Patent ID: 12257668

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of a support device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

FIG.1is a perspective view of a support device10according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.2is a top view of the support device10according to the embodiment.FIG.3is a bottom view of the support device10according to the embodiment. The directions of up, down, left, right, front, and rear described below follow the arrows shown in the drawings.

The support device10of the present embodiment is a device provided for supporting a support object W (FIG.4) having a circumferential surface32. The support device10includes a base portion12, a pair of support members14, a plurality of first biasing members16, a plurality of bearing portions18, a plurality of second biasing members20, an actuator22, and a control unit24. Hereinafter, descriptions will be given concerning such elements.

The base portion12is a plate-shaped member and includes metal as a material. Although the base portion12illustrated in the present embodiment has a long side in the left-right direction and a short side in the front-rear direction, the base portion12is not limited to having a long side and a short side.

A hole (first opening)26that penetrates the base portion12in the thickness direction (up-down direction) is provided at the center of the base portion12. The first opening26ensures visibility of the support object W held by the pair of support members14or by the plurality of bearing portions18to be described later, and makes it easy to approach the support object W with a tool T (FIG.9) or the like.

The pair of support members14(14A,14B) include a left support member14A and a right support member14B that face each other in the left-right direction and are configured to be symmetrical to each other. Each of the pair of support members14is a substantially flat plate-shaped metal member provided slidably with respect to the base portion12, and is provided with an arc-shaped cutout portion28. The cutout portion28is provided on a right side surface of the support member14A that faces the support member14B, and is provided on a left side surface of the support member14B that faces the support member14A. Accordingly, the two cutout portions28face each other in the left-right direction.

On the surfaces of the cutout portions28, a plurality of elongated holes28sfor allowing the bearing portions18described later to be slidably provided are formed radially. The arrangement of the plurality of elongated holes28sprovided in the support member14A and the arrangement of the plurality of elongated holes28sprovided in the support member14B are symmetrical to each other. Incidentally, instead of the elongated hole28s, slits may be formed radially in the cutout portions28.

In addition, it is preferable that an uneven shape30along the up-down direction is formed on the surface of each of the cutout portions28. The reason will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the support object W is a screw member having a circular head. However, the support object W is not limited to the screw member and may be, for example, a simple cylindrical member. In addition, the circumferential surface32of the support object W includes not only a circular end surface but also a circular cross section. The support object W has an axis34passing through the center of the circumferential surface32.

The plurality of first biasing members16bias the pair of support members14in approaching directions. The approaching directions are parallel to a direction in which the pair of support members14face each other, and refer to directions in which the pair of support members14approach each other. That is, the approaching direction for the support member14A refers to the right direction toward the support member14B, and the approaching direction for the support member14B refers to the left direction toward the support member14A.

Each of the plurality of first biasing members16is a compression coil spring having elasticity in the present embodiment. However, the plurality of first biasing members16are not limited to compression coil springs as long as they bias the pair of support members14.

In the present embodiment, two first biasing members16are connected to each of the pair of support members14. Among these, concerning each of the first biasing members16connected to the support member14A, one end16ais connected to the support member14A on the opposite side to the support member14B, and another end16bis connected to the base portion12. Similarly, concerning each of the first biasing members16connected to the support member14B, one end16ais connected to the support member14B on the opposite side to the support member14A, and another end16bis connected to the base portion12.

As shown inFIG.3, the two first biasing members16connected to the support member14A are paired with each other in the front-rear direction with respect to the support member14A. Accordingly, the biasing force applied to the support member14A from one of the first biasing members16connected to the support member14A becomes equal to the biasing force applied to the support member14A from the other first biasing member16.

Similarly, the two first biasing members16connected to the support member14B are paired with each other in the front-rear direction with respect to the support member14B. Accordingly, the biasing force applied to the support member14B from one of the first biasing members16connected to the support member14B becomes equal to the biasing force applied to the support member14B from the other first biasing member16.

Further, the set of the two first biasing members16connected to the support member14A, and the set of the two first biasing members16connected to the support member14B, are paired with each other in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the biasing force applied to the support member14A and the biasing force applied to the support member14B are equalized.

FIG.4is a perspective view showing a state in which the support object W is disposed between the two cutout portions28.

The pair of support members14can move in separating directions opposite to the approaching directions as shown inFIG.4by contracting the plurality of first biasing members16. The contraction of the plurality of first biasing members16can be easily achieved by using the actuator22described below.

The support object W having the circumferential surface32and the axis34passing through the center of the circumferential surface32can be disposed between the two cutout portions28facing each other. Thus, the support object W is sandwiched from both sides of the circumferential surface32by the two cutout portions28.

FIG.5is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V inFIG.2.

The plurality of bearing portions18are components provided in the plurality of elongated holes28sof the cutout portions28. Each of the plurality of bearing portions18is provided in one elongated hole28s. Further, each of the bearing portions18includes a rolling body36and a support body38.

Among them, the rolling body36itself is, for example, one radial bearing, and is a member having an axis (rotary axis)39parallel to the axis34(FIG.6) of the support object W disposed between the two cutout portions28.

The support body38is a member that rotatably supports the rolling body36. The support body38is provided above the elongated hole28s, and has a width larger than the short side width of the elongated hole28s(the width in a direction toward and away from the viewer viewingFIG.5). Therefore, the support body38does not fall downward through the elongated hole28s. The support body38and the support member14are not fixed to each other. This allows the support body38to slide with respect to the support member14.

In addition, the support body38includes an extending portion38awhich is inserted through the elongated hole28s, and a flange portion38bwhich restricts a movable range of the support body38in the up-down direction. The flange portion38bis provided on the lower end side of the extending portion38a, and comes into contact with the lower surface of the support member14from below to restrict the upward movement of the sliding support body38.

The rolling body36is rotatably connected to the lower end of the extending portion38a. In this regard, for example, when the rolling body36is a radial bearing, an inner ring of the radial bearing may be connected to the extending portion38a. As a result, it is possible to support the radial bearing by the support body38while allowing an outer ring of the radial bearing to rotate.

The configuration of the bearing portion18is not limited to the above feature. For example, the rolling body36may be a so-called roller (cylindrical roller, barrel-shaped roller, or the like). At this time, the roller may be made rotatable by providing, in the extending portion38a, a bearing structure for rotatably supporting the roller, or the extending portion38amay be fixed to the roller and a bearing structure for rotatably supporting the extending portion38amay be provided in the support body38.

The plurality of second biasing members20are members that bias the plurality of bearing portions18toward the support object W disposed between the two cutout portions28. The plurality of second biasing members20are each arranged on the support member14, on an extension in the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of elongated holes28sprovided radially, and contract along the longitudinal direction. As a result, the bearing portion18slides along the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole28sin accordance with the expansion and contraction of the second biasing member20.

The biasing force of the plurality of second biasing members20is set to be greater than the biasing force applied to the pair of support members14by the plurality of first biasing members16. Each of the plurality of second biasing members20is a compression coil spring in the present embodiment, but is not limited to a compression coil spring similarly to the first biasing members16.

One second biasing member20is connected to one bearing portion18. When the bearing portion18is not applied with a compressive force by the second biasing member20connected thereto, the rolling body36is held in a state in which a part thereof protrudes from the cutout portion28(FIG.3).

The actuator22is provided in the base portion12and causes the pair of support members14to hold the support object W by moving the pair of support members14in the approaching directions. In the present embodiment, the actuator22is formed of a pair of air cylinders that are driven to apply a linear force in the left-right direction to the pair of support members14. One of the pair of air cylinders is connected to the support member14A, and the other air cylinder is connected to the support member14B.

Note that the actuator22is not limited to the pair of air cylinders as long as the actuator22moves the pair of support members14in the approaching directions. For example, the actuator22may be constituted by a hydraulic cylinder, a ball screw mechanism, or an electric motor.

The control unit24controls the actuator22to switch between holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14and holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18. This switching will be described later. In the present embodiment, the control unit24is a controller for the pair of air cylinders described above.

In the present embodiment, a state in which the movement of the pair of support members14is controlled by the actuator22is referred to as an “ON state” of the actuator22. Further, a state in which the above-described movement is not controlled by the actuator22is referred to as an “OFF state” of the actuator22. Since the support device10includes the control unit24, the switching between the ON state and the OFF state can be easily achieved.

The above is the outline of the configuration of the support device10according to the present embodiment. Next, a description will be given of switching in the support device10between holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14and holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18.

First, holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14, which is realized by the support device10according to the present embodiment, will be described. This holding is realized by bringing the pair of support members14close to each other by bringing the actuator22into the ON state from the state shown inFIG.4.

FIG.6is a first view for explaining holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14.

When the pair of support members14are moved in the approaching directions, the rolling bodies36first come into contact with the support object W. Here, the actuator22move each of the pair of support members14in the approaching direction with a force greater than the biasing force of the plurality of second biasing members20on the support member14A and the biasing force of the plurality of second biasing members20on the support member14B. As a result, in accordance with the movement, a pressing force is applied to the rolling bodies36from the support object W. At this time, the plurality of second biasing members20absorb the pressing force by contracting themselves.

FIG.7is a second view for explaining holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14.

When the plurality of second biasing members20contract, the plurality of bearing portions18slide away from the support object W. When the actuator22further continues to move the pair of support members14in the approaching directions, finally, as shown inFIG.7, the cutout portions28of the pair of support members14come into contact with the support object W. The holding of the support object W by the pair of support members14is realized by maintaining this state.

In the holding state ofFIG.7, the support object W is firmly held from both sides of the circumferential surface32by the arc-shaped cutout portions28provided in the pair of support members14, and the support object W is prevented from rotating relative to the support device10. Therefore, when it is not desired to rotate the support object W, the holding state shown inFIG.7is suitable.

Further, at this time, if the uneven shape30is formed on the surface of each of the cutout portions28, the unevenness functions as a slip stopper of the support object W.

Accordingly, it is more favorably achieved that the support object W is held by the pair of support members14so as not to rotate.

FIG.8is a first view for explaining holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18.

Next, holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18will be described. This holding can be realized by bringing the actuator22into the OFF state. That is, when the actuator22is brought into the OFF state, the pair of support members14are biased in the approaching directions by the plurality of first biasing members16. As a result, in the same manner as when the support members14are moved by the actuator22, the rolling bodies36of the plurality of bearing portions18provided on the pair of support members14first come into contact with the support object W.

Here, as described above, the biasing force of the plurality of second biasing members20that push out the plurality of bearing portions18toward the support object W is greater than the biasing force applied to the pair of support members14by the plurality of first biasing members16. Therefore, when the actuator22is in the OFF state, the plurality of bearing portions18are not pushed in as in the case ofFIG.7, and can hold the support object W by the rolling bodies36thereof. In this manner, holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18is realized.

FIG.9is a second view for explaining holding of the support object W by the plurality of bearing portions18.

In the state shown inFIG.8, when the support object W rotates about the axis34, the rolling bides36also rotate together about their rotation axes. That is, in the state shown inFIG.8, it is possible to rotatably support the support object W without rotating the support device10as a whole.

As a result, for example, as illustrated inFIG.9, it is possible to easily perform an operation of fastening a screw member, which is the support object W, to another member W′ while rotatably supporting the screw member by the support device10. At this time, if the first opening26is provided in the base portion12, it is possible to easily access the support object W with the tool T for screw fastening from the base portion12side through the first opening26. Since the support device10does not rotate during the fastening operation, fixing at one place can be easily performed, and the fastening operation can be carried out with favorable workability even in a place where the space is limited.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the support device10that rotatably supports the support object W without rotating itself is provided. In addition, according to the configuration of the support device10of the present embodiment, it is also possible that the support object W is supported so as not to rotate. Further, according to the configuration of the support device10of the present embodiment, the support object W can be selectively supported so as to be rotatable and so as not to rotate.

[Modification]

The embodiment has been described above as one example of the present invention. It goes without saying that various modifications or improvements are capable of being added to the above-described embodiment. Further, it is clear from the scope of the claims that other modes to which such modifications or improvements have been added can be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

(Modification 1)

Hereinafter, a support device10according to a first modification will be described. However, a description of elements having the same names and the same reference numerals as those already described in the embodiment will be appropriately omitted.

FIG.10is a view for explaining a configuration of the support device10according to the first modification.FIG.11is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI ofFIG.10.

The configuration of the bearing portions18is not limited to that of the embodiment. For example, the bearing portions18may each include an accommodation portion40, a rolling body42, and a spherical body sliding portion44. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the bearing portion18of the present modification is also referred to as a bearing portion18′.

The accommodation portion40is provided for accommodating the rolling body42, and is provided with an opening (second opening)46facing the support object W sandwiched between the pair of support members14. The accommodation portions40may be a plurality of cavities provided in the pair of support members14.

It is preferable that an inner surface of the accommodation portion40that comes into contact with the accommodated rolling body42is smooth so that the rolling body42can favorably perform rolling described later.

The rolling body42of the present modification is a spherical member having a diameter larger than that of the second opening46(R42>R46). The rolling body42is accommodated in the accommodation portion40as described above. In the present modification, the material of the rolling body42includes metal.

The spherical body sliding portion44is a member that is connected to the second biasing member20in the accommodation portion40, and biases the rolling body42toward the second opening46while rollably supporting the rolling body42. The spherical body sliding portion44has a dish-like shape in the present modification.

In addition, it is preferable that a surface of the spherical body sliding portion44that comes into contact with the rolling body42is smooth similarly to the inner surface of the accommodation portion40.

The plurality of bearing portions18′ can rotatably hold the support object W. That is, in the configuration of the present modification, the rolling bodies42are pressed toward the second openings46by the second biasing members20via the spherical body sliding portions44, and the rolling bodies42are partially exposed to the outside of the accommodation portions40from the second openings46. As a result, the rolling bodies42of the plurality of bearing portions18′ come into contact with the support object W.

Here, when the actuator22is in the OFF state, for the same reason as in the embodiment, the support object W is held not by the pair of support members14biased by the plurality of first biasing members16, but by the plurality of rolling bodies42biased by the plurality of second biasing members20.

Since the rolling body42itself can roll, the rolling body42allows the support object W in contact therewith to rotate. Therefore, also in the present modification, the support device10can rotatably support the support object W without rotating itself.

Inventions that can be Obtained from the Embodiment

The inventions that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and modification will be described below.

Provided is the support device (10) that supports the support object (W) including the circumferential surface (32), the support device (10) including: the base portion (12); the pair of support members (14) provided slidably with respect to the base portion (12), and provided with the cutout portions (28) having an arc shape and configured to hold the circumferential surface (32) from both sides; the plurality of first biasing members (16) configured to bias the pair of support members (14) in directions in which the support members (14) approach each other; the plurality of bearing portions (18) provided along the cutout portions (28) of the pair of support members (14), and configured to hold the support object (W) in a manner so that the support object (W) is rotatable about the axis (34) of the support object (W); and the plurality of second biasing members (20) configured to bias the plurality of bearing portions (18) toward the support object (W) in order for the plurality of bearing portions (18) to hold the support object (W), wherein the biasing force of the plurality of first biasing members (16) and the biasing force of the plurality of second biasing members (20) are set in a manner so that the support object (W) is allowed to be held by the plurality of bearing portions (18) with a force greater than the biasing force applied to the pair of support members (14) by the plurality of first biasing members (16).

Thus, the support device (10) that rotatably supports the support object (W) without rotating itself is provided.

The base portion (12) may be provided with the hole (26) that penetrates the base portion (12) in a thickness direction thereof and faces the support object (W) when the support object (W) is in a state of being held by the pair of support members (14) or by the plurality of bearing portions (18). As a result, it is possible to ensure visibility of the support object (W) and to easily approach the support object (W) with the tool (T) or the like.

The support device (10) may further include the actuator (22) provided on the base portion (12) and configured to cause the pair of support members (14) to hold the support object (W) by moving the pair of support members (14) in the directions in which the support members (14) approach each other. As a result, by bringing the actuator (22) into the ON state, the support object (W) can be supported so as not to rotate.

The support device (10) may further include the control unit (24) configured to switch between holding of the support object (W) by the pair of support members (14) and holding of the support object (W) by the plurality of bearing portions (18) by controlling the actuator (22). As a result, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the support object (W) is supported so as to be rotatable and a state in which the support object (W) is supported so as not to rotate.

The uneven shape (30) may be formed on the surface of each of the cutout portions (28) of the support members (14). As a result, since the uneven shape (30) functions as a slip stopper, it is more favorably achieved that the support object (W) is supported so as not to rotate.

The plurality of bearing portions (18) may include the bearing portion (18) that includes the rolling body (36) including the rotary axis (39) parallel to the axis (34) of the support object (W), and the support body (38) connected to one of the plurality of second biasing members (20) and configured to rotatably support the rolling body (36). As a result, the rolling bodies (36) having the rotary axis (39) parallel to the axis (34) rotatably hold the support object (W).

Each of the plurality of bearing portions (18) may include the bearing portion (18) that includes the accommodation portion (40) provided with the opening (46) facing the support object (W) sandwiched between the pair of support members (14), the rolling body (42) having a spherical shape, accommodated in the accommodation portion (40), and having the diameter (R42) larger than that of the opening (46), and the spherical body sliding portion (44) connected to one of the plurality of second biasing members (20), and configured to rollably support the rolling body (42) and bias the rolling body (42) toward the opening (46). As a result, the rolling bodies (42) rolling in the accommodation portions (40) rotatably hold the support object (W).