Clamping device and workpiece conveying robot

A clamping device that is capable of performing retention and release of retention of a workpiece on a workpiece retaining base, the clamping device comprising:

• a distal end side stationary block which is provided on a side of a distal end of the workpiece retaining base and on the workpiece retaining base, and in which an upward stationary tilt face tilting downwardly toward a central direction of the workpiece is formed;
• a proximal end side stationary block which is provided on a side of a proximal end opposing to the distal end side stationary block with the workpiece being held between the blocks and on the workpiece retaining base, and in which an upward stationary tilt face tilting downwardly toward the central direction of the workpiece is formed;
• a movable block which is arranged at a position proximal to the proximal end side stationary block, and is capable of advancing to or retracting from a side of the distal end side stationary block with the workpiece being held between the blocks, and in which a downward movable tilt face tilting upwardly toward the central direction of the workpiece is formed;
• a center of the movable block is configured so as to be moved on a predetermined operational straight line, and the distal end side stationary block is arranged in a pair at positions that are symmetrical to each other with the operational straight line being held therebetween in a planar view;
• and
• a controller that controls an advancing/retracting operation of the movable block to advance the movable block so that the downward movable tilt face abuts against a side face of the workpiece when retention of the workpiece is performed on the workpiece retaining base with the workpiece being placed across the upward stationary tilt faces of the respective stationary blocks and to retract the movable block in an opposite direction to a direction of the workpiece when release of retention of the workpiece is performed on the workpiece retaining base.