on one of the side plates 7 and 8. In these component mounting holes 9, two joints 12 for supplying pressurized air to each cylinder chamber inside the cylinder tube 2 are provided. For convenience of explanation, the side plate having the joint 12 is referred to as the first side plate 7
And the side plate having no joint 12 is called the second side plate 8. In the case of this embodiment, since the side plates 7 and 8 are required to have a certain degree of rigidity,
Its thickness is 9 mm.

Between the pair of side plates 7 and 8,
A slider cover 15 is installed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slider cover 15 of this embodiment is a long plate-shaped member made of metal (in this embodiment, the same as the frame 1 and the like made of an aluminum alloy). The length and width of the slider cover 15 are about 2000 mm × about 76 mm. The maximum thickness is about 9.5 mm. The slider cover 15 has a uniform cross section as a whole.

The flat portion 1 of the slider cover 15
No. 6 is slightly thinner than other parts. On the outer surface S1 of the slider cover 15, on both sides of the flat portion 16, two groove portions 17 extending in the longitudinal direction are formed in parallel with each other. When the slider cover 15 is cut at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, the cross section of each groove 17 is the same at every position (more specifically, 6 mm × 4 mm).
Of rectangular shape). In the case of the present embodiment, the groove 1
The internal cross-sectional shape of 7 corresponds to the external shape of the position detection sensor (eg, cylinder switch) 21 as a small component. The opening of the groove portion 17 provided on the outer surface S1 side of the slider cover 15 is slightly narrowed as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slider cover 1
Two screw holes 18 extending along the longitudinal direction of the slider cover 15 are provided in the first end surface 15a of the No. 5 through. These screw holes 18 are formed just at the boundary between the flat portion 16 and each groove portion 17. Further, one through hole 19 penetrating the inner and outer surfaces of the slider cover 15 is provided at the bottom surface of each groove 17 and at a position near the first end surface 15a. Also on the side of the second end surface 15b of the slider cover 15, the screw hole 18 and the through hole 19 are similarly formed.
Each is transparently installed. The slider cover 15 of this embodiment
Is manufactured, for example, by punching an aluminum alloy extruded into a predetermined shape. Further, one position detection sensor 21 is slidably mounted in each of the two groove portions 17. Each sensor 21
Is inserted into the groove portion 17 from either side of the first end surface 15a or the second end surface 15b. In addition, magnets (not shown) are fixed to predetermined portions of both end surfaces of the slider 4.

Next, the procedure for attaching the slider cover 15 to the side plates 7 and 8 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, the inside of the upper end of the first side plate 7 of the side plates 7 and 8 is
Notched all over. As a result, the upper end of the first side plate 7 is formed with a step 25 on which the first end 15a can be placed. Two through holes 22 are formed in the step portion 25. The positions of these through holes 22 correspond to the positions of the screw holes 18 provided in the slider cover 15. Further, the thickness of the portion of the step portion 25 where the through hole 22 is formed is set to at least 4 mm or more in order to secure rigidity.

At the time of mounting, first, the cylinder unit U1 is arranged horizontally, and the slider cover 15 is bridged between the side plates 7 and 8. Then, the bolt 24 is inserted into each screw hole 23 of the second side plate 8 through the through hole 19 of the slider cover 15. Then, by tightening the bolt 24, the slider cover 1
The second end surface 15b of No. 5 is fixed to the upper end portion of the second side plate 8. At this point in time, no tension is applied in the longitudinal direction of the slider cover 15. Next, each screw hole 18 of the first end surface 15a of the slider cover 15 is
Then, the bolt 24 is inserted through the through hole 22 of the first side plate 7, and the bolt 24 is tightened. Then
Tension is gradually applied along the longitudinal direction of the slider cover 15. At this time, the first end surface 15a is placed on the step 25. Then, when the bolt 24 is tightened more strongly, a larger tension is applied to the slider cover 15, and the first end surface 15a is fixed to the first side plate 7.
It is fixed to the upper end of the (see Fig. 4 (b)). As a result of the above,
A slider cover 15 is installed on both side plates 7, 8. Even in this case, the side covers 7 and 8 are not deformed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, each sensor 21 accommodated in the groove portion 17 is
By sliding the inside of the groove portion 17 along the longitudinal direction, the attachment position can be appropriately changed.

According to the slider cover 15 and its mounting method of this embodiment, the slider cover 15 is installed between the side plates 7 and 8 in a state where tension is applied in the longitudinal direction of the slider cover 15 as described above. To be done. Therefore, due to the action of the tension, the slider cover 15
Almost no downward bending occurs. Therefore, a certain clearance is secured between the inner surface S2 of the slider cover 15 and the upper surface of the slider 4, and the slider cover 15 does not slide on the slider 4. Therefore, unlike the conventional case in which the slider cover is easily bent, it is not necessary to dispose a cam follower or a roller on the upper surface of the slider 4. As a result of the above, the slider 4 and the slider cover 15 can be realized without increasing the number of parts and the resulting cost increase.
It is possible to reliably prevent contact with. In addition, since it is not necessary to install rollers or the like, problems such as the generation of sliding noise and the generation of dust due to wear can be eliminated at the same time.

Further, in the cylinder unit U1 of this embodiment, the bolt 24 is used as a fastener for fixing the slider cover 15. Therefore, the tension applied to the slider cover 15 can be appropriately and easily changed by tightening or loosening the bolt 24. Further, such a fastener has an advantage that the slider cover 15 can be attached and detached relatively easily.

Further, the slider cover 15 provided with the groove portion 17 as in the embodiment has improved rigidity as compared with the conventional flat slider cover, so that the slider cover 15 is less likely to bend in the first place. There is. This leads to the advantage that a longer slider cover 15 can be used, for example.

Further, as the slider cover 15 hardly bends and the clearance between the slider 4 and the slider cover 15 becomes constant, the detection sensitivity of the sensor 21 is surely improved. Further, with the shape of the slider cover 15, the sensor 21 can be slidably mounted in each of the two groove portions 17 arranged apart from each other. Therefore, both sensors 21 can be freely moved to arbitrary positions. Moreover, since the respective groove portions 17 are provided on the outer surface S1 side of the slider cover 15,
There is an advantage that the operator can easily see the sensor 21 and easily adjust the position. Since the openings of the respective groove portions 17 are narrowed, there is an advantage that no special member is required for attaching the sensor 21 and the sensor 21 is difficult to detach. Further, in the case of this slider cover 15, the through hole 1 for inserting the bolt 24 is inserted.
9 is transparently provided at the bottom of the groove 17. Therefore, the head portion of the inserted bolt 24 is hidden in the groove portion 17, and no particular protruding portion is formed on the slider cover 15.
Therefore, the appearance of the cylinder unit U1 as a whole is not impaired.

In addition, since the slider cover 15 has a uniform cross section as a whole, it can be easily manufactured by extrusion molding. Further, since the screw hole 18 and the through hole 19 are provided through both end portions 15a and 15b, even if the first end portion 15a is arranged on the second side plate 8 side, the mounting is hindered. There is no.

The present invention can be modified as follows, for example. (1) Like the cylinder unit U2 of Modification 1 shown in FIG. 5, only one groove 17 may be provided in the slider cover 30. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to provide a plurality of sensors 21 in the same groove portion 17. Of course, the number of the groove portions 17 may be three or more. Further, the positions where such groove portions 17 are provided are not limited to both sides of the flat portion 16, and may be the central portion of the flat portion 16 or the like. Further, the groove portion 17 can be provided on the inner surface S2 or the side surface of the slider cover 15.

(2) Like the cylinder unit U3 of the second example shown in FIG. 6, two first side plates 7 are used, and both end surfaces 15a, 1 of the slider cover 15 are used for them.
It is also possible to fix 5b with bolts 24.

(3) Like a cylinder unit U4 of another example 3 shown in FIG. 7, an engaging portion 36 is provided on the second end surface 35b of the slider cover 35, and it is also engaged with the second side plate 37 side. The joining portion 38 may be provided. As a mounting method, first, these engaging portions 36 and 38 are engaged with each other, and then the first end surface 15 a is fixed to the first side plate 7 with the bolt 24. With this configuration, the number of bolts 24 can be small and the fixing work becomes easy.

(4) When fixing the slider cover 15 with the bolts 24, the bolts 24 must be completely attached.
Does not have to be along the longitudinal direction, and may be slightly inclined, for example.

(5) Other than the bolts 24 used for screwing in the embodiment, other similar fasteners (for example,
It is possible to use taper pins, rivets, etc.). (6) The step portion 25 of the first side cover 7 may be omitted.

(7) A sensor other than the position detection sensor 21 or other small parts may be mounted in the groove 17. (8) In the slider cover 15 of the embodiment, the screw hole 18 on the first end face 15a side is omitted, or the second end face 15 is omitted.
The through hole 19 on the b side may be omitted. Further, the number of the screw holes 18 and the through holes 19 in the one end surface 15a, 15b may be one, or conversely three or more.

Here, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments and other examples will be listed below together with their effects. (1) Side plates that are arranged on both end surfaces of a cylinder tube that constitutes a cylinder unit and have a cylinder cover installed between them, and a step portion is formed at a predetermined portion, and the slider is provided on the step portion. A side plate having a through hole for fixing the slider cover with tension applied to the cover. With this configuration, the attachment method of the present invention can be reliably implemented.

The technical terms used in this specification are defined as follows. "Small parts: In addition to various position detection sensors that use magnetism and light, sensors such as proximity switches and cylinder switches, as well as parts such as nuts, lead wires, and piping tubes."

[0037]

As described in detail above, according to the method of attaching the slider cover of the cylinder unit of the first to third aspects, since the slider cover is less likely to bend, the number of parts and the cost are increased. Without this, contact between the slider and the slider cover can be reliably prevented. According to the slider cover of the cylinder unit described in claims 4 and 5, the above-described mounting method can be reliably performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a cylinder unit of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of the slider cover.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a slider cover of the same.

4A to 4C are partially cutaway schematic front views showing a procedure for attaching a slider cover to a cylinder unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a cylinder unit of another example 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a cylinder unit of Modification 2.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway schematic front view showing a cylinder unit of Modification 3.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway schematic front view showing a conventional cylinder unit.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Frame, 2 ... Cylinder tube, 4 ... Slider,
7, 8, 37 ... Side plate, 15, 30, 35 ... Slider cover, 25 ... Step portion, 18 ... Screw hole, 19, 22
... Through holes, U1, U2, U3, U4 ... Cylinder unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cylinder tube (2) having a slider (4), a frame (1) accommodating the cylinder tube (2), and a pair of side plates (7, 8) provided at both ends of the cylinder tube (2). , 37) in the cylinder unit (U1, U2, U3, U4) between the side plates (7, 8, 37), the long plate-shaped slider cover (15, 30, 35) is attached. While tension is applied in the longitudinal direction of the slider covers (15, 30, 35), the side plates (7,
8, 37) between the slider covers (15, 30, 3)
5) How to attach the slider cover of the cylinder unit to be installed. 2. The slider cover (15, 30, 35) is fixed to the side plate (7, 8, 37) by screwing an end surface of the slider cover (15, 30, 35) from the longitudinal direction thereof. The method of mounting a slider cover of a cylinder unit according to claim 1, wherein the tension is applied. 3. A step portion (25) having a through hole (22) is formed in the side plate (7), and the through hole (22).
The slider cover (15, 30, 35) is screwed to the side plate (7) by inserting the bolt (24) through the step portion (25).
The method of mounting a slider cover of a cylinder unit according to claim 2, wherein an end portion of the slider cover (15, 30, 35) is mounted on the. 4. A cylinder tube (2) having a slider (4), a frame (1) accommodating the cylinder tube (2), and a pair of side plates (7, 8) provided at both ends of the cylinder tube (2). , 37) which is a long plate-like slider cover (15, 30, 35) installed between the side plates (7, 8, 37) of the cylinder unit (U1, U2, U3, U4). A slider cover for a cylinder unit having a screw hole (18) extending in the longitudinal direction at least at one end thereof. 5. A cylinder tube (2) having a slider (4), a frame (1) accommodating the cylinder tube (2), and a pair of side plates (7, 8) provided at both ends of the cylinder tube (2). , 37) which is a long plate-like slider cover (15, 30) installed between the side plates (7, 8, 37) of the cylinder unit (U1, U2, U3, U4). A slider cover for a cylinder unit, wherein a screw hole (18) extending along the longitudinal direction is formed at one end and a through hole (19) penetrating the front and back is formed at the other end.