Holding nozzle, holding head and transportation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10562194-B2
Application number	US-201816107261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2018
Priority date	Aug 30, 2017
Publication date	Feb 18, 2020
Grant date	Feb 18, 2020

Abstract

A holding nozzle is provided with a suction member including a suction portion which comes into contact with a panel and a shaft portion communicated with the suction portion, an accommodation portion in which the shaft portion is accommodated, a suction member support portion supporting the shaft portion such that the suction member is movable with respect to the accommodation portion, a negative pressure connection portion to which a negative pressure generator is connected, and a communication member accommodated in the accommodation portion between the negative pressure connection portion and the suction member support portion and has a hollow portion which is a portion of a flow path through which a fluid is flowed. The communication member includes a first connection portion connected to the negative pressure connection portion, a second connection portion connected to the shaft portion, and a contractible portion installed between the first and second connection portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A holding nozzle for holding a panel with suction, comprising:
a suction member including a suction portion configured to come into contact with the panel and a cylindrical shaft portion which communicates with the suction portion;
a tubular accommodation portion in which the shaft portion of the suction member is accommodated;
a suction member support portion which is installed on a first end of the accommodation portion and configured to support the shaft portion such that the suction member is movable with respect to the accommodation portion;
a negative pressure connection portion which is installed on a second end of the accommodation portion and to which a negative pressure generator is connected; and
a communication member which is accommodated in the accommodation portion between the negative pressure connection portion and the suction member support portion and having a hollow portion which is a portion of a first flow path, a fluid to which a negative pressure is applied by the negative pressure generator flowing through the first flow path, wherein the communication member includes
a first connection portion which is connected to the negative pressure connection portion,
a second connection portion which is connected to the shaft portion, and
a contractible portion which is installed between the first and second connection portions,
wherein a gap is formed between the shaft portion of the suction member and the suction member support portion to allow a movement of the shaft portion with respect to the suction member support portion,
wherein the suction member support portion includes a suction guide portion which is configured to guide the suction member holding the panel in suction while rectifying a movement of the suction member in a direction parallel to a surface of the panel, and
wherein the suction member includes a suction guided portion which is guided by the suction guide portion.

2. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodation portion includes an accommodation connection portion to which the first connection portion is coupled, and
the first connection portion is fixed to the negative pressure connection portion via the accommodation connection portion.

3. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion includes a suction connection portion to which the second connection portion is coupled, and
the second connection portion is fixed to the shaft portion via the suction connection portion.

4. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the connection member further includes a first coupling portion which is continuously coupled to the contractible portion,
the first connection portion is adjacent to the contractible portion and is installed on a first end portion of the communication member, and
the second connection portion is adjacent to the first coupling portion and is installed on a second end portion of the communication member.

5. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection portion is installed on a first end portion of the contractible portion and
the second connection portion is installed on a second end portion of the contractible portion.

6. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide member which is installed around the communication member to position the communication member at a center of the accommodation portion.

7. The holding nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein the guide member includes an inner circumferential portion which is capable of contacting with an outer circumference of the communication member and an outer circumferential portion which is capable of contacting with an inner circumference of the accommodation portion,
the guide member is an annular body inside which the communication member is positioned, and
the length of the guide member in a contraction direction of the communication member is shorter than that of the communication member even in a state where the communication member is contracted.

8. The holding nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the contractible portion is formed in a bellows shape.

9. A holding nozzle for holding a panel with suction, comprising:
a suction member including a suction portion configured to come into contact with the panel and a cylindrical shaft portion which communicates with the suction portion;
a tubular accommodation portion in which the shaft portion of the suction member is accommodated;
a suction member support portion which is installed on a first end of the accommodation portion and configured to support the shaft portion such that the suction member is movable with respect to the accommodation portion;
a negative pressure connection portion which is installed on a second end of the accommodation portion and to which a negative pressure generator is connected; and
a communication member which is accommodated in the accommodation portion between the negative pressure connection portion and the suction member support portion and having a hollow portion which is a portion of a first flow path, a fluid to which a negative pressure is applied by the negative pressure generator flowing through the first flow path,
wherein the communication member includes
a first connection portion which is connected to the negative pressure connection portion,
a second connection portion which is connected to the shaft portion,
a contractible portion which is installed between the first and second connection portions,
a first molded member which is provided with the first connection portion, the contractible portion, and a first coupling portion which is continuously coupled to the contractible portion, and
a second molded member which is provided with the second connection portion, the contractible portion, and a second coupling portion which is continuously coupled to the contractible portion.

10. The holding nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein the communication member further includes a coupling member which is installed between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion to couple the first molded member with the second molded member, a portion of the hollow portion being included in the coupling member.

11. A holding head for holding a panel assembly including a panel portion with suction, comprising:
a holding nozzle for holding a panel with suction; and
a nozzle support member configured to support the holding nozzle,
wherein the nozzle support member includes
a suction member including a suction portion configured to come into contact with the panel and a cylindrical shaft portion which communicates with the suction portion;
a tubular accommodation portion in which the shaft portion of the suction member is accommodated;
a suction member support portion which is installed on a first end of the accommodation portion and configured to support the shaft portion such that the suction member is movable with respect to the accommodation portion;
a negative pressure connection portion which is installed on a second end of the accommodation portion and to which a negative pressure generator is connected; and
a communication member which is accommodated in the accommodation portion between the negative pressure connection portion and the suction member support portion and having a hollow portion which is a portion of a first flow path, a fluid to which a negative pressure is applied by the negative pressure generator flowing through the first flow path,

wherein the communication member includes
a first connection portion which is connected to the negative pressure connection portion,
a second connection portion which is conn

Assignees

• Hirata Spinning

Inventors

• Kawamoto Yukihiro
• Sugaya Satoshi

Classifications

• B65G47/917 Primary

  control arrangements · CPC title

• B65G47/918

  with at least two picking-up heads · CPC title

• B23P19/00 Primary

  Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation {(connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K)}; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes (hand tools in general B25) · CPC title

• B65G49/061 Primary

  Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066) · CPC title

• B65G2249/045

  Details of suction cups suction cups · CPC title