Support device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12257668-B2
Application number	US-202117910850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a support device that supports an object to be supported, in a manner that allows the object to rotate, without rotation of the support device itself. The support device is provided with: a base part; pair of support members that are slidably provided with respect to the base part, and have arc-shaped cut-out portions which sandwich and hold a circumferential surface of an object to be supported, from both sides of the object; a plurality of first biasing members that bias the pair of support members in a direction toward each other; a plurality of bearing parts that are provided along the cut-out portions, and are for sandwiching and holding the object to be supported, in a manner that allows the object to rotate; and a plurality of second biasing members that bias the plurality of bearing parts in a direction toward the object to be supported. The plurality of first biasing members bias the pair of support members.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A support device that supports a support object including a circumferential surface, the support device comprising:
a base portion;
a pair of support members provided slidably with respect to the base portion, and provided with cutout portions having an arc shape and configured to hold the circumferential surface from both sides;
a plurality of first elastic bodies configured to bias the pair of support members in directions in which the support members approach each other;
a plurality of bearing portions provided along the cutout portions of the pair of support members, and configured to hold the support object in a manner so that the support object is rotatable about an axis of the support object; and
a plurality of second elastic bodies configured to bias the plurality of bearing portions toward the support object in order for the plurality of bearing portions to hold the support object, wherein the support device is configured to switch between a first state and a second state,
wherein
the first state is a state where the circumferential surface and each of the cutout portions of the pair of support members come into contact with each other, whereby the pair of support members supports the support object while relative rotation of the support object relative to the base portion is suppressed, and
the second state is a state where the circumferential surface and each of the cutout portions of the pair of support members separate from each other and the circumferential surface and the plurality of bearing portions come into contact with each other, whereby the plurality of bearing portions support the support object while the relative rotation is allowed.

2. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the base portion is provided with a hole that penetrates the base portion in a thickness direction thereof and faces the support object.

3. The support device according to claim 1 , further comprising
an actuator provided on the base portion and configured to cause the pair of support members to hold the support object by moving the pair of support members in the directions in which the support members approach each other.

4. The support device according to claim 3 , further comprising
a controller configured to switch between holding of the support object by the pair of support members and holding of the support object by the plurality of bearing portions by controlling the actuator.

5. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cutout portions having the arc shape are arranged in a circumferential direction of the cutout portions and are provided with a plurality of protruding portions that protrude toward the support object.

6. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of bearing portions include a bearing portion that includes:
a rolling body including a rotary axis parallel to the axis of the support object; and
a support body connected to one of the plurality of second elastic bodies and configured to rotatably support the rolling body.

7. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of bearing portions includes a bearing portion that includes:
an accommodation portion provided with an opening facing the support object sandwiched between the pair of support members;
a rolling body having a spherical shape, accommodated in the accommodation portion, and having a diameter larger than that of the opening; and
a spherical body sliding portion connected to one of the plurality of second elastic bodies, and configured to rollably support the rolling body and bias the rolling body toward the opening.

8. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
in the first state, the circumferential surface and each of the cutout portions of the pair of support members come into direct contact with each other, and
in the second state, the circumferential surface and the plurality of bearing portions come into direct contact with each other.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Kimura Atsushi

Classifications

• B23G3/06

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• B25B5/003

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• B23B31/16275

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• B25B1/2421

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• B25B1/20

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