JP2001138144A - Snap ring mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snap ring inserting device of excellent reliability capable of coping with various sizes and types of snap rings without requiring a previous process for reducing a diameter of the snap ring before insertion. SOLUTION: For introducing the snap ring 1 by reducing an outer diameter thereof from an opening part of a work 7 and mounting by elastic restoration at a groove part 7c, this device is provided with an insertion jig 5 formed continuously from a tapered part 5b with a diameter gradually reduced from an inlet part 5d of a larger inner diameter than that of the snap ring 1 under a free condition, having an outlet part 5a of an approximately same diameter to an inner diameter 7a of the work 7 to be made abut to the work 7. The device is also provided with a lifting device 131 to move a pressing shaft body 9 so as to move the snap ring 1 introduced along the tapered part 5b and the inner diameter part 7a to the groove part 7c where the snap ring 1 is elastically restored, and multiple expansion member 15, 16 expanding in an orthogonal direction to the pressing direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a snap ring insertion device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of snap ring insertion devices have been put into practical use. The simpler one, as seen with a small C-ring hand tool, grasps the hole formed at the end of the C-ring and holds the tool with the outer diameter reduced by gripping the tool. A work is introduced in which the work is introduced from the opening of the work, opened in a groove formed in the inner diameter of the opening, and elastically restored.

On the other hand, for example, according to a snap ring insertion device provided in an automation factory, a work is fixed, an insertion jig provided with a tapered hole is set on an opening of the work, and a snap ring is attached to the insertion jig. The workpiece is automatically inserted, and the shaft body having the pressing member fixed to the tip is driven toward the workpiece, thereby being pushed into the groove of the workpiece.

That is, according to the automatic snap ring insertion device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-198521, the diameter of the snap ring is reduced in advance before insertion, and the snap ring is pressed into the insertion hole of the work while maintaining the same state. A technique for doing so is disclosed.

According to the snap ring insertion device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-019831, a snap ring is inserted into an insertion jig having a conical tapered hole, and is pressed from above by a rigid pressing member. It is disclosed that, in order to reduce the diameter, the pressing member is configured to have flexibility and is deformed while being in contact with the tapered hole of the insertion jig.

[0006]

However, according to the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-198521, there is a problem in that a pre-process for reducing the diameter is required, so that the time required for the process is required. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
According to the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9831, if the inner diameter of the snap ring in the free state is larger than the diameter of the pressing portion of the pressing member, the pressing cannot be performed. It was inevitable. In addition, since the pressing member is formed from a flexible material, cracks and the like occur after repeated use and the service life is relatively short. Therefore, there is a problem that the pressing member must be frequently replaced. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can eliminate the need for a pre-step of reducing the diameter of a snap ring before insertion. Can respond to
It is another object of the present invention to provide a snap ring insertion device having excellent reliability.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, according to the present invention, the outer diameter of the snap ring is reduced and the snap ring is introduced from the opening of the work. In a snap ring mounting device that is elastically restored in a groove formed in an inner diameter portion of the snap ring, the snap ring mounting device is formed continuously from a tapered shape portion that gradually decreases in diameter from an inlet portion having an inner diameter larger than a free state of the snap ring, and is substantially similar to the inner diameter portion An insertion jig having an outlet portion having the same diameter, holding the outlet portion in contact with the opening portion, and inserting a snap ring from the entrance portion, and inserting the snap ring into the taper. Moving along the shape part and the inner diameter part,
The first movement of the shaft body until the elastic return in the groove portion
And a pressing unit including a plurality of telescopic members urged toward the inner wall of the tapered portion and the inner diameter portion so as to expand and contract perpendicular to the direction of movement. It is characterized by:

The telescopic member is radially disposed at the tip of the shaft and is immovable with respect to the moving direction of the shaft moved by the first drive unit. A first telescopic member, and one second telescopic member movably provided by a second driving part in a moving direction of the shaft body moved by the first driving part; The second drive unit moves the second telescopic member so that the end of the snap ring is elastically restored by the groove and is mounted.

[0010] A first sensor for detecting that the snap ring main body is fitted into the groove by the first telescopic member driven by the first driving unit, and a first sensor driven by the second driving unit. A second sensor for detecting that the end of the snap ring has been fitted into the groove by the second telescopic member, and the first drive is connected to the first sensor and the second sensor. And a control means for controlling the driving of the second drive unit.

An arc-shaped cap member is provided at a position where the elastic member contacts the inner wall of the tapered portion and the inner diameter portion.

When the snap ring including the C-ring is reduced in diameter when a step cannot be formed at the end of the snap ring, the first telescopic member driven by the first driving unit and the second telescopic member are connected to each other. The control unit controls the drive so that the pressing position of the second telescopic member driven by the driving unit is aligned, and when a step is formed at the end of the snap ring when the diameter is reduced, the height of the step is set. The second expansion / contraction member is retracted by a distance, and the drive means is controlled by the control means so that the snap ring end is fitted into the groove after insertion by the first expansion / contraction member.

[0013]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing how the snap ring 1 indicated by a broken line is mounted in a groove 7c of a work 7.

In FIG. 1, a part W is inserted into a cylindrical work 7, and the snap ring 1 is mounted in a groove 7c provided near the entrance of the work in order to prevent the part W from jumping out of the work 7. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be a case where a desired shape portion is provided by the snap ring 1 or an abutting portion is provided.

In the drawing, when the snap ring 1 is inserted into the groove 7c of the work 7, the outer diameter of the snap ring 1 in the free state is larger than the inner diameter of the opening 7b of the work 7, so that the snap ring 1 is kept as it is. In the state, the work 7 cannot be inserted into the inside through the opening 7b. Therefore, the outer diameter of the snap ring 1 is reduced, and the opening 7 b of the work 7 is reduced.
, It is necessary to expand and mount by elastically restoring in the groove 7c.

Since the inner side of the snap ring 1 mounted on the groove 7c in this manner is partially protruded from the groove 7c toward the center, for example, the previously inserted component W goes out. Can be suppressed.

As described above, the snap ring 1 is provided with a configuration as shown in FIG. 1 so that the outer diameter of the snap ring 1 is reduced and the snap ring 1 is introduced from the opening 7b of the work 7 and elastically restored in the groove 7c.

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a main part of a snap ring mounting device, in which a snap ring 1 indicated by a broken line is attached to a work 7.
2 shows a state in which it is mounted in the groove 7c.

In FIG. 1, the work 7 is carried by a carrying device (not shown), and is fixed on a base 130 at a predetermined position by a clamp device 133. The clamp device 133 includes a driver 10 connected to the control device 100.
The work 7 is immobilized on the base 130 by being supplied with the air pressure sent from 1 and being brought into a state where it is fixed at the illustrated position and a state where the clamp is released. This work 7 is formed of a cylindrical body as shown in the figure, and is formed in a groove 7c formed in an inner diameter portion 7a formed continuously from the opening 7b through an opening 7b which is chamfered as shown in the drawing. As will be described later, the snap ring 1 inserted with the reduced diameter is elastically restored and mounted, for example, to prevent the part W set inside the inner diameter portion 7a from coming out of the work 7. I have.

In order to set the snap ring 1 as described above, the outlet portion 5 having a chamfered or tapered shape formed at the outer peripheral corner portion having a shape corresponding to the opening 7b of the work 7 is formed.
The insertion jig 5 in which a is formed is set by the robot device 132 or the like in a state of contact with the opening 7b of the work 7. The insertion jig 5 is formed with a tapered portion 5b whose diameter is gradually reduced from an inlet portion 5d having an inner diameter larger than the free state of the snap ring 1 as shown in the drawing. The inner diameter portion 5c having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter portion 7a is continuously formed, and is formed so as to open at the outlet 5a.

In this insertion jig 5, the snap ring 1 is inserted from the entrance 5d by a parts feeder device (not shown), and is moved while pressing the upper surface toward the work side. The diameter portion is gradually reduced in diameter at the inner wall portion of the tapered portion 5b, and is introduced into the inner diameter portion 5c, thereby deforming the work 7 into a state in which it can be introduced into the inner diameter portion 7a.

When the diameter is reduced in this manner, there are a case where the end portions 1a and 1b have a step in the vertical direction as shown in the figure, and a case where the diameter is reduced as it is without the step. In any case, the step disappears when it is inserted into the work groove 7c and elastically returns.

A touch switch 18 serving as a first sensor for transmitting a signal to the control device 100 is fixed to a flange portion serving as an entrance portion 5d of the insertion jig 5. By detecting that the sensor dog 23 fixed to the pressing shaft 9 of the pressing mechanism comes in contact with the movement, it is configured to detect a state in which the snap ring 1 is inserted into the groove 7c while leaving the end 1b. ing.

At the upper end of the pressing shaft 9, there is provided elevating means 131 fixed to the base 130 and driven by a driving signal from the driver 101 of the control device 100, and drives the pressing shaft 9 up and down. By doing so, the snap ring 1 inserted into the insertion jig 5 can be moved while pressing the upper surface toward the work side.

As described above, in order to move the snap ring 1 while pressing the upper surface thereof toward the work side, the first and second extensible and contractible members are reduced in diameter in accordance with the inner diameter of the inner wall of the tapered portion 5b. Telescopic bars 15 and 16 as telescopic members are provided radially at the tip of the pressing shaft 9.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing details of a portion of the telescopic rod 16.
FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the pressing mechanism of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, first,
As shown in FIG. 2, five telescopic bars 15 as the first telescopic members are provided radially at equal intervals of 60 degrees. The telescopic rod 16 as the second telescopic member is connected to the end 1b.
Is provided at a position corresponding to.

The structure of the telescopic rod 15 provided with five pieces is as follows.
The center of the coil spring 22 is passed through a bolt 28, covered with a cap 29, and fastened to the tip of the pressing shaft 9. The pressing surface 29 a is formed on the cap 29 by fastening the telescopic rod 15 having this structure to the tip of the pressing shaft 9. The telescopic rod 15 is covered with a holder 27 that serves to support the telescopic rod 15 provided at the tip of the pressing shaft body 9 from above and below.

On the other hand, a telescopic rod 16 as a second telescopic member
The bolt 28 is fastened to the surrounding body 30 instead of being fastened to the tip of the pressing shaft 9. Further, the shape of the holder 27 that covers the telescopic bar 16 is different from the shape of the holder 27 that covers the telescopic bar 15 so that the upper surface of the holder and the bolt 28 protrude from the holder 27 as shown in FIG. The number of openings is kept to a minimum, and the enclosing body 30 is set inside the holder 27 so as to maintain a gap up and down.

In FIG. 1, the actuator 17 connected to the driver 101 of the control device 100 has a built-in pusher 25 and has a structure that does not hinder the lowering of the enclosure 30. Further, the upper surface of the holder 27 is closed by a plate 33, the actuator 17 is installed on the telescopic bar 16, and the movable portion 26 of the pusher 25 projects from the through hole 34 of the plate 33, so that the pusher 25 can be lowered. The height of the pressing surface 29a of the cap 29 fixed to the telescopic rod 16 can be adjusted.

The actuator 17 attached to the telescopic rod 16 is covered with an aluminum cover 24 as shown in FIG. 3, and contains a screw-type pusher 25 inside. The magnet 20 is stuck on the upper part of the pusher 25, and the proximity switch 21 is installed at the same position as the magnet 20 when the telescopic rod 16 is lowered to the lowest position, so that the movement position of the pusher 25 can be detected. I have to.

Next, the operation of the snap ring mounting apparatus described above will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 5 and the operation explanatory flowchart of FIG.

In step S1, the work 7 is
The part W is fixed to 0 and set. Following this,
In step S2, the insertion jig 5 is set on the work 7 by the robot apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 to prevent the insertion jig from being displaced during the insertion work. Thereafter, the snap ring 1 is inserted into the inside of the insertion jig 5 through the entrance 5d, and the snap ring 1 is held in a horizontal state at a portion having the same diameter on the wall surface of the tapered portion 5b. Next, in step S4, the lifting / lowering device 131 is activated, and pressing is started by the pressing shaft 9, thereby obtaining the state shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the inner diameter of the insertion jig 5 is reduced in diameter so that a step is formed at the end. Thereafter, the pressing shaft 9 is further lowered, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the portion of the snap ring 1 whose pressing surface 29a is pressed by the low elastic rod 15 is first mounted in the groove 7c of the work 7. Until the mounted touch switch 18 confirms the mounting, the device descends and stops when the touch switch is turned on. As described above, the snap ring 1 is inserted into the groove while leaving the distal end (step S6).

Next, the process proceeds to step S7, where the actuator 1 attached to the telescopic rod 16 by the reaction of the touch switch 18
7 starts driving, and when the telescopic bar 16 is lowered to the same position as the other telescopic bars 15, the proximity switch 21 installed on the actuator 17 confirms that the entire snap ring 1 is mounted (step S8). FIG. 5 (c)
The insertion is completed as shown in FIG. Thus, the insertion operation is completed, and the insertion operation is returned to the position shown in FIG.

As described above, the snap ring 1 is thrown in horizontally from the entrance of the insertion jig, the telescopic bar 16 is set at a position higher than the other telescopic bars 15, and the end portions 1a and 1b of the snap ring 1 are By starting pressing after aligning one of them so that it is directly below the telescopic bar 16, while applying pressure in the radial direction to the snap ring 1 and shifting the pressing position from above, the end 1a, The diameter is reduced while forming a step so that 1b overlaps vertically. Also, when the snap ring 1 reduced in diameter during the relative movement in the insertion jig 5 reaches the position of the groove 7 c of the work 7 from the insertion jig 5, the portion pressed by the telescopic rod 15 whose pressing position is low is reduced. Elastically expanded in the groove 7c, the end 1b of the snap ring 1
Is mounted so as to protrude from the groove 7c. For this reason, the pressing shaft 9 stops at this point, but the end 1b of the snap ring 1 pressed by the telescopic rod 16 at a position where the pressing surface is higher than the other telescopic rods 15 has the other part in the groove 7c. Even if it fits, it will remain in the inner diameter portion 7a. Then, the fact that the portion of the snap ring 1 pressed by the telescopic rod 15 is set in the groove 7c is detected by contact between the touch switch 18 attached to the insertion jig 5 and the sensor dog 23,
The actuator 17 of the telescopic bar 16 starts driving, lowers the telescopic bar 16 and lowers the telescopic bar 16 until it is at the same height as the other telescopic bars 15, thereby pushing down the end 1b of the snap ring 1 and the groove. 7c.
For this purpose, the pusher 25 in the actuator 17 is lowered, and the magnet 20
Contacts the proximity switch 21 to notify that the telescopic bar 16 has been lowered to the same height as the other telescopic bars 15. In this way, it is determined that the snap ring 1 is mounted in the groove 7c.

The above description has been made on the case where the opening ends overlap each other when the snap ring is reduced in diameter. However, when the ends do not form a step when reducing the diameter of the snap ring, the telescopic rod is used. The height of 16 is set in advance to be the same as that of the other telescopic rods 15, and the snap ring is attached by checking whether the touch switch 18 installed near the entrance of the insertion jig 5 contacts the sensor dog 23 of the pressing member 9. Since confirmation can be performed, versatility can be ensured.

As described above, based on the time during which the snap ring can be smoothly mounted, if the work is not completed within that time, it is determined that some trouble has occurred during the insertion, and a warning is issued to the work manager. In this way, unmanned operation is enabled. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the detection means using the magnet and the proximity switch or the sensor dog and the touch switch is used as the first and second sensors. However, when the accuracy is further improved, the distance is measured using a linear gauge or the like. May be used.

As described above, by expanding and contracting, it can be applied to snap rings of various sizes, and since the elastic member does not deform, the life is extended and the shape of the head portion can be freely changed. Further, depending on the type of the snap ring and the size of the insertion hole, it is possible to freely cope with the case where the opening ends of the snap ring do not need to be overlapped and the case where the opening ends need to be overlapped vertically. Further, since the insertion can be confirmed, it is not necessary to visually confirm whether or not the snap ring has been attached to the groove in the insertion hole of the work.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a snap ring insertion device which can eliminate the need for a pre-step of reducing the diameter of the snap ring before insertion, can respond to various sizes and types of snap rings, and has excellent reliability. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a snap ring mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a second elastic member.

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the snap ring mounting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the snap ring mounting device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the snap ring mounting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Snap ring 5 Insertion jig 5b Taper-shaped part 5c Inner diameter part 5d Inlet part 7 Work 7a Inner diameter part 7b Opening 7c Groove part 9 Pressing shaft body 15 Telescopic rod (first telescopic member) 16 Telescopic rod (second telescopic member) 9 17 Actuator (second drive unit) 18 Touch sensor (first sensor) 23 Sensor dog 130 Base 131 Lifting device (first drive unit) W Parts

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A snap ring mounting device for reducing the outer diameter of a snap ring, introducing the snap ring through an opening of a work, and elastically restoring the snap ring in a groove formed in the inner diameter of the opening to mount the snap ring. It is formed continuously from a tapered portion gradually reduced in diameter from an inlet portion having an inner diameter larger than the free state, has an outlet portion having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter portion, and holds the outlet portion in contact with the opening portion And an insertion jig for inserting a snap ring from the inlet portion, and moving the inserted snap ring along the tapered portion and the inner diameter portion, and moving the shaft body until the elastic return in the groove portion. A pressing hand, comprising: a first driving unit to be driven; and a plurality of telescopic members urged toward the inner wall of the tapered portion and the inner diameter portion so as to expand and contract perpendicular to the direction of the movement. Snap ring mounting apparatus characterized by comprising and. 2. The telescopic member is provided radially at a tip end of the shaft, and is provided immovably in a moving direction of the shaft moved by the first driving unit. A first telescopic member, and one second telescopic member movably provided by a second driving part in a moving direction of the shaft body moved by the first driving part; 2. The snap ring mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the second drive unit moves the second telescopic member so that the end of the snap ring is elastically returned by the groove to mount the snap ring. 3. 3. The first driving unit driven by the first driving unit.
A first sensor for detecting that the snap ring main body is fitted into the groove by the elastic member; and a snap ring end fitted to the groove by the second elastic member driven by the second drive unit. A second sensor for detecting that the first and second driving units are connected to each other, and a control unit connected to the first and second sensors for controlling driving of the first and second driving units. The snap ring mounting device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The cap member according to claim 1, wherein an arc-shaped cap member is provided at a position where the elastic member contacts the inner wall of the tapered portion and the inner diameter portion. A snap ring insertion device as described. 5. The first telescopic member driven by the first drive unit when a step cannot be formed at a snap ring end when a snap ring including a C ring is reduced in diameter.
The control means controls the driving so that the pressing positions of the second telescopic member driven by the second driving unit are aligned, and when a step is formed at the end of the snap ring when the diameter is reduced, The control means controls the drive so that the second elastic member is retracted by the height of the step, and the snap ring end is fitted into the groove after insertion by the first elastic member. The snap ring insertion device according to 3 or 4.