Workpiece supporting device and workpiece supporting method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618133-B2
Application number	US-201916971297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2019
Priority date	Feb 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate bonding between a jig and a plate-shaped workpiece and to suitably support the workpiece. A support device is provided with: a jig that has a bent support surface for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece; a first abutment that abuts against one end of the workpiece mounted on the support surface; and a second abutment that is disposed so as to face the first abutment across the support surface and that abuts against the other end of the workpiece mounted on the support surface. The first and second abutments move toward each other and apply a load, in the tangential direction load of the support surface, with respect to the workpiece mounted on the support surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A workpiece supporting device for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece, comprising:
a jig having a curved supporting surface for supporting the workpiece;
a first contact member disposed in the jig, and coming into contact with one end portion which is an end portion in one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface; and
a second contact member disposed in the jig to face the first contact member across the supporting surface, and coming into contact with the other end portion in the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface,
wherein at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member moves along the supporting surface toward the other and presses the workpiece so that a load in a tangential direction of the supporting surface is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

2. The workpiece supporting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third contact member disposed in the jig, and coming into contact with one end portion which is an end portion in an intersecting direction intersecting the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface; and
a fourth contact member disposed in the jig to face the third contact member across the supporting surface, and coming into contact with the other end portion in the intersecting direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface,
wherein at least one of the third contact member and the fourth contact member moves toward the other so that the load in the tangential direction of the supporting surface which is the intersecting direction is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

3. The workpiece supporting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of sensors disposed on the supporting surface to determine whether the supporting surface and the workpiece are in contact with each other.

4. A workpiece supporting device for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece, comprising:
a jig having a curved supporting surface for supporting the workpiece;
a first clamp portion disposed in the jig, and clamping one end portion which is an end portion in one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface; and
a second clamp portion disposed in the jig to face the first clamp portion across the supporting surface, and clamping the other end portion in the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface,
wherein at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion moves in a direction away from the other so that a load in a tangential direction of the supporting surface is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

5. A workpiece supporting method for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece by using a supporting device including a jig having a curved supporting surface for supporting the workpiece, a first contact member disposed in the jig, and coming into contact with one end portion which is an end portion in one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, and a second contact member disposed in the jig to face the first contact member across the supporting surface, and coming into contact with the other end portion in the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, the method comprising:
a placement step of placing the workpiece on the supporting surface;
a first contact step of bringing the one end portion of the workpiece and the first contact member into contact with each other;
a second contact step of bringing the other end portion of the workpiece and the second contact member into contact with each other; and
a first moving step of moving at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member along the supporting surface toward the other and pressing the workpiece so that a load in a tangential direction of the supporting surface is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

6. The workpiece supporting method according to claim 5 ,
wherein the supporting device includes
a third contact member disposed in the jig, and coming into contact with one end portion which is an end portion in an intersecting direction intersecting the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, and
a fourth contact member disposed in the jig to face the third contact member across the supporting surface, and coming into contact with the other end portion in the intersecting direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, and

wherein the workpiece supporting method further comprises a second moving step of moving at least one of the third contact member and the fourth contact member toward the other so that the load in the tangential direction of the supporting surface is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

7. The workpiece supporting method according to claim 5 , further comprising;
a step of determining whether or not the supporting surface and the workpiece are in contact with each other by using a plurality of sensors disposed on the supporting surface.

8. A workpiece supporting method for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece by using a supporting device including a jig having a curved supporting surface for supporting the workpiece, a first clamp portion disposed in the jig, and clamping one end portion which is an end portion in one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, and a second clamp portion disposed in the jig to face the first clamp portion across the supporting surface, and clamping the other end portion in the one direction of the workpiece placed on the supporting surface, the method comprising:
a placement step of placing the workpiece on the supporting surface;
a first clamping step of clamping the one end portion of the workpiece by using the first clamp portion;
a second clamping step of clamping the other end portion of the workpiece by using the second clamp portion; and
a moving step of moving at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion in a direction away from each other so that a tensile load in a tangential direction of the supporting surface is input to the workpiece placed on the supporting surface.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Eto Jun
• Hayashi Manabu
• Katsuchi Osamu

Classifications

• B23Q3/069 Primary

  for pressing workpieces against a work-table · CPC title

• B25B11/005 Primary

  Vacuum work holders · CPC title

• B23Q1/035

  with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface · CPC title