JP3883683B2 - Work type identification device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for discriminating the type of a workpiece in a process of conveying a cylindrical workpiece from a workpiece supply station to a workpiece setting station by a conveying means provided with a workpiece chuck having a plurality of gripping claws for gripping the outer periphery of the workpiece. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The impeller on the pump side or turbine side of the fluid torque converter is configured by assembling a hub, which is a cylindrical workpiece, at the center of a shell to which a large number of blades are attached.
[0003]
Conventionally, as a hub assembly device, a workpiece supply station that supplies a hub set in a magazine or the like, a work set station that sets the hub on a shell as an assembly, and a welding station that welds the hub to the shell The hub is transported from the work supply station to the work set station by a transport means provided with a work chuck having a plurality of gripping claws for gripping the outer periphery of the hub, and the shell is gripped by the work chuck at the set station. And then the shell is unloaded and the shell is conveyed to the welding station.
[0004]
By the way, some hubs have the same outer diameter and inner diameter, but only slightly different shaft lengths. If they are assembled incorrectly, detection during the assembly of the fluid torque converter is almost impossible due to the product structure, and the product is completed. The assembly of the fluid torque converter into the rear engine is found to be an incorrect assembly.
[0005]
Therefore, in the past, the model was identified by measuring the hub shaft length before loading the hub into the work supply station, but there was a mix of different types of hubs in the magazine. There was a case where a wrong type of hub was mistakenly inserted into the work supply station, resulting in incorrect assembly.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above points, the present invention makes it possible to determine the model by measuring the axial length of the workpiece in the process of transporting the cylindrical workpiece from the workpiece supply station to the workpiece setting station, and to reliably prevent misassembly. It is an issue.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a process of transporting a cylindrical workpiece from a workpiece supply station to a workpiece setting station by a conveying means provided with a workpiece chuck having a plurality of gripping claws for gripping the outer periphery of the workpiece. An apparatus for discriminating the type of a workpiece, wherein a workpiece chuck is provided with a seating surface that comes into contact with one end in the axial direction of the workpiece and a positioning pin of a predetermined length that fits to the inner periphery of the workpiece, and a workpiece supply station and a workpiece set A model discriminating station is placed between the station and the reference block that can abut on the other end in the axial direction of the workpiece gripped by the work chuck, and a measuring element that can abut on the end surface of the positioning pin. And a position detector fixed to the reference block, and one of the work chuck and the reference block is connected to the other. The reference block is brought into contact with the other end in the axial direction of the workpiece so as to be movable in the axial direction of the workpiece, and in this state, the workpiece is determined based on the distance between the reference block detected by the position detector and the end face of the positioning pin. The model is discriminated.
[0008]
The axial length of the workpiece is equal to the distance between the reference block and the seat surface on the workpiece chuck side in a state where the reference block is in contact with the other axial end of the workpiece. And this distance becomes a value obtained by adding the length of the positioning pin to the distance between the reference block detected by the position detector and the end face of the positioning pin, and since the length of the positioning pin is known, The detection value of the position detector becomes a parameter representing the workpiece axial length, and the type of workpiece can be determined based on this detection value. Then, only when the type of workpiece is appropriate, the workpiece is transferred to the workpiece setting station, the workpiece is set on the assembly, and misassembly is prevented. Note that when the workpiece is set on the workpiece, if the workpiece is gripped only with the gripping claws, the workpiece may be misaligned and set errors may occur. The positioning pin fitted around the circumference prevents the workpiece from being misaligned, so that the workpiece can be set to the assembly without any mistakes.
[0009]
By the way, it is possible to omit the reference block and measure the axial length of the workpiece by bringing the probe of the position detector into contact with the other end in the axial direction of the workpiece. Since the foreign matter adheres to the probe, the probe needs to be cleaned so as not to deteriorate the detection accuracy due to the foreign matter. The cleaning of the probe must be performed carefully so as not to adversely affect the position detector, which is a precision instrument, and maintenance is troublesome. On the other hand, in the present invention, the end of the positioning pin is brought into contact with the measuring element, and adhesion of foreign matter to the measuring element can be prevented by managing this end face cleanly. However, since foreign matter adheres to the reference block from the workpiece side, it is necessary to clean the reference block. However, this cleaning can be easily performed without worrying about adverse effects on the position detector and facilitates maintenance. .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for assembling a hub b to a shell a of an impeller for a fluid torque converter, and a charging station S1, a work setting station S2, a welding station S3, and a discharging station S4 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Then, a turntable 1 concentric with the arrangement circle of these stations is provided, and four jigs 2 are placed on the upper surface of the turntable 1 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. By rotating, the transfer station S1, the work set station S2, the welding station S3, and the discharge station S4 are conveyed in this order, and the shell a is placed on the jig 2 by a transfer machine (not shown) at the input station S1, and at the work set station S2. A hub b, which is a cylindrical workpiece, is set on a shell a, which is an assembly, and the hub b is moved by a welding machine (not shown) at a welding station S3. It welded to the shell a, so that paid out the shell a lift from the jig 2 in FIG outside payout conveyor by an unillustrated transfer machine with payout station S4.
[0011]
A work supply station S5 is arranged on the side of the work set station S2. A transfer means 3 that can reciprocate between the work supply station S5 and the work set station S2 is provided. The workpiece is transferred from the workpiece supply station S5 to the workpiece set station S2.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveying means 3 is connected to a pair of upper and lower guide rails 6a, 6a attached to a horizontally long guide frame 5 at the upper end of a column 4 erected between the work supply station S5 and the work set station S2. A movable frame 6 reciprocally moved by a rodless cylinder 6b to a backward movement position on the workpiece supply station S5 side and a forward movement position on the workpiece set station S2 side, and a workpiece chuck 7 attached to the lower end of the movable frame 6 It is configured. The work chuck 7 includes a plurality of gripping claws 7a that grip the outer periphery of the hub b and are opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown).
[0013]
The work supply station S5 is provided with a magazine table 8 that is rotated by a motor 4a through a speed reducer 4b in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 at a predetermined angle, and a hub b is attached to the flange portion of the magazine table 8. A plurality of rod-shaped magazines 9 that are set up and down in a multi-stage manner with the pitch down are set up at a pitch of the predetermined angle, and each magazine 9 is placed on the magazine table 8 at the take-out position directly below the work chuck 7 in the backward movement position. The index can be freely indexed in turn. In each magazine, a work receiver 9a for receiving the lowermost hub b is slidably inserted. A lifter 10 for pushing up the work receiver 9a of the magazine 9 located at the take-out position is provided above the magazine 9. One hub b is pushed up, and the hub b is gripped by the work chuck 7. The lifter 10 is associated with a lifting frame 10c that is moved up and down by a cylinder 10b along a guide rail 10a that is mounted on the side of the column 4 on the workpiece supply station S5 side, and a workpiece receiver 9a that is mounted on the lifting frame 10c. It is comprised with the engaging piece 10d to match. The engagement piece 10d is swingable counterclockwise in FIG. 1 against a spring not shown in the figure with the shaft 10e as a fulcrum, and the index rotation of the magazine table 8 in the clockwise direction in FIG. To be acceptable.
[0014]
The work set station S2 is provided with a lifter 11 which pushes up the jig 2 on the turntable 1 and is moved up and down by a cylinder 11a. The work chuck 7 is moved forward by the forward movement of the movable frame 6 of the transport means 3. When the position reaches the position, the lifter 11 is moved upward to push the jig 2 toward the work chuck 7, and the boss part b 1 projecting from the lower surface of the flange part of the hub b gripped by the work chuck 7 is moved to the jig 2. Fit into the center hole of the upper shell a. After the hub b is set in the shell a in this way, the gripping claw 7a of the work chuck 7 is opened to release the grip of the hub b, and then the lifter 11 is moved downward to place the jig 2 on the turntable 1. At the same time, the movable frame 6 is moved back to the workpiece supply station S5 side.
[0015]
As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the work chuck 7 has a seat surface 7b that abuts on the upper end that is one end in the axial direction of the hub b, and a predetermined length that projects downward from the seat surface 7b and fits to the inner periphery of the hub b. Positioning pins 7c are provided, and the centering of the hub b is prevented by the positioning pins 7c so that the boss b1 of the hub b can be fitted into the center hole of the shell a without mistake.
[0016]
By the way, the hub b includes a plurality of models as shown in FIGS. Although the inner and outer diameters of the cylindrical portions of these hubs b are the same, the hub b shown in FIG. 3A has a slightly longer boss portion b1 than the hub b shown in FIG. It is slightly longer than the axial length Lb of the hub b shown in (B). The hub b shown in FIG. 3C has a larger outer diameter of the flange portion and the boss portion b1 than the other hub b, and has a stepped portion b1 formed on the inner peripheral side of the boss portion b1. Is slightly shorter than Lb, and La>Lb> Lc. The hubs b of these models are extrapolated to each predetermined magazine 9 on the magazine table 8, but if the operator sets the hub b in the wrong magazine 9, an incorrect assembly occurs.
[0017]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a model discrimination station S6 is arranged between the work supply station S5 and the work set station S2, and the forward movement from the work supply station S5 side of the movable frame 6 of the transport means 3 is transferred to the support column 4. The stopper 12 provided so as to be able to move in and out is temporarily stopped at the model discrimination station S6, and the model of the hub b gripped by the work chuck 7 is discriminated.
[0018]
The model discrimination station S6 is provided with an elevating frame 13 which is guided by a pair of guide bars 13b, 13b inserted through a pair of guide sleeves 13a, 13a fixed to the column 4 and moved up and down by a cylinder 13c. A reference block 14 that can be brought into contact with the lower end of the hub b gripped by the work chuck 7 is attached to the upper end of the elevating frame 13, and a position comprising a micropotentiometer that detects the displacement of the probe 15a that comes into contact with the object to be measured. A detector 15 is attached, and a probe 15a of the detector 15 is protruded upward through a through hole 14a formed in the reference block 14 so as to be able to contact the lower end surface of the positioning pin 7c of the work chuck 7. .
[0019]
When the movable frame 6 is stopped at the model determination station S6, the elevating frame 13 is moved upward, and the reference block 14 comes into contact with the lower end of the hub b gripped by the work chuck 7. At this time, the measuring element 15a of the position detector 15 contacts the lower end surface of the positioning pin 7c of the work chuck 7, and between the reference block 14 and the lower end surface of the positioning pin 7c that are fixed to the position detector 15. Is detected by the position detector 15.
[0020]
The reference block 14 is formed so as to be fitted to the stepped portion b2 of the hub b shown in FIG. 3C. In the hub b shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the reference block 14 is formed on the lower end surface of the boss portion b1. The block 14 abuts. Since the upper end of the hub b is in contact with the seating surface 7b of the work chuck 7, the distance between the reference block 14 and the lower end surface of the positioning pin 7c is La in the case of the model shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by subtracting the length of the positioning pin 7c. In the case of the model shown in FIG. 3B, Sb is obtained by subtracting L from Lb. In the model shown in FIG. 3C, L is subtracted from Lc. Sc and Sa>Sb> Sc. Therefore, the model of the hub b can be determined based on the detection value of the position detector 15. When it is determined that the model is not appropriate, an abnormality is displayed, and the hub b is removed from the work chuck 7, and only when the model is determined to be an appropriate model, the hub b is transported to the work set station S2 and the shell a Set to. As a result, erroneous assembly can be reliably prevented.
[0021]
In the above-described embodiment, the reference block 14 is moved up with respect to the work chuck 7 and brought into contact with the lower end of the hub b. However, the work chuck 7 is provided on the movable frame 6 so as to be movable up and down. May be moved downward with respect to the reference block 14 so that the lower end of the hub b comes into contact with the reference block 14. The present invention can also be applied to model discrimination of cylindrical workpieces other than the hub b.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the workpiece model can be determined in the process of transporting the workpiece from the workpiece supply station to the workpiece setting station, misassembly can be reliably prevented and the workpiece misalignment can be achieved. Can prevent set mistakes, improve reliability, and maintainability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hub and shell assembling apparatus equipped with the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 (A) (B) (C) Expanded cut side view showing the status of various hub models cut along line III-III [Explanation of symbols]
b Hub (workpiece) S2 Work set station S5 Work supply station S6 Model discrimination station 3 Conveying means 7 Work chuck 7a Conveying means 7b Seat surface 7c Positioning pin 14 Reference block 15 Position detector 15a Measuring element

Claims (1)

An apparatus for discriminating the type of a workpiece in a process of conveying a cylindrical workpiece from a workpiece supply station to a workpiece setting station by a conveying means provided with a workpiece chuck having a plurality of gripping claws for gripping the outer periphery of the workpiece,
The work chuck is provided with a seat surface that comes into contact with one end in the axial direction of the work, and a positioning pin with a predetermined length that fits to the inner periphery of the work,
A model discrimination station is arranged between the workpiece supply station and the work set station. The model discrimination station has a reference block that can contact the other end in the axial direction of the workpiece gripped by the workpiece chuck, and an end face of the positioning pin. A position detector fixed to the reference block having a contactable contact,
One of the work chuck and the reference block is movable in the axial direction of the work with respect to the other, the reference block is brought into contact with the other axial end of the work, and the reference block and the positioning pin detected by the position detector in this state The type of workpiece is determined based on the distance to the end face of
An apparatus for discriminating workpiece types.

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