FLUID PRESSURE DEVICE

Abstract: A fluid pressure machine which has a fluid unit formed by connecting together a plurality of blocks having different functions, and which is suitable to be used as a vacuum generating unit connected to an external machine. This fluid pressure machine includes a plug-in type signal connector provided with a plurality of terminals concentrated in a wall of the fluid unit so as to electrically connect the blocks to an external machine, and a plug-in type fluid passage connector provided with terminals concentrated in the wall of the fluid unit so as to connect the blocks hydraulically to the external machine through tubular members to be inserted into the terminals.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fluid pressure device wherein a plurality of blocks having different functions are combined into a single unit. BACKGROUND ART A fluid pressure device such as a vacuum generating unit is constructed by connecting together a plurality of blocks having different functions, and which are provided respectively with peripheral devices such as a feed valve for supplying either vacuum or compressed air, a vacuum break valve, an attraction confirmation switch serving as a vacuum detecting means, a timer, a display, etc. Further, electrical mechanisms are electrically connected to a control device such as a sequencer or the like by signal conductors or wires, such as discrete lead wires or the like, to thereby transfer control signals therebetween. A vacuum generating unit according to the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a structure for connecting signal wires between a vacuum generating device 2 and a sequencer 4 which serves as an external device, in which ejectors respectively having different vacuum attracting or sucking conditions are set as vacuum generating sources. The vacuum generating unit 6a is constructed by connecting peripheral devices such as a compressed-air feed valve 12a, a vacuum break valve 14a, an attraction confirmation switch 16a, etc. to a block 10a having an ejector provided thereinside and a vacuum port 8a. The vacuum generating unit 6a, and other vacuum generating units formed in a manner similar to the vacuum generating unit 6a, are placed on a manifold 18 to thereby form the vacuum generating device 2. Compressed air is supplied from an unillustrated compressed-air feed source to the vacuum generating units 6a through 6e through a compressed-air feed port 20, so that negative pressures are generated by the ejectors respectively. In the vacuum generating units 6c through 6e, for example, negative pressures are supplied respectively from vacuum ports 8c through 8e to corresponding suction pads 24c through 24e through vacuum tubes 22c through 22e. Thus, the suction pads 24c through 24e attract and feed workpieces 26c through 26e. The sequencer 4 has input keys 28 and a display unit 30 comprised of an LCD, both provided on an upper surface thereof. Further, the sequencer 4 has signal terminals 32 respectively connected to objects to be controlled. The peripheral devices of the vacuum generating units 6a through 6e provided on the manifold 18 are separately connected to the signal terminals 32 of the sequencer 4 by a plurality of signal conductors or wires 34. The vacuum generating device 2 is electrically connected to the sequencer 4 used as an external device by a plurality of signal wires 34 as described above. The compressed-air feed port 20 and the vacuum ports 8a through 8e are firmly connected to the peripheral devices through vacuum tubes 22a through 22e, so as to withstand the pressure of compressed air and the negative pressure. Further, the compressed-air feed port 20 and the vacuum ports 8a through 8e serve to keep the device airtight. Thus, when it is desired to change the performance or functions of the vacuum generating device 2 according to a desired purpose at a job site, or to entirely replace one or more of the vacuum generating units 6a through 6e due to a sudden malfunction or the like at the job site, it becomes cumbersome to make such changes and much time is wasted. Particularly, an inconvenience is developed in that the procedure for releasing and re-connecting the plurality of signal wires 34 and the vacuum tubes 22a through 22e is cumbersome and requires a lot of time, and mistakes such as a misconnection of signal wires, etc. can arise. Further, when the units are rearranged or replaced, the pressurized-fluid passage which communicates with the entire vacuum generating device 2 is opened thereby discharging pressurized fluid to the outside and drawing air into the passage. Therefore, the replacement or rearrangement work can only be performed after the process of attracting and feeding of a workpiece by the vacuum generating device 2 has been completely discontinued. Accordingly, work efficiency is greatly reduced. Moreover, when the units are recombined, dust or the like enters into the vacuum generating device 2 due to the suction of air from the vacuum passage, so that a reduction in performance occurs since the airtightness of the device is lowered after such recombining work has been carried out. On the other hand, the sequencer 4 manages or controls all of the signal wires 34 for the peripheral devices making up the vacuum generating units 6a through 6e, and internally controls the timing for each of the peripheral devices. Thus, the number of the signal wires 34 electrically connected between the peripheral devices of the vacuum generating units 6a through 6e and the sequencer 4 greatly increases. Hence, it is cumbersome to provide wiring for the signal wires 34, miswiring tends to occur. Further, the peripheral devices can experience malfunctions due to noise or the like generated between the signal wires 34. Such an inconvenience is also common even with other vacuum units connected to the sequencer by a plurality of signal wires, as well as to the vacuum generating units. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid pressure device capable of easily carrying out, at a job site, either the rearrangement of the fluid pressure device according to desired functions and performance thereof, and to facilitate the replacement of the fluid pressure device when sudden malfunctions or accidents occur, without discontinuing the general operation of a working line using the fluid pressure device, and further avoiding a reduction in performance of the fluid pressure device after either its rearrangement or replacement has been performed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid pressure device wherein complicated wiring, occurrence of miswiring, and malfunctions of the fluid pressure device due to noise can be avoided, by simplifying signal wires using an interface block and a serial transmitting means, and wherein the structure of the fluid pressure device can be reduced in size and weight, so as to improve its general-purpose properties. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION These objects are achieved by a fluid pressure device according to claim 1. Advantageous features of the invention are derivable from the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an attracting and feeding system according to the prior art; FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a fluid pressure device according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an interface block employed in the fluid pressure device according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a terminal unit of the interface block shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting one example of a system in which the fluid pressure device according to the present invention is incorporated; FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another example of a system in which the fluid pressure device according to the present invention is incorporated; and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a fluid pressure device according to the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Fluid pressure devices according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments are shown by way of illustrative example. Incidentally, vacuum pressure devices are all described in the following embodiments. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a vacuum pressure device and can also be applied to other types of fluid pressure devices. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 150 indicates a vacuum unit according to a first embodiment of the invention. The vacuum unit 150 substantially comprises a vacuum generating unit 154 indicated by oblique lines, and an interface block 152 for connecting the vacuum generating unit 154 to an external device such as a sequencer 158 or the like. The vacuum generating unit 154 basically comprises a body 156, a pressure sensing section 159 for sensing a state of pressure of an ejector 166 (to be described later) using a pressure sensor 167, and a valve section 160 comprised of an electromagnetic or solenoid-controlled compressed air feed valve 162, and an electromagnetic or solenoid-controlled vacuum break valve 164. A compressed-air feed port 168 for supplying compressed air to the ejector 166, which serves as a vacuum generating source, is defined in a side wall of the body 156 of the vacuum generating unit 154. A compressed-air feed valve (check valve) 172 for supplying and cutting off the supply of compressed air, and a vacuum break valve 174 for releasing a state of vacuum from a vacuum port 176 are provided in the course of a compressed-air feed passage 170, for causing the compressed-air feed port 168 to communicate with the ejector 166. The vacuum port 176, which communicates with the ejector 166, is defined in a same side wall as that used for the compressed-air feed port 168. Further, a filter 178 for removing dust, moisture or water, or the like, from the evacuated air is interposed between the vacuum port 176 and the ejector 166. A compressed-air exhaust or discharge port 180 is also provided for discharging compressed air from the ejector 166. A silencer 182 for silencing an exhaust sound produced by the compressed air when it is discharged from the ejector 166 is provided in the compressed-air discharge port 180. Check valves 183a and 183b are provided to prevent a pressurized fluid from being unnecessarily discharged into the vacuum port 176. The interface block 152 will next be described below with reference to FIG. 3. The interface block 152 is integrated into one system and connected to an external device such as a sequencer 158 or the like. The interface block 152 comprises a serial signal input/output unit 200 for inputting serial electric signals through a single terminal and outputting the same therefrom, a serial/parallel signal converter (S/P) 202 for converting the serial signals into corresponding parallel signals, a controller (CPU) 204 which serves as an arithmetic or operating means for generally controlling the interface block 152, and a sensor input/output unit 206 for inputting the parallel signals to a pressure sensor section 159. The interface block 152 also includes a first electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 208 for inputting parallel signals to the electromagnetic compressed air feed valve 162 and outputting the same therefrom, a second electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 210 for inputting parallel signals to the electromagnetic vacuum breakage valve 164 and outputting the same therefrom, a display unit 184 disposed on an upper surface of the interface block 152 for displaying pressure information or the like detected by a pressure sensor section 159 thereon, and an input/output unit 212 for inputting parallel signals to the display unit 184 and outputting the same therefrom. The respective components referred to above are electrically connected to one another by a bus line. FIG. 4 shows an electrical connecting structure employed within the interface block 152. More specifically, a substrate 193 is accommodated in a space defined inside the structure. Pin-shaped members 197a through 197d shaped in the form of groups, and which project from the substrate 193, are exposed to the outside of the interface block 152 through holes 189a through 189d. An opening defined in a lower surface of the interface block 152 is closed by a cover 195. That is, the cover 195 has claws or stoppers 196a and 196b, which are in turn fitted into corresponding holes 191a and 191b defined in both sides of the interface block 152. As understood from the drawing, the pin-shaped members 197a through 197d are implanted into a circuit pattern formed on the substrate 193. In the drawing, reference numerals 199a through 199d indicate guiding rods. When it is desired to attach the substrate 193 to the interface block 152, the substrate 193 is first placed in a predetermined position and set on the cover 195 by the guiding rods 199a through 199d. The guiding rods 199a through 199d are then positioned by unillustrated guide holes and incorporated into the interface block 152. The electrical connections between the interface block 152 and the vacuum generating unit 154 are respectively made by connectors 186a through 186c made up of conductive elastic members or bodies (see FIGS. 2 and 3). More specifically, the electrical connections consist of an electrical connection between the pressure sensor section 159 and the sensor input/output unit 206, an electrical connection between the electromagnetic valve 162 and the first electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 208, and an electrical connection between the electromagnetic valve 164 and the second electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 210. An attracting and feeding system 222, comprising a plurality of vacuum units 150 each of the type shown in FIG. 2 which are connected side by side to one another by a manifold 220, will next be shown as an illustrative example, and the operations of the attracting and feeding system 222 will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. In the attracting and feeding system 222 shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of vacuum units 150a through 150e in which ejectors having different vacuum conditions are used as vacuum sources, are placed on the manifold 220. Compressed-air feed ports 168a through 168e attached to corresponding vacuum units 150a through 150e are coupled respectively to unillustrated compressed-air feed sources by tubes 224a through 224e. Further, vacuum ports 176c through 176e are connected to suction pads 228c through 228e by tubes 226c through 226e respectively. Terminals 188 are disposed on upper surfaces of interface blocks 152, and signal terminals 157a used for the objects to be controlled are attached to a side surface of a sequencer 158. The terminals 188 and 157a are respectively connected to one another by individual signal wires 165a through 165e for allowing serial transmission therebetween. Input keys 161 and a display unit 163 comprised of an LCD are disposed on an upper surface of the sequencer 158. FIG. 6 illustrates an attracting and feeding system 222 comprising a plurality of vacuum units 150a through 150e, in which ejectors respectively having different vacuum sucking conditions are used as vacuum sources, and a controller 151 for generally controlling the attracting and feeding system 222. The vacuum units 150a-150e and the controller 151 are placed on a manifold 220. Terminals 188a through 188e disposed on upper surfaces of interface blocks 152 are electrically connected to the controller 151 by individual signal wires 165a through 165e for providing serial transmission. Further, the controller 151 is electrically connected to the signal terminal 173 of a sequencer 158 by an individual signal wire 171 for providing serial transmission. The respective vacuum units 150a through 150e are substantially identical in structure to each other in the following description, and accordingly operations of the vacuum units will be described below by reference only to the vacuum unit 50c, and descriptions of the other vacuum units will therefore be omitted. Further, the vacuum unit 150 shown in FIG. 2 and the vacuum unit 150c shown in FIG. 4 are substantially identical in structure to each other. Thus, small alphabetical letters are affixed to reference numerals indicating the components of the vacuum unit 150, and such components will not be described in detail. When a work 230c is fed by the attracting and feeding system 222, serial signals outputted from the sequencer 158 are first inputted to a serial signal input/output unit 200c of the interface block 152c, and such signals are then converted into corresponding parallel signals by a serial/parallel signal converter (S/P) 202c. A corresponding parallel signal is inputted to a first electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 208c, which in turn sends an operation signal to an electromagnetic compressed air feed valve 162c, to thereby actuate the valve 162c and sequentially open a compressed-air feed valve 172c. As a result, compressed air is fed to an ejector 166c provided inside a body 156c of the vacuum generating unit to generate a vacuum or negative pressure, which is in turn supplied to a suction pad 228c through a vacuum port 176c. When the suction pad 228c supplied with the vacuum attracts the work 230c, the vacuum in a vacuum generating unit 154c is further raised. When the vacuum exceeds a pressure which has been preset in a pressure sensor section 159c, the pressure sensor section 159c sends a parallel signal to a sensor input/output unit 206c in the interface block 152c. Further, the parallel signal is converted into a serial signal by the serial/parallel signal converter (S/P) 202c. Thereafter, an attraction confirmation signal is sent to the sequencer 158 from the interface block 152c. When the attraction confirmation signal is received by the sequencer 158, and after the elapse of a fixed time interval set by a timer, the sequencer 158 confirms the completion of movement of the work 230c. Thereafter, the sequencer 158 transmits a stop signal to the compressed-air feed valve 172c through a same or similar path as used for the supply of the operation signal, to thereby close the compressed-air feed valve 172c and stop the generation of the vacuum from the ejector 166c. Simultaneously, a corresponding parallel signal, which results from the serial signals sent from the sequencer 158, is inputted to a second electromagnetic-valve input/output unit 210c, which in turn sends an operation signal to an electromagnetic vacuum break valve 164c, to thereby actuate the electromagnetic valve 164c and sequentially open a vacuum break valve 174c. Thus, compressed air is supplied to the suction pad 228c through the vacuum port 176c of the vacuum generating unit 154c, to thereby release the work 130c from the suction pad 228c. Further, the sequencer 158 sends a stop signal to the electromagnetic valve 164c after a fixed time interval set by the timer provided inside the sequencer 158 has elapsed, thereby closing the electromagnetic valve 164c so as to complete the attracting and feeding operation. FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 240 indicates a vacuum unit according to a fourth embodiment. The vacuum unit 240 basically comprises a vacuum generating unit 242 and an interface block 244. The vacuum generating unit 242 is slightly different in structure from the vacuum generating unit 154 of the vacuum unit 150 according to the first embodiment. However, the interface block 244 has the same basic structure and functions as those of the interface block 152 employed in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The difference between the interface block 244 and the interface block 152 employed in the first embodiment is as follows. In the case of the interface block 152 employed in the first embodiment, the connection between the interface block 152 and the vacuum generating unit 154 is made by connectors alone. Further, other wires necessary for the connection are provided within the interface block 152. By contrast, in the case of the interface block 244, conductors 246 and 248 are externally wired. Thus, the interface block 244 makes it possible to more easily cope with troubles such as disconnections, etc. In the fluid pressure device according to the present invention, a plurality of terminals are intensively disposed in a wall surface of the fluid pressure device for electrically connecting the fluid pressure device with an external device. The terminals and the external device are electrically connected to each other by a plug-in/one-touch system using a single multi-connector means. Further, when the external device and fluid passages thereof are interconnected, a fluid-passage connecting portion including a plug-in/one-touch system is also used. Thus, the rearrangement, or recombination, of each fluid unit based on desired functions and performance capabilities of the fluid pressure device, or the replacement of a fluid pressure device with another to cope with sudden troubles, can be rapidly and easily performed at a job site. In addition, a reduction in performance of the replaced fluid pressure device can be avoided. According to the present invention as well, electrical wires which are electrically connected to an external device are united into a single system based on serial transmission, and are connected to the external device through a single terminal. Therefore, the configuration of signal wires can be greatly simplified, and the complexity of wiring work and the occurrence of miswiring can be avoided. Further, a reduction in the number of signal wires makes it possible to avoid malfunctions caused by noise which can occur when a plurality of signal wires are used. Moreover, since the fluid pressure device is reduced in size and weight, various general-purpose properties of the device can be greatly enhanced.

Claims: A fluid pressure device comprising: a plurality of fluid units (150) connected to a vacuum generating source (166), each said fluid unit (150) comprising a solenoid controlled selector (160) for changing a vacuum state inside said fluid unit (150) from a negative-pressure into a positive-pressure and vice versa, a pressure sensor detecting switch (159), and a filter (178) and a check valve (172); a plurality of interface blocks (152) distinct from said fluid units (150), each said interface block (152), detachably mounted to one of said fluid units (150) and comprising means for electrically energizing and de-energizing said solenoid-controlled selector (160), means for transmitting information from said pressure detecting switch (159) about said vacuum state, a serial/parallel signal converter (202), and a serial signal input/output means (200) for inputting and outputting serial electric signals through a single terminal (188); an external sequencer (158) disposed separately from said interface blocks (152), said external sequencer (158) supplying and receiving signals to and from said serial signal input/output means (200) along individual signal lines (165) connected between said external sequencer (158) and said interface blocks (152); and wherein said serial/parallel signal converter (202) converts serial control signals transmitted from said external sequencer (158) into parallel signals which are supplied to said means for electrically energizing and de-energizing said solenoid controlled selector (160), and further converts parallel signals transmitted from said means for transmitting information into serial confirmation signals which are supplied to said external sequencer (158) to confirm that a predetermined vacuum state has been reached, and wherein said serial signal input/output means (200) receives input of said serial control signals from said external sequencer (158) and sends output of said serial confirmation signals to said sequencer (158) along said individual signal lines (165). A fluid pressure device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said solenoid controlled selector (160) comprises an electromagnetic vacuum breakage valve (164) and an electromagnetic compressed air feed valve (162), and wherein said means for electrically energizing and de-energizing said solenoid-controlled selector (160) comprises a pair of input/output units (210, 208) for controlling said vacuum breakage valve (164) and said feed valve (162), respectively. A fluid pressure device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said fluid unit (150) and said interface block (152) are substantially of identical thickness, and wherein respective side walls of said fluid unit (150) and said interface block (152) are inter-connected such that said fluid unit (150) and said interface block (152) form a substantially rectangularly shaped body.

Inventors: ITO Y, MATSUSHIMA H, NAGAI SH, SAITOH A, ITO, Y., MATSUSHIMA, H., NAGAI, SH., SAITOH, A., ITO, Y., SMC K K TSUKUBA GIJUTSU CENTER, MATSUSHIMA, H., SMC K K TSUKUBA GIJUTSU CENTER, NAGAI, SH., SMC K K TSUKUBA GIJUTSU CENTER, SAITOH, A., SMC K K TSUKUBA GIJUTSU CENTER
Applicants: SMC KK, SMC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F16K27
IPC codes: F15B13, F16K27, F04F5