CENTRIFUGAL BARREL POLISHING MACHINE

A centrifugal barrel polishing machine includes a distance measurement sensor 15. When a barrel tank 50 is located in a detection area, a controller 10 determines whether a fixed-state distance is measured by a distance measurement sensor 15, and when the fixed-state distance is not measured, the controller 10 does not permit the rotation of a turret 22.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a centrifugal barrel polishing machine.

BACKGROUND ART

During polishing by a centrifugal barrel polishing machine, a large centrifugal force of 10 G to 40 G acts on a barrel tank. Therefore, a fixing member is used to prevent the barrel tank and a barrel lid from being fallen off by centrifugal force or vibration. Patent Literature 1 describes a centrifugal barrel polishing machine in which it is detected by a detection unit whether a fixing member for fixing a barrel tank to a barrel case is in a fixing form, and when the fixing member is not in the fixing form, a turret is not permitted to rotate.

CITATIONS LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 6666960 B

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problems

In a configuration in which the barrel tank rotates around a rotation shaft extending in the horizontal direction, the barrel tank may be deviated from an assumed angle with the rotation shaft as a center when it is determined whether the fixing member is in the fixed state. In such a case, there is a concern that, even when the fixing member is not in the fixing form, the fixing member is erroneously determined to be in the fixing form on the basis of a detection result by the detection unit.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal barrel polishing machine including a fixing member for fixing a barrel tank or a barrel lid, the centrifugal barrel polishing machine suppressing start of centrifugal barrel polishing in a state where the fixing member is not in the fixing form.

Solution to Problems

In order to solve the above problem, a centrifugal barrel polishing machine disclosed in the present embodiment includes: a turret rotationally driven around a revolution shaft extending in a horizontal direction; a barrel case that is rotationally driven around a rotation shaft that extends in the horizontal direction from a position eccentric from the revolution shaft in the turret; and a barrel tank housed in the barrel case; a fixing member that changes between a fixing form for fixing the barrel tank to the barrel case and a releasing form for releasing the fixation of the barrel tank to the barrel case; and a distance measurement unit disposed to face in a measurement direction, along a substantially horizontal direction, with respect to a detection area located on a revolution path, of the barrel tank, centered on the revolution shaft; and a controller. The fixing member includes a to-be-measured portion whose position is displaced between the fixing form and the releasing form, when the fixing member changes from the fixing form to the releasing form, the to-be-measured portion is displaced from the measurement direction of the distance measurement unit to a direction intersecting the measurement direction, and when the barrel tank is located in the detection area, the controller determines whether a fixed-state distance indicating a horizontal distance to the to-be-measured portion is measured by the distance measurement unit, and when the fixed-state distance is not measured, the controller does not permit the turret to rotate.

In the above configuration, when the barrel tank is located in the detection area, the controller determines whether the fixing member is in the fixing form, by using the distance measured by the distance measurement unit. When the fixed-state distance indicating the horizontal distance to the to-be-measured portion is not measured by the distance measurement unit, the controller does not permit the turret to rotate. As a result, it is possible to suppress the centrifugal barrel polishing from being started in a state where the fixing member is not in the fixing form.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, in the centrifugal barrel polishing machine, it is possible to suppress the start of the centrifugal barrel polishing in a state where the fixing member is not in the fixing form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a centrifugal barrel polishing machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the inside when FIG. 1 is viewed in the direction of arrow A.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a fixing member.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the fixing member.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by a controller during operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating determination of a fixing form of the fixing member.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating determination of a fixing form of the fixing member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating determination of a fixing form of a fixing member in a comparative example.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the inside when FIG. 9 is viewed in the direction of arrow B.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a fixing member.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the fixing member.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to a third embodiment.

 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The centrifugal barrel polishing machine is a device capable of performing centrifugal barrel polishing on workpieces that are objects to be polished. A centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 mainly includes a housing 90, a barrel mechanism 20, a controller 10 that controls driving of the barrel mechanism 20, an area detection sensor 14, and a distance measurement sensor 15.

The controller 10 may be disposed outside the housing 90. Although description is omitted, the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 is connected to a power supply, and power from the power supply is supplied to the controller 10 and the barrel mechanism 20 via a power supply circuit (not illustrated).

In the present embodiment, in a state where the centrifugal barrel polishing machine is installed on an installation surface inside a factory or the like, a height of the centrifugal barrel polishing machine is defined as a vertical direction D3, and a direction horizontal to the installation surface is defined as a horizontal direction (a direction including a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 to be described later). Note that the horizontal direction is also a direction intersecting the vertical direction D3. The horizontal direction is not limited to being strictly parallel to the installation surface, and may be inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the installation surface. Therefore, the horizontal direction is a concept including “being substantially horizontal” with respect to the installation surface.

First, the configuration of the barrel mechanism 20 will be described. The barrel mechanism 20 mainly includes a revolution shaft 21, turrets 22, a motor 24, rotation shafts 23, barrel cases 40, barrel tanks 50, and fixing members 60.

The revolution shaft 21 is attached inside the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 such that the shaft extends in the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the revolution shaft 21 is rotatably attached in the housing 90 in a state of being supported by bearings.

The two turrets 22 are attached to the revolution shaft 21 so as to be rotatable integrally with the revolution shaft 21 in the direction in which the revolution shaft 21 extends. Each turret 22 is a member that radially expands centering on its central portion through which the revolution shaft 21 penetrates. Specifically, the turret 22 is a disk-shaped member centered on its central portion where the revolution shaft 21 is located, and has an inner side surface 22A and an outer side surface 22B facing in a direction opposite to the inner side surface 22A. The two turrets 22 are rotatably held in the housing 90 by the revolution shaft 21 with the inner side surfaces 22A facing each other.

Between the two turrets 22, the rotation shafts 23 are each attached so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the turrets 22 in a state of being supported by bearing members fixed to the turrets 22. Each rotation shaft 23 is attached to a position eccentric from the rotation center of the turrets 22 by a predetermined distance (hereinafter, the position is also written as an eccentric position) with the extending direction of the shaft being oriented in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the rotation shaft 23 is attached to each turret 22 at the eccentric position that is eccentric by a predetermined distance (that is, a radius of a revolution trajectory R) from the revolution center where the revolution shaft 21 is located.

Between the two turrets 22, the barrel cases 40 are each attached to be rotatable integrally with the rotation shaft 23. Each barrel case 40 has a space capable of housing therein the barrel tank 50. In the present embodiment, four of the barrel cases 40 are attached to the turrets 22 so as to be rotatable around four of the rotation shafts 23. The number of the barrel cases 40 attached to the turrets 22 is not limited to four, and may be less than four or more than four. Details of a shape of the barrel cases 40 will be described later.

Each barrel tank 50 is a member having a mass accommodation space that is a space in which workpieces and polishing media are accommodated. The mass is a term integrally representing the workpieces and the polishing media. A size of the barrel tank 50 is smaller than a size of a tank housing space of the barrel case 40. Each fixing member 60 is a member that fixes the barrel tank 50 housed in the barrel case 40 to the barrel case 40. Detailed shapes of the barrel tank 50 and the fixing member 60 will be described later. Hereinafter, in the horizontal direction, a direction in which the revolution shaft 21 and the rotation shafts 23 extend is defined as the first direction D1, and a direction orthogonal to the first direction in the horizontal direction is defined as the second direction D2.

The motor 24 is a drive source for rotating the turrets 22 and the barrel cases 40. A drive pulley 25 is attached to an output shaft of the motor 24. A driven pulley 27 is attached to the revolution shaft 21. The driven pulley 27 is coupled to the drive pulley 25 via a revolution belt 26. The rotation of the output shaft of the motor 24 can be transmitted to the driven pulley 27 via the revolution belt 26, thereby rotating the revolution shaft 21.

On the side opposite to the side on which the driven pulley 27 is coupled in the first direction D1, a main timing pulley 28 is fixed to the housing 90 via a rotation stop member 31. The main timing pulley 28 is rotatably supported by the revolution shaft 21 via a bearing inserted in an inner peripheral hole of the main timing pulley 28. A rotation timing pulley 29 is attached to each rotation shaft 23. The rotation timing pulleys 29 are each coupled to the main timing pulley 28 via a timing belt 30. With the rotation of the revolution shaft 21, the turrets 22 and the barrel cases 40 attached to the turrets 22 rotate (revolve) in the same direction. At this time, since the rotation timing pulley 29 attached to each rotation shaft 23 is coupled to the main timing pulley 28, which is a non-rotating body, via the timing belt 30, the rotation shaft 23 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the turrets 22 as the turrets 22 rotate (revolve). As a result, the rotation shafts 23 and the barrel cases 40 can be rotated relative to the turrets 22.

Since the main timing pulley 28 is coupled to the rotation shafts 23 via the rotation timing pulleys 29 and the timing belts 30, it is possible to suppress slipping caused by a rotation mechanism of each rotation shaft 23 and to suppress inclination of an angle of the barrel tank 50 located in a detection area 80 to be described later. In the present embodiment, the main timing pulley 28, the rotation timing pulleys 29, and the timing belts 30 are examples of a rotation mechanism. Instead of the timing belts 30, gears or chains may be used.

Next, a configuration of the controller 10 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the controller 10 includes an operation panel 11, a sequencer 12, and a drive circuit 13.

The sequencer 12 is a programmable controller that stores a predetermined program in a memory. The sequencer 12 receives signals corresponding to operation conditions of the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 from the operation panel 11. The operation conditions that can be set by an operation on the operation panel 11 are, for example, rotation speeds of the turrets 22 and the barrel cases 40, a polishing time indicating a time for which the centrifugal barrel polishing is performed on the workpieces, and other conditions.

An output from the sequencer 12 is input to the drive circuit 13. The drive circuit 13 outputs a drive signal for controlling the rotation speed of the motor 24 and the polishing time in accordance with a signal corresponding to the operation conditions input from the sequencer 12.

The area detection sensor 14 is a sensor that detects whether the barrel tank 50 is located in the detection area 80 that is a predetermined area in the housing 90. The detection area 80 is an area located on the revolution trajectory R of the barrel cases 40, and in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the detection area 80 is an area including the highest position in the vertical direction D3 on the revolution trajectory R. A detection dog 16 is attached to the peripheral edge of the turret 22 every 90 degrees in accordance with the positions of the barrel cases 40. The area detection sensor 14 is attached so as to be able to detect the detection dog 16 located at the center in the vertical direction D3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, if the area detection sensor 14 detects the detection dog 16, it means that the barrel tank 50 (barrel case 40) corresponding to a position set back counterclockwise by 90 degrees from such a detection dog 16 is located in the detection area 80. The area detection sensor 14 is connected to the controller 10, and outputs a detection signal to the controller 10 when detecting that the barrel case 40 is located in the detection area 80.

The distance measurement sensor 15 is a sensor that monitors whether the fixing member 60 is in a fixing form. The distance measurement sensor 15 is a sensor that measures a distance to an object by emitting measurement light along a measurement direction and receiving the measurement light reflected from the object located in the measurement direction. The distance measurement sensor 15 is connected to the controller 10, and outputs to the controller 10 distance information corresponding to the measurement light reflected from the object. In the present embodiment, the distance measurement sensor 15 is an example of a distance measurement unit.

In the present embodiment, the distance measurement sensor 15 is attached to an outside, with respect to the turret 22, on the outer side surface 22B side in the first direction D1, which is the extending direction of the revolution shaft 21. In more detail, the distance measurement sensor 15 is attached in the housing 90 in the following state. A detection direction is directed to the detection area 80, and a direction in which the measurement light is emitted is directed substantially parallel to the first direction D1.

Next, a detailed configuration of the barrel cases 40, the barrel tanks 50, and the fixing members 60 will be described. Each barrel case 40 is a container having its upper portion opened and having a tank housing space capable of housing therein the barrel tank 50. The barrel case 40 includes a bottom wall, a pair of opposing walls extending from both edges of the bottom wall in the first direction D1, and a pair of side walls extending from both ends of the bottom wall in the second direction D2. A space surrounded by the pair of opposing walls and the pair of side walls is the tank housing space. Each rotation shaft 23 is fixed to the opposing walls of the barrel case 40, and the barrel case 40 can rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 23.

A pair of side plates 45 are attached to both ends, of an upper portion of the barrel case 40, in the first direction D1. Each side plate 45 is a plate-shaped member having a polygonal flat surface. Specifically, the side plate 45 has a cutout portion 46 in which one of corner portions of the flat surface is cut out, and has a positioning hole 47 which penetrates the flat surface and to which a fixing member (clamp lever 61) to be described later is mounted. The side plates 45 are attached to the opposing walls of respective ones of barrel cases 40 with the flat surfaces facing in the first direction D1.

Each barrel tank 50 includes a barrel body 51 and a barrel lid 52. The barrel body 51 is a container having an opening in an upper surface and having a mass accommodation space capable of accommodating therein a mass (workpieces, polishing media, and the like). The barrel lid 52 is a member that closes the opening of the barrel body 51.

Each fixing member 60 is a member that changes between the fixing form for fixing the barrel tank 50 to the barrel case 40 and a releasing form for releasing the fixation of the barrel tank 50 to the barrel case 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixing member 60 includes a clamp lever 61 and a lever fixing portion 70.

The clamp lever 61 is a member rotatably attached to the side plates 45 of the barrel case 40. The clamp lever 61 mainly includes a main body shaft portion 62, a lever 63 protruding outward from the main body shaft portion 62, and a measurement dog 64. Both ends of the main body shaft portion 62 have insertion portions 65 and 66 having a diameter smaller than that of the main body shaft portion 62. The measurement dog 64 is a bracket-shaped portion protruding outward from the main body shaft portion 62, and has a to-be-measured surface 64A facing in the extending direction of the shaft.

Each lever fixing portion 70 is a member that fixes the clamp lever 61 in a state where rotation of the clamp lever 61 with respect to the barrel case 40 is restricted. The lever fixing portion 70 includes: a fixing pin 71; three guide portions 72, 73, and 74 that guide the fixing pin 71; and a spring 75 that biases the fixing pin 71 to a biased position. The three guide portions 72, 73, and 74 are fixed on the barrel lid 52 in a state of being aligned in the same direction.

Among the three guide portions 72, 73, and 74, the two guide portions 72 and 73 have a through-hole that guides sliding of the fixing pin 71. Between the guide portion 72 and the guide portion 73, the spring 75 is penetrated by the fixing pin 71 and is located in a state of being restricted by the stopper member 77. The spring 75 applies an elastic pressing force for bringing a tip, of the fixing pin 71, on the opposite side to a knob 76 into contact with the guide portion 74.

When the barrel tank 50 is fixed to the barrel case 40 by the fixing member 60, the barrel tank 50 is first housed in the tank housing space of the barrel case 40 in a state where the opening of the barrel body 51 is covered by the barrel lid 52. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4, one insertion portion 65 of the clamp lever 61 is inserted into the positioning hole 47 of the side plate 45, and then the other insertion portion 66 is inserted into the other positioning hole 47 of the other side plate 45. The knob 76 is pulled with respect to the fixing pin 71 so that the tip of the fixing pin 71 slides closer to the guide portion 73 side than to the guide portion 74. In this state, the lever 63 of the clamp lever 61 is positioned between the guide portions 73 and 74.

By releasing a tension of the fixing pin 71, the tip of the fixing pin 71 is brought into contact with the guide portion 74 by the elastic pressing force from the spring 75. Since a portion of the fixing pin 71 between the guide portions 73 and 74 is located on an upper side of the lever 63, the rotation of the clamp lever 61 with respect to the side plates 45 is restricted. The clamp lever 61 fixes the barrel tank 50 to the barrel case 40.

Next, a procedure of processing performed by the controller 10 during operation of the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. In step 11, the controller 10 rotates the turrets 22 at a low speed by an operation of a start button by an operator. The rotation speed of the motor 24 set in S11 is a speed determined as a speed for determining the fixing form of the fixing member 60, and is a speed lower than a rotation speed set as an operation condition at the time of polishing. Hereinafter, the step is also written as “S”.

The controller 10 rotates the turrets 22 at a low speed, whereby a detection signal from the area detection sensor 14 is output to the controller 10. In S12, the controller 10 determines whether the barrel tank 50 (barrel case 40) is located within the detection area 80. Specifically, when the area detection sensor 14 detects the detection dog 16 fixed to the turret 22, the controller 10 determines that any one of the barrel tanks 50 is located in the detection area 80.

When it is determined that the barrel case 40 is not located within the detection area 80 (S12: NO), the controller 10 stands by. On the other hand, when it is determined that the barrel case 40 is located within the detection area 80 (S12: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S13. In step S13, the controller 10 determines the distance information output from the distance measurement sensor 15.

FIG. 6 illustrates a relationship between the fixing member 60 and the distance measurement sensor 15 when the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form in the barrel tank 50 located in the detection area 80. In this example, the angle of the barrel tank 50 is not displaced in the detection area 80.

When the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the lever 63 of the clamp lever 61 is pushed down toward the barrel tank 50.

Therefore, the to-be-measured surface 64A of the measurement dog 64 of the clamp lever 61 is located on the cutout portion 46 side, in the second direction D2, with respect to the side plate 45.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(b), when the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form, the to-be-measured surface 64A of the measurement dog 64 is positioned in the measurement direction (that is, on a trajectory of the measurement light) of the distance measurement sensor 15; therefore, the distance measurement sensor 15 measures a fixed-state distance that is a horizontal distance to the to-be-measured surface 64A. The “fixed-state distance” is a distance assumed when the barrel tank 50 is located in the detection area 80 and the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form. Specifically, the fixed-state distance is a value having an error range of several [mm] on each of the positive side and the negative side with respect to a reference value.

Hereinafter, when the fixing member 60 in the fixing form is located in the detection area 80, a position at which the trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15 intersects the to-be-measured surface 64A is defined as a first position P. In addition, there is defined a predetermined range AR that orthogonally extends, at the first position P, on the trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15. In the present embodiment, in the detection area 80, other than the to-be-measured surface 64A, there is no object capable of reflecting the measurement light on the predetermined range AR orthogonally extending at the first position P.

In S13, in a case where the distance information obtained from the distance measurement sensor 15 is within the error range with respect to the reference value for the fixed-state distance, the controller 10 determines that the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form. On the other hand, when the distance information obtained by the distance measurement sensor 15 does not fall within the error range with respect to the reference value for the fixed-state distance, the controller 10 determines that the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form.

In the present embodiment, in S13, the controller 10 stops the rotation of the turrets 22 when acquiring the distance information by the distance measurement sensor 15. In addition to this, when a low rotation speed of the turrets 22 set in $11 is sufficiently low, the controller 10 may continue the rotation of the turrets 22.

When starting processing in S13 for the first time, the controller 10 starts counting by a timer (not illustrated). For the counting by the timer, a necessary time required for one rotation of the turrets 22 is set in consideration of the rotation speed of the turrets 22.

In S14, the controller 10 determines whether the fixing member 60 has measured the fixed-state distance four times (the same number as the number of barrel cases 40). If the number of times the fixed-state distance has been measured is less than four in S14 (S14: NO), the controller 10 proceeds to S15 and determines whether the timer has completed counting. When the controller 10 determines that the timer counting has not completed (that is, the turrets 22 do not make one rotation) (S15: NO), the process returns to S12, and the area detection sensor 14 determines whether the next barrel tank 50 is located in the detection area 80. Then, when the barrel tank 50 is newly located in the detection area 80 (S12: YES), the controller 10 performs processing of S13 and S14.

When the controller 10 determines, based on the fact that the detection of the area detection sensor 14 and the determination of the distance information are repeated, that the fixed-state distance has been measured four times (S14: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S16. In S16, the controller 10 starts the rotation of the turrets 22 under an operation condition (that is, high-speed rotation) without stopping the turrets 22.

When the turrets 22 are switched to the high-speed rotation state, the controller 10 proceeds to a barrel polishing step. The controller 10 counts the polishing time in S17. When the polishing time has elapsed (S17: YES), the controller 10 stops in S18 the high-speed rotation of the turrets 22, and ends the barrel polishing step.

On the other hand, when the distance measurement sensor 15 does not measure the fixed-state distance from either one of the four fixing members 60 before one rotation of the turrets 22 is completed, the controller 10 cannot determine in S14 that the fixed-state distance is measured four times (S14: NO). FIG. 7 illustrates a relationship between the fixing member 60 and the distance measurement sensor 15 when the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form in the barrel tank 50 located in the detection area 80. In FIG. 7(a), the lever 63 of the clamp lever 61 is pushed up from the barrel tank 50. In this example, the to-be-measured surface 64A of the measurement dog 64 of the clamp lever 61 is located on an upper side in the vertical direction D3 with respect to the side plate 45. That is, since the fixing member 60 is changed from the fixing form to the releasing form, the to-be-measured surface 64A is displaced in the vertical direction D3 intersecting the measurement direction of the distance measurement sensor 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 7(b), the to-be-measured surface 64A of the measurement dog 64 is not located on the trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15, and the distance measurement sensor 15 does not measure the fixed-state distance. As described above, when the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form, there is no object located on the predetermined range AR orthogonally extending at the first position P on the trajectory of the measurement light. In this example, the distance to a portion present at a position different from the first position P on the trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15 (for example, the housing 90 located at a position farther from the distance measurement sensor 15 than the first position P) is measured.

In the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100, it is also assumed that there is slipping caused by a mechanism that transmits a rotational driving force from the motor 24, whereby the barrel tank 50 located in the detection area 80 is inclined by more than the assumed angle with the rotation shaft 23 as a center. FIG. 8 illustrates, as a comparative example, a case where, based on the presence or absence of the measurement dog 64, it is detected whether the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form in the barrel tank 50 located in the detection area 80. That is, in the examples illustrated in FIG. 8, unlike the present embodiment, a distance is not measured with respect to the fixing member 60. Note that, in FIG. 8, the barrel tank 50 is inclined by more than the assumed angle in the detection area 80 with the rotation shaft 23 as a center.

In FIG. 8(a), since the barrel tank 50 is inclined by more than the assumed angle with the rotation shaft 23 as a center, the lever 63 is located on the trajectory of the detection light of the sensor. In other words, the lever 63 is located on the trajectory of the detection light, but is located at a position different from the first position P on the trajectory. Therefore, in this comparative example, since the sensor detects the lever 63, it is erroneously determined that the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form.

Furthermore, in FIG. 8(b), the clamp lever 61 of fixing member 60 is left unfixed to the side plate 45. Also in FIG. 8(b), the side plate 45 is located on the trajectory of the detection light of the sensor. In other words, the side plate 45 is located on the trajectory of the detection light, but is located at a position different from the first position P on the trajectory. Therefore, in this comparative example, since the sensor detects the side plate 45, it is erroneously determined that the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the distance measurement sensor 15 measures the distance with respect to the fixing member 60, in both cases of FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the lever 63 and the side plate 45 are on the trajectory of the measurement light but are not located at the first position P, and the distance measurement sensor 15 measures a distance different from the fixed-state distance. In particular, in the detection area 80, no object other than the measurement dog 64 is located on the predetermined range AR orthogonally extending at the first position P. Therefore, the controller 10 can determine that the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form. Note that, even when the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form, in a case where the barrel tank 50 is inclined by more than the assumed angle with the rotation shafts 23 as a center, the distance measurement sensor 15 does not measure the fixed-state distance (S14: NO), and the controller 10 does not permit the rotation of the turrets 22. In such a case, the controller 10 does not rotate the turrets 22, so that the centrifugal barrel polishing machine is caused to act on a safer side.

With reference again to FIG. 5, when a negative determination is made in S14, the controller 10 proceeds to S15. When determining that counting of the counts according to a rotation time for one rotation of the turrets 22 has been completed (S15: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S18. In S18, the controller 10 does not proceed to the barrel polishing step but stops the rotation of the turrets 22, and ends the processing of FIG. 5.

In the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be achieved.

When the barrel tank 50 is located in the detection area 80, the controller 10 determines whether the fixing member 60 is in the fixing form, by using the distance measured by the distance measurement sensor 15. When the fixed-state distance is not measured by the distance measurement sensor 15, the rotation of the turrets 22 is not permitted. As a result, the turrets 22 are not permitted to rotate in the following case. When the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form and when it is impossible to measure the horizontal distance to the measurement dog 64 because the barrel tank 50 is inclined in the detection area 80 by more than the assumed angle with the rotation shafts 23 as a center or because of other reasons. As a result, it is possible to suppress the centrifugal barrel polishing from being started in a state where the fixing member 60 is not in the fixing form.

When the barrel tank 50 is located in the detection area 80, there is only the measurement dog 64, as an object capable of reflecting light, at the first position P (fixed-state distance) in the detection area 80. In the above configuration, since, other than the measurement dog 64, there is no object capable of reflecting the measurement light at the first position P in the detection area 80, an effect of suppressing erroneous determination of the fixing form can be enhanced.

The distance measurement sensor 15 is attached, in the first direction D1, on an outside on the outer side surface 22B side that is opposite to the inner side surface 22A of the turret 22 to which the barrel case is attached. As a result, even during operation of the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100, water droplets and the like unintentionally scattered from the barrel tank 50 are prevented by the turret 22, and hardly adhere to the distance measurement sensor 15. As a result, it is possible to suppress that light emission and light reception of the measurement light are blocked by water droplets or the like and a measurement failure is thereby caused.

Since the main timing pulley 28 is coupled to the rotation shafts 23 via the rotation timing pulleys 29 and the timing belts 30, it is possible to suppress slipping caused by the rotation mechanism of each rotation shaft 23 and to thereby suppress inclination of the angle of the barrel tank 50 located in the detection area 80. As a result, it is possible to suppress the distance measurement sensor 15 from being unable to measure the fixed-state distance and to cause the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 to stably operate.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, the same portions as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the inside when FIG. 9 is viewed in a direction of arrow B. Also in the present embodiment, barrel tanks 50 are each fixed by a fixing member 60 in a state of being accommodated in a barrel case 40. The fixing member 60 is mounted on the barrel case 40 via side plates 45. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, each barrel tank 50 has a different shape from that in the first embodiment, and a shape of the fixing member 60 is also different in accordance with the shape of the barrel tank 50.

In the barrel tank 50, an opening into which a mass can be inserted is formed on one side in a longitudinal direction of a barrel body 51 (in FIG. 9, a first direction D1). A barrel lid 52 is attached to the barrel body 51 so as to cover the opening of the barrel body 51. Therefore, the barrel tank 50 is accommodated in a tank housing space of the barrel case 40 in a state where the barrel lid 52 is located on one side in the first direction D1 (a right side in FIG. 9).

FIG. 11 is a diagram for describing the fixing member 60 according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 60 includes a body plate 160, a screw portion 161, and a pressure receiving portion 164. The body plate 160 is a plate-shaped member, and has a dimension in the longitudinal direction larger than a dimension between the side plates 45 of the barrel case 40. A female thread is formed, along a thickness direction, in a flat surface in an upward direction of the body plate 160. The screw portion 161 is a member to be screwed with the female thread of the body plate 160, and has, at a tip part, an engagement portion that can engage with a wrench. The pressure receiving portion 164 is fixed to the barrel body 51 of the barrel tank 50.

In the present embodiment, when the barrel tank 50 is fixed to the barrel case 40 by the fixing member 60, the barrel lid 52 is first fixed in a state of covering the opening of the barrel body 51. Then, the barrel tank 50 is housed in the tank housing space of the barrel case 40. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11, one insertion portion 162 of the body plate 160 is inserted into one positioning hole 47 of the side plate 45, and then the other insertion portion 163 is inserted into a positioning hole 47 of the other side plate 45. By rotating the screw portion 161 in the fastening direction by a wrench (not illustrated), an end portion of the screw portion 161 facing the pressure receiving portion 164 side is brought into contact with the pressure receiving portion 164.

In the present embodiment, one insertion portion 163 of the body plate 160 is used as a to-be-measured portion. In a state illustrated in FIG. 11, the insertion portion 163 is not located on an optical axis of measurement light from a distance measurement sensor 15.

When the rotation of the screw portion 161 in the fastening direction is continued in a state where the tip of the screw portion 161 is in contact with the pressure receiving portion 164, the body plate 160 is displaced upward as illustrated in FIG. 12, and the insertion portion 163 is also displaced upward. As a result, the portions inserted into the positioning holes 47 of the body plate 160 and inner peripheral portions of the positioning holes 47 are in contact with each other on an upward direction side, and the screw portion 161 applies a pressing force in a downward direction to the pressure receiving portion 164.

In a state illustrated in FIG. 12, the insertion portion 163 is located on a trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15. When the fixing member 60 in the fixing form is located in a detection area 80, a position at which the insertion portion 163 of the body plate 160 is intersected on the trajectory of the measurement light from the distance measurement sensor 15 is defined as a first position P. Also in the present embodiment, in the detection area 80, other than the insertion portion 163 of the body plate 160, there is no object capable of reflecting the measurement light on a predetermined range AR orthogonally extending at the first position P.

In the present embodiment described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.

Third Embodiment

In a third embodiment, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the third embodiment, the same portions as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing a barrel mechanism 20 according to the present embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, fixing members 60 each include a clamp lever 61 and a lever fixing portion 70. Configurations of the clamp lever 61 and the lever fixing portion 70 have already been described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as compared with the first embodiment, the barrel mechanism 20 does not include barrel cases, and the barrel tanks 50 are each rotatably fixed integrally with a rotation shaft 23. In addition, a pair of side plates 45 are directly attached to a barrel body 51 of the barrel tank 50.

In the present embodiment, the barrel lid 52 is fixed to the barrel body 51 by attaching the fixing member 60 to the side plates 45 attached to the barrel body 51. Note that a method of fixing the barrel lid 52 to the barrel body 51 by the fixing member 60 has already been described with reference to FIG. 4.

In the present embodiment described above, also in a configuration in which the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 does not have barrel cases, the same effects as in the present invention can be achieved.

Other Embodiments

The techniques disclosed in the present specification are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified into various forms without departing from the gist thereof, and for example, the following modifications are also possible.

In the above-described embodiments, the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 rotates the revolution shaft 21 and the rotation shafts 23 by one motor 24. Alternatively, the centrifugal barrel polishing machine 100 may separately include a motor for rotating the revolution shaft 21 and a motor for rotating the rotation shafts 23.

In the above-described embodiment, the bottom surface of each barrel case 40 is angled to be horizontal (that is, parallel to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2), but the bottom surface of each barrel case 40 may be inclined by a predetermined angle.

    • 10 controller
    • 15 distance measurement sensor
    • 21 revolution shaft
    • 22 turret
    • 23 rotation shaft
    • 40 barrel case
    • 50 barrel tank
    • 60 fixing member

Claims

1. A centrifugal barrel polishing machine comprising:

a turret rotationally driven around a revolution shaft extending in a horizontal direction;
a barrel case that is rotationally driven around a rotation shaft that extends in the horizontal direction from a position eccentric from the revolution shaft in the turret; and
a barrel tank housed in the barrel case;
a fixing member that changes between a fixing form for fixing the barrel tank to the barrel case and a releasing form for releasing the fixation of the barrel tank to the barrel case; and
a distance measurement unit disposed to face in a measurement direction, along a substantially horizontal direction, with respect to a detection area located on a revolution path, of the barrel tank, centered on the revolution shaft; and
a controller,
wherein the fixing member includes a to-be-measured portion whose position is displaced between the fixing form and the releasing form,
when the fixing member changes from the fixing form to the releasing form, the to-be-measured portion is displaced from the measurement direction of the distance measurement unit to a direction intersecting the measurement direction, and
when the barrel tank is located in the detection area, the controller determines whether a fixed-state distance indicating a horizontal distance to the to-be-measured portion is measured by the distance measurement unit, and when the fixed-state distance is not measured, the controller does not permit the turret to rotate.

2. A centrifugal barrel polishing machine comprising:

a turret rotationally driven around a revolution shaft extending in a horizontal direction;
a barrel tank including a barrel body and a barrel lid, the barrel tank being rotationally driven around a rotation shaft that extends in the horizontal direction from a position eccentric from the revolution shaft in the turret; and
a fixing member that changes between a fixing form for fixing the barrel lid to the barrel body and a releasing form for releasing the fixation of the barrel lid to the barrel body; and
a distance measurement unit disposed to face in a measurement direction, along a substantially horizontal direction, with respect to a detection area located on a revolution path, of the barrel tank, centered on the revolution shaft; and
a controller,
wherein the fixing member includes a to-be-measured portion whose position is displaced between the fixing form and the releasing form,
when the fixing member changes from the fixing form to the releasing form, the to-be-measured portion is displaced from the measurement direction of the distance measurement unit to a direction intersecting the measurement direction, and
when the barrel tank is located in the detection area, the controller determines whether a fixed-state distance indicating a horizontal distance to the to-be-measured portion is measured by the distance measurement unit, and when the fixed-state distance is not measured, the controller does not permit the turret to rotate.

3. The centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to claim 1, wherein the distance measurement unit measures a distance to an object by emitting measurement light along the measurement direction and receiving the measurement light reflected from the object located in the measurement direction, and

when the barrel tank is located in the detection area, only the to-be-measured portion is located at the fixed-state distance in the detection area, as an object that is capable of reflecting the measurement light.

4. The centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to claim 1, wherein the turret radially extends around the revolution shaft, the turret including:

an inner side surface facing an extending direction of the revolution shaft; and
an outer side surface facing, in the extending direction of the revolution shaft, a side opposite to the inner side surface,
the barrel tank is located on the inner side surface side with respect to the turret, and
the distance measurement unit is attached on an outside, with respect to the turret, on the outer side surface side in the extending direction of the revolution shaft.

5. The centrifugal barrel polishing machine according to claim 3, further comprising a rotation mechanism that transmits a rotational driving force of a rotational drive source and causes the rotation shaft to rotate,

wherein the rotation mechanism includes a gear member, a timing belt member, or a chain member.
Patent History
Publication number: 20260273690
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 10, 2023
Publication Date: Sep 17, 2026
Applicant: TIPTON CORP. (Nagoya-shi, Aichi)
Inventor: Minoru ITO (Nagoya-shi, Aichi)
Application Number: 19/167,777
Classifications
International Classification: B24B 49/16 (20060101); B24B 31/033 (20060101);