Clamping device and rotary table apparatus

Abstract

A clamping device for clamping a rotatably supported shaft, is provided with a thin-walled sleeve arranged such that a gap is provided along a circumferential direction of the shaft. The clamping device clamps the shaft by deforming the thin-walled sleeve towards the shaft.

1 . A clamping device for clamping a rotatably supported shaft, comprising: 
 a thin-walled sleeve arranged such that a gap is provided along a circumferential direction of said shaft;    wherein said clamping device clamps said shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve towards said shaft.    
   
   
       2 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a thickness of said thin-walled sleeve is 5 mm or less.    
   
   
       3 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said clamping device clamps said shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve such that said thin-walled sleeve adapts to the shape of a circumferential surface of said shaft.    
   
   
       4 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein said thin-walled sleeve is positioned on an outer side in a radial direction of said shaft; and    wherein said clamping device clamps said shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve from said outer side in the radial direction towards said shaft.    
   
   
       5 . A clamping device according to  claim 4 , further comprising 
 a fluid containing section for containing a fluid, said fluid containing section being arranged on said outer side in the radial direction with respect to said thin-walled sleeve;    wherein said clamping device deforms said thin-walled sleeve by a pressure of the fluid that is filled into said fluid containing section.    
   
   
       6 . A clamping device according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein said thin-walled sleeve is arranged only on an inner side in the radial direction of said shaft with respect to said fluid containing section.    
   
   
       7 . A rotary table apparatus comprising: 
 a driven shaft that is rotationally driven by a driving section;    a rotary table that is rotationally driven by said driven shaft; and    a clamping device for clamping said driven shaft;    wherein said clamping device includes a thin-walled sleeve arranged such that a gap is provided along a circumferential direction of said driven shaft; and    wherein said clamping device clamps said driven shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve towards said driven shaft.    
   
   
       8 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein a thickness of said thin-walled sleeve is 5 mm or less.    
   
   
       9 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein said driven shaft has a cam;    wherein said rotary table has a cam follower; and    wherein said rotary table is rotationally driven by said driven shaft using said cam and said cam follower.    
   
   
       10 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein said rotary table apparatus does not have a dwelling period in which said rotary table is not rotationally driven even though said driven shaft is being rotationally driven.    
   
   
       11 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein said clamping device clamps said driven shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve such that said thin-walled sleeve adapts to the shape of a circumferential surface of said driven shaft.    
   
   
       12 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein said thin-walled sleeve is positioned on an outer side in a radial direction of said driven shaft; and    wherein said clamping device clamps said driven shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve from said outer side in the radial direction towards said driven shaft.    
   
   
       13 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 12 , 
 wherein said clamping device further comprises a fluid containing section for containing a fluid, said fluid containing section being arranged on said outer side in the radial direction with respect to said thin-walled sleeve; and    wherein said clamping device deforms said thin-walled sleeve by a pressure of the fluid that is filled into said fluid containing section.    
   
   
       14 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein said thin-walled sleeve is arranged only on an inner side in the radial direction of said driven shaft with respect to said fluid containing section.    
   
   
       15 . A rotary table apparatus according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein said gap includes an oil; and    wherein a surface of said driven shaft is provided with a groove into which said oil flows when said clamping device clamps said driven shaft by deforming said thin-walled sleeve towards said driven shaft.