Clamping device

An object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device in which replacement work is easy and hydraulic hoses do not need to be laid between a body of the clamping device body and a pressurization device. The present invention is a clamping device in which a pressurization device (4) is configured from a plunger cylinder unit (5) that accommodates a pressure medium (M) provided in a body part (1), a plunger unit (6) that moves through the interior of the plunger cylinder unit (5) and pressurizes the pressure medium (M), and a manual operation part (7) for operating the movement of the plunger unit (6). A clamp part (3) is detachably and replaceably provided to the body part (1).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clamping device.

BACKGROUND ART

Clamping devices have been used in the prior art when a mold is to be secured. As shown in, e.g., Patent Citations 1 and 2, such clamping devices are generally provided with a body attached to the base of a press device, a cylinder device provided on the body and actuated by the supplying of a pressure medium, and a lever-form clamp part swingably provided to the body and pushed and actuated by the cylinder device, the cylinder device being actuated by the pressure medium supplied by a pressurization device to push the clamp part, whereby the clamp part is actuated to press and secure the mold.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem the Invention is to Solve

However, the prior-art clamping devices described above have a configuration in which the pressurization device for supplying the pressure medium to the cylinder device for actuating the clamp part is installed in a separate location set apart from the body and is connected via hydraulic hoses. Consequently, several hydraulic hoses are led around the periphery of the press device, and a worker is liable suffer injury by tripping on the hydraulic hoses, or the hydraulic hoses could get damaged and the clamp could disengage during operation.

Additionally, the thickness of the mold attached to the press device varies, and therefore various types of clamping devices suitable for each mold must be provided and the clamping device replaced on each occasion to match the thickness of the mold. Costs are incurred, and since, as described above, the prior-art clamping device is connected with hydraulic hoses, the hydraulic hoses must be painstakingly detached and attached when the clamping device is replaced, and the replacement work is labor-intensive. Furthermore, any failure to connect the hydraulic hoses properly due to work error, etc., may result in malfunctioning in which the clamp detaches during operation.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems of prior-art clamping devices, and provide an innovative clamping device in which costs can be reduced, hydraulic hoses do not need to be laid between the clamping device body and pressurization device, and clamp replacement can be made less labor-intensive.

Means for Solving the Problem

The main points of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

The present invention relates to a clamping device comprising a body part1attached to a base20to which a securing member30is secured, a push-operation part2that is provided to the body part1and that is actuated by supplying of a pressure medium M, and a clamp part3that is swingably provided to the body part1and pushed and actuated by the push-operation part2, the actuating of the push-operation part2by the pressure medium M supplied by a pressurization device4pushing the clamp part3, whereby the clamp part3is actuated, the securing member30, which is positioned on the base20, is pressed, and the securing member30is secured to the base20, wherein the clamping device is characterized in that the pressurization device4is provided with a plunger cylinder unit for accommodating the pressure medium M, which is provided within the body part, a plunger unit6that moves through the interior of the plunger cylinder5to pressurize the pressure medium M, and a manual operation part7for operating the movement of the plunger unit6; the plunger unit6is moved by operation of the manual operation part7and the pressure medium M in the plunger cylinder unit5is pressurized and supplied via pumping to the push-operation part2; and the clamp part3is detachably and replaceably provided to the body part1.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the clamping device according to the first aspect, characterized in that the clamp part3is swingably provided to the body part1by a shaft member8insertably/detachably provided to the body part1; and the clamp part3can be removed from the body part1for replacement by removing the shaft member8.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the clamping device according to the first aspect, characterized in that the manual operation part7is provided with an externally threaded screw part7A and an internally threaded screw part7B; and the plunger unit6is actuated by an operation for threading the externally threaded screw part7A into the internally threaded screw part7B.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the clamping device according to the second aspect, characterized in that the manual operation part7is provided with an externally threaded screw part7A and an internally threaded screw part7B; and the plunger unit6is actuated by an operation for threading the externally threaded screw part7A into the internally threaded screw part7B.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the clamping device according to any of the first through fourth aspects, characterized in that the clamp part3is provided with an operational-use through-hole9into which a manual operation tool T for manually operating the manual operation part7can be inserted; the manual operation tool T is positioned in the manual operation part7via the operational-use through-hole9; and the manual operation part7is manually operated.

Effect of the Invention

Due to being configured in the manner described above, the present invention is an innovative clamping device in which costs can be reduced, hydraulic hoses do not need to be laid between the clamping device body and pressurization device, and clamp replacement can be performed in a less labor-intensive manner.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are briefly described below with reference to the drawings while indicating the effects of the present invention.

When a manual operation part7of a pressurization device4provided in a body part1is operated and a plunger unit6of the pressurization device4provided in the body part1is moved in a pushing direction, the plunger unit6presses a pressure medium M in a plunger cylinder unit5, and the pressure medium M is supplied via pumping to a push-operation part2by pressure imparted by the plunger unit6through a flow path10formed in the body part1.

The push-operation part2is actuated by the pressure medium M supplied via pumping from the pressurization device4and pushes one side of the clamp part3upward, whereby the other side of the clamp part3moves downward and presses the securing member30positioned on the base20, and the securing member30is secured to the base20by the clamp part3being pressed and locked to the securing member30.

In other words, in the present invention, as described above, the pressurization device4for actuating the clamp part3is provided in and integrated with the body part1, resulting in a configuration that requires no hydraulic hoses that are provided to prior-art clamping devices in which the pressurization device is provided as a separate unit from the body part of the clamping device. For example, when the present invention is used in a clamping device for securing a mold of a press device, hydraulic hoses are not laid around the periphery of the press device, thus obviating any concerns that a worker will suffer injury by tripping over the hydraulic hoses, or cause damage to the hydraulic hoses and disengage the clamp during operation. Furthermore, when the clamping device is to be replaced, no work is needed to attach/detach the hydraulic hoses; therefore, the replacement operation is facilitated, and the possibility of any trouble due to a mistake in connecting the hydraulic hoses is eliminated.

Additionally, the present invention has a configuration in which the clamp part3is detachably and replaceably provided to the body part1. Therefore, when the clamping device is to be replaced to match the thickness of the mold, it is only necessary to remove the clamp part3from the body part1and replace with a clamp part3suitable for the thickness of the mold. The body part1does not need to be painstakingly removed, replacement work is facilitated to an even further degree, and there is no need to provide several body parts1. Merely providing the clamp part3makes it possible to respond to a different configuration, and therefore costs can also be reduced.

Thus, the present invention is an innovative clamping device in which costs can be reduced, hydraulic hoses do not need to be laid between the clamping device body1and pressurization device4, and clamp replacement can be performed in a less labor-intensive manner.

Example

A specific example of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

The present example is a case in which the clamping device of the present invention is configured as a clamping device for a press device that secures a mold of a press device. Specifically, the present example comprises a body part1attached to a base20to which a mold30serving as a securing member30is secured, and a clamp part3provided to the body part1. A push-operation part2provided to the body part1is actuated by a pressure medium M supplied by a pressurization device4and pushes the clamp part3, whereby the clamp part3is actuated, the mold30set on the base20of the press device is pressed, and the mold30is secured to the base20.

The constituent parts according to the present example are described in detail below.

The body part1of the present example has, on the lower side thereof, a base-mounting engagement part11for mounting the body part1to the base20, and a clamp installation part12provided thereabove on which the clamp part3is provided, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Further provided within the body part1are: the push-operation part2for pushing the clamp part3provided to the clamp installation part12, the pressurization device4for actuating the push-operation part2, and a clamp-returning mechanism13for returning the clamp part3from a clamped state to an unclamped state when the pushing action of the push-operation part2against the clamp part3has been discontinued.

Specifically, the base-mounting engagement part11is formed in a T shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and slidably engages, in a detachable manner, in a T groove part21formed in the base20.

The clamp installation part12comprises a pair of shaft support parts12A having shaft through-holes12B and disposed facing each other, and a shaft member8inserted into the shaft through-holes12B and bridging the shaft support parts12A, the clamp part3being swingably provided to the shaft member8bridging the shaft support parts12A.

The shaft member8of the present example is insertably provided in a retained state through the shaft support parts12A by a retaining member14detachably provided to the shaft member8, and is insertably/detachably provided to the shaft support parts12A by attachment/detachment of the retaining member14.

The push-operation part2comprises a cylinder part2A and a piston part2B provided so as to be capable of reciprocating movement inside the cylinder part2A, the piston part2B being pressed by the pressure medium M supplied inside the cylinder part2A and moving upward in a protruding fashion by the pressing action, pushing the clamp part3.

The pressurization device4comprises a plunger cylinder unit5that accommodates the pressure medium M disposed in the body part1, a plunger unit6that moves through the interior of the plunger cylinder unit5and pressurizes the pressure medium M in the plunger cylinder unit5, and a manual operation part7for operating the movement of the plunger unit6. The plunger unit6moves by operation of the manual operation part7, the pressure medium M in the plunger cylinder unit5is pressurized, and the pressure medium M is supplied by pumping to the push-operation part2.

Specifically, the plunger cylinder unit5is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is provided upright (formed extending in the vertical direction) inside the body part1; i.e., inside the base-mounting engagement part11provided to the lower side of the body part1. The flow path10that passes to the cylinder part2A of the push-operation part2is formed in continuation from the opening part on the lower side.

The plunger unit6is provided so as to be capable of moving in the vertical direction (performing reciprocating movement) inside the plunger cylinder unit5, and presses the pressure medium M in the plunger cylinder unit5by moving downward.

The manual operation part7comprises an externally threaded screw part7A that is helically formed in the vertical direction of the body part1, and an internally threaded screw part7B for threadably engaging the externally threaded screw part7A. The externally threaded screw part7A is provided in continuation with the upper side of the plunger cylinder unit5, and the internally threaded screw part7B is provided to the base end part (upper end part) of the plunger unit6.

In other words, the pressurization device4of the present example is configured so that the internally threaded screw part7B of the manual operation part7is threadably inserted using a screwdriver, wrench, or other manual operation tool T, whereby the internally threaded screw part7B moves downward, the plunger unit6also moves downward in accompaniment with the downward movement of the internally threaded screw part7B and presses the pressure medium M in the plunger cylinder unit5, and the pressed pressure medium M is supplied via pumping inside the push-operation part2(cylinder part2A) via the flow path10.

The clamp return operation mechanism13comprises a clamp engagement part13A for engaging the clamp part3, and an urging member13B (a coil spring13B is used in the present example) for urging the clamp engagement part13A in the return position direction. Pushed by the push-operation part2, the clamp part3is clamped, whereby the clamp engagement part13A moves (upward in the present example), the coil spring13B extends or contracts (contracts in the present example) to a accumulated-pressure state in accompaniment with the movement of the clamp engagement part13A, and when the pushing action of the push-operation part2against the clamp part3is discontinued, the accumulated-pressure state of the coil spring13B is released, the clamp engagement part13A moves in returning fashion (downward) by the contraction or extension (extension in the present example) of the coil spring13B, the clamp engagement part13A moves and returns, whereby the clamp part3with which the clamp engagement part13A engages is caused to return from the clamped state to the unclamped state.

Although not shown, a pressure medium filling part for filling the pressure medium M into the plunger cylinder unit5of the pressurization device4, the flow path10, and the cylinder part2A of the push-operation part2is provided to the body part1. In the present example, the pressure medium filling part is provided in continuation to the flow path10, and the pressure medium M can be filled into each part by way of the flow path10.

A pressing and locking part16for pressing the mold30during clamping is provided to the distal end side of the clamp part3, a to-be-pushed part17pushed by the push-operation part2is provided to the base end side of the clamp part3, and a main-unit engaging part15pivotably provided (shaft-mounted) to the clamp installation part12of the body part1is provided therebetween.

Specifically, the main-unit locking part15, when provided in an engaged manner to the clamp installation part12, is provided with: a shaft insertion through-hole15A which is in a communicative state with the shaft through-holes12B provided to the shaft support parts12A of the clamp installation part12and through which the shaft member8is inserted; and a passive-engagement part15B with which the clamp engagement part13A of the clamp return operation mechanism13engages. The clamp part of the present example is configured such that the shaft member8bridging the shaft support parts12A of the clamp installation part12is removably inserted in the shaft insertion through-hole15A provided to the main-unit locking part15and is thereby detachably provided to the body part1.

As shown in the drawings, the clamp part3of the present example is provided with an operational-use through-hole9that passes through in the vertical direction in a location directly above the manual operation part7of the pressurization device4in a state provided to the body part1. The operational-use through-hole9is formed in a shape that allows insertion of the manually operation tool T used when the manual operation part7of the pressurization device4is manually operated.

More specifically, the operational-use through-hole9is formed in a tapered shape, and when the clamp part3is in an unclamped state (horizontal state), the internal peripheral surface of the distal end side of the operational-use through-hole9is in a vertical state, as shown inFIG. 3. Setting the manual operation tool T along the internal peripheral surface of the distal end side in the vertical state allows the manual operation tool T to be smoothly positioned in the internally threaded screw part7B of the manual operation part7, and when the clamp part3is in a clamped state (front down state), the internal peripheral surface of the base end side of the operational-use through-hole9is in a vertical state, as shown inFIG. 4. Setting the manual operation tool T along the internal peripheral surface of the base end side in the vertical state allows the manual operation tool T to be smoothly positioned in the internally threaded screw part7B of the manual operation part7.

In the present example configured as described above, the pressurization device4is provided inside, and is integrated with, the body part1, which has been provided separately from the clamping device in the prior art, as described above. Furthermore, the pressurization device4and the push-operation part2intercommunicate by way of the flow path10formed in the body part1; therefore, hydraulic hoses via which the pressurization device4and the push-operation part2communicate are not required. Therefore, hydraulic hoses are not laid about the periphery of the press device, and consequently, there is no concern that a worker will suffer injury by tripping on the hydraulic hoses, or that the hydraulic hoses will be damaged and the clamp will disengage during operation. Furthermore, when the clamping device is to be replaced, work for detaching and attaching hydraulic hoses is not performed; therefore, replacement work is facilitated, and any possible issues due to faulty connection of the hydraulic hoses are obviated.

When a lever-type clamping device has been used in the prior art, most pressurization devices for actuating the clamp part are driven by mechanical operation using a pump or the like; however, in the present example, the manual operation unit7configured from the internally threaded screw part7B and the male screw7A is provided, and is driven by manual operation; i.e., human operation. This enables manufacturing at low cost.

Furthermore, in the present example, the clamp part3is configured to be detachable and replaceable; therefore, when the clamping device is to be replaced to match the thickness of the mold30, the clamp part3is removed from the body part1, and, as shown inFIG. 5, all that is required is to attach the clamp part3suitable for the thickness of the mold30. Since the body part1does not have to be painstakingly removed, replacement work is facilitated to a much greater extent. Also, there is no need to provide several body parts1; merely providing the clamp part3makes it possible to handle a different configuration, which also allows costs to be reduced.

Thus, the present example is an extremely practical, innovative clamping device that does not exist in the prior art, allowing costs to be reduced, the laying of hydraulic hoses between the body part1and the pressurization device4of the clamping device to be obviated, and clamp replacement to be performed in a less labor-intensive manner.

The present invention is not limited to the present example; specific configurations for a variety of structural requirements can be designed, as appropriate.