JP2008093765A - Planetary carrier assembling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a planetary carrier assembling device capable of efficiently carrying out automatic assembling of a sub-assembly having a pinion gear through the inside of which a plurality of needle bearings are serially inserted in a short cycle time. <P>SOLUTION: This planetary carrier assembling device is constituted to transfer a plurality of the accumulated needle bearings onto a pallet 35 by simultaneously grasping them by providing a needle bearing carrier means 186 to carry the needle bearings toward a supplying position and a needle bearing accumulation means 187 to repeatedly carry out accumulating work to lift up the needle bearings supplied to the supplying position by grasping them by a prescribed grasping means 198a and to place them on the following needle bearing newly supplied to the supplying position by the needle bearing carrier means 186 until a plurality of the needle bearings are accumulated at the supplying position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sub-assembly assembly means for assembling a sub-assembly having a pinion gear in which a plurality of needle bearings are inserted in series, and a sub-assembly assembly means for incorporating the sub-assembly assembled by the sub-assembly assembly means into a carrier body. The planetary carrier assembling apparatus provided with

  A planetary carrier used for an automatic transmission of an automobile has a structure in which a plurality of sub-assies having two pinion gears that mesh with each other are incorporated in a carrier body. As an apparatus for automatically performing the subassembly assembly work into the carrier body, for example, a device described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  By the way, the sub-assembly used in the planetary carrier assembling apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has two long and short pinion gears that mesh with each other, and the long pinion gear has the same needle as the needle bearing that is inserted into the short pinion gear. It is recognized that two bearings are configured to be inserted in series.

Note that the procedure for inserting the two needle bearings into the pinion gear is not clear from the description in Patent Document 1.
JP-A-8-174347

  By the way, when sub-assemblies that have been mainly performed manually are automatically assembled, for example, as in the case of manual operations, each component such as a dummy shaft, a needle bearing, and a pinion gear is stocked. It is considered that the most general method is to transfer from the position onto the assembly table and assemble in order.

  When assembling a sub-assembly as described in Patent Document 1 by this method, the transfer operation of the needle bearing may be performed once on the short pinion gear side, whereas the transfer operation is performed twice on the long pinion gear side. Therefore, there is a problem that the cycle time becomes long due to the transfer operation of the needle bearing on the long pinion gear side.

  In view of such conventional problems, the present invention is a planetary carrier assembly capable of efficiently performing automatic assembly of a subassembly having a pinion gear having a plurality of needle bearings inserted in series therein in a short cycle time. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  The present invention provides a sub-assembly assembly means for assembling a sub-assembly having a pinion gear having a plurality of needle bearings inserted in series therein, and a sub-assembly assembly for incorporating the sub-assembly assembled by the sub-assembly assembly means into a carrier body. The sub-assembly assembly means includes a needle bearing supply means for supplying the needle bearing to a predetermined supply position in a vertical state, and the needle bearing supply means supplies the needle bearing supply means to the supply position. Needle bearing transfer means for transferring the needle bearing on a predetermined assembly table, the needle bearing supply means for conveying the needle bearing toward the supply position; The needle bearing supplied to the supply position by means is used as a predetermined gripping means. Gripping and lifting, the loading operation of placing on the succeeding needle bearing newly supplied to the supply position by the needle bearing conveying means until the plurality of needle bearings are stacked at the supply position. The needle bearing transporting means is configured to repeatedly hold and transport a plurality of needle bearings stacked by the needle bearing lifting means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform the subassembly automatic assembly in a short cycle time as compared with the case of transferring a plurality of needle bearings one by one.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 29 illustrate an embodiment embodying the present invention.

  A planetary carrier assembling apparatus 1 (FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment assembles a planetary carrier 4 by assembling a subassembly 3 or the like into a carrier body 2. The planetary carrier 4 is a component part of a planetary gear mechanism used for an automatic transmission of an automobile. As shown in FIG. 26, a thrust bearing 5, three sets of subassies 3 and the like are incorporated in the carrier body 2. It has a configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the sub assembly 3 includes two short and long pinion gears 6a and 6b meshing with each other, needle bearings 7 and dummy shafts 8a and 8b inserted into the pinion gears 6a and 6b, and pinion gears 6a and 6b. A glasses washer 9 disposed on the lower end side and round washers 10a and 10b respectively disposed on the upper end side of the pinion gears 6a and 6b are provided.

  The pinion gears 6a and 6b are constituted by helical gears, and the long pinion gear 6a is formed to be about twice as long as the short pinion gear 6b.

  The needle bearing 7 includes a large number of rollers 11 formed in a substantially columnar shape, and a cage 12 that holds the rollers 11 in a state of being aligned in a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the same needle bearing 7 is used on the long pinion gear 6a side and the short pinion gear 6b side. One needle bearing 7 is inserted in the short pinion gear 6b and two needle bearings 7 are inserted in series in the long pinion gear 6a. It has come to be.

  The dummy shafts 8a and 8b are, for example, cylindrical and are formed to have lengths corresponding to the two long and short pinion gears 6a and 6b, respectively, and are inserted into the shaft centers of the pinion gears 6a and 6b via the needle bearings 7. It is like that. The dummy shafts 8a and 8b are replaced with pinion shafts (main shafts) 13a and 13b after the sub assembly 3 is assembled in the carrier body 2.

  The eyeglass washer 9 is formed with shaft holes 9a and 9b corresponding to the respective shaft centers of the pinion gears 6a and 6b, and positioning holes 9c.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the carrier body 2 includes a substantially disc-shaped upper plate 14 and lower plate 15 arranged in parallel to each other, and a peripheral wall 16 that connects the upper plate 14 and the lower plate 15 up and down. I have.

  The upper plate 14 and the lower plate 15 are donut shapes each having an upper opening 17 and a lower opening 18 formed at the center thereof, and the peripheral wall 16 is connected so as to be connected vertically at a plurality of places on the circumference, for example, three places. The three spaces formed between the three peripheral walls 16 form a sub-assembly assembly portion 19 that can incorporate the sub-assembly 3 inward in the radial direction.

  The upper plate 14 is formed with three pairs of shaft insertion holes 20a and 20b penetrating vertically corresponding to the pinion gears 6a and 6b of the sub assembly 3, and the shaft insertion holes 20a and 20b are interposed through the shaft insertion holes 20a and 20b. The shaft is exchanged, that is, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are extracted and the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are inserted.

  In addition, positioning holes 21 are formed downward in the upper plate 14 at a plurality of locations on the upper surface side thereof, for example, three locations in the circumferential direction corresponding to the peripheral wall 16, and fixing pins 22 are driven into the outer peripheral surface side. A possible pin hole 23 is provided so as to penetrate each shaft insertion hole 20 a radially inward of the carrier body 2.

  The lower plate 15 is formed with three pairs of shaft support grooves 23a and 23b corresponding to the pinion gears 6a and 6b of the sub-assembly 3, and further, for example, a cylindrical portion 24 is integrally provided downward from the lower opening 18. It has been. Further, on the upper surface side of the lower plate 15, a bearing mounting portion 25 capable of mounting the thrust bearing 5 supplied through the upper opening 17 having a diameter larger than that of the lower opening 18 is formed in a recessed shape, for example. Yes.

  When the subassembly 3 is assembled into the subassembly assembly portion 19 of the carrier body 2, as shown in FIG. 28 (a), a straight line from the center Ca of the shaft insertion hole 20a to the center C0 of the carrier body 2 in plan view. This is performed by horizontally moving the subassembly 3 along the following (hereinafter referred to as the assembly direction Va). Since the carrier main body 2 is provided with the subassembly built-in portions 19 at three locations in the circumferential direction, there are three assembling directions Va corresponding to the respective subassembly built-in portions 19.

  Further, in the sub-assembly 3, the direction of the short pinion gear 6b viewed from the long pinion gear 6a (hereinafter referred to as the pinion gear meshing direction Vb) is α ° (here, about 58.5 °) from the assembling direction Va in the clockwise direction in plan view. ) It is assembled and fixed in the sub assembly assembly portion 19 of the carrier body 2 in a tilted positional relationship, and the shaft insertion holes 20a, 20b, etc. are formed corresponding to this positional relationship. Has been.

  Further, when the sub assembly 3 is assembled into the carrier body 2, an assembly guide 26 for receiving the sub assembly 3 pushed into the sub assembly assembly portion 19 at a predetermined position on the center C0 side of the carrier body 2 is provided. It is designed to be mounted on the carrier body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 29, the built-in guide 26 includes a main body plate 27 formed in a disk shape having substantially the same diameter as the carrier main body 2 and having a round hole 27a formed in the center, and the main body plate 27. A substantially cylindrical guide portion 28 that protrudes downward along the round hole 27 a and can be inserted into the upper opening 17 of the carrier body 2 from above, and the body plate 27 corresponding to the positioning hole 21 of the carrier body 2. A plurality of positioning projections 29 projecting from the lower side, and the guide portion 28 is detachably mounted on the upper side of the carrier body 2 while being inserted into the upper opening 17 and the positioning projection 29 from the upper side. It has come to be.

  Three sets of recesses 28 a and 28 b corresponding to the outer peripheral surfaces of the pinion gears 6 a and 6 b are provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the guide portion 28, and the sub assembly 3 is provided in the sub assembly assembly portion 19 of the carrier body 2. When inserted, the outer peripheral surfaces of the pinion gears 6a and 6b are positioned at predetermined positions by coming into contact with the recesses 28a and 28b, respectively.

  The main body plate 27 is provided with three sets of shaft attaching / detaching holes 30a, 30b that are vertically penetrated corresponding to the shaft insertion holes 20a, 20b on the carrier main body 2 side. Since the shaft replacement after the sub assembly 3 is assembled in the carrier body 2 is performed while the assembly guide 26 is set on the carrier body 2, the dummy shaft 8a, 8b is extracted and the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are inserted.

  The planetary carrier assembling apparatus 1 automatically assembles the planetary carrier 4 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the sub-assembly side working means 31 for performing work such as assembling of the sub-assembly 3 and the like are provided. Carrier body side working means 32 for performing various operations on the carrier body 2 including the assembly of the sub assembly 3 assembled by the sub assembly side working means 31 into the carrier body 2 is provided.

  The sub assembly side working means 31 includes a pallet transport device 36 that circulates the pallet (assembly table) 35 along an annular transport path L (FIG. 2), and a sub assembly on the pallet 35 that is disposed along the transport path L. And sub-assembly assembly means 37 for assembling the third assembly.

  The transport path L is constituted by, for example, a horizontal path without up-down, and as shown in FIG. 2, the forward path La arranged in a substantially straight line and the return path Lc arranged in parallel with the forward path La. And a return conveyance path Lb that connects the downstream end side of the forward path La and the upstream end side of the return path Lc, and a return conveyance path Ld that connects the downstream end side of the return path Lc and the upstream end side of the forward path La. It is configured in an elongated rectangular shape.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the pallet 35 transported on the transport path L is transported toward the front end 35a on the forward path La, and is transported toward the rear end 35b on the return path Lc. On the path Lb and on the return transport path Ld, they are translated in the left-right direction. That is, the pallet 35 is always transported on the transport path L by parallel movement.

  In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the transport direction of the pallet 35 on the forward path La and the return path Lc, that is, the direction parallel to the forward path La and the return path Lc is simply referred to as “transport direction”. The front end 35a on La and the rear end 35b on the return path Lc are the front side in the transport direction of the pallet 35, respectively.

  Further, the built-in delivery position S21 is provided on the return path Lc, and the delivery direction V from the built-in delivery position S21 is on the right end 35c side when viewed from the pallet 35 and is orthogonal to the transport direction. Assume that the built-in receiving position S33 (FIG. 2) is arranged on the sending direction V side with respect to S21.

  The pallet 35 has both a function as an assembly table for the sub assembly 3 and a function as a transfer table. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the pallet 35 is provided on the pallet body 41 and the upper surface side of the pallet body 41. The assembly work part 42 and the dummy shaft temporary placement part 43, and a sub-assembly holding mechanism 44 for releasably holding the sub-assembly 3 being assembled on the assembly work part 42 are provided.

  The pallet body 41 includes an upper plate 45 arranged substantially horizontally, a bottom plate 46 arranged in parallel to the lower side of the upper plate 45, and the upper plate 45 and the bottom plate 46, for example, on the front end 35a side and the rear end 35b side. And a pair of side plates 47, 47 connected vertically.

  The upper plate 45 is formed in, for example, a rectangular shape, and an assembly work portion 42 is provided on the upper surface side in the delivery direction V side, that is, on the right end 35c side, and on the opposite side, that is, on the left end 35d side, a dummy shaft temporary placement portion. 43 is provided.

  The assembling work part 42 is a part for assembling the sub assembly 3, and the support pin insertion holes 48 a and 48 b corresponding to the axial positions of the two pinion gears 6 a and 6 b meshed with each other, and the support pin insertion holes 48 a. , 48b and a positioning pin insertion hole 49 provided in the vicinity of the intermediate portion are provided in a vertically penetrating manner, and the support pin insertion holes 48a, 48b support pins 50a, 8b for supporting the dummy shafts 8a, 8b, respectively. , 50b, and the positioning pins 51 for positioning the eyeglass washer 9 are inserted upwards into the positioning pin insertion holes 49, respectively.

  11, the pinion gear meshing direction Vb (the direction of the short pinion gear 6b as viewed from the long pinion gear 6a) of the sub-assembly 3 assembled on the assembly work unit 42 is the delivery direction V (from the left end 35d to the right end of the pallet 35). The support pins 50a and 50b that are inserted through the support pin insertion holes 48a and 48b so as to be in a direction inclined by α ° (here, about 58.5 °) in a plan view clockwise with respect to the direction toward 35c. Is the corresponding positional relationship, that is, the direction of the support pin 50b as viewed from the support pin 50a is a direction inclined by α ° clockwise from the delivery direction V and the distance between the centers of the support pins 50a and 50b is mutually The pinion gears 6a and 6b are provided so as to coincide with the distance between the shaft centers in the engaged state.

  Further, the assembling work section 42 is formed in a recessed shape with a depth substantially equal to the plate thickness of the glasses washer 9 in a region from the mounting position of the glasses washer 9 to the edge in the feeding direction V side of the upper plate 45. Yes.

  The dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 is a portion for temporarily placing the dummy shafts 8a and 8b, and includes downwardly-inserted insertion holes 52a and 52b corresponding to the dummy shafts 8a and 8b, and these insertion holes 52a and 52b. By inserting the lower ends of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b from above, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are held in an upright state. In addition, in order to hold the dummy shafts 8a and 8b in a more stable manner, cylindrical walls 53 that surround the periphery of the insertion holes 52a and 52b project upward.

  Further, the insertion holes 52a and 52b are provided at positions where the positions of the support pins 50a and 50b on the assembly work unit 42 side are translated by a predetermined distance in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the pallet 35, for example.

  Further, the upper plate 45 is provided with a pair of operation pin insertion holes 54, 54 penetrating in the vertical direction on the left and right sides with respect to the assembling work part 42 in the delivery direction V, for example. 54, operation pins 55 and 55 are inserted upward.

  The bottom plate 46 is, for example, substantially the same rectangular plate shape as the upper plate 45, and both left and right edge portions thereof are guided portions 56 when being transported along the transport path L, and further on the lower surface side thereof, For example, a plurality of fixing holes 57 for temporarily stopping at each stop position on the transport path L are provided along the transport direction (front-rear direction).

  The side plate 47 is formed with a pair of notches 58 on the left and right sides corresponding to the upper surface side of the guided portion 56 of the bottom plate 46.

  The sub assembly holding mechanism 44 includes support pins 50a and 50b inserted upward into the support pin insertion holes 48a and 48b, a positioning pin 51 inserted upward into the positioning pin insertion hole 49, and operation pin insertion holes 54 and 54. Operation pins 55 and 55 inserted through the upper plate 45, support pins 50a and 50b, positioning pins 51, a connection plate 59 for connecting the operation pins 55 and 55 below the upper plate 45, and the connection plate 59 facing upward. And a spring member 60 for urging the spring.

  When the connecting plate 59 is urged upward by the spring member 60, the support pins 50a and 50b, the positioning pins 51, and the operation pins 55 and 55 are held at the protruding positions protruding above the upper plate 45, respectively. When the operation pins 55, 55 are pushed down against the urging force of the spring member 60, the support pins 50 a, 50 b and the positioning pin 51 move to a retracted position that does not protrude to the upper surface side of the upper plate 45. Yes.

Note that the amount of protrusion of the support pins 50a and 50b at the protrusion position is set to such a degree that the support pins 50a and 50b can be stably supported in an upright state by fitting into the center holes of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b. The protruding amount at the protruding position is set so as not to exceed the plate thickness of the glasses washer 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pallet transport device 36 transports the pallet 35 along the forward path La and temporarily stops the pallet 35 at a predetermined stop position, and transports the pallet 35 along the return path Lc. The return path transport means 62 for temporarily stopping at the stop position, the return transport means 63 for transporting the pallet 35 from the downstream end side of the forward path La to the upstream end side of the return path Lc along the return transport path Lb, and the return transport of the pallet 35 And a return conveying means 64 for transferring from the downstream end side of the return path Lc to the upstream end side of the forward path La along the path Ld.

  The forward transfer means 61 further includes an upstream forward transfer means 61a on the upstream side and a downstream downstream transfer means 61b on the downstream side.

  The forward path upstream transport means 61a transports the pallet 35 forwardly to a plurality of stop positions arranged at equal intervals along the forward path La, and transports the pallet 35 so as to be movable in the transport direction along the forward path La. Rail means 71, progressive feed means 72 for transferring the pallet 35 to a plurality of stop positions along the transport rail means 71 by forward feed, and a pallet for temporarily fixing the pallet 35 transferred by the forward feed means 72 at each stop position And fixing means 73.

  On the forward path La, in order from the upstream side, a pallet return position S1, a spectacle washer mounting position S2, a dummy shaft mounting position S3, a needle bearing mounting position S4, a pinion gear mounting position S5, a first idle position S6, a second idle position S7, Eleven stop positions of the round washer mounting position S8, the third idle position S9, the parts check position S10, and the final idle position S11 are arranged at predetermined intervals.

  The transport rail means 71 is disposed so as to pass through ten stop positions from the spectacle washer mounting position S2 to the final idle position S11, and as shown in FIGS. A pair of side frames 75, 75 provided on both sides and supported on the machine base 301 by the support legs 74, arranged in alignment along the left and right sides of the forward path La and rotatably supported inside the side frames 75, 75. And a large number of rollers 76.

  The side frames 75 are erected substantially vertically on both the left and right sides of the forward path La, and rollers 76 are supported on the opposite surfaces thereof so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. Further, on the upper edge side of the side frames 75, 75, an upper cover plate 77 protruding substantially horizontally toward the inner side (outward path La side) is provided along the forward path La.

  The pallet 35 is placed on the most upstream side of the transport rail means 71 by being transferred from the pallet return position S1 to the spectacle washer mounting position S2 by the progressive feed means 72. On the transport rail means 71, the pallet 35 is supported by the rollers 76 so that the lower side of the left and right guided portions 56, 56 can roll in the transport direction so that the pallet 35 faces the downstream side. (Fig. 3).

  The forward feed means 72 conveys the pallet 35 supplied to the pallet return position S1 by the return conveying means 64 from the glasses washer mounting position S2 to the most upstream side of the forward downstream conveying means 61b through the final idle position S11. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a plurality of pieces that can be engaged with the front and rear of the pallet 35 at each stop position from the pallet return position S1 to the final idle position S11 as shown in FIGS. Twelve engagement claws 81, a conveyance direction drive means 82 for reciprocating the engagement claws 81 in the conveyance direction, and an engagement / disengagement direction drive means 83 for reciprocating the engagement claws 81 in the engagement / disengagement direction are provided. ing. In the present embodiment, the engagement / disengagement direction of the engagement claw 81 with respect to the pallet 35 is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

  The conveyance direction driving means 82 includes a claw fixing plate 84 in which all the engagement claws 81 are fixedly provided, a moving table 85 supported by the engagement / disengagement direction driving means 83 so as to be movable in the engagement / disengagement direction, and engagement claws A conveyance guide 86 that guides 81 to the moving table 85 through the claw fixing plate 84 so as to be movable in the conveyance direction; And a conveyance direction regulating means 88 that regulates the movement range of the engagement claw 81 in the conveyance direction.

  The claw fixing plate 84 is formed in an elongated plate shape corresponding to the pallet return position S1 to the final idle position S11 and is disposed substantially horizontally along one side of the transport rail means 71, and has an edge on the forward path La side. Twelve engaging claws 81 are provided along the portion. The engaging claws 81 are arranged at the same pitch as the stop positions S <b> 1 to S <b> 11, and project substantially horizontally from the claw fixing plate 84 toward the forward path La.

  The moving table 85 has a plate shape formed in an elongated shape along the transport rail means 71 and is horizontally disposed, for example, below the claw fixing plate 84.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance guide 86 is provided on the upper surface side of the moving table 85 and parallel to the forward path La, and is provided on the lower surface side of the claw fixing plate 84 and is also provided on the guide rail 86a. It is comprised with the to-be-guided part 86b supported by the conveyance direction slidably.

  The transport drive cylinder 87 is provided on the moving table 85 and is arranged in parallel with the transport direction, and the end of the drive shaft 87a is fixed to the claw fixing plate 84 via a connecting member 87b.

  The conveyance direction regulating means 88 includes a regulated plate 89 fixed to the claw fixing plate 84, and an upstream side regulation portion 90a and a downstream side regulation portion 90b provided on the moving table 85, and a conveyance drive cylinder. 87, when the engaging claw 81 moving toward the upstream side in the transport direction reaches a predetermined “upstream position”, the regulated plate 89 comes into contact with the upstream side regulating portion 90a and further movement is regulated, When the engaging claw 81 moving toward the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport driving cylinder 87 reaches a predetermined “downstream position”, the regulated plate 89 contacts the downstream side restricting portion 90b and further movement is performed. Being regulated.

  The “upstream position” is set so that the most upstream engaging claw 81 is positioned upstream of the pallet return position S1 and the most downstream engaging claw 81 is positioned downstream of the final idle position S11. In addition, the “downstream position” is set downstream of the “upstream position” by one pitch of the stop positions S1 to S11.

  The engagement / disengagement direction driving means 83 includes an engagement / disengagement guide 91 that guides the engagement claw 81 movably in the engagement / disengagement direction via the moving table 85 and the like, and an engagement / disengagement direction of the engagement claw 81 via the movement table 85 and the like. And an engagement / disengagement drive cylinder 92 and an engagement / disengagement direction restricting means 93 for restricting the moving range of the engagement claw 81 in the engagement / disengagement direction.

  The engagement / disengagement guides 91 are arranged at a plurality of, for example, three locations at substantially equal intervals with respect to the longitudinal direction of the moving table 85, and are arranged in the engagement / disengagement direction of the engagement claws 81 (horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction). A guide rail 91a that is provided and supported on the machine base 301 by the support legs 94, and a guided portion 91b that is provided on the lower surface side of the moving table 85 and is supported by the guide rail 91a so as to be slidable in the engagement / disengagement direction. It is configured.

  The engagement / disengagement drive cylinder 92 is fixedly provided on the machine base 301 and is arranged in parallel with the engagement / disengagement direction, and an end portion of the drive shaft 92a is fixed to the moving table 85 via a connecting member 92b. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement / disengagement direction regulating means 93 includes a regulated plate 96 integrated with, for example, 92b fixed to the moving table 85, and a release side regulating portion 97a (fixedly provided on the machine base 301). 2) and the engagement side restricting portion 97b. When the engagement claw 81 moving in the direction approaching the forward path La by the engagement / disengagement drive cylinder 92 reaches a predetermined “engagement position”. The restricting plate 96 abuts against the engaging side restricting portion 97b and further movement is restricted, and the engaging claw 81 moving in the direction away from the forward path La by the engaging / disengaging drive cylinder 92 reaches a predetermined “disengagement position”. In this case, the regulated plate 96 comes into contact with the detachable side regulating portion 97a so that further movement is regulated.

  Note that the engagement claw 81 moves between the “engagement position” and the “disengagement position” in the vicinity of the upper side of the side frame 75 on the conveyance rail means 71 side, for example. When each pallet 35 located in the final idle position S11 from the return position S1 is engaged in the front and back in the transport direction and moved to the “disengagement position”, the engaged state is completely released.

  The forward feed transfer means 72 configured as described above repeats the following operations (A1) to (A3), whereby the pallet 35 supplied to the pallet return position S1 by the return conveying means 64 is moved to the eyeglass washer attachment position. The paper is transported in forward order through the stop positions from S2 to the final idle position S11 to the most upstream side of the forward downstream transport means 61b.

(A1) Transfer waiting state The state in which the engagement claw 81 is held at the “upstream position” by the transport direction driving means 82 and at the “engagement position” by the engagement / disengagement direction driving means 83 is a predetermined time until the transfer operation starts. The time is maintained (FIG. 6 (a)).

(A2) Transfer operation From the transfer waiting state, the conveyance direction driving means 82 is operated to move the engagement claw 81 from the “upstream position” to the “downstream position”, and the pallet 35 is transferred to one stop position on the downstream side. (FIG. 6B).

(A3) Return operation After the transfer operation is completed, the engagement / disengagement direction driving means 83 is operated to move the engagement claw 81 from the “engagement position” to the “disengagement position” (FIG. 6C), and then in the conveyance direction. After actuating the driving means 82 and moving the engaging claw 81 from the “downstream position” to the “upstream position” (FIG. 6D), the engaging / disengaging direction driving means 83 is further actuated to move the engaging claw 81. It moves from the “disengagement position” to the “engagement position” (FIG. 6E), and shifts to the transfer waiting state of (A1).

  The pallet fixing means 73 is for temporarily fixing each pallet 35 transferred in order by the progressive transfer means 72 at each stop position from the spectacle washer mounting position S2 to the final idle position S11. As shown in FIG. 2, the glasses are disposed on the lower side of the forward path La corresponding to the stop positions from the spectacle washer mounting position S2 to the final idle position S11, and correspond to the lower side of the pallet 35 on the transport rail means 71. And a lift drive cylinder 99 that drives the lift 98 to move up and down.

  A fitting protrusion 98a that can be fitted from below into the fixing hole 57 on the pallet 35 side is provided on the upper / lower table 98.

  The elevating drive cylinder 99 is fixedly provided on the machine base 301 and is arranged vertically upward. The elevating table 98 is fixed to the upper end side of the drive shaft 99a, and the progressive transfer means 72 is in a transfer waiting state (described above). After A1), the elevator 98 is raised to the fixed position, and the elevator 98 is lowered to the release position before the forward transfer means 72 enters the transfer operation (A2).

  When the lifting platform 98 is raised to the fixed position, the pallet 35 is pushed up with the fitting projection 98a on the lifting platform 98 being fitted into the fixing hole 57, and the upper surfaces of the left and right guided portions 56, 56 are raised. By being pressed against the cover plate 77, the cover plate 77 is completely fixed.

  The forward path downstream transport unit 61b sequentially transports the pallet 35 transferred from the final idle position S11 by the forward path upstream transport unit 61a to the upstream end side of the return transport path Lb, and is configured by, for example, a belt conveyor device. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of conveying belts 102, 102 wound around the driving roller 101a and the driven roller 101b disposed at both ends in the conveying direction and disposed along the left and right sides of the forward path La. And a drive motor 103 that drives the conveyor belts 102 and 102 in the conveyance direction via a drive roller 101a.

  Both ends of the driving roller 101a and the driven roller 101b are rotatably supported by a pair of side frames 104, 104 provided on the left and right sides along the forward path La.

  The folding conveying means 63 transfers the pallet 35 conveyed to the upstream end side of the folding conveyance path Lb by the forward path downstream conveying means 61b one by one at a predetermined timing to the upstream end side of the return path Lc. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the transfer table 105 arranged along the return conveyance path Lb and the pallet 35 are transferred along the transfer table 105 from the upstream end side to the downstream end side of the return conveyance path Lb. The first transfer means 106 and the second transfer means 107 for transferring the pallet 35 transferred by the first transfer means 106 to the downstream end side of the return conveyance path Lb to the upstream end side of the return path Lc are provided.

  The transfer table 105 is arranged in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the forward path La and the backward path Lc so as to connect the downstream side of the downstream end of the forward path La and the upstream side of the upstream end of the backward path Lc. The table board 109 supported substantially horizontally on the machine base 301 and a number of rollers 110 provided on the upper surface side of the table board 109 are provided.

  The table plate 109 has a width corresponding to the longitudinal direction length of the pallet 35 with respect to the conveyance direction of the folded conveyance path Lb. The rollers 110 are formed in a spherical shape that can roll in any direction.

  The first transfer means 106 includes a first operating plate 111 for extruding the pallet 35 and a first cylinder 112 that drives the first operating plate 111 to reciprocate along the return conveyance path Lb.

  The first actuating plate 111 has a plate shape arranged substantially horizontally, and the downstream edge of the folding conveyance path Lb pushes the pallet 35 to be transferred along the folding conveyance path Lb, the extruding part 111a, the forward path La. The side edge portion is a restricting portion 111 b that restricts the subsequent pallet 35.

  The first cylinder 112 moves the first actuating plate 111 along the return conveyance path Lb into a “pallet receiving position” (FIG. 7A) and a “transfer completion position” (FIGS. 7B and 7C). It is comprised so that it may reciprocate between.

  In the “pallet receiving position” (FIG. 7A), the first operating plate 111 is retracted to the upstream side of the folding conveyance path Lb and the upstream end side of the folding conveyance path Lb is opened, and the first operation plate 111 is located on the forward path La. The pallet 35 on the downstream side enters the upstream end side of the return conveyance path Lb by the conveyance force of the forward path downstream conveyance means 61b.

  When the first operating plate 111 is moved from the “pallet receiving position” to the “transfer completion position” by the first cylinder 112 (FIG. 7 (a) → (b)), the pallet 35 that has entered the upstream end side of the return conveyance path Lb. Is pushed by the push-out portion 111a of the first working plate 111 and rolls on the transfer table 105 to the most downstream side of the folding conveying path Lb, while the subsequent pallet 35 is moved to the regulating portion 111b of the first working plate 111. The front end 35a is pressed down to restrict the entry into the return conveyance path Lb.

  The second transfer means 107 includes a second operation plate 113 for extruding the pallet 35, and a second cylinder 114 that reciprocates the second operation plate 113 in the conveying direction of the return path Lc.

  The second actuating plate 113 has a plate shape arranged substantially horizontally, and an edge portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the return path Lc serves as an extrusion section 113a that pushes the pallet 35 to be transferred to the return path Lc side.

  The second cylinder 114 moves the second working plate 113 in the “pallet receiving position” (FIGS. 7A and 7B) and the “transfer completion position” (FIG. 7C) along the conveying direction of the return path Lc. It is comprised so that it can reciprocate between.

  In the “pallet receiving position” (FIG. 7A), the second operation plate 113 is retracted to the side of the folding conveyance path Lb, and the downstream end side of the folding conveyance path Lb is opened, and the first transfer means 106. The pallet 35 that has been transported by this enters the downstream end side of the turn-back conveying path Lb (FIG. 7B).

  Thereafter, when the second operation plate 113 is moved from the “pallet receiving position” to the “transfer completion position” by the second cylinder 114 (FIG. 7C), the pallet 35 on the downstream end side of the turn-back conveying path Lb is operated in the second operation. It is pushed by the pushing part 113a of the plate 113 and moves to the most upstream side of the return path Lc.

  In this way, the pallet 35 that has flowed down to the downstream side of the forward path La by the downstream downstream transport means 61b is alternately arranged between the first transport means 106 and the second transport means 107 of the folding transport means 63 as shown in FIG. Are moved one by one to the upstream end side of the return path Lc.

  The return path transport means 62 transports the pallet 35 transferred to the uppermost stream side of the return path Lc by the return transport means 63 and temporarily stops it at a predetermined stop position, as shown in FIGS. As shown, a transport unit 121 and a stop fixing unit 122 that temporarily stops and fixes the pallet 35 transferred by the transport unit 121 at each stop position are provided.

  On the return path Lc, three stop positions are provided in order from the upstream side, that is, the built-in delivery position S21, the buffer position S22, and the dummy pin return position S23.

  The conveying means 121 is constituted by, for example, a belt conveyor device, and is provided with a pair of side frames 132 and 132 provided on the left and right sides of the return path Lc and supported on the machine base 301 by the support legs 131, and the return path Lc. The driving roller 133a and the driven roller 133b, which are arranged at both ends in the conveying direction and supported by the side frames 132 and 132 so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis orthogonal to the conveying direction, are wound around the driving roller 133a and the driven roller 133b. And a pair of transport belts 134 and 134 disposed along the inside of the side frames 132 and 132, and a drive motor 135 that drives the transport belts 134 and 134 in the transport direction via a drive roller 133a. .

  On the upper edge side of the side frames 132, 132, an upper cover plate 136 that protrudes substantially horizontally toward the inner side (return path Lc side) is provided along the return path Lc.

  The pallet 35 that has been transferred to the upstream end side of the return path Lc by the return conveying means 63 is below the left and right guided portions 56, 56 with the rear end 35b facing the downstream side in the conveying direction on the conveying means 121. The side is supported by the conveyor belts 134 and 134 and conveyed at a constant speed (FIG. 3).

  The stop fixing means 122 are respectively arranged corresponding to the three stop positions from the built-in delivery position S21 to the dummy pin return position S23. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. Pallet restricting means 137 for restricting movement of the pallet 35 at each stop position S21 to S23 and pallet fixing means 138 for fixing the pallet 35 stopped at each stop position S21 to S23 by the pallet restricting means 137 are provided.

  The pallet restricting means 137 is fixed on the machine base 301 by means of a restricting member 141 that can be moved up and down corresponding to the downstream side of each stop position S21 to S23, and a support leg 142, and the restricting member 141 is attached to the conveyor belt 134. An elevating drive cylinder 143 that moves up and down between a restricting position that protrudes above the conveying surface and a retreat position that retracts below the conveying surface of the conveying belt 134 is provided.

  The pallet fixing means 138 includes an elevating table 144 disposed corresponding to the lower side of the pallet 35 stopped on the stop positions S21 to S23 by the pallet restricting means 137, and an elevating drive cylinder 143 on the pallet restricting means 137 side, for example. An elevating drive cylinder 145 that is fixed on the machine base 301 by the same support leg 142 and drives the elevating table 144 to move up and down is provided.

  A fitting projection 144a that can be fitted from below into the fixing hole 57 on the pallet 35 side is provided on the upper and lower sides of the lifting platform 144.

  The lifting drive cylinder 145 raises the lifting platform 144 to the fixed position after the pallet 35 is stopped at the stop positions S21 to S23 by the pallet regulating means 137, and lowers the lifting platform 144 to the release position after a predetermined time. Yes.

  When the lifting platform 144 rises to the fixed position, the pallet 35 is pushed up with the fitting projections 144a on the lifting platform 144 side fitted into the fixing holes 57, and the upper surfaces of the left and right guided portions 56, 56 are raised. By being pressed against the cover plate 136, the cover plate 136 is completely fixed.

  When the lifting platform 144 is lowered to the release position and the pallet 35 is released from the pallet fixing means 138, the lifting drive cylinder 143 of the pallet regulating means 137 lowers the regulating member 141 to the retracted position. As a result, the pallet 35 starts moving toward the downstream side again by the conveying means 121.

  The return conveyance means 64 transfers the pallets 35 conveyed by the return path conveyance means 62 to the upstream end side of the return conveyance path Ld one by one at a predetermined timing to the pallet return position S1 on the downstream end side of the return conveyance path Ld. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the transfer table 151 arranged along the return conveyance path Ld and the pallet 35 are moved along the transfer table 151 from the upstream end side to the downstream end side of the forward path La. And a transfer means 152 for transferring to the pallet return position S1.

  The transfer table 151 is disposed in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the return path Lc and the forward path La so as to connect the downstream side of the downstream end of the return path Lc and the upstream side of the upstream end of the forward path La. And a table plate 154 supported substantially horizontally on the machine base 301 and a number of rollers 155 provided on the upper surface side of the table plate 154.

  The table plate 154 has a width corresponding to the longitudinal direction length of the pallet 35 with respect to the conveyance direction of the return conveyance path Ld. The rollers 155 are formed in a spherical shape that can roll in any direction.

  The transfer means 152 includes an operation plate 156 for pushing and moving the pallet 35, and a cylinder 157 that reciprocates the operation plate 156 along the return conveyance path Ld.

  The actuating plate 156 has a plate-like shape arranged substantially horizontally, and the downstream edge of the return conveyance path Ld pushes the pallet 35 to be transferred along the return conveyance path Ld. The edge portion is a restricting portion 156 b that restricts the subsequent pallet 35.

  The cylinder 157 reciprocates the operation plate 156 between the “pallet receiving position” (FIG. 8A) and the “transfer completion position” (FIG. 8B) along the return conveyance path Ld. It is configured.

  In the “pallet receiving position” (FIG. 8A), the operating plate 156 is retracted to the upstream side of the return conveyance path Ld and the upstream end side of the return conveyance path Ld is opened, and the most downstream side on the return path Lc. The pallet 35 is moved by the transport means 121 and enters the upstream end side of the return transport path Ld.

  When the operation plate 156 is moved from the “pallet receiving position” to the “transfer completion position” by the cylinder 157 (FIGS. 8A to 8B), the pallet 35 that has entered the upstream end side of the return conveyance path Ld is operated. While being pushed by the pressing portion 156a of the plate 156 and rolling on the transfer table 151 to the pallet return position S1, the subsequent pallet 35 is returned and conveyed by the regulating portion 156b of the operating plate 156 with its rear end 35b being pressed. The entry into the road Ld is restricted.

  The pallet 35 returned to the pallet return position S1 by the return conveying means 64 is again conveyed on the forward path La by the forward path conveying means 61.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sub-assembly assembly means 37 includes a spectacle washer attachment means 37a, a dummy shaft attachment means 37b, a needle bearing attachment means 37c, a pinion gear attachment means 37d, a round washer attachment means 37e, and a parts check. Means 37f.

  The eyeglass washer attachment means 37a is provided corresponding to the eyeglass washer attachment position S2. As shown in FIG. 12, the eyeglass washer 9 is moved from the predetermined eyeglass washer supply position onto the pallet 35 at the eyeglass washer attachment position S2. The shaft holes 9a and 9b are mounted on the assembly working portion 42 of the pallet 35 so that the shaft holes 9a and 9b are fitted to the support pins 50a and 50b and the positioning holes 9c are fitted to the positioning pins 51, respectively.

  The dummy shaft attachment means 37b is provided corresponding to the dummy shaft attachment position S3, and is temporarily placed on the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 with respect to the pallet 35 at the dummy shaft attachment position S3 as shown in FIG. The dummy shafts 8a and 8b are transferred to the assembly work section 42 side, and the lower end sides of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are fitted to the support pins 50a and 50b, respectively, and the assembly work section 42 is mounted from above the glasses washer 9. It is comprised so that it may mount.

  The insertion holes 52a and 52b of the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 are provided at positions where the support pins 50a and 50b on the assembly work portion 42 side are translated in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the pallet 35 (see FIG. 11) The dummy shaft mounting means 37b may move the dummy shafts 8a and 8b on the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 to the assembly working portion 42 side by parallel movement as they are.

  The needle bearing mounting means 37c is provided corresponding to the needle bearing mounting position S4. As shown in FIG. 13, the needle bearing 7 is connected to the first supply position 181a corresponding to the long pinion gear 6a side and the short pinion gear 6b side. Needle bearing supply means 182 for supplying to the second supply position 181b corresponding to the above, and the needle bearing 7 for transferring the needle bearing 7 supplied to the first and second supply positions 181a, 181b to the assembly working part 42 on the pallet 35. Transporting means 183.

  The needle bearing supply means 182 is arranged, for example, on one side of the pallet conveying device 36 and is supplied from the side of the needle bearing feeder 184 (FIG. 1) that sequentially supplies a large number of stocked needle bearings 7, for example, a needle missing check Needle bearing transport means 186 for transporting the needle bearing 7 that has undergone needle omission check by means 185 (FIGS. 1 and 14) toward the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b, and the first supply position 181a. Needle bearing lifting means 187 for carrying out the operation of stacking the two needle bearings 7 is provided.

  The needle bearing conveying means 186 is constituted by a belt conveyor device, for example, and as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the needle bearing 7 is provided between the downstream side of the needle omission check means 185 and the upstream side of the needle bearing lifting means 187. And a pair of left and right guide plates 189 and 189 forming a conveying path 188 having substantially the same width as the outer diameter, and a driving roller 190a and a driven roller 190b disposed on both ends of the conveying path 188 in the conveying direction, and the conveying path 188 is provided with a conveyor belt 191 disposed along the lower side of 188, and a drive motor 192 that drives the conveyor belt 191 in the conveying direction via a drive roller 190a, and passes through the needle missing check means 185 side on the upstream side. The needle bearing 7 is transported at a constant speed by a drive motor 192 in a vertically oriented state with the axial direction directed up and down. It adapted to convey towards the unit 187 side needle bearing product along the conveyance path 188 by a belt 191. In addition, the conveyance path 188 is arrange | positioned by the side of the outward path La substantially parallel to this, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the needle bearing hoisting means 187 includes a supply path 193 that connects the downstream end side of the transport path 188 and the first supply position 181 a, the first supply position 181 a, and the second supply. A transfer table 195 formed with a moving path 194 connecting the position 181b, a needle bearing moving means 196 for moving one needle bearing supplied to the first supply position 181a to the second supply position, and a first supply position. Movement restricting means 197 for restricting movement of the needle bearing 7 upstream from 181a to the downstream side, first grasping means 198a capable of grasping the needle bearing 7 at the first supply position 181a, and needles at the second supply position 181b A gripping head 199 provided with a second gripping means 198b capable of gripping the bearing 7 downward, and a lifting drive cylinder 2 for driving the gripping head 199 up and down. Has a 0 and.

  On the upper surface side of the transfer table 195, a supply path 193 and a movement path 194 formed to have substantially the same width as the outer diameter of the needle bearing 7 are formed in a groove shape, for example, and the supply path from the needle bearing transfer means 186 side. The needle bearings 7 that have flowed into the 193 are sequentially pushed by the subsequent needle bearings 7 and are aligned in a line in the supply path 193.

  The first supply position 181a and the second supply position 181b are provided, for example, at positions where the support pins 50a and 50b on the pallet 35 are translated by a predetermined distance in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the forward path La. That is, the direction of the second supply position 181b viewed from the first supply position 181a is a direction inclined by α ° clockwise from the delivery direction V in the plan view, and the distance between the centers of the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b. Are arranged so as to coincide with the distance between the shaft centers of the pinion gears 6a and 6b in a state where they are meshed with each other.

  The movement path 194 connecting the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b is formed, for example, in a straight line, and the supply path 193 is gently extended from the direction of extension of the transport path 188, that is, from the direction parallel to the forward path La. It is bent by 90 ° and is connected to the first supply position 181a with its downstream end facing the delivery direction V. Accordingly, the moving path 194 is disposed in a direction that is refracted by α ° at the first supply position 181 a when viewed from the downstream end side of the supply path 193.

  The needle bearing moving means 196 includes a first fitting portion 201a in which the needle bearing 7 on the first supply position 181a can be fitted and a second fitting portion 201b in which the needle bearing 7 on the second supply position 181b can be fitted. And a moving member 202 movably provided in a direction (here, the conveying direction) substantially orthogonal to the connecting direction (here, the sending direction V) of the supply path 193 to the first supply position 181a, and the moving member 202 is provided with a moving drive cylinder 203 that reciprocates between a first slide position on the first supply position 181a side and a second slide position on the second supply position 181b side.

  The moving member 202 is formed, for example, in a rectangular plate shape parallel to the transfer table 195, is provided at a predetermined depth from the upper surface side of the transfer table 195, and is fitted with a predetermined width in the vertical direction communicating with the bottom side of the moving path 194. The first and second fitting portions 201a and 201b are disposed in the joint groove 195a at the edge on the supply path 193 side, and are recessed toward the downstream side of the supply path 193, that is, in the delivery direction V. Is formed.

  These first and second fitting portions 201a and 201b are arranged on the second fitting portion 201b corresponding to the positions of the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b when the moving member 202 is at the second slide position. Is deeper than the first fitting portion 201a, and when the moving member 202 is in the first slide position, the second fitting portion 201b is aligned with the first supply position 181a. It has become.

  The movement restricting means 197 is provided in the vicinity of the flow restricting position 204 upstream of the first supply position 181a by one needle bearing and can hold, for example, the needle bearing 7 on the flow restricting position 204 at the tip side thereof. A regulating member 205 provided with 205a, and a flow-down regulating position that holds the needle bearing 7 on the flow-down regulating position 204 and regulates the downstream movement thereof, and a flow-down that allows the downstream movement. A restriction drive cylinder 206 that reciprocates between the allowable positions is provided.

  When the restricting member 205 is switched from the flow allowing position to the flow restricting position by driving the restricting drive cylinder 206, the movement restricting means 197 holds the needle bearing 7 on the flow restricting position 204, so that it moves upstream. The flow of all the needle bearings 7 that are aligned is regulated against the conveying force of the needle bearing conveying means 186. Note that, for example, the conveying operation of the needle bearing conveying unit 186 may be stopped while the regulating member 205 is in the flow-down regulating position.

  The gripping head 199 forms the needle bearing transfer means 183 at the same time as the needle bearing lifting means 187, and the first and second gripping means 198a and 198b correspond to the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b. It is attached in a relative positional relationship.

  The first and second gripping means 198a, 198b are, for example, an insertion shaft 207 that can be inserted into the needle bearing 7 from above, and a pair of movable claws 208, 208 that are arranged to be openable on both sides of the insertion shaft 207. The insertion shaft 207 is inserted into the needle bearing 7 on the first and second supply positions 181a and 181b from above, and the movable claw 208 is closed to hold the needle bearing 7.

  The movable claw 208 on the first gripping means 198a side and the movable claw 208 on the second gripping means 198b side are configured to be individually openable and closable.

  The raising / lowering drive cylinder 200 constitutes the needle bearing lifting means 187 and the needle bearing transfer means 183 as well as the gripping head 199, and the first and second gripping means 198a, 198b are connected to the first and second gripping means 198b via the gripping head 199, for example. It is configured to be able to move up and down integrally. Note that the lifting drive cylinder 200 may be configured such that the first and second gripping means 198a and 198b can be individually driven up and down.

  The needle bearing hoisting means 187 configured as described above repeats the following operations (B1) to (B9), thereby supplying one needle bearing 7 to the second supply position 181b and the first supply. Two needle bearings 7 are stacked at the position 181a.

  (B1) Holding the restricting member 205 of the movement restricting means 197 at the flow restricting position restricts the needle bearing 7 on the most downstream side in the supply passage 193 at the flow restricting position 204, and the first, second supply positions 181a, In a state where the needle bearing 7 does not exist at 181b, the moving member 202 of the needle bearing moving means 196 is positioned at the first slide position (FIG. 16 (a)).

  (B2) The restricting member 205 of the movement restricting means 197 is switched to the flow allowing position (FIG. 16B). As a result, the needle bearings 7 aligned on the supply path 193 move to the downstream side by the conveying force of the needle bearing conveying means 186, and the most downstream needle bearing 7 has the second fitting of the moving member 202 at the first supply position 181a. It is fitted and held in the joint portion 201b.

  (B3) By switching the restricting member 205 of the movement restricting means 197 to the flow restriction position, the needle bearing 7 on the upstream side of the first supply position 181a is restricted at the flow restriction position 204 (FIG. 16 (c)).

  (B4) The moving member 202 of the needle bearing moving means 196 is moved from the first slide position to the second slide position (FIG. 16 (d)). Thereby, the needle bearing 7 fitted to the second fitting portion 201b moves from the first supply position 181a along the movement path 194 to the second supply position 181b.

  (B5) The restricting member 205 of the movement restricting means 197 is switched to the flow allowing position (FIG. 16 (e)). As a result, the needle bearings 7 aligned on the supply path 193 are moved downstream by the conveying force of the needle bearing conveying means 186, and the next needle bearing 7 held at the flow-down regulating position 204 is at the first supply position 181a. The moving member 202 is fitted and held in the first fitting portion 201a.

  (B6) By switching the regulating member 205 of the movement regulating means 197 to the flow restriction position, the needle bearing 7 on the upstream side of the first supply position 181a is regulated at the flow restriction position 204 (FIG. 16 (f)).

  (B7) The gripping head 199 is lowered, only the first gripping means 198a is closed, the needle bearing 7 at the first supply position 181a is gripped (FIG. 16 (g)), the gripping head 199 is lifted and the gripped needle The bearing 7 is lifted on the spot (FIG. 16 (h)).

  (B8) The restricting member 205 of the movement restricting means 197 is switched to the flow allowing position (FIG. 16 (i)). As a result, the needle bearings 7 aligned on the supply path 193 are moved downstream by the conveying force of the needle bearing conveying means 186, and the next needle bearing 7 held at the flow-down regulating position 204 is at the first supply position 181a. The moving member 202 is fitted and held in the first fitting portion 201a.

  (B9) The first gripping means 198a is opened, and the needle bearing 7 that has been lifted is placed on the needle bearing 7 that has newly moved to the first supply position 181a (FIG. 16 (j)).

  The needle bearing transfer means 183 includes a gripping head 199 provided with first and second gripping means 198a and 198b, an elevating drive cylinder 200 for driving the gripping head 199 up and down, and a gripping head 199 at the first and second supply positions. 181a and 181b and a horizontal drive cylinder 209 that is horizontally driven between the needle bearing mounting position S4. Of the two needle bearings 7 on the first supply position 181a, for example, only the lower needle bearing 7 is provided. These two needle bearings 7 are simultaneously held by holding the first holding means 198a, and one needle bearing 7 on the second supply position 181b is held by the second holding means 198b (FIG. 16 (k )), The gripping head 199 is moved onto the needle bearing mounting position S4 by the lift drive cylinder 200 and the horizontal drive cylinder 209 (FIG. 16). l)), two needle bearings 7 held by the first gripping means 198a are placed on the dummy shaft 8a on the pallet 35, and one needle bearing 7 held by the second gripping means 198b is placed on the pallet 35. Each of the dummy shafts 8b is externally fitted.

  As described above, the needle bearing mounting means 37c of the present embodiment is configured such that the two needle bearings 7 on the pinion gear 6a side are stacked on the first supply position 181a by the needle bearing lifting means 187, and the two needle bearings 7 are Since it is configured to be held and transferred onto the pallet 35 at the same time, automatic assembly of the sub-assembly can be efficiently performed in a short cycle time compared to the case where the two needle bearings 7 are transferred one by one. It is.

  In addition, since the roller 11 is arrange | positioned at equal intervals on the outer peripheral side, the outer diameter dimension of the needle bearing 7 is not constant in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the upper and lower needle bearings 7 are displaced about the axis, if the upper and lower needle bearings 7 are simultaneously gripped by one gripping means, for example, the movable claw 108 can move the upper needle bearing 7 to the outer diameter. May be incompletely gripped by the movable claw 108 on the lower needle bearing 7 side.

  In this respect, in the present embodiment, when the two needle bearings 7 stacked on the first supply position 181a are simultaneously held, only the lower needle bearing 7 is gripped by the first gripping means 198a. Therefore, even when the postures of the upper and lower needle bearings 7 are shifted around the axis, for example, both can be reliably held.

  Furthermore, since the first gripping means 198a of the present embodiment includes the insertion shaft 207 that allows the needle bearing 7 to be inserted from the upper side between the pair of movable claws 208, 208, the lower side by the movable claws 208, 208. Even when only the needle bearing 7 is gripped, the holding state of the upper needle bearing 7 does not become unstable.

  The pinion gear mounting means 37d is provided corresponding to the pinion gear mounting position S5. As shown in FIG. 12, the pinion gears 6a and 6b that are meshed with each other are supplied with a predetermined pinion gear while maintaining the meshed state. The pinion gear 6a is transferred to the needle bearing 7 on the dummy shaft 8a side on the pallet 35 and the pinion gear 6b is transferred to the needle bearing 7 on the dummy shaft 8b side on the pallet 35, respectively. It is configured to fit externally.

  The round washer attachment means 37e is provided corresponding to the round washer attachment position S8. As shown in FIG. 12, the round washers 10a and 10b are moved from the predetermined round washer supply position to the pallet 35 at the round washer attachment position S8. It is configured to be moved upward and placed on the pinion gears 6a and 6b, respectively.

  The part check means 37f is provided in correspondence with the part check position S10, and is configured to check for component mounting leakage of the sub-assembly 3 assembled on the pallet 35, particularly mounting leakage of the round washers 10a and 10b. ing.

  In the present embodiment, among the eleven stop positions S1 to S11, the pallet return position S1, the first idle position S6, the second idle position S7, the third idle position S9, and the final idle position S11 Sub-assembly assembly means 37 is not provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, etc., the carrier body side working means 32 moves the carrier body 2 forward to a plurality of stop positions including a loading / unloading position S31, a built-in receiving position S33, and a fixed pin driving position S34. A carrier body transporting means 264 for transporting, a subassembly assembly means 265 for incorporating the subassembly 3 assembled on the pallet 35 by the subassembly side working means 31 into the carrier body 2 on the assembly receiving position S33, and a subassembly After the subassembly 3 is assembled into the carrier body 2 by the assembling means 265, the shaft exchanging means 266 for exchanging the dummy shafts 8a, 8b with the pinion shafts 13a, 13b, and the pinion shafts 13a, 13b are supplied to the shaft exchanging means 266. Carrier body by means of pinion shaft supply means 267 and shaft exchange means 266 Dummy shaft return means 268 for returning the dummy shafts 8a and 8b extracted from the pallet 35, fixed pin driving means 269 for driving the fixed pins 22 into the carrier body 2 on the fixed pin driving position S34, The unloading means 270 for unloading the assembled planetary carrier 4 and the carrier body 2 with the thrust bearing 5 mounted thereon are transferred from the carrier body supply position S50 to the loading / unloading position S31, and the assembled planetary carrier 4 And a carrier transfer means 271 for transferring the ink from the carry-in / out position S31 onto the carry-out means 270.

  The carrier body transporting means 264 is configured to stop the carrier body 2 on which the thrust bearing 5 is mounted by the thrust bearing mounting means 263 at a plurality of stop positions arranged at the same pitch on the same circumference, for example, the loading / unloading position S31, the idle position. S32, the built-in receiving position S33, and the fixed pin driving position S34 are transported in a sequential manner so as to pass sequentially, and among these stop positions S31 to S34, for example, the built-in receiving position S33, the fixed pin driving position In S34, the carrier body 2 is rotated and positioned.

  As shown in FIG. 17 and the like, the four stop positions S31 to S34 are arranged in the order, for example, in the clockwise direction in plan view, and their center C1 is located with respect to the built-in delivery position S21 on the return path Lc. It arrange | positions on the sending direction V, and is arrange | positioned so that built-in receiving position S33 may be located between the center C1 and built-in sending position S21.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the carrier main body transporting means 264 has a table plate 291 that is rotatably supported around the vertical axis on the center C <b> 1, and table corresponding to the four stop positions S <b> 31 to S <b> 34. Carrier tables 292 provided at four positions on the plate 291 and rotatable around respective vertical axes, built-in guide tables 293 arranged corresponding to the respective carrier tables 292, and the respective carrier tables 292 are stopped positions. Conveyance drive means 294 that rotationally drives the table plate 291 in four equal intervals so as to sequentially move on S31 to S34, and built-in reception position drive means 295 that rotationally drives the carrier table 292 on the built-in reception position S33, Fixed pin driving position driving means 296 for rotationally driving the carrier table 292 on the fixed pin driving position S34, and on the built-in receiving position S33 On the fine fixed pin hammering position S34, and a rotation restriction releasing means 297 for releasing the rotation restriction of the carrier table 292.

  The table plate 291 is, for example, substantially disk-shaped, and is rotatably supported by a rotation support shaft 302 that is erected on a horizontal machine base 301 and at a position corresponding to the center C1, along the outer peripheral side thereof. Four carrier tables 292 are arranged at an equal pitch.

  The carrier table 292 includes, for example, a carrier holding portion 303 that is disposed on the upper side of the table plate 291 and on which the carrier main body 2 can be placed, and a drive receiving portion 304 that is disposed on the lower side of the table plate 291, for example. And is supported by the table plate 291 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis.

  Further, the carrier table 292 is rotated only when the rotation is restricted by the rotation restricting means 298 during normal times such as when the table plate 291 is rotated and the carrier table 292 is stopped at the built-in receiving position S33 and the fixed pin driving position S34. The rotation restriction is released by the restriction release means 297.

  The rotation restricting means 298 is movable, for example, on the center C1 side on the table plate 291 with respect to the carrier table 292, between a rotation restricting position on the radially outer side of the table plate 291 and a rotation restricting release position on the radially inner side. For example, it is urged toward the rotation restricting position and is engaged with the carrier table 292 on the rotation restricting position to restrict the rotation.

  Further, the rotation restriction releasing means 297 is fixedly provided on the center C1 side of the table plate 291 corresponding to the assembly receiving position S33 and the fixed pin driving position S34, and the carrier table 292 is installed in the assembly receiving position S33 and A release member 315 that engages with the rotation restricting means 298 when stopped at the fixed pin driving position S34, and a restriction release drive cylinder that drives the release member 315 in a direction to move the rotation restricting means 298 to the rotation restriction release position. 316.

  The carrier main body 2 to which the thrust bearing 5 is mounted is placed on the carrier table 292 on the carry-in / out position S31 from the carrier main body supply position S50 (FIG. 17) by the carrier transfer means 271, and further on the carrier table 292, for example, on the carrier transfer means 271. When the built-in guide 26 is placed and then the carrier table 292 returns to the loading / unloading position S31 again via the idle position S32, the mounting receiving position S33, and the fixed pin driving position S34, the upper mounting is performed. The guide 26 is removed by, for example, the carrier transfer means 271 and is transferred onto the unloading means 270 by the carrier transfer means 271 in the state of the completed planetary carrier 4.

  The carrier body 2 is placed on the loading / unloading position S31 in a state in which any of the assembling directions Va (see FIG. 28) faces the center C1, that is, in a state where the assembling direction Va is opposite to the sending direction V. It is placed on the carrier table 292.

  The built-in guide table 293 is for temporarily placing the built-in guide 26, and is arranged on the table plate 291 and on the center C1 side of the carrier table 292, for example. The built-in guide 26 removes the completed planetary carrier 4 from the carrier table 292 and places a new carrier body 2 when the carrier body 2 is replaced at the loading / unloading position S31, that is, at the loading / unloading position S31. It is temporarily placed on the built-in guide table 293 only for the interval. Hereinafter, the position of the built-in guide table 293 at this time is referred to as a built-in guide attaching / detaching position S51.

  The built-in receiving position driving means 295 is arranged corresponding to the built-in receiving position S33, and is a drive connecting portion that can be engaged with the drive receiving portion 304 on the carrier table 292 side from the lower side and connected around the vertical axis. 311, elevating drive means 312 capable of elevating drive between the upper position where the drive connecting portion 311 is engaged with the drive receiving portion 304 and the lower position where the drive receiving portion 304 is not engaged, and the drive connecting portion 311 around the vertical axis, etc. A rotation drive means 313 that rotates at a predetermined timing in a predetermined direction by 120 °.

  The assembly receiving position driving means 295 is connected to the drive receiving section 304 by raising the drive connecting portion 311 by the elevating drive means 312 after the table plate 291 rotates and the carrier table 292 stops on the assembly receiving position S33. While the rotation restriction of the carrier table 292 is released by the rotation restriction release means 297, the carrier table 292 is moved 120 degrees by the rotation driving means 313 by 120 ° each time the subassembly 3 is assembled into the carrier body 2, for example, in plan view. After driving three times in the counterclockwise direction, the drive connecting portion 311 is lowered by the lift drive means 312 to release the connection with the drive receiving portion 304.

  The fixed pin driving position driving means 296 is arranged corresponding to the fixed pin driving position S34, and can be engaged with the driving receiving portion 304 on the carrier table 292 side from the lower side to be connected around the vertical axis. A connecting portion 321, an elevating drive means 322 that can be driven up and down between an upper position where the drive connecting portion 321 is engaged with the drive receiving portion 304 and a lower position where the drive receiving portion 304 is not engaged, and the drive connecting portion 321 about the vertical axis. Rotation driving means 323 is provided that is three-way, that is, rotationally driven at a predetermined timing in a predetermined direction by 120 °.

  The fixed pin driving position driving means 296 is configured such that after the table plate 291 rotates and the carrier table 292 stops on the fixed pin driving position S34, the drive connecting section 321 is lifted by the lift driving means 322 to drive the driving receiving section 304. Each time the fixing pin 22 is driven into the pin hole 23 of the carrier body 2 while the rotation restriction releasing means 297 releases the rotation restriction of the carrier table 292, the rotation driving means 323 causes the carrier table 292 to move. After driving three times 120 degrees, for example, counterclockwise in plan view, the drive connecting portion 321 is lowered by the lift drive means 322 to release the connection with the drive receiving portion 304.

  As shown in FIGS. 17, 20, 21, etc., the sub-assembly assembly means 265 is a delivery guide 331 arranged along the delivery direction V from the assembly delivery position S21 on the return path Lc to the assembly reception position S33. A fixing release means 332 for releasing the fixation of the subassembly 3 with respect to the pallet 35 stopped at the built-in delivery position S21, a push-out member 333 disposed so as to be capable of reciprocating along the feed guide 331, and the push-out member 333 is provided with a built-in drive cylinder 334 that reciprocates along the delivery direction V.

  The bottom surface 331a of the delivery guide 331 has a bottom surface 42a of the assembly work part 42 of the pallet 35 stopped at the built-in delivery position S21 and the sub-assembly assembly part 19 of the carrier body 2 stopped on the assembly reception position S33. It arrange | positions so that the bottom face 19a may be smoothly connected without a level | step difference.

  The fixing release means 332 is a pressing portion 335, 335 disposed above the operation pin 55, 55 corresponding to the operation pin 55, 55 of the pallet 35 stopped at the built-in delivery position S21, and ascending / descending to lower the pressing portion 335, 335. And a drive cylinder 336. The drive portions 335 and 335 are lowered by driving the elevating drive cylinder 336, and the operation pins 55 and 55 are pushed down. When the operation pins 55, 55 are pushed down, the support pins 50a, 50b and the positioning pins 51 move to the retracted position where they do not protrude to the upper surface side of the upper plate 45 of the pallet 35. Therefore, the support pins 50a, 50b and the positioning pins 51 Is disengaged from the sub assembly 3 side.

  The push-out member 333 includes a push-out portion 333a formed in a shape corresponding to the side shape of the subassembly 3 on the front end side with respect to the feed direction V, and the push-out portion 333a is located at the built-in feed position S21 in the feed direction V. It is possible to move along the delivery guide 331 between the standby position (FIG. 20) located on the rear side and the pushing portion 333a between the built-in receiving position S33 and the pushing position (FIG. 21) located in the vicinity thereof. .

  The built-in drive cylinder 334 normally holds the pushing member 333 on the standby position side, the pallet 35 is stopped at the built-in delivery position S21, and the fixing of the sub assembly 3 is released by the fixing release means 332 At this time, the pushing member 333 is moved to the pushing position along the delivery guide 331 (FIG. 20 → FIG. 21). Thereby, the sub assembly 3 on the pallet 35 is pushed by the pushing member 333, slides on the delivery guide 331, and is assembled in the carrier body 2 on the assembly receiving position S33.

  The assembly of the sub-assembly 3 by the sub-assembly assembly means 265 is repeated three times while the carrier table 292 is rotated by 120 ° by the assembly receiving position driving means 295, whereby three positions in the carrier body 2 are obtained. Each of the subassemblies 3 is incorporated in the subassembly assembly portion 19.

  The shaft exchanging means 266 is for exchanging the dummy shafts 8a and 8b of the sub assembly 3 incorporated in the carrier body 2 with the pinion shafts 13a and 13b supplied to the predetermined shaft delivery position S43 by the pinion shaft supply means 267. 22, 23, etc., a shaft unloader 342 having dummy shaft gripping portions 342 a, 342 b and a shaft loader 343 having pinion shaft gripping portions 343 a, 343 b are provided at both ends in the horizontal direction, and And a shaft exchange arm 344 that is rotatably supported around a vertical rotation shaft 344a, and this shaft exchange arm 344 is driven to rotate about the vertical rotation shaft 344a between the shaft gripping position and the shaft release position. Rotating drive means 345 and shaft exchange arm And a lift drive unit 346 which drives the raising or lowering of the 44.

  The shaft exchanging means 266 has a position (hereinafter referred to as the sub assembly 3 at that time) rotated once (120 °) by the built-in receiving position driving means 295 after the sub assembly 3 is assembled in the carrier body 2. The shaft is exchanged with respect to the sub-assembly 3 at the shaft attachment / detachment position S33a).

  The shaft exchanging arm 344 is rotatably supported, for example, below the lifting platform 337 so that the rotation shaft 344a is at an intermediate position between the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a and the shaft delivery position S43. When in the gripping position, the shaft unloader 342 is positioned on the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a, and the shaft loader 343 is positioned on the shaft delivery position S43 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 22). On the contrary, the shaft loader 343 is positioned on the shaft attachment / detachment position S33a, and the shaft unloader 342 is positioned on the shaft delivery position S43.

  The dummy shaft gripping portions 342a and 342b are each configured by, for example, a collet chuck, and when the shaft replacement arm 344 is in the shaft gripping position, the shaft attaching / detaching holes 30a and 30b of the built-in guide 26 and the shaft insertion hole of the carrier main body 2 are provided. The collet chuck portion is inserted into the center hole of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b at the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a from above through 20a and 20b to hold the dummy shafts 8a and 8b, and the shaft is exchanged by the lifting drive means 346. When the arm 344 is lifted, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are extracted upward, and when the shaft replacement arm 344 is moved to the shaft release position and lowered by the lift drive means 346, the gripping state is released and the dummy shafts 8a, 8b are released. 8b is the shaft delivery position It is adapted to placed on the 43.

  The shaft unloader 342 is provided with a holding member 348 that can be inserted into the round hole 27a of the built-in guide 26 mounted on the carrier body 2 from the upper side, in addition to the dummy shaft gripping portions 342a and 342b.

  The pinion shaft gripping portions 343a and 343b are each composed of a pair of opening and closing claws. When the shaft exchange arm 344 is at the shaft gripping position, the pinion shafts 13a and 13b at the shaft delivery position S43 are placed between the opening and closing claws. After that, the shaft exchange arm 344 moves to the shaft release position and descends by the lift drive means 346, and the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are connected to the shaft attaching / detaching holes 30a and 30b of the built-in guide 26, the carrier body 2 When inserted from above into the pinion gears 6a and 6b at the shaft attachment / detachment position S33a through the shaft insertion holes 20a and 20b, the gripping state is released.

  The shaft loader 343 is provided with driving means 349 for driving the pinion shafts 13a and 13b inserted into the pinion gears 6a and 6b in addition to the pinion shaft holding portions 343a and 343b. The driving means 349 includes a striking portion 349a provided on the upper side of the striking portion 349a so as to be movable up and down corresponding to the gripping position of the pinion shafts 13a and 13b, and a driving drive cylinder 349b that drives the striking portion 349a up and down After the shafts 13a and 13b are inserted into the pinion gears 6a and 6b and the gripping state of the pinion shaft gripping portions 343a and 343b is released, the striking portion 349a is lowered by driving of the driving drive cylinder 349b and the pinion shafts 13a and 13b. It hits the upper end side downward.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b at the shaft attachment / detachment position S33a and the pinion shafts 13a and 13b at the shaft delivery position S43 are replaced with each other, and the dummy removed from the subassembly 3 in the carrier body 2 is used. The shafts 8a and 8b are temporarily placed at the shaft delivery position S43 after the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are removed.

  The rotation driving means 345 is fixed on, for example, a lifting platform 337, and rotates the shaft exchange arm 344, for example, reciprocally in a range of about 180 ° between the shaft gripping position and the shaft releasing position via the driving gear 338. After the sub-assembly 3 is assembled by the sub-assembly assembly means 265, the operation is performed for one cycle every time the carrier table 292 is rotated by 120 ° by the built-in receiving position driving means 295. Has been.

  The lift drive means 346 is configured to drive the shaft exchange arm 344 up and down via the lift base 337, and holds the shaft exchange arm 344 in the raised position when the shaft exchange arm 344 is rotationally driven by the rotation drive means 345. When the shaft exchange arm 344 reaches the shaft gripping position or the shaft release position, the shaft exchange arm 344 is lowered to a predetermined position.

  In addition, the raising / lowering drive means 346 is good also as a structure which can raise / lower the dummy shaft holding parts 342a and 342b and the pinion shaft holding parts 343a and 343b separately with respect to the shaft exchange arm 344.

  The pinion shaft supply means 267 supplies the pinion shafts 13a and 13b to the shaft delivery position S43. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 24, the pinion shaft supply unit 267 includes a shaft mounting table 351 on which the pinion shafts 13a and 13b can be mounted. A plurality of locations including the shaft delivery position S43, for example, four stop positions S41 to S44, and a shaft conveying means 352 that circulates in a sequential manner so as to sequentially pass through, and a pinion shaft 13a on the shaft mounting table 351 on the upstream side of the shaft delivery position S43. , 13b, and pinion shaft mounting means 353.

  In the present embodiment, the four stop positions of the first pinion shaft placement position S41, the second pinion shaft placement position S42, the shaft delivery position S43, and the dummy shaft return position S44 are on the same circumference in that order. Arranged at the pitch.

  The shaft conveying means 352 is supported so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis on the center C2 of the stop positions S41 to S44, and is provided with four shaft mounting tables 351 corresponding to the four stop positions S41 to S44. A body 354 and transport driving means 355 that rotationally drives the transport rotator 354 in a four-way manner so that each shaft mounting table 351 sequentially moves on the stop positions S41 to S44 are provided.

  The shaft mounting table 351 is provided with shaft mounting portions 351a and 351b on which the pinion shafts 13a and 13b can be mounted in a vertically oriented state. The shaft mounting portions 351a and 351b are arranged so that the positions of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b on the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a around the vertical rotation shaft 344a of the shaft exchanging arm 344 when the shaft mounting table 351 is at the shaft delivery position S43. It arrange | positions so that it may correspond with the position rotated 180 degrees (FIG. 22).

  The pinion shaft mounting means 353 includes pinion shaft feeders 358a and 358b which take out the pinion shafts 13a and 13b one by one from a pinion shaft stocker (not shown) and place them vertically on the relay mounting tables 357a and 357b, respectively. Pinion shaft transfer means for transferring the pinion shafts 13a, 13b mounted on the relay mounting tables 357a, 357b to the shaft mounting portions 351a, 351b on the first and second pinion shaft mounting positions S41, S42, respectively. 359a and 359b.

  The pinion shaft feeders 358a and 358b hold the pinion shafts 13a and 13b sent from, for example, substantially horizontal from a pinion shaft stocker (not shown), respectively, and vertically extend on the mounting portions 364 of the relay mounting tables 357a and 357b. It is comprised so that it may mount.

  The relay mounting tables 357a and 357b are disposed between the pinion shaft feeders 358a and 358b and the pinion shaft transfer means 359a and 359b, for example, are rotatable about the vertical axis and pinion shaft feeders 358a, 358a, The 358b side and the pinion shaft transfer means 359a, 359b side are provided with mounting portions 364, respectively, and are configured to be rotationally driven by the rotational driving means 365 in a two-part distribution.

  The relay mounting tables 357a and 357b are rotated by 180 ° by the rotation driving means 365 while receiving the supply of the pinion shafts 13a and 13b to the mounting portion 364 on the side of the pinion shaft feeders 358a and 358b. The pinion shafts 13a and 13b are taken out from the mounting portion 364 on the side of the means 359a and 359b.

  In addition, a phase determination drive for determining the phase of the pinion shafts 13a and 13b by rotating and driving the mounting portion 364 on the pinion shaft feeders 358a and 358b around the vertical axis below the relay mounting tables 357a and 357b. Means 366 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the pinion shaft transfer means 359a and 359b includes gripping portions 371a and 371b that can grip the pinion shafts 13a and 13b, and lift drive cylinders 372a and 372b that drive the gripping portions 371a and 371b up and down. And a horizontal drive cylinder 373 for horizontally driving the gripping portions 371a, 371b, and pinion shafts 13a on the mounting portions 364a, 364 on the pinion shaft transfer means 359a, 359b side of the relay mounting tables 357a, 357b. 13b is gripped by the gripping portions 371a and 371b, and then the gripping portions 371a and 371b are moved by the lift drive cylinders 372a and 372b and the horizontal drive cylinder 373 so that the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are mounted on the first and second pinion shafts. Shuffling of installation positions S41 and S42 It is adapted to mounted on the mounting table 351.

  The pinion shaft transfer means 359a places the long pinion shaft 13a on the shaft placement portion 351a on the shaft placement table 351 at the first pinion shaft placement position S41, and one pinion shaft transfer means 359b The short pinion shaft 13b is placed on the shaft placement portion 351b on the shaft placement table 351 at the second pinion shaft placement position S42.

  That is, on the shaft mounting table 351, only the long pinion shaft 13a is mounted at the first pinion shaft mounting position S41 and short-circuited at the next second pinion shaft mounting position S42, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The pinion shaft 13b is placed so that both pinion shafts 13a and 13b are aligned.

  The dummy shaft return means 268 returns the dummy shafts 8a and 8b, which are extracted from the carrier body 2 by the shaft exchange means 266 and placed on the shaft placement table 351 at the shaft delivery position S43, onto the pallet 35. 24, a gripping head 382 including gripping portions 381a and 381b capable of gripping the pinion shafts 13a and 13b on the shaft mounting table 351, and a rotation driving means 383 that rotationally drives the gripping head 382 around a vertical axis. And a vertical drive cylinder 384 that drives the gripping head 382 up and down, and a horizontal drive cylinder 385 that drives the gripping head 382 horizontally. At the dummy shaft return position S44, the gripping portions 381a and 381b move the shaft on the shaft mounting table 351. After holding the dummy shafts 8a and 8b, The grip portion 381a is moved to the dummy pins return position S23 side by the drive of the elevation drive cylinder 384 and a horizontal drive cylinder 385, so as to place the dummy temporary shaft portion 43 of the pallet 35.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the shaft mounting portions 351a and 351b on the shaft mounting table 351 at the dummy shaft return position S44 and the insertion holes 52a and 52b on the pallet 35 at the dummy pin return position S23 (the dummy shaft temporary mounting portion). 43), the dummy shaft return means 268 rotates the gripping head 382 by the amount of the deviation by the rotation driving means 383 during the conveyance of the dummy shafts 8a and 8b.

  Instead of rotating the gripping head 382, for example, the shaft mounting table 351 side is rotated by a predetermined angle so as to be aligned with the insertion holes 52a and 52b (dummy shaft temporary mounting portion 43) on the pallet 35 at the dummy shaft return position S44. May be.

  The fixing pin driving means 269 fixes the downstream side of the carrier body 2 in which the sub assembly 3 is assembled and the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are replaced with the pinion shafts 13a and 13b at the installation receiving position S33. In the pin driving position S34, the pin through hole 389 provided on the upper end side of the pinion shaft 13a is aligned with the pin hole 23 on the carrier body 2 side, and the fixing pin 22 is extended from the pin hole 23 to the pin through hole 389. The pinion shaft 13a is fixed to the carrier body 2 by driving.

  The driving of the fixing pin 22 by the fixing pin driving means 269 is repeated three times while the carrier table 292 is rotated by 120 ° by the fixing pin driving position driving means 296. The fixing pin 22 is driven into the sub-assembly 3, and the assembly process of the planetary carrier 4 is completed.

  The unloading means 270 unloads the planetary carrier 4 that has been assembled. The unloading base 401 on which the planetary carrier 4 can be placed, and the completed planetary carrier 4 are placed on the unloading base 401. A carry-out driving means 402 that reciprocates between a carry-out start position S61 and a downstream carry-out arrival position S62, and the planetary carrier 4 is transferred from the carry-in / out position S31 to the carry-out table 401 on the carry-out start position S61. After being loaded, the unloading table 401 is transported to the unloading arrival position S62 by the unloading driving means 402.

  The carrier transfer means 271 includes a grip head 412 having a grip portion 411 that can grip the carrier body 2, the completed planetary carrier 4 and the built-in guide 26, and a lift drive means 413 that drives the grip head 412 up and down. And a horizontal driving means 414 for horizontally driving the gripping head 412, transferring the carrier body 2 from the carrier body supply position S 50 to the loading / unloading position S 31, and loading / unloading from the built-in guide table 293 at the built-in guide attaching / detaching position S 51. Transfer of the built-in guide 26 onto the carrier body 2 at the position S31, and the built-in guide 26 from the planetary carrier 4 after completion of the loading / unloading position S31 onto the built-in guide table 293 at the built-in guide attaching / detaching position S51. Transfer of the planetary carrier 4 from the loading / unloading position S31 onto the unloading base 401 at the unloading start position S61. It is adapted to perform mounting.

  The carrier body supply position S50, the carry-in / carry-out position S31, the built-in guide attachment / detachment position S51, and the carry-out start position S61 are all arranged on a straight line in plan view, and the carrier transfer means 271 is driven in the vertical direction and in one direction. It is possible to carry out all the conveyance processes only with this.

  A series of operations by the planetary carrier assembling apparatus 1 described above will be schematically described. First, the operation of the sub assembly side working means 31 will be described.

  The pallet 35 is cyclically conveyed along the annular conveyance path L by the pallet conveyance device 36. On the upstream side of the forward path La in the transport path L, the pallet 35 is transported in the forward position by the forward path upstream transport means 61a from the pallet return position S1 to the final idle position S11.

  At that time, the spectacle washer 9 is supplied by the spectacle washer attachment means 37a at the spectacle washer attachment position S2 to the assembly work section 42 on the pallet 35, and the dummy shaft temporary placement portion is provided by the dummy shaft attachment means 37b at the dummy shaft attachment position S3. The dummy shafts 8a and 8b are supplied from 43, the needle bearing 7 is supplied by the needle bearing mounting means 37c at the needle bearing mounting position S4, and the pinion gears 6a and 6b are engaged with each other by the pinion gear mounting means 37d at the pinion gear mounting position S5. And the round washers 10a and 10b are supplied by the round washer mounting means 37e at the round washer mounting position S8, whereby the sub-assies 3 are sequentially assembled. Further, after the part check means 37f checks for component mounting leakage at the part check position S10, the pallet 35 is transported to the downstream side of the forward path La.

  The pallet 35 on which the subassembly 3 has been assembled and checked on the forward path La is transported on the return path Lc via the return transport path Lb, and the built-in delivery position S21, the buffer position S22, and the dummy pin return position S23. Then each is temporarily stopped. At the built-in delivery position S21, the sub assembly 3 on the pallet 35 is assembled into the carrier body 2 on the built-in receiving position S33 by the sub assembly assembling means 265, and the pallet 35 becomes empty.

  Further, at the dummy pin return position S23, after the dummy shafts 8a and 8b extracted after the sub assembly 3 is assembled on the carrier body 2 side are returned onto the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 of the pallet 35, the pallet 35 is It is transported to the downstream side of the return path Lc, and is transported again on the forward path La via the return transport path Ld.

  Next, the operation of the carrier body side working means 32 will be described. First, the carrier body 2 is placed at the carrier body supply position S50 with the thrust bearing 5 mounted, and the carrier transfer means 271 moves the carrier body 2 from the carrier body supply position S50 onto the carrier table 292 at the loading / unloading position S31. Further, the carrier guide 271 mounts the built-in guide 26 mounted on the built-in guide table 293 at the built-in guide attaching / detaching position S51 on the carrier body 2.

  When the carrier table 292 is sequentially moved by the carrier main body transporting means 264 and the carrier main body 2 placed at the carry-in / out position S31 reaches the built-in receiving position S33 via the idle position S32, first, the sub-assembly built-in means 265 is used. As a result, the subassembly 3 on the pallet 35 stopped at the built-in delivery position S21 is built into the subassembly built-in portion 19 of the carrier body 2, and then the carrier table 292 is rotated around the axis by the built-in receiving position driving means 295. When the assembled sub assembly 3 is moved to the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a, the shaft replacement means 266 causes the dummy shafts 8a and 8b at the shaft attaching / detaching position S33a and the pinion shaft 13a on the shaft delivery position S43 to be moved. , 13b are exchanged.

  This series of operations “assembly of sub-assembly 3” → “rotation of carrier table 292” → “shaft replacement” is repeated three times at the assembly receiving position S33. Note that the second and third “subassembly assembly 3” operations are performed in parallel with the first and second “shaft replacement” operations (see the upper column of FIG. 25).

  Further, the conveying operation of the shaft conveying means 352 of the pinion shaft supply means 267 is synchronized with the above-described series of operations at the shaft delivery position S43, and each time the “shaft exchange” is performed, the pinion shafts 13a, 13b The next shaft mounting table 351 mounted is sent to the shaft delivery position S43.

  The shaft mounting table 351 is supplied with the long pinion shaft 13a at the first pinion shaft mounting position S41 and the short pinion shaft 13b at the second pinion shaft mounting position S42 before reaching the shaft delivery position S43. In the shaft delivery position S43, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b extracted from the sub assembly 3 are placed after the pinion shafts 13a and 13b are removed. When the shaft mounting table 351 reaches the next dummy shaft return position S44, the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are temporarily placed on the pallet 35 at the dummy pin return position S23 by the dummy shaft return means 268. Returned to part 43.

  When a series of operations at the built-in receiving position S33 is completed, the carrier table 292 on the built-in receiving position S33 moves to the next fixed pin driving position S34. In the fixed pin driving position S34, first, the fixing pin 22 is driven by the fixing pin driving means 269 so as to penetrate the pin hole 23 and the pin through hole 389, and then the carrier table 292 is fixed pin driving position. It is rotated 120 ° around the axis by the driving means 296.

  Then, the assembly of the planetary carrier 4 is completed by repeating the series of operations of “fixing the fixed pin 22” → “rotating the carrier table 292” three times at the fixed pin driving position S34.

  The fixing pin driving operation at the fixing pin driving position S34 is performed in synchronism with the sub assembly assembly operation and the shaft replacement operation at the assembly receiving position S33, as shown in FIG.

  When the series of operations at the shaft delivery position S43 is completed and the assembling of the planetary carrier 4 is completed, the carrier table 292 on the fixed pin driving position S34 moves and returns to the carry-in / out position S31.

  When the completed planetary carrier 4 reaches the loading / unloading position S31, first, the carrier guide 271 moves the built-in guide 26 on the planetary carrier 4 to the built-in guide table 293 at the built-in guide attaching / detaching position S51. Thereafter, the carrier carrier 271 similarly transfers the planetary carrier 4 from the loading / unloading position S31 to the unloading table 401 on the unloading start position S61.

  After the planetary carrier 4 is transferred from the loading / unloading position S31 onto the unloading table 401, a new carrier body 2 is transferred from the carrier body supply position S50 onto the carrier table 292 at the loading / unloading position S31. The above operation is repeated.

  Further, the unloading table 401 on which the completed planetary carrier 4 is placed is conveyed from the unloading start position S61 to the unloading arrival position S62 on the downstream side.

  The carry-in operation of the carrier body 2 to the carry-in / carry-out position S31 and the completed carry-out operation of the planetary carrier 4 from the carry-in / carry-out position S31 are as shown in FIG. The shaft exchange operation is performed in synchronization with the fixed pin driving operation at the fixed pin driving position S34.

  As described above, in the planetary carrier assembling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the sub-assembly assembly means 37 includes the needle bearing supply means 182 that supplies the needle bearing 7 to the predetermined supply positions 181a and 181b in the vertical state. The needle bearing supply means 182 includes needle bearing transfer means 183 that transfers the needle bearing 7 supplied to the supply positions 181a and 181b to the pallet 35 by the needle bearing supply means 182. The needle bearing supply means 182 includes the needle bearing 7 at the supply positions 181a and 181a. The needle bearing conveying means 186 that conveys toward 181b and the needle bearing 7 supplied to the supply position 181a by the needle bearing conveying means 186 are grasped and lifted by the grasping means 198a, and the needle bearing conveying means 186 moves to the supply position 181a. Newly supplied subsequent needle bearing Needle bearing lifting means 187 that repeats the loading operation to be mounted on the supply position 181a until a plurality of needle bearings 7 are stacked. Needle bearing transfer means 183 includes needle bearing lifting means 183. Since the plurality of needle bearings 7 stacked at 187 are simultaneously held and transported, the subassembly automatic assembly can be performed in a shorter cycle than when the two needle bearings 7 are transported one by one. It can be done efficiently in time.

  The needle bearing transfer means 183 is configured to transfer the needle bearing 7 supplied to the supply position 181a onto the pallet 35 while being held by the gripping means 198a used for the loading operation. Can be

  The subassembly 3 includes two short and long pinion gears 6a and 6b that mesh with each other, and a plurality (two) of needle bearings 7 that are the same as the needle bearings 7 inserted into the short pinion gear 6b are inserted in series in the long pinion gear 6a. In the supply position, a first supply position 181a corresponding to the long pinion gear 6a and a second supply position 181b corresponding to the short pinion gear 6b are provided, and the needle bearing lifting means 187 is provided. Comprises needle bearing moving means 196 for moving one needle bearing 7 supplied to the first supply position 181a by the needle bearing transport means 186 to the second supply position 181b, and the needle bearing transfer means 183 is the first supply position. First holding means 198a capable of holding the needle bearing 7 of 181a, and the first And a second gripping means 198b that can move integrally with the gripping means 198a and can grip the needle bearing 7 at the second supply position 181b. One needle bearing 7 is moved to the second supply position by the needle bearing moving means 196. After moving to 181b, the first gripping means 198a performs a stacking operation while keeping the second gripping means 198b in a non-gripping state, and the first gripping means 198a and the second gripping means 198b move the first supply position 181a. Since the plurality of needle bearings 7 and one needle bearing 7 of the second supply position 181b are simultaneously held and transferred onto the pallet 35, they are mounted on each of the pair of pinion gears 6a and 6b. Although the number of needle bearings 7 is different, the needle bearing 7 can be mounted efficiently with a simple device configuration. .

  In addition, the planetary carrier assembling apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a pallet transport device 36 that circulates the pallet 35 along the annular transport path L, and a sub assembly 3 disposed along the transport path L and on the pallet 35. Subassembly assembly means 37 for assembling, and subassembly assembly means 265 for incorporating the subassembly 3 assembled on the pallet 35 by the subassembly assembly means 37 into the carrier body 2 outside the pallet, Subassembly assembly means 265 is not in a waiting state during assembly of the subassembly, and all operations from assembly of the subassembly 3 to assembly of the subassembly 3 into the carrier body 2 are performed automatically and efficiently. Can do. In addition, since each device that executes each step can be distributed, management and maintenance can be easily performed.

  The sub assembly assembly means 37 is configured to assemble the sub assembly 3 by externally fitting the needle bearing 7 to the dummy shafts 8a and 8b and further externally fitting the pinion gears 6a and 6b to the needle bearing 7. Since the shaft replacement means 266 for replacing the dummy shafts 8a and 8b with the pinion shafts (main shafts) 13a and 13b after the sub-assembly 3 is assembled into the carrier body 2 by the insertion means 265, the sub-assembly 3 is assembled. Assembling work can be efficiently performed using the dummy shafts 8a and 8b having a shape suitable for the assembling work.

  The carrier body 2 is formed with a sub-assembly assembly portion 19 that is opened outward in the radial direction on the outer peripheral side, and the sub-assembly assembly means 265 has the sub-assembly 3 with respect to the sub-assembly assembly portion 19. The shaft exchanging means 266 is configured to extract the dummy shafts 8a and 8b and the pinion shaft (through the shaft insertion holes 20a and 20b formed on the upper side of the sub-assembly assembly portion 19). This shaft) 13a, 13b is configured to be inserted, so that the shaft replacement work can be performed only from the upper side of the carrier body 2, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified and the upper side of the carrier body 2 can be simplified. It is only necessary to provide an insertion hole for exchanging the shaft only in the shaft.

  Since the dummy shafts 8a and 8b extracted from the carrier main body 2 side by the shaft exchanging means 266 are provided on the pallet 35 on the downstream side of the sub assembly assembly means 265, the dummy shaft 8a is provided. , 8b can be circulated together with the pallet 35 for efficient use.

  On the pallet 35, a dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 and an assembly work portion 42 are provided. The dummy shafts 8a and 8b are returned to the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 by the dummy shaft return means 268, and the assembly work portion 42 is provided with a washer. 9 is set and then transferred from the dummy shaft temporary placement portion 43 to the assembly work portion 42, the dummy shafts 8 a and 8 b that are circulated and used together with the pallet 35 interfere with the assembly of the subassembly 3. It will never be.

  In the assembly work part 42, upward support pins 50a and 50b are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction between a protruding position where the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are fitted from below and a retracted position where the dummy shafts 8a and 8b are not fitted. 50a and 50b are held at the protruding positions while the subassembly 3 is being assembled by the subassembly assembly means 37, and when the subassembly 3 is assembled into the carrier body 2 outside the pallet 35 by the subassembly assembly means 265. Is configured to be held in the retracted position, so that the sub-assembly 3 can be reliably assembled on the pallet 35 and the sub-assembly 3 can be smoothly assembled into the carrier body 2. Is possible.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was illustrated, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. The arrangement of the conveyance path L of the pallet 35, the configuration of the pallet conveyance device 36, and the like are arbitrary. For example, the same configuration as that of the return path conveyance unit 62 may be adopted for the forward path upstream conveyance unit 61a.

  A plurality of types of assembly operations may be performed at one stop position S2 or the like.

  If the needle bearing lifting means 187 changes the control program so that, for example, only B1 to B6 of the operations B1 to B9 described above are performed, one needle bearing 7 is mounted on each of the pinion gears 6a and 6b. It is also possible to use it, and if the operations of B7 to B9 are repeated, three or more needle bearings 7 can be stacked. Further, if the operations of B7 to B9 are performed by both gripping means 198a and 198b as many times as necessary, a predetermined number of needle bearings 7 can be stacked on each pinion gear 6a and 6b.

  When three or more needle bearings 7 are stacked and held and transferred at the same time, only the lowermost needle bearing 7 may be gripped by gripping means, or a plurality of needle bearings 7 may be gripped from the bottom side. These needle bearings 7 may be held at the same time.

It is the whole planetary carrier assembly apparatus top view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of a pallet conveying apparatus. It is a side view of a pallet conveying apparatus. It is a front view of the return path conveyance means in a pallet conveyance apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance state of the pallet on a conveyance path | route. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance operation of the pallet by an outward path upstream conveyance means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance operation of the pallet by a return conveyance means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance operation of the pallet by a return conveyance means. It is the whole pallet perspective view. It is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a pallet. It is a top view of a pallet. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly operation | movement on the pallet by a sub assembly assembly means. It is a perspective view of a needle bearing mounting means. It is a front view of a needle bearing mounting means. It is a top view of a needle bearing supply means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the pile up operation | movement of the needle bearing by a needle bearing raising means. It is a top view of a carrier main body side working means. It is a side view of a carrier main body side working means. It is a front view of a carrier main body conveyance means and its vicinity. It is a side view before the sub assembly | attachment operation | movement in a sub assembly | attachment means. It is a side view after the sub assembly | attachment operation | movement in a sub assembly | attachment means. It is the top view which omitted the upper structure in a shaft exchange means, a pinion shaft supply means, a dummy shaft return means, and its vicinity. It is a front view of a shaft exchange means and its vicinity. It is a side view of a pinion shaft supply means, a dummy shaft return means, and its vicinity. It is explanatory drawing which shows the correspondence of each operation | movement in assembly | attachment receiving position S33, fixed pin driving position S34, carrying in / out position S31, etc. FIG. It is the top view and front view of a planetary carrier. It is a disassembled perspective view of a subassembly. It is the top view and front view of a carrier main body. It is the top view and front view of a built-in guide.

Explanation of symbols

2 Carrier body 3 Sub-assembly 4 Planetary carrier 6a Long pinion gear 6b Short pinion gear 7 Needle bearing 35 Pallet (an example of assembly table)
37 Sub assembly assembly means 181a First supply position 181b Second supply position 182 Needle bearing supply means 183 Needle bearing transfer means 186 Needle bearing transport means 187 Needle bearing lifting means 198a First grip means 198b Second grip means 265 Sub assembly set Inclusion

Claims (3)

  Subassembly assembly means for assembling a subassembly having a pinion gear with a plurality of needle bearings inserted in series therein, and subassembly assembly means for incorporating the subassembly assembled by the subassembly assembly means into a carrier body In the planetary carrier assembling apparatus, the sub-assembly assembly means includes a needle bearing supply means for supplying the needle bearing to a predetermined supply position in a vertical state, and a needle bearing supplied to the supply position by the needle bearing supply means. Needle bearing transfer means for transferring the needle bearing to a predetermined assembly table, the needle bearing supply means for conveying the needle bearing toward the supply position, and the supply by the needle bearing transfer means. The needle bearing supplied to the position is gripped by a predetermined gripping means. Needle bearing that repeatedly lifts and places the work on the subsequent needle bearing newly supplied to the supply position by the needle bearing transport means until the plurality of needle bearings are stacked at the supply position. A planetary carrier characterized by comprising: a lifting means, wherein the needle bearing transfer means is configured to simultaneously hold and transfer a plurality of needle bearings stacked by the needle bearing lifting means. Assembly equipment.   The needle bearing transfer means is configured to grip the needle bearing supplied to the supply position by the grip means used for the loading operation and transfer the needle bearing onto the assembly table. Item 2. The planetary carrier assembling apparatus according to Item 1.   The sub-assembly includes long and short pinion gears that mesh with each other, and the long pinion gear is configured such that a plurality of needle bearings that are the same as the needle bearings that are inserted into the short pinion gear are inserted in series. In the position, a first supply position corresponding to the long pinion gear and a second supply position corresponding to the short pinion gear are provided, and the needle bearing lifting means is provided by the needle bearing transport means. A needle bearing moving means for moving one needle bearing supplied to a position to a second supply position, the needle bearing transfer means comprising: a first holding means capable of holding the needle bearing at the first supply position; A second grip which can move integrally with the first gripping means and which can grip the needle bearing at the second supply position; And after the one needle bearing is moved to the second supply position by the needle bearing moving means, the first gripping means keeps the second gripping means in a non-gripping state. A plurality of needle bearings at the first supply position and one needle bearing at the second supply position are simultaneously held by the first gripping means and the second gripping means on the assembly table; The planetary carrier assembling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the planetary carrier assembling apparatus is configured so as to be transported to the vehicle.

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