Workpiece retention device and workpiece retention method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007614-B2
Application number	US-201716315025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Jul 13, 2016
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a workpiece retention device that retains a frame which includes a workpiece main body and a lip flange and a base flange that are provided to the workpiece main body, wherein: the workpiece retention device comprises a plurality of grippers that are aligned in the lengthwise direction of the frame, and a horizontal movement mechanism and a vertical movement mechanism that move the plurality of grippers; the gripper each include: a lower block, a workpiece support pin that is provided to the lower block and that supports the frame, an upper block that can move toward the base flange of the supported frame, a block movement mechanism that moves the upper block; and a suction mechanism that is provided to the upper block and that suctions the workpiece main body on the base flange side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A workpiece retention device for retaining a workpiece which is curved along a longitudinal direction and has a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction including a Z-shape formed, which has workpiece main body extending in a height direction in the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, a first flange disposed on one side of the workpiece main body in the height direction, and a second flange disposed on the other side of the workpiece main body in the height direction, in which the first flange is disposed so as to protrude to one side in a width direction orthogonal to the height direction and the second flange is disposed so as to protrude to the other side in the width direction, the workpiece retention device comprising:
a plurality of grippers disposed side by side in a horizontal direction of the workpiece retention device so as to be disposed along the longitudinal direction of the workpiece to be retained by the workpiece retention device; and
a gripper movement mechanism for moving the plurality of grippers in accordance with a design shape of the workpiece,
wherein each gripper has
a base block to be connected to the gripper movement mechanism,
a workpiece support member disposed in the base block and configured to receive and support the second flange of the workpiece when the workpiece is placed on the workpiece retention device such that the longitudinal direction of the workpiece extends in the horizontal direction of the workpiece retention device and the height direction of the workpiece extends in a vertical direction of the workpiece retention device,
a movement block disposed above the base block so as to be movable forward and rearward relative to the base block so as to be movable toward the first flange of the workpiece having the second flange supported by the workpiece support member,
a block movement mechanism for moving the movement block relative to the base block, and
a suction mechanism disposed in the movement block and configured to suction the workpiece main body on the first flange side while the second flange of the workpiece is supported by the workpiece support member, wherein

the respective workpiece support members of the plurality of grippers are arranged to conform to a shape of the curved workpiece to receive and support the second flange of the workpiece.

2. The workpiece retention device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a clamp mechanism for clamping the second flange of the workpiece.

3. The workpiece retention device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the workpiece has at least two positioning holes formed in both end portions in the longitudinal direction,
wherein the workpiece retention device further comprises at least two workpiece fixing portions disposed in the both end portions of the workpiece to be retained in the longitudinal direction so as to position and fix the workpiece, and
wherein each of the workpiece fixing portions has
a fixing block, and
a positioning member disposed in the fixing block so as to be inserted into the positioning hole of the workpiece.

4. The workpiece retention device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gripper further has a vibration proof material disposed in an abutment portion of the movement block abutting against the first flange so as to suppress vibration of the first flange.

5. The workpiece retention device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gripper movement mechanism has
a horizontal movement mechanism for horizontally moving the gripper, and
a vertical movement mechanism for vertically moving the gripper.

6. The workpiece retention device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the gripper movement mechanism further has a turning mechanism for turning the base block in a plane including the longitudinal direction and the height direction of the workpiece.

7. The workpiece retention device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gripper movement mechanism has a radial movement mechanism for radially moving the plurality of grippers.

8. A workpiece retention method for causing the workpiece retention device according to claim 1 to retain the workpiece, the method comprising:
causing the gripper movement mechanism to move the plurality of grippers in accordance with the design shape of the workpiece;
installing the workpiece in the workpiece support member of each of the plurality of grippers;
causing the block movement mechanism to move the movement block relative to the base block, toward the first flange of the workpiece supported by the workpiece support member; and
causing the suction mechanism disposed in the movement block to suction the workpiece main body on the first flange side.

9. The workpiece retention method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
causing a clamp mechanism disposed in the base block to clamp the second flange after the causing the suction mechanism, in a case where the workpiece retention device includes the clamp mechanism for clamping the second flange of the workpiece.

10. A workpiece retention device for retaining a workpiece, the workpiece retention device comprising:
a plurality of grippers disposed side by side in a first direction; and
a gripper movement mechanism for moving the plurality of grippers according to a predetermined shape of the workpiece,
wherein each of the plurality of grippers has
a base block connected to the gripper movement mechanism,
a workpiece support member on the base block and configured to receive and support the workpiece,
a movement block above the base block and configured to move relative to the base block so as to be movable toward the workpiece,
a block movement mechanism configured to move the movement block relative to the base block, and
a suction mechanism disposed in the movement block and configured to suction the workpiece, wherein

in response to the workpiece retention device receiving the workpiece,
wherein the predetermined shape of the workpiece includes
a curvature along a longitudinal direction of the workpiece, and
a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction having a Z-shape, the cross section including
a workpiece main body extending in a height direction of the workpiece,
a first flange on one side of the workpiece main body in the height direction, and
a second flange on another side of the workpiece main body in the height direction, the first flange protruding to one side in a width direction of the workpiece being orthogonal to the height direction and the second flange protruding to another side in the width direction,

the gripper movement mechanism is configured to move the plurality of grippers to conform the workpiece support members of the plurality of grippers to the curvature of the workpiece,
the workpiece support member of each of the plurality of grippers is configured to support the second flange of the workpiece so that the longitudinal direction of the workpiece extends in the first direction and the height direction of the workpiece extends in a second direction of the workpiece retention device being orthogonal to the first direction,
the block movement mechanism of each of the plurality of grippers is configured to move a corresponding movement block toward the first flange of the workpiece, and
the suction mechanism of each of the plurality of grippers is configured to suction the workpiece main body on a side with the first flange.

Assignees

• Mitsubushi Heavy Ind Ltd
• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Sugai Atsushi
• Hosoi Shota
• Shibutani Takashi
• Imaoka Kengo
• Tsuruta Megumu

Classifications

• B23Q3/088 Primary

  using vacuum means · CPC title

• B66C1/0237

  Multiple lifting units; More than one suction area · CPC title

• B66C1/0256

  Operating and control devices · CPC title

• B25B11/005

  Vacuum work holders · CPC title