JP3858182B2 - Coil spring manufacturing method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a curved coil spring used for, for example, a vehicle suspension or general industry.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional coil spring is formed by winding a heated wire around a core bar that guides the inner diameter at a predetermined pitch. There are two methods for providing a pitch, a method using a grooved roll that matches the pitch, called a lead screw, and a method using a guide roller that moves by a pitch in response to the rotation of the core metal. In either method, it is necessary to rotate the curved core bar in order to produce a curved coil spring.
[0003]
For example, US Pat. No. 5,442,945 discloses a method for forming a curve of such a coil spring. In this method, a coiled spring can be formed by rotating a curved cored bar and winding a wire around it at a predetermined pitch.
[0004]
Further, in the conventional method for manufacturing a coil spring described in Japanese Patent No. 2528254, the coil spring heated into a quenching tank after the heated wire material is formed into a straight cylindrical coil and formed into a curved shape with a jig. The coil spring is quenched at a low cost and a reproducible coil spring is obtained at low cost.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the conventional method and apparatus for manufacturing a coil spring are configured as described above, there are problems associated with the work of winding a wire rod around a curved core metal at a predetermined pitch and the process of removing the coil spring from the core metal. It was.
In addition, in a coil spring manufacturing method in which a wire is wound around a curved cored bar at a predetermined pitch to form a curved coil and further hardened into a curved coil spring, the heat treatment jig is a type of coil spring. Therefore, there are problems that are unsuitable for mass production.
In addition, when the end face processing is performed after the coil spring is formed into a curved shape, it is not easy to hold the curved coil spring, and it is difficult to ensure safety in operation and work efficiency is improved. There were problems such as not.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can be formed into a curved shape after performing end face processing, and requires a plurality of jigs necessary for each type of coil spring. An object of the present invention is to obtain a coil spring manufacturing method and apparatus therefor.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method of manufacturing a coil spring according to the present invention includes a step of positioning between coils that is first pushed and expanded with respect to a straight cylindrical coil whose end face is polished and processed into a flat shape, and a clamp that clamps the straight cylindrical coil comprising steps a, the pitch size adjustment step of plastically deforming spread across the direction of the straight cylindrical coil by the pitch adjustment tool part between the coils of the straight cylindrical coil which is clamped by the clamp process, the pitch in the pitch dimension adjusting step and characterized in that the adjustment tool is allowed to act from the same side with respect to between each coil of the straight cylindrical coil performed continuously be plastically deformed spread between the windings, formed into a coil spring which is curved the straight cylindrical coil To do.
[0008]
In the coil spring manufacturing method according to the present invention, in the pitch dimension adjusting step, a part between the coils constituting the straight cylindrical coil clamped by the clamping step is perpendicular to the axis of the straight cylindrical coil. It is characterized in that a part of the pitch between the coils is plastically deformed by being spread in the direction of both ends by a wedge-shaped pitch adjusting tool that moves from the tip.
[0009]
In the coil spring manufacturing method according to the present invention, the pitch adjusting tool has a two-sided R-shaped tip wedge shape.
[0010]
In the coil spring manufacturing method according to the present invention, the position at which the straight cylindrical coil is clamped in a state where a part between the coils is expanded in the both end directions by the pitch dimension adjusting step is set at one end. A clamp position changing step for moving the coil to the side, a coil spring movement preventing release step for releasing a state where a part of the coil is pushed and spread after completion of the clamp position changing step, and a coil spring movement preventing release step After the end, a positioning step of performing positioning between the coils constituting the straight cylindrical coil that is expanded in the next pitch dimension adjusting step is repeated after the pitch dimension adjusting step.
[0011]
Moreover, the manufacturing method of the coil spring which concerns on this invention is equipped with the clamp force adjustment process which adjusts the force tightened when a clamp process clamps a part of said straight cylindrical coil, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0012]
The coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention supports a work cradle on which a straight cylindrical coil is placed, supports both ends of the straight cylindrical coil on the work cradle, and rotates the straight cylindrical coil. A workpiece rotating mechanism that first performs offset positioning between the coils to be plastically deformed and then detached from both ends, and a part of the straight cylindrical coil in a state in which the offset positioning between the coils is performed by the workpiece rotating mechanism Is clamped between the positioned coil of the straight cylindrical coil clamped by the clamp mechanism, and a part of the coil is inserted into both ends of the straight cylindrical coil. the tip wedge-shaped pitch adjustment tool to deform a curved coil spring the straight cylindrical coil by plastically deforming spread to, Characterized in that serial straight cylindrical coil in the corresponding pitch between the coils move in the direction of the pitch adjustment tool, then a feed mechanism to match the end position of the position and the pitch adjustment tool between coils to plastically deform And
[0013]
In the coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, in the state where the pitch adjustment tool is pushed between the coils, only the clamp mechanism and the work cradle are connected to the pitch adjustment tool with respect to the straight cylindrical coil. A moving mechanism for moving the coil in a direction away from the coil, and moving the pitch adjusting tool between the coils from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the straight cylindrical coil to widen the pitch between the coils, and further, the clamping mechanism by the moving mechanism And a pitch adjusting tool moving mechanism for removing the pitch adjusting tool that pushes and widens the pitch between the coils from between the coils after the movement of the work cradle is completed.
[0014]
The coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the pitch adjusting tool has a two-sided R-shaped tip wedge shape.
[0015]
The coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a clamp force adjusting means for adjusting a tightening force when the clamp mechanism clamps a part of the straight cylindrical coil on the work cradle. .
[0016]
In the coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the work cradle has a curved surface portion for releasing the curved portion of the straight cylindrical coil in which a part between the coils is plastically deformed by the pitch adjusting tool. Features.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the coil spring manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a work cradle, and 2 denotes a straight cylindrical coil before quenching which is clamped on the work cradle 1. The end surface of the straight cylindrical coil 2 is polished and processed into a flat shape. Reference numeral 3 denotes a work pressing member for clamping the coil spring 2 on the work cradle 1. The work pressing member 3 is fixed to a rod of the air cylinder 1 a and can move in the directions of arrows X and X ′. 4 is a workpiece positioning jig that supports one end of the straight cylindrical coil 2, 5 is a metal core that is configured at the tip of the workpiece positioning jig 4 and is inserted into one end of the straight cylindrical coil 2, and 6 is the other of the straight cylindrical coil 2. A workpiece positioning jig 7 that supports the end is a core bar that is configured at the tip of the workpiece positioning jig 6 and is inserted into the other end of the straight cylindrical coil 2.
[0018]
Reference numeral 8 denotes a moving mechanism for moving the work cradle 1 in the directions of arrows B and B ′. For example, a motor fixed to the work cradle 1, a pinion gear attached to a rotating shaft of the motor, and an engagement with the pinion gear A mechanism using a rack fixed to the apparatus main body side or a mechanism using a cam can be used. 11 is a pitch adjusting tool for expanding the pitch between the coils of the straight cylindrical coil 2, and 11 a is formed in a wedge shape at the tip of the pitch adjusting tool 11. Preferably, a wedge shape with two sides being R-shaped is preferable. The distal end portion 11a is pushed between the coils, and a part of the coil is pushed and expanded plastically toward both ends of the straight cylindrical coil 2 to deform the linear coil spring into a curved coil spring. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the pitch adjusting tool 11. Returning to FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a cam for moving the pitch adjustment tool 11 in the direction of arrow A ′ or arrow A perpendicular to the axis of the straight cylindrical coil 2 on the workpiece cradle 1. The cam 12 is rotated by a motor (not shown). The cam 12 and the motor constitute a pitch adjusting tool moving mechanism that moves the pitch adjusting tool 11 in the directions of arrows A and A ′.
[0019]
31 controls the movement of the workpiece positioning jig 4 in the directions of arrows C and C ′ and the rotation of the cored bar 5, and the movement of the workpiece positioning jig 6 in the directions of arrows D and D ′ and the rotation of the cored bar 7. A workpiece positioning control device 32 to be controlled is a workpiece press control device 32 that controls the movement of the workpiece presser member 3 fixed to the rod of the air cylinder in the directions of arrows X and X ′. The work presser control device 32 has a function of adjusting a tightening force when a part of the straight cylindrical coil 2 is clamped. Reference numeral 33 denotes a pitch enlarging unit controller for controlling the amount of pitch expansion between the coils of the straight cylindrical coil 2 by the pitch adjusting tool 11, and 34 denotes a feeding unit for controlling the amount of movement of the work cradle 1 by the motor of the moving mechanism 8 A control device 35 is a cam synchronous rotation device for synchronizing the rotation of the cam 12 with respect to the movement of the work cradle 1.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a partial structural diagram showing the structure of the work pressing member 3 and the work cradle 1 that clamp the straight cylindrical coil 2. The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. Omitted.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing each step of the method of manufacturing a curved coil spring realized by the coil spring manufacturing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. The code | symbol is attached | subjected.
Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a curved coil spring will be described.
FIG. 3A shows a clamping process after the offset positioning process is completed. In this step, the workpiece positioning jigs 4 and 6 support both end faces of the straight cylindrical coil 2 and rotate around the axis of the straight cylindrical coil 2, and the pitch adjustment tool 11 first presses the coil between the coils. After the offset positioning process is performed, the work pressing member 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow X ′, and the straight cylindrical coil 2 is clamped by the work cradle 1.
FIG. 4B shows a pitch dimension adjusting process, in which a part between the coils of the straight cylindrical coil 2 clamped by the clamping process is pushed and expanded by the tip end portion 11a of the pitch adjusting tool 11 toward both ends of the straight cylindrical coil 2. The linear coil spring is deformed and formed into a curved coil spring.
In this pitch dimension adjusting step, the degree of curvature can be freely adjusted by changing the amount by which the tip end portion 11a of the pitch adjusting tool 11 is pushed between the coils.
FIG. 4C shows a clamp position changing step, in which a part between the coils is pushed and spread toward both ends of the straight cylindrical coil 2 by the pitch dimension adjusting step. 1 is moved in the direction of arrow B ′, and the clamping position of the straight cylindrical coil 2 is moved to the end 2 a side of the straight cylindrical coil 2.
FIG. 6D shows a coil spring movement prevention release process. After the clamp position changing process is completed, a state in which a part between the coils is expanded by the pitch adjustment tool 11 is indicated by the arrow A. Release by moving in the direction.
By this coil spring movement prevention release step, the straight cylindrical coil 2 is formed into a coil spring having a curved portion by plastic deformation of a part between the coils by the pitch adjusting tool 11. For this reason, the curved surface part 41 for escaping the said curved part of a coil spring is formed in the workpiece cradle 1 as shown in FIG.
FIG. 4E shows an alignment process. After the coil spring movement prevention release process is completed, alignment between the next coils of the straight cylindrical coil 2 expanded in the next pitch dimension adjustment process is performed. For this reason, the workpiece holding member 3, the workpiece holder 1, and the straight cylindrical coil 2 clamped on the workpiece holder 1 by the workpiece holding member 3 are moved in the direction of arrow B by the moving mechanism 8, and then plastically deformed. The position between the coils to be matched is matched with the position of the tip end portion 11a of the pitch adjusting tool 11. Then, a curved coil spring is formed by repeating the steps after FIG. 3A again between the coils, that is, between the pitches.
[0022]
As described above, according to this embodiment, after end face processing, it can be formed into a curved shape, and the degree of curvature, inner diameter, outer diameter, length, linearity, etc. of the straight cylindrical coil 2 can be changed for each type. A coil spring manufacturing method that eliminates the need for multiple jigs required for each type, and that can be expected to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs, especially when performing small-lot production of other varieties. That device can be provided.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a portion of the coil constituting the clamped straight cylindrical coil is spread toward both ends of the straight cylindrical coil, and a portion of the pitch between the coils is plastically deformed to be curved. Since the springs are molded, the jigs required for each type of coil spring are no longer necessary, making manufacturing easier, and improving production efficiency, especially when producing other types of products in small quantities. There is an effect that safety can be secured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of a coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B are partial structural views showing configurations of a work pressing member and a work cradle clamping a straight cylindrical coil according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a side view, and FIG.
FIGS. 3A to 3E are schematic views showing respective steps of a method of manufacturing a curved coil spring realized by a coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
4A and 4B are configuration diagrams showing a work cradle of a coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view.
5A and 5B are configuration diagrams showing a pitch adjusting tool of a coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A shows a side surface and FIG. 5B shows a front surface.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Work cradle 1a Air cylinder (clamp mechanism)
2 Straight cylindrical coil 3 Workpiece holding member (clamp mechanism)
4,6 Workpiece positioning jig (workpiece rotation mechanism)
5,7 Core metal (work rotation mechanism)
8 Movement mechanism (feed mechanism)
11 Pitch adjustment tool 11a Pitch adjustment tool tip 12 Cam (Pitch adjustment tool moving mechanism)
31 Work positioning control device (work rotating mechanism)
32 Workpiece presser control device (clamp mechanism)
33 Pitch expansion unit control device Pitch adjustment tool moving mechanism)
34 Feed control unit (feed mechanism)

Claims (10)

A step of positioning between the coils that is first expanded with respect to the straight cylindrical coil whose end face is polished and processed into a flat shape;
A clamping step of clamping the straight cylindrical coil;
A pitch dimension adjusting step in which a part between the coils of the straight cylindrical coil clamped by the clamping step is spread and plastically deformed by a pitch adjusting tool in both directions of the straight cylindrical coil,
A coil spring in which the pitch adjusting tool in the pitch dimension adjusting step is applied to the coils of the straight cylindrical coil from the same side to continuously spread and plastically deform between the coils, and the straight cylindrical coil is curved. A method of manufacturing a coil spring, wherein the coil spring is formed into a shape . In the pitch dimension adjustment step, a part between the coils constituting the straight cylindrical coil clamped in the clamping step is moved by a wedge-shaped pitch adjustment tool at the tip that moves from a direction orthogonal to the axis of the straight cylindrical coil. 2. The method of manufacturing a coil spring according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring is spread in the direction of both ends, and a part of the pitch between the coils is plastically deformed. 3. The method of manufacturing a coil spring according to claim 1, wherein the pitch adjusting tool has a wedge shape with a two-sided R shape. A clamp position changing step of moving the position where the straight cylindrical coil is clamped to one end side in a state in which a part between the coils is expanded in the both end directions by the pitch dimension adjusting step, and the clamp position After the change process, the coil spring movement prevention release process for releasing the state where a part of the coil is pushed and spread, and after the coil spring movement prevention release process, the next pitch dimension adjustment process spreads. The method for manufacturing a coil spring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a positioning step for positioning between the coils constituting the straight cylindrical coil is repeated after the pitch dimension adjusting step. The method of manufacturing a coil spring according to claim 1, further comprising a clamping force adjusting step of adjusting a tightening force when the clamping step clamps a part of the straight cylindrical coil. A work cradle for mounting a straight cylindrical coil;
A workpiece rotating mechanism for supporting both ends of the straight cylindrical coil on the workpiece cradle and for performing offset positioning between the coils that are first plastically deformed by rotating the straight cylindrical coil and then detaching from the both ends ,
A clamp mechanism for clamping a part of the straight cylindrical coil on the work cradle in a state where the offset positioning between the coils is performed by the work rotation mechanism;
The straight cylindrical coil is pushed between the positioned coils of the straight cylindrical coil clamped by the clamping mechanism, and a part between the coils is pushed and expanded plastically toward both ends of the straight cylindrical coil to thereby deform the straight cylindrical coil. A wedge-shaped pitch adjusting tool that is deformed into a curved coil spring;
A feed mechanism that moves the straight cylindrical coil in the direction of the pitch adjusting tool at a pitch corresponding to the coil and then matches the position between the coils for plastic deformation and the tip position of the pitch adjusting tool. Coil spring manufacturing equipment. A moving mechanism that moves only the clamping mechanism and the workpiece cradle in a direction away from the pitch adjusting tool with respect to the straight cylindrical coil in a state where the pitch adjusting tool is pushed between the coils;
The pitch adjusting tool is moved between the coils from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the straight cylindrical coil to widen the pitch between the coils, and further, after the movement of the clamping mechanism and the work cradle by the moving mechanism is completed, The pitch that spreads the pitch between the coils The coil spring manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pitch adjusting tool moving mechanism for removing the adjusting tool from between the coils. The apparatus for manufacturing a coil spring according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the pitch adjusting tool has a two-sided R-shaped tip wedge shape. The coil spring manufacturing method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: a clamping force adjusting means for adjusting a clamping force when the clamping mechanism clamps a part of the straight cylindrical coil on the workpiece cradle. apparatus. Claims, characterized in that said curved surface portion for a portion between the coils miss the curved portion of the straight cylindrical coil which is plastically deformed pedestals has by the pitch adjustment tool
The apparatus for manufacturing a coil spring according to any one of claims 6, 7 and 9 .

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