GB1122167A - Improved workpiece transfer mechanism for use with assembling machines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1,122,167. Assembling electrical connectors. DIXON AUTOMATIC TOOL, Inc. 16 March, 1967 [29 March, 1966], No. 12418/67. Heading B3A. An assembling machine comprises a rotatable continuously driven turret carrying a plurality of work stations each having at least one workpiece gripping device; at least one feeding station including means for feeding workpieces in seriatim to a fixed feed position and transfer mechanism having at least one rotatable transfer element, continuously driven in synchronism with the rotation of the turret for transferring workpieces from the feed position to the work stations, and control means for advancing the transfer element each time it passes the fixed feed position, to engage and transfer a workpiece, and then retracting the transfer element. The machine is described with reference to inserting a metal coil 32 into an insulating cup 30 to form a screw-type wire ends connector. The machine comprises a turret 82, Fig. 5, which rotates about a fixed spindle 83 and which carries eight identical work-stations WS1-8. Mounted on a fixed base-plate of the machine are two feed stations FS 1 and FS2, one for each component, a reject shoot 138 and an accepted work shoot 140. A ring gear 48 is secured to the turret and meshes with a continuously driven main pinion 49. Feed and transfer mechanism.-Components 30 pass along the input channel 50 and the leading component is halted by a spring-loaded detent 51. Close to the channel is a transfer turret 43 mounted on a pinion 46 which meshes with the gear 48. The turret rotates about a fixed spindle 44 and carries three transfer arms 42, each pivotally mounted on a screw 52, and biased by a spring 55 to keep the end 53 of the lever in contact with a fixed cam 57 secured to the spindle 44. As the turret rotates, in an anti-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 8 the ends 53, of the levers run down the cam surface 57<SP>1</SP>, so that the end 56 of the lever moves outwardly and engages the leading component in the input channel. Continued rotation of the turret sweeps the component along the channel into a gripper at the work-station. Immediately thereafter the end 53 of the lever rides up the cam surface 5711 so that the outer end of the arm moves radially inwards. Workpiece grippers.-Each work-station is provided with two grippers, mounted on a common bracket 62, one set at the height of the input channel FS1 and the other, vertically above it, at the height of the channel FS2. The grippers are generally similar and the lower gripper comprises a pair of spring arms 62 each carrying a jaw 61. The faces 63 of the jaws define between them a tapered socket complementary to the workpiece. A chamfer 65 on each jaw facilitates the entry of the workpiece. Workpiece assembling tool.-Above each set of grippers is a vertical spindle 100 which is acted on by a compression spring 110. The spindle is slidable in a sleeve 102, to the upper end of which is secured a cage 112 for the spring 110. The sleeve is reciprocated in the frame by a fixed cam 105 which engages a cam follower 103. A peg 113 on the sleeve slides in a slot 114 in the frame, to prevent rotation of the sleeve. The maximum force which the spindle 100 can apply to the workpieces is limited by the spring 110. Gauging device.-If the two parts have been correctly assembled a disc 120 secured to the spindle 100 will be in a pre-determined horizontal plane. Incorrect assembly, or the absence of a component will cause the disc to occupy some other position, Fig. 12 (not shown). Bad work rejector.-If the disc is in the correct plane it passes freely through a slot in a sensing head 121, but if it is incorrectly positioned it displaces the head, which is mounted on an arm 124 pivotally mounted at 125. A cam surface 126 on the arm lifts a latch 128 and releases a lever 132 which is pivotally mounted at 133. A spring-loaded plunger 139 rotates the lever so that a bifurcated rejector arm 134 swings into the path of the workpiece. Continued rotation of the turret causes the workpiece to be pushed out of the gripper into the shoot 138. The lever 132 carries roller 137 which is engaged by a cam 135 to rotate the lever to its initial position, where the latch re-engages. The cam 135 is secured to a pinion which meshes with the gear 48. Correctly assembled work is removed from the grippers by a bifurcated fixed arm 141 against which the work is carried by the rotation of the turret. In a modified construction, Figs. 23 and 24 (not shown), the transfer arms pivot about axes perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the feed turret.