JPH07164254A - Assembly method of o-ring - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the assembly method of an O-ring for rasing the assembly work efficiency and reliability of the O-ring to a part. CONSTITUTION:A holding jig 14 is gripped by a chuck part 20 facing to a part 2 in which an O-ring is assembled and the O-ring is fitted in the holding jig on the chuck part and this O-ring is expanded on the holding jig and moved to the chuck part side and also the holding jig is removed from the chuck part and the O-ring is transfered from the chuck part to a part side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of assembling an O-ring, which is used for assembling parts such as a push switch having an O-ring.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a push switch is assembled, the O-ring has been incorporated into the switch body manually. The O-ring is generally incorporated into a small-diameter portion inside the flange portion larger than the inner diameter of the O-ring. Such work is considerably troublesome because the O-ring is an elastic body such as rubber and the portion where the O-ring is incorporated is tight. Therefore, the work of assembling the O-ring has a great influence on the cost of the product, and it has been expected that the work efficiency is improved. One method is to use a jig for assembling even in manual work. For example, there is a method in which a large number of O-rings are fitted into a jig having a trumpet shape, and the O-ring is transferred from the jig to the switch body side while the switch body is applied to the tip side of the jig.

[0003]

The manual work using such a jig has the following problems. a. Even if you use a jig, the assembly work itself is a manual work,
It is necessary to attach an O-ring to the jig as a preparatory work for assembly, and work efficiency is poor. b. Since the O-ring has flexibility, it is difficult to spread the O-ring and transfer it, and the work efficiency is still poor. c. The O-ring transferred on the jig is twisted, and the O-ring having this twist is mounted on the component side. If the twist generated in the O-ring is significant, the O-ring itself may be damaged and there is a risk of reducing the reliability of the parts.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling an O-ring in which the efficiency of the work of assembling the O-ring in a component is improved and the reliability is improved.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the method of assembling an O-ring according to the present invention is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a chuck corresponding to a component (2) in which an O-ring (4) is to be incorporated. The holding jig (14) is gripped by the part (20), the O-ring is fitted into the holding jig on the chuck part, and the O-ring is expanded on the holding jig and moved to the chuck part side. At the same time, the holding jig is removed from the chuck portion, and the O-ring is transferred from the chuck portion to the component side.

There are various possible holding jigs for holding the O-ring and expanding it.
As an example thereof, the O-ring holding jig is provided with a conical portion (40) for expanding the inner diameter of the O-ring continuously with the small-diameter portion (38) for holding the O-ring and holding and expanding the O-ring. It is possible to open.

Various kinds of O-rings can be transferred on the holding jig, and as one example, arm means (transfer piece 5 which is parallel to the chuck moving direction at right angles).
6, 58 or descending pieces 62, 64) with the O-ring of the chuck portion holding the O-ring, and the relative positional relationship between the chuck portion and the arm means is made parallel. .

[0008]

In the method of assembling the O-ring of the present invention, the O-ring is transferred to the component by using the holding jig and the chuck portion. The chuck has an outer diameter equivalent to that of the component, and the O-ring can be transferred from the chuck to the component.
The holding jig serves as a bridge between the component and the chuck portion. To explain the assembling process in order,
As a preparatory step, a holding jig is attached to the chuck part. An O-ring is fitted to this holding jig, and the O-ring is expanded on the holding jig and transferred to the chuck portion side. At this stage, the holding jig becomes unnecessary and the holding jig is removed from the chuck. Then, the chuck part and the component are brought close to each other, and the O-ring on the chuck part is transferred to the component side, whereby the assembling of the O-ring is completed.

Further, the holding jig is provided with a conical portion for expanding the inner diameter of the O-ring continuously with the small-diameter portion for holding the O-ring. Assuming that the small diameter portion of the holding jig is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the O-ring, by inserting the small diameter portion of the holding jig into the inside of the O-ring, the O-ring can utilize its elasticity. Can be attached to a holding jig. By transferring this O-ring to the conical portion, O
The ring can be expanded. According to such a holding jig, the O-ring can be taken in and expanded by a very simple mechanical operation.

The O-ring on the holding jig can be easily transferred through the holding jig by applying the O-ring held by the chuck to an arm which is orthogonal to and parallel to the moving direction of the chuck. By changing the relative positional relationship between the arm and the chuck part, the O-ring can be transferred to the chuck part side. The operation of this O-ring can also be performed by a simple mechanical operation.

[0011]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an assembling apparatus which is an embodiment of an O-ring assembling method according to the present invention.

The components 2 are various components such as a switch body of a push switch to which the O-ring 4 should be attached, and are arranged and stored in the component pallet 6. The component pallet 6 is transported to the mounting position of the O-ring 4 by the pallet transport mechanism 8 and stands by. Further, the pallet transport mechanism 8 is
It is also used as a transporting means for the component 2 with the ring 4 attached.

The O-ring 4 is stored in the O-ring pallet 10. The O-ring pallet 10 is transported by the pallet transport mechanism 12.

The holding jig 14 is housed in a holding jig stand 16. The holding jig holder 16 is always fixed at a fixed position.

A chuck portion 20 is provided as a means for gripping the holding jig 14 and transferring the O-ring 4. The chuck portion 20 is provided with a suction mechanism 22 for sucking the holding jig 14 by vacuum suction or the like. Chuck part 20
Are transferred by the chuck transfer mechanism 24, and the holding jig holder 16, the O-ring pallet 10 and the parts pallet 6 are transferred.
Is transferred to each position.

The O-ring transfer jig 26 is the jig transfer mechanism 2
The O-ring 4 on the holding jig 14 held by the chuck portion 20 is moved up and down by the air cylinder to the holding jig stand 16 by the moving jig 7.
It is a means for transferring from No. 4 to the chuck unit 20 side.

Further, the chuck portion 20 includes a chuck portion 2
An O-ring lowering mechanism 28 is provided as means for transferring the 0-side O-ring 4 to the component 2 side. This O-ring lowering mechanism 28 is driven by an O cylinder driving device such as an air cylinder device.
The ring 4 is transferred to the small diameter portion 36 of the component 2.

Then, the control section 30 performs timing control and drive control for the pallet transfer mechanisms 8 and 12, the suction mechanism 22, the chuck transfer mechanism 24, the jig transfer mechanism 27 and the O-ring lowering mechanism 28. An electric control means such as a microcomputer is used to control the control unit 30.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a component 2 incorporating an O-ring.
Shows an example. This component 2 is a push switch, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a button portion 34 is provided on the top side of the main body 32 thereof, and a diameter in which the O-ring 4 should be incorporated in the middle portion thereof. The small portion 36 is provided.
FIG. 2B shows a state in which the O-ring 4 is incorporated.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the holding jig 14 and a part of the chuck portion 20. The holding jig 14 has a first small diameter portion 38 corresponding to the inner diameter of the O-ring 4 formed on the tip side. The outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 38 is set to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the O-ring 4 in order to hold it by utilizing the elasticity of the O-ring 4, and its height is equal to the thickness of the O-ring 4. A conical portion 40 is formed continuously with the small diameter portion 38. The conical portion 40 is a portion for transferring while expanding the O-ring 4. A large-diameter portion 42 is formed on the top side thereof. The large diameter portion 42 corresponds to the nozzle 44 of the chuck portion 20 and serves as a guide portion for transferring the O-ring 4 to the nozzle 44. A second small diameter portion 46 is formed at the center of the large diameter portion 42 as a portion to be sucked by the nozzle 44. The outer diameter of the small diameter portion 46 corresponds to the inner diameter of the nozzle 44, and is formed slightly smaller than the inner diameter. The small diameter portion 46 is surely adsorbed to the nozzle 44,
The length required to make the large diameter portion 42 and the nozzle 44 continuous is set, and the stepped portion 48 is aligned with the end surface of the nozzle 44. Such a holding jig 14 is made of hard plastic or metal material.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a part of the holding jig holder 16. The holding jig holder 16 is formed of a metal plate or a hard plastic plate, and a single storage hole 50 is formed on the surface thereof. In order to facilitate the taking out of the holding jig 14 in the upright state, the small diameter portion 46 is housed in the housing hole 50 so as to project.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a part of the O-ring pallet 10. The O-ring pallet 10 is also formed of a metal plate or a hard plastic plate, and a plurality of holding holes 52 are formed on the surface thereof at appropriate intervals. The O-ring 4 is attached to the holding hole 52 by utilizing its elasticity. The O-ring 4 is attached to the inner bottom of the holding hole 52.
A concave portion 54 is formed to allow the small diameter portion 38 of the holding jig 14 to escape when taking out. The concave portion 54 is set to have a diameter larger than that of the small diameter portion 38 for that purpose.

Next, a method of assembling the O-ring 4 into the component 2 will be described in the order of steps.

A. Holding Jig Adsorption Step As shown in FIG. 6A, the chuck portion 20 is moved to the position of the holding jig 14 of the holding jig stand 16, and the nozzle 44 is moved as shown in FIG. 6B. The holding jig 14 is attracted to the.

B. O-ring take-out step The holding jig 14 held by the chuck 20 is attached to the chuck 2
0 is transferred to the O-ring pallet 10 side, the small diameter part 38 of the holding jig 14 is aligned with the position of the O-ring 4, and the chuck part 20 is lowered to the O-ring pallet 10 side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6C, the small diameter portion 38 of the holding jig 14 is inserted inside the O-ring 4, and the O ring 4 is held by the small diameter portion 38. When the chuck portion 20 is raised in this state, as shown in FIG.
At the same time, the O-ring 4 is transferred.

C. O-ring transfer step As shown in FIG. 7E, the chuck 20 is transferred to the position of the O-ring transfer jig 26. O-ring transfer jig 26
As shown in FIG. 9, the transfer piece 5 serves as a first arm means for transferring the O-ring 4 to the upper side of the holding jig stand 16.
6, 58 are arranged in parallel, and the spacing 60 between the transfer pieces 56, 58 is 60.
Is wider than the diameter of the large diameter portion 42 of the holding jig 14 and narrower than the outer diameter of the O-ring 4. As shown in FIG. 7F, such an O-ring transfer jig 26
When the holding jig 14 is lowered together with the chuck portion 20 in the space 60 between the transfer pieces 56, 58 of the O-ring 4 held by the holding jig 14, the transfer pieces 56, 58 At 58, as the inner diameter of the holding jig 14 is expanded by the conical portion 40 of the holding jig 14 in accordance with the lowering of the chuck portion 20, the chuck portion 20 is moved upward, and is then transferred to the nozzle 44 on the chuck portion 20 side.

D. Holding jig returning step When the O-ring 4 is transferred to the nozzle 44 side of the chuck portion 20, the holding jig 14 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, as shown in (G) and (H) of FIG. 7, the chuck portion 20 is moved to the holding jig stand 16 side, the suction of the chuck portion 20 is released, and the holding jig 14 is placed in the storage hole 50. return. At this time,
The O-ring 4 is held by the nozzle 44 of the chuck portion 20 by its own elastic force.

E. O-ring mounting step As shown in (I) of FIG. 8, the chuck portion 20 with the O-ring 4 mounted thereon is transferred to the component pallet 6 side, and the O-ring 4
Is moved to the position of the component 2 to be mounted.

Then, the O-ring 4 is lowered by the O-ring lowering mechanism 28 provided side by side with the chuck portion 20.
The pair of descending pieces 62, 64 as the arm means of (1) are lowered by a drive source such as an air cylinder device. Each descending piece 62,
Reference numeral 64 is a parallel protruding piece similar to the transfer pieces 56 and 58 of the O-ring 4 shown in FIG. 9, and as shown in FIG.
Transferred to the side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, the O-ring 4 is attached to the small diameter portion 36. in this case,
The outer peripheral portion of the component 2 is inserted into the nozzle 44,
Since the end surface of is placed at the edge of the small diameter portion 36,
It can be easily transferred from the nozzle 44 to the small diameter portion 36 of the component 2 and mounted, and the operation can be performed easily and quickly on the component pallet 6.

After passing through the steps a to e, the chuck portion 20 returns to the holding jig stand 16 side, and the next O
Attach the ring 4. Also, the O-ring palette 10
The O-ring 4 is taken out, and the component pallet 6 is transferred and replaced by the pallet transfer mechanisms 12 and 8 according to the mounting of the O-ring 4.

In the embodiment, the mounting of the O-ring on the push switch has been described as an example, but the present invention can be used for mounting the O-ring on various parts other than the push switch. It is not limited.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The O-ring can be easily and quickly attached to the component, and with the automation, the O-ring attached can be prevented from being damaged, and the reliability of the component attached with the O-ring can be prevented from lowering.

Further, since the holding jig is provided with the conical portion for expanding the inner diameter of the O-ring continuously with the small-diameter portion for holding the O-ring, it is a very simple machine for taking in and expanding the O-ring. Can be performed by a manual operation, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, the O-ring on the holding jig can be transferred by an arm means which is orthogonal to and parallel to the moving direction of the chuck portion, and the O-ring can be transferred by a simple mechanical operation. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an O-ring incorporating device which is an embodiment of an O-ring incorporating method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an O-ring, parts into which the O-ring is to be incorporated,
It is the side view which displayed the one part in section which shows the component in which the O-ring was incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a holding jig and nozzles of a chuck portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a holding jig holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of an O-ring palette.

6A to 6C are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of an O-ring assembling method of the present invention in the order of steps.

7A to 7C are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of an O-ring assembling method of the present invention in the order of steps.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the method of assembling the O-ring of the present invention in the order of steps.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing transfer of an O-ring on a holding jig held by a chuck unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 parts 4 O-ring 14 holding jig 20 chuck part 38 small diameter part 40 conical part 56, 58 transfer piece (arm means) 62, 64 descending piece (arm means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A holding jig is gripped by a chuck portion corresponding to a component in which an O-ring is to be incorporated, the O-ring is fitted into the holding jig on the chuck portion, and the O-ring is expanded on the holding jig. While opening and moving to the chuck portion side, remove the holding jig from the chuck portion,
An O-ring assembling method, wherein the O-ring is transferred from the chuck portion to the component side. 2. The O-ring holding jig is provided with a conical portion for expanding the inner diameter of the O-ring continuously with the small-diameter portion for holding the O-ring. How to install the described O-ring. 3. The transfer of the O-ring on the holding jig is performed by applying the O-ring of the chuck portion holding the O-ring to an arm that is orthogonal to and parallel to the moving direction of the chuck, 2. The O according to claim 1, wherein the relative positional relationship between the chuck portion and the arm means is parallel.
How to install the ring.