JP2577733Y2 - Automatic snap ring assembly device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a snap ring automatic assembling apparatus for automatically assembling a snap ring to a work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an upper arm assembly, for example, an automobile part, a space between an upper arm and a ball joint is covered by a rubber boot. The rubber boot is generally fixed using a snap ring. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a conventional snap ring automatic assembling apparatus used for fixing such a rubber boot, and include a gantry 1, a support frame 2 erected on the gantry 1, The snap ring support device 3 and the snap ring pushing device 4 supported by the support frame 2 and a work support table 5 disposed on the gantry 1 below the snap ring pushing device 3 are schematically constituted. I have.

The snap ring support device 3 includes a rod 8 having a rod guide 6 fixed to the support frame 2 slidably extended and an arm 7 attached to a lower end. The rod 8 is driven up and down by a lifting cylinder 10 fixedly mounted on the upper part of the support frame 2 via a bracket 9, and is rotated by a turning actuator 11 fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the support frame 2. . The arm 7 supports a chuck cylinder 12.
Has a pair of openable and closable chuck claws 13 at its tip, so that the pair of chuck claws 13 can detachably hold a snap ring assembly cap 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as a cap).

As shown in FIG. 12, the cap 14 includes a main body 16 having a shaft hole 15 and a skirt 17 formed integrally with the lower part of the main body 16. In addition to the small diameter portion 16a, a curved portion 16b that smoothly curves between the small diameter portion 16a and the skirt portion 17 is formed. A stopper 18 is disposed in the shaft hole 15 of the cap 14, and the position of the stopper 18 is fixed by a set bolt 19 screwed into the shaft hole 15. The cap 14 has its small-diameter portion 16a gripped by the chuck pawls 13 and the arm 7 pivots in response to the rotation of the rod 7, so that the cap 14 is pushed into the standby position indicated by the broken line in FIG. Position (solid line). In the standby position, a snap ring S (FIG. 12) is set on the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14.

On the other hand, the snap ring pushing device 4 includes an elevating base 21 which is driven up and down by a pushing cylinder 20 fixed on the upper surface of the support frame 2. Elevating base
A plurality of rod guides 22 attached to the support frame 2 are connected to a guide rod 23 slidably extended on an upper surface of the support 21. The elevating base 21 can smoothly move up and down by using the guide rods 23 as guides. It has become. A push claw 24 is provided on the lower surface of the elevating base 21 so as to be slidable in three directions, and a claw cylinder 25 for moving each push claw 24 forward and backward.
Is arranged. The claw cylinders 25 extend and contract in synchronization with each other, whereby the three pushing claws 24 open and close. Further, the work support table 5 has a work support on its upper end.
The work receiver 26 has an upper arm assembly W
Is set. The upper arm assembly W is composed of an upper arm Wa, a universal joint Wb attached to the upper arm Wa, and a rubber boot Wc having one end fixed to the universal joint Wb. Is done.

In the main body of the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus, the snap ring S is mounted on the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 which is gripped by the chuck claw 13 of the snap ring support device 3 and positioned at the waiting position. Then, first, the turning actuator 11 is operated to turn the arm 7 to move the cap 14 to a position (mounting position) just above the upper arm assembly W set in the work receiver 26. Next, the lifting / lowering cylinder 10 operates, and the cap
The arm 7 is lowered until the stopper 18 in 14 contacts the top of the universal joint Wb. At this time, the rubber boot Wc is housed inside the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14, and the lower end of the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14 is positioned exactly at the assembly site of the snap ring S.

The stopper 18 is a universal joint Wb
The chuck cylinder 12 operates to open the pair of chuck claws 14 of the chuck cylinder 12 to release the cap 14 from being gripped. Then, the snap ring S slides down from the small diameter portion 16a to the curved portion 16b by its own weight, and the main body portion
Locked in the middle of 16. Thereafter, the pushing cylinder 20 is operated, and the lifting base 21 is lowered. At this time, the push claw 24 is in the closed state, but its center is empty,
After passing through the small-diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 and riding on the curved portion 16b, the cap 14 comes into contact with the snap ring S. In addition, lifting base
When 21 descends, the push claw 24 descends while gradually opening along the curved portion 16b of the cap 14 against the urging force of the claw cylinder 25, and descends while expanding the snap ring S accordingly. Ride on the skirt 17 of the cap 14. Finally, the snap ring S passes through the skirt portion 17 and moves onto the upper arm Wa while contracting due to its elasticity, and the rubber boot Wc is moved against the upper arm Wa.
Is fixed by tightening the other end from the outside.

When the snap ring S passes through the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14, the valve (not shown) of the pawl cylinder 25 is switched to open the pressing pawl 24, and the pressing pawl 24 is opened.
In accordance with the opening operation of 24, the pushing cylinder 20 operates to raise the elevating base 21. On the other hand, when the push claw 24 returns to the original position, the chuck cylinder 12 is operated, the pair of chuck claws 14 are closed and the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 is gripped, and thereafter, the arm 7 is moved in the reverse order. Is returned to the waiting position. During this time, the upper arm assembly W to which the snap ring S is mounted is carried out by an ejector (not shown), and one cycle of the snap ring mounting ends.

[0009]

However, according to the above-described conventional snap ring automatic assembling apparatus, the cap 14
The skirt portion 17 is formed to have a size large enough to accommodate the rubber boot Wc, so that a considerably large step occurs between the skirt portion 17 and the snap ring mounting portion (upper arm Wa) of the upper arm assembly W. In addition, there has been a problem that the transition of the snap ring S becomes unstable, and assembly failure easily occurs. In addition, since the stopper 14 is merely positioned by bringing the stopper 18 into contact with the universal joint Wb of the upper arm assembly W, the state of the cap 14 becomes unstable, and the transition of the snap ring S becomes unstable as described above. As a result, there is a problem that an assembly failure is likely to occur. Further, since the snap ring S is assembled while the push pawl 24 is backed up by the pawl cylinder 25, fine adjustment of the pressure of the cylinder 25 is required. There is a problem that it is difficult to guarantee a smooth movement of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned various problems and to provide a snap ring automatic assembling apparatus capable of stably and surely automatically assembling a snap ring.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an arc-shaped snap ring extending surface having the same arc radius is formed on the outer periphery, and the snap ring extending surface shares an arc center. A plurality of snap ring expanding members movably disposed on the first ring; first driving means for synchronously moving the plurality of snap ring expanding members; and a first driving means disposed vertically movable around the snap ring expanding member. An annular first pushing member having an arc surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring extending surface formed around the periphery thereof; and a snap ring extending device comprising: a second drive means for moving the first pushing member; A snap ring mounting surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface is formed on the outer periphery of the snap ring mounting surface; A plurality of snap ring mounting members fixedly disposed so as to share an arc center, an arc shape having the same arc radius as the snap ring mounting surface disposed on a lower side of the plurality of snap ring mounting members; A plurality of claw members which form a guide surface and are movably provided such that the guide surfaces share an arc center; third driving means for synchronously moving the plurality of claw members; mounting of the plurality of snap rings A snap ring mounting device having a second annular pressing member slidably fitted to the member and fourth driving means for moving the second pressing member; and a snap ring extending device disposed adjacent to the snap ring expanding device. And a transfer device that moves the snap ring mounting device between the snap ring extension device and the work support device. Characterized in that was.

[0012]

In the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus constructed as described above, the snap ring mounting apparatus is brought closer to the snap ring expanding apparatus, and the plurality of claw members of the snap ring mounting apparatus are contracted to set the snap ring. When the annular first pushing member of the expanding device is moved upward, the snap ring expands from the snap ring expanding member of the snap ring expanding device to the snap ring mounting member of the snap ring mounting device via the guide surface of the claw member. It is transferred in the state. On the other hand, the snap ring mounting device is moved above the work supporting device by the transfer device, and is moved closer to the work supporting device to reduce the plurality of claw members.
When the pressing member is moved downward, the snap ring is pushed onto the work from the snap ring mounting member via the guide surface of the claw member. When the snap ring is pushed onto the work, the claw member is contracted so that the rubber boot is pressed and shrunk by the claw member even if the rubber boot exists on the work side. The transition step of the snap ring is extremely small. Further, since the position of the claw member is fixed independently of the work, the transition of the snap ring is stabilized. further,
Since the second pushing member for pushing the snap ring into the work does not need to perform the expansion and contraction operation, a special mechanism such as a backup is not required.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show the entire structure of the automatic snap ring assembling apparatus according to the present invention. In these figures, reference numeral 30 denotes a support frame erected on a floor 31, and a pair of guide rails 32 is supported on the upper front surface of the support frame 30 so as to extend in the horizontal direction. A traveling base 34 is slidably mounted on the pair of guide rails 32 via bearings 33, and a rodless cylinder 35 is horizontally provided on the upper surface of the support frame 31 in the same direction as the extension direction of the guide rails 32. ing. The running base 34 and the rodless cylinder 35 are connected by a connecting member 38 bridged between a bracket 36 fixed to the running base 34 and a bracket 37 fixed to the output portion of the rodless cylinder 35. Accordingly, the traveling base 34 travels in the left-right direction on the pair of guide rails 32 by the operation of the rodless cylinder 35 as viewed in FIG. The traveling base 34, the rodless cylinder 35 and the like constitute one transfer device.

On the traveling base 34, a snap ring input device 40 and a snap ring mounting device 41, which will be described later, are mounted.
On the other hand, a snap ring receiving base 43 and a snap ring extending device 44 are provided side by side on a support table 42 provided laterally at a middle portion of the support frame 30. The distance between the snap ring input device 40 and the snap ring mounting device 41 is determined by the snap ring receiving base 43 and the snap ring extension device.
It is the same as 44. Snap ring cradle
A snap ring S, which will be described later, is supplied to the part 43 from a parts feeder (not shown). The supplied snap ring S is held at a predetermined position on the snap ring receiving base 43. A work support for positioning and holding a work (in this case, the upper arm assembly) W is provided at a position (snap ring assembly position) P on one side of the support frame 30 and below the extension of the guide rail 32. A device 45 is provided. The work support device 45 includes a transfer pallet 47 that is transferred on a transfer gantry 46, which will be described in detail later, and a work support table 48 erected on the transfer pallet 47. The upper arm assembly W It is set at 48 and is carried into the snap ring assembling position P together with the transport pallet 47.

Here, the snap ring input device 40
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a guide rail 51 fixed vertically to the traveling base 34, a movable bracket 53 slidably mounted on the guide rail 51 via a bearing 52, Mountain bracket fixed to base 34
And a loading cylinder 55 mounted on the 54 to support the movable bracket 53. The movable bracket 53 is guided by the guide rails 51 by the operation of the loading cylinder 55 to move up and down. A pair of rod guides 56 are provided on the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, and a rod 57 is slidably fitted into each rod guide 56. A pair of rods 57
Are connected by a synchronous bar 58, and a chuck mounting plate 59 is bridge-supported at their lower ends. A two-jaw chuck 61 having a pair of chuck claws 60 is mounted on the chuck mounting plate 59.

The chuck jaws 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 are opened and closed by the operation of a chuck cylinder 62 fixed to the lower surface of the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, so that the snap ring S can be gripped from the inner diameter side. . An elevating cylinder 63 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, and a piston rod 63a of the elevating cylinder 63 is connected to the synchronization bar 58. Therefore, the two-jaw chuck 61 is moved up and down by the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 63a of the elevating cylinder 63.

On the other hand, the snap ring expanding device 44
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 8, a pair of rod guides 65 fixed to the support base 42 and a rod 66 slidably fitted to the rod guide 65 are provided. The lower end of the rod 66 is a synchronous bar 67
An elevating cylinder 68 and an expanding cylinder 69 are arranged between the synchronization bar 67 and the support table 42. The extension cylinder 69 is fixed to a mount bracket 70 attached to the lower surface of the support base 42,
The head 68 is fixed to the expansion cylinder 69 on the head side, and the piston rod 68a is connected to the synchronization bar 67 (FIGS. 1 and 2). That is, the rod 66 is moved up and down by the operation of the lifting cylinder 68.

A six-jaw chuck 71 is provided on the upper surface of the support table 42.
Is fixed. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the six-jaw chuck 71 has a bottomed cylindrical chuck body 72 and a plurality of (in this case, six chucks) slidably mounted in the chuck body 72 in the radial direction. ), And a chuck pawl (snap ring expanding member) 74 attached to each sliding member 73. Each of the chuck jaws 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71 has an arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 having the same arc radius formed on the upper outer periphery thereof, and the snap ring expansion surfaces 75 are arranged so as to share the arc center. ing. A drive shaft 77 having a linear bush 76 fixed to the support base 42 slidably extended is disposed at an axial position inside the chuck body 72. The base end of the drive shaft 77 is the extension cylinder
The cylinder 69 is connected to the piston rod 69a of the cylinder 69.
Is moved up and down by the operation of.

Each of the sliding members 73 is attached to the chuck body 72.
A plurality of L-shaped levers 78 are rotatably supported by hinge pins 79. One end of each lever 78 is driven into a fitting groove 73a of a sliding member 73, and the other end is driven. Axis 77
Are respectively fitted into fitting grooves 77a formed at the upper end of. The expansion cylinder 69, the drive shaft 77, the lever 78, and the like constitute a first drive means. When the expansion cylinder 69 is operated and the drive shaft 77 moves up and down, the lever 78 rotates and each sliding The member 73 slides synchronously outward or radially outward, and the chuck pawl 74 opens and closes synchronously in response to the sliding. A stopper 80 that engages with the drive shaft 77 and regulates upward movement thereof is screwed into the axial center portion of the chuck body 72, and the amount of movement of the drive shaft 77 is adjusted by adjusting the screwing depth. Is adjusted.

Further, a support plate 81 having a center hole 81a through which the chuck pawl 74 is inserted is bridge-supported at the upper end of the rod 66, and an annular first hole is provided around the center hole 81a of the support plate 81.
(First pressing member) 82 is fixedly attached. First
The presser 82 has an arc surface having the same arc radius as the arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 formed on the chuck pawl 74 on the inner peripheral side thereof.
There is provided a pressing portion 83 formed with 83a. The first pusher 82 moves up and down along the chuck pawl 74 as the rod 66 moves up and down by the operation of the elevating cylinder 68, and the snap ring S
Is pushed up if it exists. The lifting cylinder 68, the rod 66, and the like constitute second driving means. A relief groove 84 is formed at the top of the two chuck claws 74 disposed opposite to each other, among the six chuck claws 74 (FIG. 7). When the snap ring S is set in the snap ring expanding device 44, the chuck claws 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 of the snap ring input device 40 are provided so as not to interfere with the chuck claws 74 of the 6-jaw chuck 71 of the snap ring expanding device 44. It is a thing. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the pressing portions 83 of the first pressing member 82 and the chuck claws 74 are arranged so as to be alternately arranged at equal intervals.
The pressing portion 83 of the pressing die 82 may be formed in an annular shape.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the snap ring mounting device 41 is slidably mounted on a pair of guide rails 85 provided in the traveling base 34 in a vertical direction via bearings 86 (FIG. 3). Movable bracket 87 attached and traveling base
A mounting cylinder 89 attached to a mount bracket 88 fixed to 34 and supporting the movable bracket 87,
The movable bracket 87 is guided by a pair of guide rails 78 in accordance with the operation of the mounting cylinder 89, and moves up and down. The bottom plate 87a (FIG. 9) of the movable bracket 87 is provided with a pair of rod guides 90.
, A rod 91 is slidably fitted. Each rod 91
Are connected by a synchronization bar 92, while a lower end of the rod 91 is bridge-supported by a pusher mounting plate 93.

A casing 94 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 87a of the movable bracket 87.
The chuck portion 95a of the four-jaw chuck cylinder (third driving means) 95 is housed and held therein. The head portion 95b of the four-jaw chuck cylinder 95 is projected upward through the bottom plate 87a of the movable bracket 87, and a pressing cylinder (fourth drive means) 96 is fixed to the head portion 95b. , Piston rod 96a of pushing cylinder 96 (Fig. 1)
Is connected to the synchronization bar 92. Therefore, rod 91
That is, the pusher mounting plate 93 moves up and down according to the operation of the pusher cylinder 96.

Reference numeral 97 denotes four chuck claws of the four-jaw chuck cylinder 95, and 98 denotes a pressing claw (claw member) supported by the chuck claw 97. It has an arc surface (guide surface) 98a having the same arc radius as the surface 75 (FIG. 7). The chuck claw 97 opens and closes according to the operation of the four-claw chuck cylinder 95, and accordingly, the pressing claw 98 also opens and closes according to the operation of the chuck cylinder 95. Thus, a snap ring mounting member (snap ring mounting member) 100 that is located between the four chuck claws 97 and has an arc surface 99 having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface 75 of the snap ring expansion member 74 on the outer periphery.
Is arranged. This snap ring mounting bracket 100
Is fixed to the casing 94 so that the arc surface 99 shares the center of the arc. The pressing claw 98 is disposed so as to be lower than the snap ring mounting bracket 100. Further, an annular second pusher (second pusher) 101 that is slidably fitted to the snap ring mounting bracket 100 is fixed to the pusher mounting plate 93. The second pusher 101 is moved up and down by the pusher mounting plate 93 by the operation of the pusher cylinder 96, so that the snap ring mounting fitting 10 is moved.
It will slide along 0.

A stopper fitting 105 is provided on one side of the traveling base 34, and a stopper 106 which can be engaged with the stopper fitting 105 is provided on the support frame 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The stopper 106 is fixedly supported by a piston rod of a stopper cylinder 107 fixed to the support frame 30 so that the stopper 106 can be protruded and retracted to a position where it can be engaged with the stopper fitting 105. When the stopper 106 moves forward by the operation of the cylinder 107, the stopper fitting 105 comes into contact with the stopper 106, and the movement of the traveling base 34 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 is regulated. The device 40 will be positioned above the snap ring expansion device 44.

The work support device 45 includes a work positioning two-jaw chuck cylinder 110 corresponding to the work support table 48 (FIGS. 1, 3). This two-jaw chuck cylinder 110
Is fixed to the support table 42 of the support frame 30, and a pair of gripping hands 111 capable of holding the base of the upper arm Wa of the work (upper arm assembly) W is provided at the end thereof.
The transport pallet 47 provided with the work support 48 is
Are supported by a support guide roller 112 and an auxiliary guide roller 113 disposed at the upper part of the transport base 46, and are prevented from floating by a lift prevention member 114 provided at an appropriate position on the upper part of the transport gantry 46. Reference numeral 115 denotes a transfer bar movably provided in the direction in which the transfer stand 46 is disposed.
6 makes it reciprocate. The transfer bar 115 has a support member 11 which is disengaged from the transport pallet 47.
7 is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and at the time of transport, the support member 117 stands up and its tip engages with the transport pallet 47, and the transport pallet 47 is attached with a snap ring according to the movement of the transfer bar 115. It is carried into the position P. On the transport pallet 47, an auxiliary work support table 48a is provided adjacent to the work support table 48 for supporting the arm tip of the upper arm Wa of the upper arm assembly W.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a plurality of positioning pins arranged at the snap ring mounting position P for positioning the transport pallet 47. This positioning pin 118 is
A rod guide 120 fixed to a substrate 119 provided on 46 is slidably extended, and its base end (lower end) is a synchronous bar 121.
Are connected by The synchronization bar 121 has the substrate 11
Piston rod of positioning cylinder 122 fixed to 9
122a and the positioning pin 118 is connected to the cylinder
When the piston rod 122a is shortened by the operation of 122, the piston pin 122a moves upward. As a result, the tip of the positioning pin 118 engages with the transport pallet 47, and the transport pallet 47 moves to a predetermined position within the snap ring assembly position P. Positioned in position.

Hereinafter, the operation of the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus configured as described above will be described.

In assembling the snap ring, the traveling base 34 is previously moved to the right end in FIG. 1, and the snap ring input device 40 is positioned above the snap ring receiving base 43. At this time, the movable bracket 53 and the two-jaw chuck 61 in the snap ring input device 40 are at the rising end, and the chuck jaws 60 are in the closed state. In the snap ring expanding device 44, the piston rod 69a of the expanding cylinder 69 is shortened, the chuck pawl 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71 is closed, and the piston rod of the lifting cylinder 68 is extended. The first pusher 82 is at the lower end. Further, in the snap ring mounting device 41, the movable bracket 87 and the second pusher 101 are at the rising end,
Further, the pressing claw 98 is in a closed state.

In the above state, the snap ring S is mounted on the snap ring receiving base from the parts feeder (not shown).
When it is sent to 43, the charging cylinder 55 of the snap ring charging device 40 is operated to lower the movable bracket 53 to a predetermined position. When the movable bracket 53 is lowered to a predetermined position, the elevating cylinder 63 is operated and its piston rod is moved.
63a is shortened, and the two-jaw chuck 61 is lowered to a predetermined position, that is, a position where the chuck pawl 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 can grip the snap ring S. At this stage, the chuck cylinder 62 is operated to open the chuck jaws 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 and grip the snap ring S from inside. Thereafter, the lifting / lowering cylinder 63 is operated again, and the two-jaw chuck 61 is raised.

When the two-jaw chuck 61 is raised, the rodless cylinder 35 is operated to move the traveling base 34 leftward in FIG. At this time, the stopper cylinder 107 operates, the piston rod of the stopper cylinder 107 extends, the stopper 106 moves forward, and the stopper fitting 105 of the traveling base 34 contacts the stopper 106, and the traveling base 34 is moved to its position. Stop at That is, the snap ring input device 40 is positioned just above the snap ring expansion device 44. Next, the elevating cylinder 63 in the snap ring input device 40 is operated, the piston rod 63a is shortened, and the two-jaw chuck 61 is moved down. 6-jaw chuck
It approaches to the vicinity of the chuck pawl 74 of 71. Thereafter, the chuck cylinder 62 is operated to operate the chuck jaws 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61.
Is closed, the gripping of the snap ring S by the two-jaw chuck 61 is released, and the snap ring S falls on the chuck jaws 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71 by its own weight.

When the snap ring S falls on the chuck jaws 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71, the lifting / lowering cylinder 63 is operated to raise the two-jaw chuck 61, and the loading cylinder 55
Operates to raise the movable bracket 53. Then, the rodless cylinder 35 is operated, and the traveling base 34 is moved rightward in FIG.
Return to the original position shown in. At the same time, the operation of the stopper cylinder 107 causes the stopper 106 to retreat. On the other hand, the expansion cylinder of the snap ring expansion device 44
69 operates to extend its piston rod 69a and move the drive shaft 77 upward until it comes into contact with the stopper 79.
As a result, the plurality of levers 78 rotate about the hinge pins 79, and the respective sliding members 73 move in synchronization with the outward direction. As a result, the chuck claws 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71 also move in synchronization with the outward direction. Then, the snap ring S is expanded to a predetermined size by the arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck pawl 74. At this time, the pressing portion 83 of the annular first pusher 82 is located immediately below the snap ring S, and the center of the arc of the arcuate snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck pawl 74 and the annular first pusher 82. The center of the arc of the arc surface 83a of the pushing portion 83 is on the same axis.

Thereafter, the mounting cylinder 89 of the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to lower the movable bracket 87 to a predetermined position. When the movable bracket 87 is lowered to a predetermined position, the tip of the pressing claw 98 is moved to the position of the snap ring expansion device 44.
The jaw chuck 71 descends to the vicinity of the chuck jaw 74, the arcuate snap ring extension surface 75 of the chuck jaw 74, the arc surface 83 a of the pressing portion 83 of the annular first pusher 82, and the arc surface of the pressing claw 98. 98a and the arc surface 99 of the snap ring mounting bracket 100
Are on the same axis. When the movable bracket 87 is lowered to a predetermined position, the elevating cylinder 68 of the snap ring extending device 44 is operated, and the first push ring is formed.
Move 82 upward. Then, the snap ring S
The push-up portion 83 of the first pusher 82 pushes upward and moves from the chuck jaw 74 of the 6-jaw chuck 71 to the arc surface 99 of the snap ring mounting bracket 100 through the arc surface 98a of the pressing jaw 98, and the snap ring It is mounted on the mounting bracket 100 with its own elasticity.

When the snap ring S is mounted on the snap ring mounting bracket 100, the raising / lowering cylinder 68 of the snap ring expanding device 44 operates to lower the annular first pusher 82, and at the same time, the expansion cylinder 69 is moved. The drive shaft 77 is moved down to close the chuck jaws 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71. That is, the snap ring expanding device 44 returns to the original position. On the other hand, the mounting cylinder 89 of the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to raise the movable bracket 87, and the rodless cylinder 35 operates to move the traveling base 34 to the left in FIG. The device 41 is moved to the position P for assembling the snap ring.

The upper arm assembly W is positioned and mounted on the work supporting tables 48 and 48a of the transport pallet 47 in the previous process, and the transport pallet 47 is carried into the snap ring assembling position P at a predetermined timing. . When the transport pallet 47 is carried in, the positioning pins 118 are moved upward by the operation of the positioning cylinder 122, and the transport pallet 47 is positioned at a predetermined position. Then, the two-jaw chuck cylinder 110 for positioning is operated, the base of the upper arm Wa is gripped by the pair of gripping hands 101, and the position of the upper arm assembly W is fixed. In this manner, the upper arm assembly W is positioned at the snap ring assembling position P, and upon completion of this positioning, the snap ring mounting device
The four-claw chuck cylinder 95 in the 41 operates to open the pressing claw 98, and at the same time, the mounting cylinder 89 operates to lower the movable bracket 87 to a predetermined position. And pressing claw
The tip of 98 is the upper arm assembly W on the work support 48.
(FIG. 9), the four-claw chuck cylinder 95 is operated to close the pressing claw 98, and the rubber boot Wc is compressed from the outside. Thus, the center of the arc of the arc surface 98a of the pressing claw 98 and the center of the arc of the arc surface 99 of the snap ring mounting bracket 100 are on the same axis.

Then, the pushing cylinder 96 is operated, and its piston rod 96a is shortened to reduce the annular second pushing 10.
Move 1 down. Then, the snap ring S is pushed downward by the annular pusher 96, and is assembled from the snap ring mounting bracket 100 to a predetermined position of the upper arm assembly W via the arcuate surface 98a of the pressing claw 98. That is, the snap ring S is pushed downward by the annular pusher 96, and is released from the tip of the pressing claw 98 and contracts by the elastic force at the same time, and is assembled at a predetermined position of the upper arm Wa from above the rubber boot Wc. Thus, the rubber boot Wc is firmly fixed to the upper arm assembly W. At this time, since the rubber boot Wc is compressed by the pressing claw 98 and the transition step of the snap ring S is reduced, the transition of the snap ring S becomes smooth and the assembly is stabilized.

The snap ring S is used for the upper arm assembly W
, The four-claw chuck cylinder 95 of the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to open the pressing claw 98 and release the pressing of the rubber boot Wc, and at the same time, the mounting cylinder 89 operates. Then, the movable bracket 87 is raised. When the movable bracket 87 is raised, the four-jaw chuck cylinder 95 is operated to close the pressing claw 98, and at the same time, the rodless cylinder 35 is operated to move the traveling base 34 rightward in FIG. Return 41 to its original position. On the other hand, the two-jaw chuck cylinder 110 for positioning in the work support device 45 is operated, and a pair of gripping hands 10 are held.
1 is released, and at the same time, the positioning cylinder 122 is operated to release the positioning pin.
The position of the transport pallet 47 by the positioning pins 118 is released. The transport pallet 47 is then transported to the next step by the advancement of the transfer bar 107 by the operation of the pulse motor 108, whereby one cycle of snap ring assembly is completed.

[0038]

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus according to the present invention, the snap ring mounting device has the expandable / reducible claw member. Even if rubber boots are present, the rubber boots can be pressed and shrunk by the claw members so that the transition step of the snap ring can be made extremely small, and the transition of the snap ring to the work becomes smooth, and the assembling becomes extremely stable. . Further, since the position of the claw member can be fixed independently of the work by the driving means in the snap ring mounting device, the snap ring is more stably assembled. In addition, since the pushing member for pushing the snap ring into the work does not need to perform the expansion and contraction operation, a special mechanism such as a backup is not required, and the operability is improved. Further, since the snap ring extending device is organically combined with the snap ring mounting device so that the snap ring can be smoothly delivered and received, the snap ring assembly can be fully automated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a snap ring automatic assembling apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present snap ring automatic assembling apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the present snap ring automatic assembling apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a snap ring input device which is a part of the snap ring automatic assembling device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the chuck portion of the snap ring input device as viewed from below.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a snap ring expanding device as a part of the snap ring automatic assembling device as a partial cross section.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the snap ring expanding device as viewed from above.

8 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a snap ring mounting device which is a part of the snap ring automatic assembling device as a partial cross section.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the snap ring mounting device as viewed from below.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a conventional snap ring assembling apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a part of a conventional snap ring assembling apparatus in an enlarged manner and a part as a cross section.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Support frame 34 Travel base 40 Snap ring input device 41 Snap ring mounting device 43 Snap ring receiving base 44 Snap ring extension device 45 Work support device 47 Transport pallet 48 Work support base 68 Cylinder for lifting / lowering (second drive means) 69 Expansion cylinder (first driving means) 74 Snap ring expansion member 75 Snap ring expansion surface 82 First pressing member 83a Arc surface of first pressing member 95 Four-jaw chuck cylinder (Third driving means) 96 Push metal Cylinder (fourth driving means) 98 Claw member 98a Guide surface (arc surface) of claw member 99 Arc surface of snap ring mounting bracket 100 100 Snap ring mounting bracket 100 101 Second pushing member 110 Positioning two-jaw chuck cylinder W Work (Upper arm assembly)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Onoki 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation (56) References JP-A 4-294936 (JP, U) JP 2-23929 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B23P 19/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A plurality of snap ring expanding members having an arc-shaped snap ring expanding surface having the same arc radius formed on an outer periphery thereof, the snap ring expanding surfaces being movably disposed so as to share an arc center; A first driving means for synchronously moving the plurality of snap ring expansion members, the first drive means being arranged to be able to move up and down around the snap ring expansion members, and forming an arc surface on the inner periphery having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface; A snap ring expanding device having a first annular pressing member and a second driving means for moving the first pressing member, and a snap ring expanding device disposed above the snap ring expanding device so as to be able to approach and separate from the snap ring expanding device. A plurality of switches formed on the outer periphery with a snap ring mounting surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface and fixedly disposed such that the snap ring mounting surface shares the center of the arc. A nap ring mounting member, which is disposed below the plurality of snap ring mounting members, forms an arc-shaped guide surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring mounting surface on the outer periphery, and the guide surface shares an arc center. A plurality of claw members movably provided on the second member, third driving means for synchronously moving the plurality of claw members, and an annular second pushing member slidably fitted to the plurality of snap ring mounting members. A snap ring mounting device provided with fourth driving means for moving the second pressing member; a work support device disposed adjacent to the snap ring expanding device for positioning and mounting a work; and the snap ring An automatic snap ring assembling device, comprising a transfer device for moving a mounting device between the snap ring extending device and the work supporting device.