JP5262951B2 - Seal assembly device for variable valve timing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seal assembling device of a VVT mechanism capable of smoothly assembling a seal to a groove of a work by preventing displacement between a seal body and an elastic member causing a scratch or the shaving of the work or the seal. <P>SOLUTION: The seal assembling device of a VVT mechanism is used for assembling the seal 10 including a seal body 11 and a leaf spring 12. The seal assembling device includes: a sorter 30 making the seal 10 on a guide face 31 in a guide projection 32 assembled into the groove 2f by movement in a seal assembling direction; a seal retaining tool 40 including a retaining circumferential face 41 and an advancing permitting portion 42; a tunnel formation member 50 having a compression face 52 and forming a tunnel-like guide passage by a passage groove 51 together with the guide face 31; a set tool 60 making the seal 10 stand by; and a pusher 70 including an insertion portion 71, and pressing the seal 10 which is in a stand-by state by movement in the seal assembling direction into the guide passage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling a seal provided to prevent oil leakage in a hydraulic chamber in a variable valve timing mechanism that varies the opening and closing timing of intake and exhaust valves in an engine.

  For example, an engine provided in an automobile or the like is provided with a variable valve timing (VVT) mechanism (hereinafter also referred to as “VVT mechanism”) for changing the opening and closing timings of the intake and exhaust valves in accordance with the operating conditions. . The VVT mechanism is provided in a power transmission system between an engine crankshaft and a camshaft that drives an engine valve (intake valve / exhaust valve) to open and close, and changes the relative rotation phase of the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft. The opening / closing timing (valve timing) of the engine valve is variable.

  The VVT mechanism is mainly composed of a rotor that is connected to a camshaft and rotates integrally with the camshaft, and a housing that houses the rotor and rotates by transmitting the rotation of the crankshaft. The rotor and the housing are configured to relatively rotate within a predetermined rotation angle range.

  Between the rotor and the housing, a plurality of hydraulic pressures for rotating the rotor and the housing relative to each other on the outer peripheral portion of the rotor in the housing (the portion between the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and the inner peripheral surface of the housing) A chamber is formed. The plurality of hydraulic chambers include a plurality of vanes (blades) provided so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the rotor toward the radially outer side of the rotor, and the housing from the inner peripheral surface thereof toward the radially inner side of the housing. It is formed by alternately partitioning with a plurality of protrusions provided so as to protrude.

  In the VVT mechanism, the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic chamber formed between the rotor and the housing, that is, the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil that rotates the rotor and the housing relative to each other is controlled. The phase difference for the relative rotational phase is controlled. Thereby, the relative rotation phase of the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft is changed, and the valve timing is made variable.

  In such a VVT mechanism, a partition seal is provided in order to prevent oil leakage in a hydraulic chamber formed between the rotor and the housing. Specifically, the seal includes a contact portion of the vane of the rotor with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the housing (a portion of the tip surface of the vane), and a contact portion of the protrusion of the housing with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (of the protrusion). Provided on the tip surface portion). These contact portions where the seal is provided are portions that partition the hydraulic chamber, and are portions that slide with the relative rotation of the rotor and the housing (sliding portions).

  A seal provided in the VVT mechanism includes a seal body made of resin or the like and a leaf spring for stretching the seal body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in Patent Document 1, the seal body constituting the seal is a substantially quadrangular prism-shaped member, and the leaf spring is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member. These are provided in a state of being fitted to each other and fitted in a groove formed in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the camshaft on the front end surface of the rotor vane or the front end surface of the projection of the housing.

  Here, the leaf spring constituting the seal is provided on the bottom side with respect to the groove formed in the rotor vane or the protrusion of the housing, and biases the seal body toward the circumferential surface side by elastic force. That is, with respect to the seal provided between the tip surface of the rotor vane and the inner peripheral surface of the housing, the seal body is housed by a leaf spring provided on the inner side (vane side) in the radial direction of the rotor with respect to the seal body. It is urged to the inner peripheral surface side. In addition, for the seal provided between the front end surface of the protrusion of the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, the seal body is provided by a leaf spring provided on the outer side (projection side) in the radial direction of the housing with respect to the seal body. It is biased toward the outer peripheral surface of the rotor.

  In this manner, the seal composed of the seal body and the leaf spring is inserted in the direction along the groove formed in the protrusion of the rotor vane or the housing (the axial direction of the camshaft) in the assembly process of the VVT mechanism. It is assembled with. The assembly of the seal in such a VVT mechanism is conventionally performed as follows, for example.

  That is, a workpiece having a groove portion into which the seal is fitted is rotatably supported so that the rotation phase is controlled by NC (numerical control). Then, after the assembly position of the seal is determined for the rotational phase of the workpiece, the seal is assembled by inserting the seal into the groove portion of the workpiece. Here, the seal assembled to the workpiece is inserted into the groove portion in a state in which the leaf spring is merely placed on the seal body, that is, in a state where the two parts of the seal body and the leaf spring are not fixed. For this reason, when the seal is assembled to the workpiece, the leaf spring riding on the seal body may deviate from the regular assembly position.

  In the configuration in which the rotation phase of the workpiece is controlled by the NC, when the clearance of the seal with respect to the groove portion of the workpiece is narrower (smaller) than the indexing accuracy (error range) of the assembly position of the seal by the NC There is. In this case, when the seal is assembled to the groove portion of the workpiece, the seal main body and the leaf spring may come into contact with a position shifted from the position of the groove portion on the workpiece, and the leaf spring may be displaced from the normal assembly position. Furthermore, the contact of the seal with the periphery of the groove portion of the workpiece prevents the seal from being smoothly inserted into the groove portion without receiving stress from the workpiece, and may cause damage or scraping of the workpiece or the seal. Become.

  On the other hand, there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 as a technique related to assembly of a seal in a VVT mechanism. Patent Document 2 discloses a seal structure in which a seal body and a leaf spring are integrated for the purpose of simplifying the assembly operation of the seal and facilitating automation of the assembly operation of the seal. ing. However, Patent Document 2 does not disclose a specific configuration for automating the assembly work of the seal.

JP 2000-170511 A JP 2000-265815 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the problem to be solved is that when assembling a workpiece having a seal body and an elastic member for biasing the workpiece or Seal assembly device for variable valve timing mechanism that can prevent positional displacement between the seal body and the elastic member, which causes damage or scraping in the seal, and can smoothly assemble the seal against the groove of the workpiece Is to provide.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, in claim 1, as a member constituting the variable valve timing mechanism, a rotor that is rotatably provided and has a plurality of vanes on an outer peripheral surface whose circumferential direction is the rotation direction, or a state in which the rotor is accommodated The workpiece is a housing provided with a plurality of protrusions on the inner peripheral surface that is concentrically rotatable with the rotor and whose rotation direction is the circumferential direction, and rotation of the work at the tip of the vane and the tip of the protrusion. A seal assembly apparatus for a variable valve timing mechanism for assembling a seal having a seal body and an elastic member for applying a predetermined biasing force to the seal body in a groove formed in parallel with an axial direction, The reciprocating linear movement is provided in a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction with respect to the workpiece supported at the position, and a surface parallel to the rotation axis direction is provided. A guide surface that is a surface that guides movement of the seal in the assembly direction with respect to the groove portion in a state where the elastic member is placed on the seal body, and a portion that forms the guide surface and that is in the assembly direction. A seal guide means having a projecting portion which is a projecting portion, wherein the seal on the guide surface of the guide projecting portion is assembled in the groove portion by movement in the assembling direction; and rotation of the workpiece A circumferential surface for holding, which is a surface that holds the seal in a state assembled to the groove portion by covering the groove portion with a direction as a circumferential direction, and an entry allowance that is a portion that allows the guide protrusion to enter the workpiece A seal holding means having a portion, and a state where the elastic member is compressed together with the guide surface so that the biasing force by the elastic member acts on the seal on the guide surface And a guide passage that forms a tunnel-like guide passage substantially continuous with the groove portion to which the seal of the workpiece is assembled by a concave passage groove including the compression surface. Forming means, upstream of the guide passage in the assembly direction, seal standby means for waiting for the seal to be inserted into the guide passage, and reciprocating linear movement in a direction parallel to the rotational axis direction An insertion portion that is a rod-shaped portion that can be inserted from the upstream side with respect to the guide passage, and the seal that is in a standby state by the seal waiting means by movement in the assembly direction is inserted. And a seal insertion means that pushes the guide passage into the guide passage.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the compression surface is formed such that a distance from the guide surface is gradually or continuously narrowed toward the assembly direction.

As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, according to the present invention, when the seal having the seal body and the elastic member for urging the seal body is assembled, the position of the seal body and the elastic member that causes damage or scraping on the workpiece or the seal. Misalignment can be prevented and the seal can be smoothly assembled to the groove portion of the workpiece.

The figure which shows the structure of the VVT mechanism which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. XX arrow sectional drawing in FIG. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the VVT mechanism which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of a seal | sticker. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a seal assembling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Similarly front sectional drawing. Similarly, a partially enlarged view of the work part. Operation | movement explanatory drawing (side view) of the seal | sticker assembly apparatus based on one Embodiment of this invention. Operation | movement explanatory drawing (front view) of the seal | sticker assembly apparatus based on one Embodiment of this invention. The side view of the seal assembly | attachment apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. Similarly, a partially enlarged view of the work part.

  The present invention is for guiding a seal for preventing oil leakage in a hydraulic chamber formed between a rotor and a housing constituting a VVT mechanism to a predetermined assembly position in an assembly process of the VVT mechanism. An apparatus configuration including a mechanism and a mechanism for moving the seal in the assembly direction is intended to realize a smooth automatic assembly of the seal. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  First, prior to the description of the seal assembling apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “seal assembling apparatus”) of the VVT mechanism according to the present embodiment, the configuration of the VVT mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. The VVT mechanism according to this embodiment is provided in an automobile engine, and is provided at one end of a camshaft 5 (FIG. 2) that drives an engine valve (intake valve / exhaust valve) to open and close in the engine. . The VVT mechanism changes the opening / closing timing (valve timing) of the engine valve by changing the relative rotational phase of the camshaft 5 with respect to the crankshaft (not shown) of the engine. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the VVT mechanism includes a rotor 1 and a housing 2 that houses the rotor 1.

  The rotor 1 includes a main body 1a that is a substantially cylindrical portion, and a plurality of vanes (blades) 1b that are provided integrally with the main body 1a. The vane 1 b is provided so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface (hereinafter referred to as “rotor outer peripheral surface”) 1 c of the rotor 1 toward the radially outer side (of the main body 1 a) of the rotor 1. In this embodiment, the rotor 1 has four vanes 1b provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c having a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral surface shape. The vane 1b has substantially the same cross-sectional shape (cross-sectional shape of a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body 1a) over the entire axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) of the main body 1a with respect to the main body 1a. It is formed to become.

  The rotor 1 is connected to the camshaft 5 and rotates integrally with the camshaft 5. The rotor 1 is coupled to the camshaft 5 in a state where the substantially cylindrical main body portion 1 a is disposed so as to be coaxial with the camshaft 5. The rotor 1 is connected to the camshaft 5 by being fixed to the camshaft 5 by the center bolt 4 (FIG. 2). The center bolt 4 passes through a bolt hole 1 d formed in the axial center of the main body 1 a in the rotor 1 and is screwed into a bolt hole 5 a that opens to the end face side in the camshaft 5.

  The housing 2 includes a main body 2a that is a substantially cylindrical portion, and a plurality of protrusions 2b that are provided integrally with the main body 2a. The protrusion 2b is provided so as to protrude from the inner peripheral surface (hereinafter referred to as “housing inner peripheral surface”) 2c of the housing 2 toward the radially inner side (of the main body 2a) of the housing 2. It is done. In this embodiment, the housing 2 has four protrusions 2b provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the housing inner peripheral surface 2c having a substantially cylindrical inner peripheral surface shape. The protrusion 2b has a substantially cross-sectional shape (a cross-sectional shape of a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body 2a) over the entire axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) of the main body 2a with respect to the main body 2a. They are formed to be the same.

  The housing 2 accommodates the rotor 1 inside the substantially cylindrical main body 2a. The rotor 1 and the housing 2 are configured to relatively rotate within a predetermined rotation angle range in a state where they are coaxially arranged (positional relationship in which the main body portions 1a and 2a are coaxial). The rotor 1 and the housing 2 have substantially the same dimension in the axial direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2), and are provided in a state in which the positions in the axial direction match each other.

  The rotor 1 rotates relative to the housing 2 in a state where a tip surface (hereinafter referred to as “vane tip surface”) 1e of the vane 1b is in contact with the housing inner peripheral surface 2c. Similarly, the housing 2 rotates relative to the rotor 1 in a state where a tip end surface (hereinafter referred to as “projection tip end surface”) 2e of the protrusion 2b is in contact with the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c. Therefore, the vane front end surface 1e has a shape along the housing inner peripheral surface 2c (a shape along the cylindrical inner peripheral surface), and the protrusion front end surface 2e has a shape along the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c (a shape along the cylindrical outer peripheral surface). ).

  The rotor 1 is accommodated in the housing 2 with one vane 1b positioned between adjacent protrusions 2b in the housing 2. In other words, the housing 2 accommodates the rotor 1 with one protrusion 2b positioned between the adjacent vanes 1b in the rotor 1. That is, in the VVT mechanism, the vanes 1b and the protrusions 2b alternately exist in the circumferential direction between the main body 1a of the rotor 1 and the main body 2a of the housing 2.

  The housing 2 rotates by transmitting the rotation of the crankshaft. The rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to the housing 2 via the sprocket 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the sprocket 6 is located in the axial direction of the camshaft 5 (the left-right direction in FIG. 2, hereinafter referred to as “camshaft direction”) with respect to the rotor 1 and the housing 2 assembled to each other. Provided on the side (right side in the figure). The sprocket 6 is supported by the camshaft 5 in a state where the tip end portion of the camshaft 5 passes through a support hole 6a formed at the axial center position.

  The sprocket 6 is provided in a state of being supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the camshaft 5 and positioned in the camshaft direction. The sprocket 6 is positioned in the cam shaft direction by being sandwiched between a flange portion 5 b that is an enlarged diameter portion formed in the cam shaft 5 and the rotor 1 that is fixed to the cam shaft 5 by the center bolt 4.

  The sprocket 6 is a member to which rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to a substantially disc-shaped main body portion via a chain wound around a tooth portion 6b formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. That is, the sprocket 6 rotates with the rotation of the crankshaft by the chain wound around the tooth portion 6b and a sprocket provided on the crankshaft side. The sprocket 6 rotates integrally with the housing 2 that rotates relative to the rotor 1.

  For this reason, the sprocket 6 is fixed by the mounting bolt 7 to the housing 2 that accommodates the rotor 1 that is fixed to the camshaft 5 by the center bolt 4. The mounting bolt 7 passes through a bolt hole 2d formed in each housing projection 2b in the housing 2 and is screwed into a bolt hole 6c formed in the sprocket 6. In the present embodiment, four mounting bolts 7 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the VVT mechanism. However, in FIG. 3, only one mounting bolt 7 is shown.

  Further, the side opposite to the sprocket 6 side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the housing 2 in a state where the rotor 1 is accommodated is covered with the cover body 8. The cover body 8 is a disk-shaped member having substantially the same outer diameter as the housing 2. The cover body 8 is fixed to the housing 2 by mounting bolts 7 for fixing the sprocket 6 to the housing 2. That is, the state in which the housing 2 is sandwiched between the sprocket 6 and the cover body 8 is fixed by the mounting bolt 7. For this reason, the cover body 8 has a bolt hole 8 a through which the mounting bolt 7 passes. Further, the cover body 8 has a bolt hole 8 b for allowing the center bolt 4 for fixing the rotor 1 to the camshaft 5 to pass therethrough.

  As described above, the rotor 1 as a member constituting the VVT mechanism of the present embodiment is provided in plural (four in the present embodiment) on the rotor outer circumferential surface 1c provided so as to be axially rotatable and having the rotation direction as the circumferential direction. It has vane 1b. Similarly, the housing 2 as a member constituting the VVT mechanism is provided so as to be rotatable concentrically with the rotor 1 in a state in which the rotor 1 is accommodated, and a plurality of protrusions 2b on the housing inner peripheral surface 2c whose circumferential direction is the rotation direction. Have In the VVT mechanism, the rotor 1 that rotates integrally with the camshaft 5 and the housing 2 that rotates together with the sprocket 6 and the cover body 8 as the crankshaft rotates are assembled together. Relative rotation.

  In the VVT mechanism configured as described above, between the rotor 1 and the housing 2, the outer peripheral side portion of the rotor 1 in the housing 2 (the portion between the rotor outer peripheral surface 1 c and the housing inner peripheral surface 2 c). A plurality of hydraulic chambers for rotating the rotor 1 and the housing 2 relative to each other are formed. The plurality of hydraulic chambers are formed by being alternately partitioned by four vanes 1b included in the rotor 1 and four protrusions 2b included in the housing 2.

  Specifically, the space formed between the rotor outer peripheral surface 1 c and the housing inner peripheral surface 2 c (hereinafter referred to as “space between the peripheral surfaces”) is a sprocket 6 and a cover body 8 that rotate together with the housing 2. And is sealed by being closed from both sides in the camshaft direction. The space between the peripheral surfaces is divided into four by the protrusions 2b of the housing 2, and the space between the adjacent protrusions 2b is divided into two by one vane 1b. That is, in the space between the peripheral surfaces, the space portion between the adjacent protrusions 2b is divided into two by the vane 1b, and the two space portions are formed on both sides in the circumferential direction with respect to the vane 1b. 9a and 9b.

  The hydraulic chambers 9a and 9b formed in the space between the peripheral surfaces function as pressure chambers for rotating the rotor 1 and the housing 2 relative to each other. In other words, hydraulic oil is introduced into the hydraulic chambers 9a and 9b through an oil passage (not shown), and the rotor 1 and the housing 2 are connected by the pressure difference between the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber 9a and the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber 9b. Relative rotation. In the VVT mechanism, the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic chambers 9a and 9b, that is, the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil that relatively rotates the rotor 1 and the housing 2, is controlled, so that the relative rotational phase between the rotor 1 and the housing 2 is controlled. The phase difference for is controlled. Thereby, the relative rotational phase of the camshaft 5 with respect to the crankshaft is changed, and the valve timing is made variable.

  In such a VVT mechanism, a partition seal 10 is provided in order to prevent oil leakage in the hydraulic chambers 9 a and 9 b formed between the rotor 1 and the housing 2. The seal 10 includes a contact portion of the vane 1b of the rotor 1 with respect to the housing inner peripheral surface 2c (portion of the vane tip surface 1e) and a contact portion of the protrusion 2b of the housing 2 with respect to the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c (tip of the protrusion). (Part of surface 2e). These contact portions provided with the seal 10 are portions that partition the hydraulic chambers 9a and 9b, and are portions that slide along the relative rotation of the rotor 1 and the housing 2 (sliding portions).

  The seal 10 includes a seal main body 11 made of a resin or the like, and a leaf spring 12 as an elastic member that applies a predetermined urging force to the seal main body 11 so that the seal main body 11 is stretched. As shown in FIG. 3, the seal body 11 constituting the seal 10 is a substantially quadrangular prism-shaped member, and the leaf spring 12 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member. When the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12 are aligned with each other, grooves 1f and 2f formed in a direction parallel to the camshaft direction on the vane tip surface 1e of the rotor 1 or the projection tip surface 2e of the housing 2 are formed. It is provided in a fitted state.

  Therefore, in the VVT mechanism of the present embodiment, four seals 10 are provided in the rotor 1 in which the seal 10 is provided in the groove 1f of each vane 1b, and four in the housing 2 in which the seal 10 is provided in the groove 2f of each protrusion 2b. A total of eight are provided. However, in FIG. 3, only one (one set) of the seal 10 provided on the vane 1b of the rotor 1 and the seal 10 provided on the protrusion 2b of the housing 2 are illustrated.

  Each of the groove portions 1f and 2f into which the seal 10 is fitted has a shape in which a cross-sectional shape (a cross-sectional shape of a surface perpendicular to the axial direction in each of the rotor 1 and the housing 2) is a substantially rectangular shape. It is formed throughout (so that both axial sides are open). The leaf spring 12 constituting the seal 10 is provided on the bottom side with respect to the grooves 1f and 2f formed in the vane 1b of the rotor 1 or the protrusion 2b of the housing 2, and the seal body 11 is surrounded by the elastic force. Energize to the side.

  That is, for the seal 10 provided between the vane tip surface 1e and the housing inner peripheral surface 2c (groove 1f), the leaf spring provided on the inner side (vane 1b side) in the radial direction of the rotor 1 with respect to the seal body 11. 12, the seal body 11 is biased toward the housing inner peripheral surface 2c. Further, with respect to the seal 10 provided between the protrusion front end surface 2e and the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c (groove 2f), a plate provided on the outer side in the radial direction of the housing 2 (on the protrusion 2b side) with respect to the seal body 11. The seal body 11 is biased toward the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c by the spring 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the seal main body 11 constituting the seal 10 has a substantially quadrangular prism shape as a whole, and is formed so as to follow the shapes of the groove portions 1 f and 2 f that are portions into which the seal 10 is fitted. In other words, the seal body 11 has a length in the longitudinal direction (left and right in FIG. 4) that is substantially the same as the length of the grooves 1f and 2f, and a groove in which the shape in the longitudinal direction is substantially rectangular as described above. It is formed to have a shape along the cross-sectional shape of 1f · 2f.

  The seal body 11 has a recess 11a in which the leaf spring 12 is fitted on one side surface (upper side in FIG. 4). Therefore, the seal body 11 has protrusions 11b that form recesses 11a on both sides in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4). End surfaces (upper surfaces in FIG. 4) 11c in the protruding direction of both protrusions 11b are located on substantially the same plane. In other words, the dimension between the end surface 11c of the protrusion 11b and the side surface (hereinafter referred to as “main body lower surface”) 11d on the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 4) to the side where the concave portion 11a is formed in the seal body 11 is as follows. Both of the protrusions 11b have substantially the same dimensions. In the seal body 11, the portion where the protrusion 11b in the longitudinal direction is formed becomes a portion having a shape along the cross-sectional shape of the groove portions 1f and 2f as described above.

  The leaf spring 12 constituting the seal 10 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member as described above, and has a shape curved in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4). The leaf spring 12 has a posture in which the longitudinal direction is along the longitudinal direction of the seal body 11, and the curved convex side faces the opening side of the concave portion 11a (the protruding side of the protruding portion 11b, the upper side in FIG. 4). It will be in a fitted state. That is, when the leaf spring 12 is fitted in the recess 11a, both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring 12 are in contact with the bottom surface 11e of the recess 11a.

  In such a seal 10, the leaf spring 12 fitted in the recess 11 a of the seal body 11 is pressed and crushed from the curved convex side, so that the urging force of the leaf spring 12 acts on the seal body 11. As shown in FIG. 4A, in a state where the leaf spring 12 does not apply a biasing force to the seal body 11 (a natural state of the leaf spring 12), the leaf spring 12 has a concave portion on the curved convex portion side. It will be in the state which protruded to the outer side (upper side in Fig.4 (a)) of 11a. That is, in a state where the leaf spring 12 fitted in the recess 11 a is not pressed, the end (top) on the curved projection side of the leaf spring 12 is more than the end surface 11 c of the protrusion 11 b of the seal body 11. The protrusion 11b is located on the protruding direction side (the upper side in FIG. 4A) (see the protruding dimension A).

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the seal 10 assembled in the VVT mechanism is pressed by the bottom surface of the groove 1f of the vane 1b of the rotor 1 (or the groove 2f of the protrusion 2b of the housing 2). It becomes a state. In such a state, the end (top) on the curved convex portion side of the leaf spring 12 is positioned substantially flush with the end surface 11 c of the protrusion 11 b of the seal body 11.

  In the assembly process of the VVT mechanism having the above-described configuration, the seal assembly apparatus according to the present embodiment is used, and the seal 10 is assembled. Hereinafter, the seal assembling apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. The seal assembling device 20 uses the rotor 1 or the housing 2 as a work 21 as a member constituting the VVT mechanism.

  When the workpiece 21 is the rotor 1, the seal assembling apparatus 20 is configured so that the tip of the vane 1 b (the vane tip surface 1 e) of the rotor 1 has a rotational axis direction (axial center direction of the rotor 1, hereinafter “workpiece”). This is for assembling the seal 10 having the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12 in the groove portion 1f formed in parallel with the rotation axis direction. Similarly, when the workpiece 21 is the housing 2, the seal assembling apparatus 20 includes a groove 2 f formed in the tip end portion (projection tip end surface 2 e) of the projection 2 b of the housing 2 in parallel with the workpiece rotation axis direction. This is for assembling a seal 10 having a seal body 11 and a leaf spring 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the seal assembling apparatus 20 includes a sorter 30, a seal holding jig 40, a tunnel forming member 50, a setting jig 60, and a pusher 70. 5 to 8 show a case where the housing 2 is a work 21 in the seal assembling apparatus 20. In the following description, the vertical direction in FIG. 5 is the vertical direction in the seal assembling apparatus 20.

  In the seal assembling apparatus 20, the workpiece 21 (housing 2) is rotatably supported at a predetermined position with a predetermined rotation axis C as a rotation axis. The workpiece 21 is supported by the rotation support mechanism 22. The rotation support mechanism 22 includes a rotation shaft portion 22a for rotating the workpiece 21, and a workpiece support portion 22b for supporting the workpiece 21 with respect to the rotation shaft portion 22a. That is, the workpiece 21 is connected to the rotation shaft portion 22a via the workpiece support portion 22b, and thus rotates with the rotation of the rotation shaft portion 22a.

  The workpiece 21 is rotatably supported so that the rotation phase is controlled by NC (numerical control). That is, the rotation support mechanism 22 is configured as an indexing device that controls the rotation phase of the workpiece 21 around the rotation axis C so that the workpiece 21 is rotated, for example, by a predetermined angle by the NC. Thereby, the assembly position of the seal 10 (position of the groove 2f) is determined by the rotation support mechanism 22 with respect to the rotational phase of the workpiece 21.

  The sorter 30 is a reciprocating straight line in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5) with respect to the workpiece 21 in a state of being supported at a predetermined position by the rotation support mechanism 22 (hereinafter referred to as “supported state”). It is provided so as to be movable. The sorter 30 is composed of a plate-shaped member, and has a substantially rectangular portion as a main body portion, and has a portion protruding on both sides in a direction along the side portion (left and right direction in FIG. 5) on the upper side portion thereof. Thus, it is formed in a substantially T shape (see FIG. 5).

  The sorter 30 has a guide surface 31 and a guide protrusion 32. The guide surface 31 is a surface parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction, and moves in the assembly direction (hereinafter referred to as “seal assembly direction”) with respect to the groove 2 f of the seal 10 in a state where the leaf spring 12 is placed on the seal body 11. It is a surface that guides. The guide protrusion 32 is a portion that forms the guide surface 31 and that protrudes in the seal assembling direction.

  In the present embodiment, in the sorter 30, a side (upper side) surface on which portions protruding on both sides in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction are formed as the guide surface 31. That is, the belt-like flat surface formed by the upper surface of the substantially rectangular main body part and the upper surface of the part protruding on both sides of the main body part is the guide surface 31 included in the sorter 30. The guide surface 31 guides the movement of the seal 10 in the assembly direction of the seal 10 on the guide surface 31.

  Here, the seal 10 in the assembly posture on the guide surface 31 is in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 31 and the seal body 11 side is below the leaf spring 12 (guide). A state in which the leaf spring 12 is on the seal main body 11 in a state where the main body lower surface 11 d is in contact with the surface 31. The guide surface 31 is formed so that its width (vertical dimension in FIG. 6) is substantially the same as the width of the seal 10.

  The seal assembly direction for the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 is parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction, and the sorter 30 provided so as to be capable of reciprocating linear movement moves toward the workpiece 21 with respect to the linear movement. Direction (left direction in FIG. 5). That is, the seal 10 moves on the guide surface 31 while sliding the main body lower surface 11d (see FIG. 4) on the guide surface 31 in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof is along the moving direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, of the portions projecting on both sides in the direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction in the sorter 30, the portion projecting to the supported workpiece 21 side (left side in FIG. 5) (projecting in the seal assembling direction). The portion to be operated is a guide protrusion 32. The guide protrusion 32 is a protruding portion having a rectangular cross section (see FIG. 7), and has a stopper portion 32a that is a portion protruding upward from the guide surface 31 at the tip. The stopper portion 32a restricts the movement of the guide projection 32 toward the distal end side at a predetermined position with respect to the seal 10 moving in the seal assembly direction on the guide surface 31.

  The sorter 30 is provided so as to be reciprocally linearly movable in a predetermined range in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction by an air cylinder mechanism 33 provided in the seal assembling apparatus 20. The air cylinder mechanism 33 has a cylinder portion 33a and a rod portion 33b provided so as to protrude from the cylinder portion 33a, and is driven by compressed air supplied from an air source (not shown).

  The air cylinder mechanism 33 transmits the movement of the rod portion 33b to the sorter 30 via the connecting member 34, thereby moving the sorter 30 back and forth linearly in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction. That is, the sorter 30 is integrally connected to the rod portion 33b of the air cylinder mechanism 33 via the connecting member 34, and reciprocates linearly as the air cylinder mechanism 33 expands and contracts (the rod portion 33b protrudes and retracts). Therefore, in the seal assembling device 20, the air cylinder mechanism 33 has a predetermined orientation by a support mechanism (not shown) such as a stay in a posture in which the expansion / contraction direction (the protruding and retracting direction of the rod portion 33b) is parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction. It is provided in a supported state at a position.

  The sorter 30 provided so as to be reciprocally linearly movable by the air cylinder mechanism 33 is supported and guided by the linear guide mechanism 35. The linear guide mechanism 35 includes a guide body 35 a provided in a state of being fixed at a predetermined position in the seal assembling apparatus 20, and a moving body 35 b provided integrally with the sorter 30.

  That is, the linear guide mechanism 35 engages with the guide body 35a that is a rail-shaped member and fixes the movable body 35b that is linearly movable with respect to the sorter 30, so that the straight line of the sorter 30 is fixed. Support and guide the movement. The linear guide mechanism 35 ensures the accuracy with respect to the linear movement of the sorter 30. The guide body 35a constituting the linear guide mechanism 35 is fixed to a predetermined part in a posture in which the moving direction of the moving body 35b is parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction. In the state fixed in a predetermined position.

  The sorter 30 having the above configuration is in a state in which the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 of the guide protrusion 32 is assembled to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 by movement in the workpiece assembly direction. That is, the sorter 30 is moved in the work assembling direction by driving the air cylinder mechanism 33 in a state where the seal 10 is present at a predetermined position in the work rotation axis direction on the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30. By the linear movement of the sorter 30, the seal 10 is assembled to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state.

  Here, on the guide surface 31, the seal | sticker 10 becomes an assembly | attachment attitude | position as mentioned above. From this, in the seal assembling apparatus 20, the workpiece 21 in the relationship with the sorter 30 has the seal 10 in the groove 2f of the upper protrusion 2b (protrusion 2b with the protrusion front end surface 2e facing downward). Supported in such a positional relationship that it can be assembled.

  Then, the seal 10 is sandwiched between the guide surface 31 on the guide projection 32 and the groove 2f by the movement of the seal 10 in the seal assembly direction along with the linear movement of the sorter 30; Become. This state corresponds to a state where the seal 10 is assembled (a state where the seal 10 is fitted in the groove 2f).

  Thus, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the sorter 30 is provided so as to be capable of reciprocating linear movement in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction with respect to the supported workpiece 21, and the guide surface 31. It has a guide protrusion 32 and functions as a seal guide means for bringing the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 of the guide protrusion 32 into the groove 2f by movement in the workpiece assembly direction.

  The configuration of the sorter 30 is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the sorter 30 may have any shape as long as it has the guide protrusion 32 and the guide surface 31. The sorter 30 may be configured to reciprocate linearly as long as the sorter 30 can reciprocate linearly within a predetermined range and accuracy required for assembly of the seal 10 to the workpiece 21. Therefore, as a driving mechanism for reciprocating linear movement of the sorter 30, in addition to the air cylinder mechanism 33 of the present embodiment, other cylinder mechanisms such as a hydraulic cylinder, a mechanism using a motor as a driving source, and the like are appropriately known. Things are adopted. Similarly, as a mechanism for supporting and guiding the sorter 30 that reciprocates linearly, a well-known configuration is appropriately employed in addition to the linear guide mechanism 35 of the present embodiment.

  The seal holding jig 40 is provided so as to be located inside the supported workpiece 21. The seal holding jig 40 is provided in a state of being fixed at a predetermined position in the seal assembling apparatus 20 by being fixed to a predetermined part, etc., like the guide body 35a constituting the linear guide mechanism 35.

  The seal holding jig 40 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape as a whole. The seal holding jig 40 has a dimension in the axial direction that is substantially the same as the dimension in the axial direction of the workpiece 21, and a state in which the position in the axial direction is aligned with the workpiece 21 in the support state (concentric arrangement). Provided). Further, the seal holding jig 40 has substantially the same outer diameter as that of the main body 1a of the rotor 1 constituting the VVT mechanism. Therefore, the seal holding jig 40 is provided such that the positions of the axial centers substantially coincide with the workpiece 21 in the supported state.

  The seal holding jig 40 includes a holding peripheral surface 41 and an entry allowing portion 42. The holding peripheral surface 41 is a surface that holds the seal 10 in a state assembled to the groove portion 2f by covering the groove portion 2f with the rotation direction of the workpiece 21 in the support state being the circumferential direction. Further, the entry allowance portion 42 is a portion that allows the guide protrusion 32 to enter the workpiece 21.

  In this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the seal holding jig 40 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is the holding peripheral surface 41. That is, as described above, the seal holding jig 40 having substantially the same outer diameter as that of the main body portion 1a of the rotor 1 is located inside the workpiece 21 in a supported state, so that the rotor outer peripheral surface 1c in the VVT mechanism is the same. The seal 10 in a state of being fitted in the groove 2f is held. That is, by using the holding peripheral surface 41 formed as the outer peripheral surface of the seal holding jig 40, the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f by the movement of the sorter 30 is held so as not to fall.

  The holding of the seal 10 by the holding peripheral surface 41 is performed on the groove portion 2f located in a position other than the vicinity of the position (upper position) where the seal 10 is assembled by the movement of the sorter 30 on the workpiece 21 in the supported state. That is, in a state where the seal 10 is assembled to the groove 2f by the movement of the sorter 30, the state where the seal 10 is fitted in the groove 2f is maintained by the guide surface 31 in the portion of the guide protrusion 32 of the sorter 30. On the other hand, the seal 10 in the groove 2f moves from the position of the guide protrusion 32 by rotating the workpiece 21 from the state where the seal 10 fitted in the groove 2f is supported by the guide protrusion 32. As described above, the seal 10 (the seal 10 released from the support by the guide protrusion 32) that is separated from the guide protrusion 32 while being fitted in the groove 2f as the work 21 rotates is supported by the holding peripheral surface 41. The

  In the seal holding jig 40, an entry allowance that allows the guide protrusion 32 to enter the workpiece 21 when the seal 10 is assembled, that is, to move the sorter 30 for assembling the seal 10 on the guide protrusion 32 into the groove 2f. A portion 42 is provided. In the present embodiment, the entry allowing portion 42 is formed as a groove-like portion (concave portion) along the entry direction of the guide projection 32 that enters the workpiece 21 in the supported state as the sorter 30 moves. That is, the entry permitting portion 42 avoids interference with the seal holding jig 40 of the guide protrusion 32 entering the workpiece 21 in the supported state at the upper end portion of the seal holding jig 40 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape. It is provided as a notch portion.

  Thus, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the seal holding jig 40 holds the peripheral surface 41 for holding the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f of the workpiece 21, and the guide protrusion 32. It functions as a seal holding means having an entry allowing portion 42 that allows entry into the workpiece 21.

  The configuration of the seal holding jig 40 is not limited to this embodiment. That is, with respect to the holding peripheral surface 41 of the seal holding jig 40, the seal 10 in a state of being fitted in the groove 2f located outside the vicinity of the position (upper position) where the seal 10 is assembled with respect to the workpiece 21 in the supported state. As long as it can be held, its shape and the like are not limited. In addition, as for the entry allowing portion 42 of the seal holding jig 40, if the guide protrusion 32 can be allowed to enter the workpiece 21 when the seal 10 is assembled with the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state, the shape thereof is acceptable. Etc. are not limited.

  The tunnel forming member 50 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and is provided such that its longitudinal direction is the workpiece rotation axis direction. That is, the tunnel forming member 50 is provided along the moving direction of the sorter 30 that linearly moves in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction. The tunnel forming member 50 has a passage groove 51 along the longitudinal direction on one side surface thereof. The passage groove 51 has a concave shape in which the cross-sectional shape (the cross-sectional shape of the surface perpendicular to the workpiece rotation axis direction) is a substantially rectangular shape, and the tunnel forming member 50 is entirely open in the longitudinal direction (both sides in the longitudinal direction are opened). As a straight line).

  The tunnel forming member 50 is provided on the upper side of the sorter 30 such that the surface on which the passage groove 51 is provided faces downward. Specifically, the tunnel forming member 50 is provided such that a part of the passage groove 51 is covered from the lower side by the guide surface 31 with respect to the sorter 30 that moves in a reciprocating linear manner. That is, the passage groove 51 formed in the tunnel forming member 50 is formed such that the longitudinal dimension thereof is longer than the longitudinal dimension of the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30. Therefore, the tunnel forming member 50 is provided such that the passage groove 51 is in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction along the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30.

  The tunnel forming member 50 has a compression surface 52 as a surface on which the passage groove 51 is formed (see FIG. 5). The compression surface 52 is a surface that compresses the plate spring 12 together with the guide surface 31 so that the urging force of the plate spring 12 acts on the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30.

  In the present embodiment, in the tunnel forming member 50, the upper surface forming the passage groove 51 is the compression surface 52. Specifically, the passage groove 51 having the concave shape as described above has a surface portion on both sides (upper and lower sides in FIG. 6) and an upper surface portion. For this reason, in the passage groove 51 of the tunnel forming member 50, a tunnel-like space having a substantially rectangular shape in a sectional view is formed by the passage groove 51 and the guide surface 31 in the portion where the sorter 30 is located. A space formed by the passage groove 51 and the guide surface 31 becomes a passage of the seal 10 moving on the guide surface 31 or the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 moving as the sorter 30 moves.

  And the seal | sticker 10 on the guide surface 31 will be in the state pinched | interposed into the up-down direction by the guide surface 31 and the compression surface 52 which is a surface facing the guide surface 31. FIG. Here, in a state where the seal 10 is sandwiched between the guide surface 31 and the compression surface 52 from above and below, the leaf spring 12 is pressed from above, and the urging force of the leaf spring 12 acts on the seal body 11.

  In other words, the compression surface 52 is formed so as to have a surface interval such that the biasing force of the leaf spring 12 of the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 acts on the seal body 11 in relation to the guide surface 31. In other words, the space between the compression surface 52 and the guide surface 31 is such that the vertical dimension of the seal 10 (see FIG. 4A) in which the leaf spring 12 is in a natural state (the lower surface 11d of the main body and the leaf spring 12 is It is formed to be smaller than the dimension between the top part). As described above, in the tunnel forming member 50, the upper surface forming the passage groove 51 is used as the compression surface 52.

  Further, the dimension between the surfaces on both sides forming the passage groove 51 (width dimension of the passage groove 51) is such that the seal 10 can be maintained in the assembling posture of the seal 10 on the guide surface 31. 11) corresponding to the width dimension. In this way, the passage groove 51 including the compression surface 52 and the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 restrict the movement of the seal 10 in the direction other than the workpiece rotation axis direction, whereby the seal assembled to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state. Centering about 10 is performed.

  In the tunnel forming member 50, the passage groove 51 forming the compression surface 52 is formed so as to be substantially continuous with the groove portion 2f in which the seal 10 is assembled by the movement of the sorter 30 in the workpiece 21 in the supported state. That is, the tunnel forming member 50 is provided so that the concave portions of the groove portion 2f into which the seal 10 is assembled and the passage groove 51 of the tunnel forming member 50 are substantially continuous. For this reason, the shape of the opening end portion on the workpiece 21 side of the passage groove 51 has a shape (substantially the same shape) corresponding to the groove portion 2f in which the seal 10 is assembled.

  Thus, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the tunnel forming member 50 has the compression surface 52 formed in the passage groove 51, and is supported by the concave passage groove 51 including the compression surface 52. It functions as a guide passage forming means for forming a tunnel-shaped guide passage (hereinafter referred to as “seal guide passage”) substantially continuous with the groove 2 f in which the seal 10 in the workpiece 21 in the state is assembled together with the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30.

  Note that the outer shape and the like of the tunnel forming member 50 are not limited to the present embodiment. That is, the outer shape of the tunnel forming member 50 is not particularly limited as long as it has a portion that forms the compression surface 52 that compresses the seal 10 and forms the seal guide passage, such as the passage groove 51.

  Further, in the seal assembling apparatus 20, in relation to the compression surface 52 (passage groove 51) of the tunnel forming member 50, the movable range of the sorter 30 that reciprocates linearly within a predetermined range is set as described above.

  Specifically, regarding the reciprocating linear movement of the sorter 30, when the seal assembly direction side is the front side, the position of the rear end of the guide surface 31 is the rear end of the passage groove 51 when the sorter 30 is at the retracted end. (See FIG. 9A). That is, in a state where the sorter 30 is at the retracted end, a substantially rectangular opening is formed by the passage groove 51 and the guide surface 31 at the rear end of the tunnel forming member 50. On the other hand, the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 is in a state where the seal 10 is assembled in the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in a supported state (in a state fitted in the groove 2f) by the movement of the sorter 30 in the seal assembling direction. The position (see FIG. 5) corresponds to the position of the forward end of the sorter 30. In a state where the sorter 30 is positioned at the forward end, the stopper portion 32 a is positioned in front of the workpiece 21.

  The setting jig 60 is for setting (waiting for) the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state, and is upstream of the tunnel forming member 50 in the seal assembling direction (FIG. 5). In the right side). The setting jig 60 includes a substantially rectangular plate-like base portion 61 and a seal support portion 62 that is provided so as to protrude on the upper plate surface of the base portion 61 and supports the seal 10 to be set.

  In the setting jig 60, the seal 10 is set on the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 in a posture along the seal 10 that is in an assembly posture. That is, the seal support portion 62 constituting the setting jig 60 has a support surface 63 that supports the seal 10 set by the setting jig 60. The support surface 63 is a surface that is substantially continuous with the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 at the retracted end. Therefore, the support surface 63 is provided at substantially the same height as the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30.

  In the setting jig 60, the support surface 63 is formed as a bottom surface in the groove-shaped recess. That is, in the seal support portion 62 of the setting jig 60, a concave portion 64 having the support surface 63 as a bottom surface is formed. The concave portion 64 is a groove portion having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape (cross-sectional shape of a surface perpendicular to the workpiece rotation axis direction), and is formed so that both sides in the longitudinal direction of the seal support portion 62 are opened. The seal 10 supported on the support surface 63 is in a state of being fitted in the recess 64. For this reason, the concave portion 64 has a width dimension corresponding to the seal body 11 and a length substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the seal body 11.

  In the setting jig 60, the seal 10 fitted in the recess 64 is pressed by the lid 65. The lid 65 has a pressing surface 65a for pressing the seal 10 fitted in the recess 64 from above, and is fixed to the seal support 62 by a fastener 65b such as a bolt. When the lid 65 is fixed to the seal support portion 62 by the fastener 65b, the leaf spring 12 of the seal 10 is pressed from the curved convex side and crushed by the pressing surface 65a.

  Here, the pressing degree of the leaf spring 12 by the lid 65 is a pressing degree by the compression surface 52 and the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 at the rear end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 5) that is the start end portion of the seal guide passage. It is almost the same. Therefore, in the setting jig 60, the pressing surface 65 a of the lid 65 is set so as to be substantially at the same height as the compression surface 52 at the rear end portion of the tunnel forming member 50. In FIG. 6, the lid 65 is not shown.

  In the present embodiment, the setting jig 60 is configured to be able to support the four seals 10 assembled to one workpiece 21 (see FIG. 6). The four seals 10 supported by the setting jig 60 are arranged in parallel in a direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) orthogonal to the workpiece rotation axis direction. That is, in the setting jig 60, the four seals 10 are all in a posture in which the longitudinal direction is along the workpiece rotation axis direction, in a state where the positions in the workpiece rotation axis direction are aligned, and in a direction orthogonal to the workpiece rotation axis direction. Supported side by side.

  The setting jig 60 is provided so as to be linearly movable in the direction in which the four seals 10 are arranged (vertical direction in FIG. 6). For example, the setting jig 60 is configured to be linearly movable by using a driving mechanism such as an air cylinder mechanism while the base portion 61 is guided by a linear guide or the like. Thus, by providing the set jig 60 so as to be linearly movable, any of the four seals 10 is set depending on the position of the set jig 60 in the linear movement direction.

  In the state in which the seal 10 is set, the support surface 63 that supports the seal 10 in the setting jig 60 is substantially continuous with the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 at the retracted end. That is, the seal 10 set by the setting jig 60 is located at a position facing the seal guide passage. The set jig 60 is controlled to move linearly so that the stop position includes a position where any of the four seals 10 is set (a state facing the seal guide passage).

  Thus, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the setting jig 60 waits in a state where the seal 10 can be inserted into the seal guide passage on the upstream side of the seal guide passage in the seal assembly direction. It functions as a seal standby means.

  The configuration of the setting jig 60 is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the setting jig 60 may be configured to be able to support the seal 10 in a state of being set so as to face the seal guide passage in a state where both sides in the workpiece rotation axis direction are open. Further, the number of seals 10 supported by the setting jig 60 is not limited. That is, the setting jig 60 may be configured to support at least one seal 10. Therefore, for example, the configuration may be such that the four seals 10 assembled to one workpiece 21 are supported by separate setting jigs.

  The pusher 70 is provided on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 5) in the seal assembling direction with respect to the setting jig 60. The pusher 70 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate linearly in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction. The pusher 70 includes a rod-shaped insertion portion 71 and a support portion 72 that supports the insertion portion 71.

  The insertion portion 71 is a rod-like portion that can be inserted into the seal guide passage from the upstream side in the seal assembly direction. That is, the insertion portion 71 has a rod-like shape that can be inserted into the seal guide passage formed by the passage groove 51 and the guide surface 31 so as to have a substantially rectangular shape in sectional view. The insertion portion 71 is configured such that its length becomes longer than the length of the seal guide passage (the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the tunnel forming member 50).

  The insertion portion 71 is configured to be able to be inserted into and removed from the seal guide passage by the reciprocating linear movement of the pusher 70 in a state where one end side thereof is supported by the support portion 72. That is, the insertion portion 71 supported by the support portion 72 in the pusher 70 is disposed on the extension line of the seal guide passage. The support portion 72 has a base portion 72a that is a substantially rectangular plate-like portion, and supports the insertion portion 71 on one plate surface side (left side in FIG. 5).

  The insertion portion 71 is formed with respect to a space (hereinafter referred to as “set space”) in which the seal 10 in the set state exists, which is formed by the concave portion 64 and the pressing surface 65 a of the lid body 65 in the setting jig 60. It is inserted from the upstream side in the seal assembling direction. That is, the insertion portion 71 is inserted into the seal guide passage through the set space. A tapered portion 71a that is reduced in diameter toward the distal end side is formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 71 in order to facilitate insertion of the insertion portion 71 into the set space and the seal guide passage.

  The pusher 70 is provided so as to be reciprocally linearly movable in a predetermined range in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction by an air cylinder mechanism 73 provided in the seal assembling apparatus 20. The air cylinder mechanism 73 includes a cylinder portion 73a and two rod portions 73b provided so as to protrude from the cylinder portion 73a, and is driven by compressed air supplied from an air source (not shown).

  The air cylinder mechanism 73 has two rod portions 73b on the opposite side to the side where the insertion portion 71 is supported on both sides in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) of the base portion 72a with respect to the base portion 72a of the pusher 70 ( Connect from the right side in the figure. Therefore, in the seal assembling apparatus 20, the air cylinder mechanism 73 is in a posture in which the expansion / contraction direction (the protruding and retracting direction of the rod portion 73b) is in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction by a support mechanism (not shown) such as a stay. It is provided in a supported state at a position.

  The pusher 70 provided so as to be capable of reciprocating linear movement by the air cylinder mechanism 73 is supported and guided by the guide jig 74 and the guide rod 75. The guide jig 74 is provided upstream of the set jig 60 in the seal assembling direction. The guide jig 74 forms a guide hole 74a that is movably supported in a state in which the insertion portion 71 is penetrated. The guide hole 74a is provided so as to be substantially continuous with the set space on the upstream side in the seal assembling direction. The guide jig 74 is provided in a state of being fixed to a base (not shown) in the seal assembling apparatus 20.

  The guide rod 75 is provided in a state in which the guide rod 75 is arranged in parallel with the insertion portion 71 and is supported at one end side by the support portion 72 in the same manner as the insertion portion 71. The guide rod 75 is inserted into a guide hole formed in a jig or the like (not shown) in the seal assembling apparatus 20. That is, the pusher 70 reciprocates linearly with the guide rod 75 inserted in the guide hole. Thus, the accuracy with respect to the linear movement of the pusher 70 is ensured by the guide jig 74 and the guide rod 75.

  The pusher 70 pushes the seal 10 in a standby state by the setting jig 60 by movement in the seal assembling direction into the seal guide passage by the insertion portion 71. That is, the pusher 70 inserts the insertion portion 71 into the set space from the upstream side in the seal assembling direction. Therefore, when the pusher 70 is moved in the seal assembly direction by the air cylinder mechanism 73, the seal 10 set by the setting jig 60 is pushed into the seal guide passage.

  With respect to the reciprocating linear movement of the pusher 70, when the seal assembly direction is the front side, the distal end of the insertion portion 71 is positioned in the guide hole 74a substantially continuous with the set space when the pusher 70 is at the retracted end. (See FIGS. 5 and 6). In other words, the pusher 70 is positioned at the upstream side in the seal assembling direction of the seal 10 set by the setting jig 60 in a state where the pusher 70 is at the retracted end. On the other hand, in a state where the pusher 70 is at the forward end, the distal end of the insertion portion 71 is located at a predetermined position (midway portion) in the seal guide passage (see FIG. 9B).

  As described above, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the pusher 70 is provided so as to be reciprocally linearly movable in a direction parallel to the workpiece rotation axis direction, has the insertion portion 71, and moves in the seal assembling direction. It functions as a seal insertion means for pushing the seal 10 in a state of being waited by the setting jig 60 by movement into the seal guide passage by the insertion portion 71.

  The configuration of the pusher 70 is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the pusher 70 may have any shape as long as it has the insertion portion 71. The pusher 70 can be moved back and forth linearly with a predetermined range and accuracy required for inserting the pusher 70 into the seal guide passage. . Therefore, as a drive mechanism for reciprocating linear movement of the pusher 70, in addition to the air cylinder mechanism 73 of the present embodiment, other cylinder mechanisms such as a hydraulic cylinder, mechanisms using a motor as a driving source, and the like are appropriately known. Things are adopted. Similarly, as a mechanism for supporting and guiding the pusher 70 that reciprocates linearly, a well-known configuration is appropriately employed in addition to the guide jig 74 and the guide rod 75 of the present embodiment.

  The operation of the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. When the seal 10 is assembled to the workpiece 21 by the seal assembling apparatus 20, in the initial state of the seal assembling apparatus 20, both the sorter 30 and the pusher 70 are positioned at the retracted end as shown in FIG. To do.

  When the seal 10 is assembled by the seal assembling apparatus 20, first, the rotation support mechanism 22 determines the assembly position of the seal 10 (the position of the groove 2f) with respect to the rotational phase of the workpiece 21 in the supported state. That is, the rotational phase of the workpiece 21 is controlled by the rotation support mechanism 22 so that one of the groove portions 2f of the workpiece 21 in the support state is substantially continuous with the passage groove 51 of the tunnel forming member 50.

  Further, when the seal 10 is assembled by the seal assembling apparatus 20, the seal 10 is set by the setting jig 60 (see FIG. 9A). That is, any of the four seals 10 supported by the setting jig 60 is positioned at a position facing the seal guide passage by the movement of the setting jig 60 (movement in the direction orthogonal to the workpiece rotation axis direction). Is done. For example, the setting jig 60 is transported through a predetermined path after the four seals 10 are supported in the previous process.

  Then, the seal 10 set by the setting jig 60 is pushed into the seal guide passage by the pusher 70. That is, the seal 10 in the set space is pushed out and pushed into the seal guide passage by the insertion portion 71 inserted into the set space and the seal guide passage by the pusher 70 pushed out in the seal assembly direction by the air cylinder mechanism 73. It is.

  The seal 10 moving from the set space into the seal guide passage is maintained in a compressed state (a state in which the leaf spring 12 is pressed and crushed from the curved convex side). That is, the seal 10 compressed in the set space in the setting jig 60 is substantially in a compressed state while being compressed, and the seal 10 is compressed by the guide surface 31 and the compression surface 52. Is pushed into the seal guide passage. Therefore, the seal 10 in the seal guide passage is in a state in which the leaf spring 12 is stretched, and the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12 are fixed.

  The pusher 70 pushes the seal 10 in the seal guide passage until it is located at the forward end. At this time, the sorter 30 remains in the state positioned at the retracted end. As shown in FIG. 9B, the seal 10 pushed by the pusher 70 is positioned on the guide surface 31 (in the seal guide passage) at the tip end portion of the guide protrusion 32 whose movement is restricted by the stopper portion 32a. Moved to.

  Here, the seal assembling apparatus 20 is provided with a sensor 24 for confirming the presence or absence of the seal 10 pushed by the pusher 70. The sensor 24 is supported via a tunnel forming member 50 so that the seal 10 in the seal guide passage can be detected from above. As the sensor 24, for example, a sensor that can detect the presence or absence of an object, such as a magnetic sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or an optical sensor, is appropriately used.

  The sorter 30 moves forward (moves in the seal assembling direction) from the state in which the seal 10 is pushed out by the pusher 70. As the sorter 30 moves forward, the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 in the guide protrusion 32 moves in the seal assembling direction as the sorter 30 moves. The pusher 70 reaches the forward end, pushes the seal 10 down, and then returns to the backward end position (initial state) at an appropriate timing.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, the guide protrusion 32 is allowed to enter the work 21 portion by the entry allowing portion 42 of the seal holding jig 40, and the sorter 30 reaches the forward end, whereby the guide surface. The seal 10 on 31 is in a state assembled with the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 in a supported state (a state where the seal 10 is fitted in the groove 2f). In such a state, the seal 10 fitted in the groove 2 f is supported by the guide surface 31 of the guide protrusion 32.

  After the seal 10 is assembled in the groove 2f by the movement of the sorter 30, the next assembly position (position of the next groove 2f to which the seal 10 is assembled) is determined with respect to the rotational phase of the workpiece 21 in the supported state. In the indexing of the next assembling position, the seal 10 in the groove 2f that is supported by the guide protrusion 32 at the portion of the entry allowing portion 42 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the workpiece 21 in the supported state. The surface 41 is supported.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10A, the workpiece 21 rotates in a predetermined direction from the state where the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f by the movement of the sorter 30 is supported by the guide protrusion 32. As shown in FIG. 10B, the rotation of the work 21 (see arrow B) causes the seal 10 on the guide surface 31 in the guide protrusion 32 (the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f) to move on the guide surface 31. Is cut out (moved along the circumferential direction).

  The seal 10 cut out from the guide surface 31 is supported by the holding peripheral surface 41 of the seal holding jig 40. That is, the groove 2f (the side facing the holding circumferential surface 41) is covered with the holding peripheral surface 41, and the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f is held. After the seal 10 is supported by the holding peripheral surface 41 by the rotation of the workpiece 21, the sorter 30 returns to the position of the retracted end (initial state) at an appropriate timing.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10C, the rotation of the workpiece 21 advances, so that the next groove 2f to which the seal 10 is assembled reaches the position corresponding to the seal guide passage, that is, the position corresponding to the seal guide passage. Thereby, the indexing of the next assembly position is completed. On the other hand, in the setting jig 60, the seal 10 to be assembled next is set by the movement of the setting jig 60. The seal 10 is assembled by the push-in by the pusher 70 and the guidance by the sorter 30 as described above.

  The assembly position is indexed by the rotation of the workpiece 21, the seal 10 is set by the setting jig 60, and the seal 10 is assembled by the operations of the pusher 70 and the sorter 30 in order for the remaining seals 10. In this embodiment, the assembly | attachment of the seal | sticker 10 with respect to the workpiece | work 21 is completed by assembling | attaching the seal | sticker 10 to each of the four groove parts 2f which the workpiece | work 21 has.

  In the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment in which the seal 10 is assembled as described above, the distance between the compression surface 52 of the tunnel forming member 50 and the guide surface 31 is gradually reduced toward the seal assembling direction. (See FIG. 5). That is, the dimension (surface interval) between the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 and the compression surface 52 of the tunnel forming member 50 facing in the vertical direction as the surface forming the seal guide passage is determined by the shape of the compression surface 52. It narrows in steps toward the workpiece 21 side.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the compression surface 52 has a plurality of flat surfaces whose height position gradually decreases (the interval with respect to the guide surface 31 becomes narrow) toward the seal assembly direction side (left side in FIG. 8). Part 52a. That is, the compression surface 52 is formed as a stepped surface having a plurality of flat portions 52a that gradually become lower toward the seal assembly side, whereas the guide surface 31 is a flat surface.

  Here, the flat surface portion 52a of the front end portion (end portion on the seal assembly direction side) of the compression surface 52 is a bottom surface of the groove portion 2f in which the seal 10 is assembled (on the upper side of the groove portion 2f in which the seal 10 is assembled in the workpiece 21 in the supported state). Surface). As described above, the seal guide passage formed by the passage groove 51 of the tunnel forming member 50 including the compression surface 52 and the guide surface 31 of the sorter 30 has a gap in the direction in which the seal 10 is compressed toward the seal assembly direction side. It is configured as a compression tunnel that gradually narrows.

  With such a configuration, the seal 10 that passes through the seal guide passage by being pushed by the pusher 70 is gradually (stepwise) compressed toward the seal assembly direction. Thereby, the assembly | attachment of the seal | sticker 10 with respect to the groove part 2f of the workpiece | work 21 is performed smoothly. Accordingly, the length (dimension in the workpiece rotation axis direction) of each flat surface portion 52a of the compression surface 52, the size of the step between the adjacent flat surface portions 52a, the overall compression surface 52 length (dimension in the workpiece rotation axis direction), and the like. Is appropriately set so that the assembly of the seal 10 to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 is performed smoothly.

  The compression surface 52 is not limited to the case where the compression surface 52 is formed to be narrowed stepwise as in the present embodiment, and the interval with respect to the guide surface 31 may be gradually narrowed toward the seal assembly direction. That is, the compression surface 52 of the tunnel forming member 50 may be formed as a flat surface (inclined surface) or a curved surface so that the distance from the guide surface 31 is continuously narrowed toward the seal assembly direction side. .

  As described above, according to the seal assembling apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, when the seal 10 having the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12 for biasing the seal body 11 is assembled, the workpiece 21 or the seal 10 is damaged. It is possible to prevent positional deviation between the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12, which may cause scraping or the like, and the seal 10 can be smoothly assembled to the groove 2 f of the workpiece 21.

  That is, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the seal 10 that is compressed in the VVT mechanism is compressed in advance by the seal guide passage, that is, the seal body 11 and the leaf spring 12 are fixed. In this state, it is assembled to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21. Thereby, at the time of the assembly of the seal 10 to the workpiece 21, the leaf spring 12 riding on the seal body 11 is prevented from being displaced from the normal assembly position. Further, since the position shift in the seal 10 is prevented, the seal 10 is prevented from coming into contact with the periphery of the groove 2f in the work 21, and the seal 10 is smoothly applied to the groove 2f without receiving stress from the work 21. Inserted into. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the damage | wound, shaving, etc. in the workpiece | work 21 or the seal | sticker 10 is prevented.

  Further, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, centering is performed on the groove portion 2f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state by the seal guide passage. That is, the seal 10 assembled in the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 is assembled in a state of being centered with respect to the groove 2f by passing through the seal guide passage. Thereby, it is not influenced by the indexing accuracy of the assembly position of the seal 10 by the NC in the rotation support mechanism 22 that rotatably supports the workpiece 21. Thus, according to the seal assembling apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the assembly failure of the seal 10 with respect to the groove 2f of the workpiece 21 is effectively prevented.

  Below, the case where the rotor 1 which is a member which comprises a VVT mechanism in the seal assembly apparatus 20 is made into the workpiece | work 21 is demonstrated as another embodiment of the seal assembly apparatus 20 using FIG. 11 and FIG. 11 and 12 show a case where the rotor 1 is a work 21 in the seal assembling apparatus 20.

  The seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment has a sorter 30, a tunnel forming member 50, a setting jig 60, and a pusher 70 in common in comparison with the seal assembling apparatus 20 using the housing 2 as a work 21. Prepare as a configuration.

  In the seal assembling apparatus 20 of this embodiment, the workpiece 21 (rotor 1) is rotatably supported by a rotation support mechanism 22 with a predetermined rotation axis C as a rotation axis at a predetermined position. In the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the workpiece 21 is assembled with the groove 10 if the workpiece 21 has the lower vane 1b (the vane 1b with the vane tip surface 1e facing downward) in relation to the sorter 30. It is supported in such a positional relationship.

  The seal 10 is sandwiched between the guide surface 31 on the guide projection 32 and the groove portion 1f by the movement of the seal 10 in the seal assembly direction along with the linear movement of the sorter 30. Become. This state corresponds to a state where the seal 10 is assembled (a state where the seal 10 is fitted in the groove portion 1f). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the workpiece 21 is rotatably supported on the upper side of the sorter 30.

  In the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, a seal holding jig for holding the seal 10 assembled in the groove 1 f of the rotor 1 instead of the seal holding jig 40 in the configuration in which the housing 2 is the workpiece 21. 80 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the seal holding jig 80 is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the supported workpiece 21. The seal holding jig 80 is provided in a state of being fixed at a predetermined position in the seal assembling apparatus 20 by being fixed to a predetermined portion, etc., like the guide body 35a constituting the linear guide mechanism 35.

  The seal holding jig 80 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape as a whole. The seal holding jig 80 has a dimension in the axial direction that is substantially the same as the dimension in the axial direction of the workpiece 21, and a state in which the position in the axial direction is aligned with the workpiece 21 in a supported state (concentric arrangement) Provided). Further, the seal holding jig 80 has substantially the same inner diameter as that of the main body 2a of the housing 2 constituting the VVT mechanism. Therefore, the seal holding jig 80 is provided such that the positions of the axial centers substantially coincide with each other with respect to the supported workpiece 21.

  The seal holding jig 80 has a holding peripheral surface 81 and an entry allowing portion 82. The holding peripheral surface 81 is a surface that holds the seal 10 in a state assembled to the groove portion 1f by covering the groove portion 1f with the rotation direction of the workpiece 21 in the support state being the circumferential direction. Further, the entry allowing portion 82 is a portion that allows the guide protrusion 32 to enter the work 21.

  In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the seal holding jig 80 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is the holding peripheral surface 81. That is, as described above, the seal holding jig 80 having substantially the same inner diameter as that of the main body 2a of the housing 2 is located on the outer peripheral side of the supported workpiece 21 so that the housing inner peripheral surface 2c in the VVT mechanism is the same. The seal 10 in the state of being fitted in the groove portion 1f is held. That is, by using the holding peripheral surface 81 formed as the inner peripheral surface of the seal holding jig 80, the seal 10 assembled in the groove portion 1 f is held so as not to fall due to the movement of the sorter 30.

  The holding of the seal 10 by the holding peripheral surface 81 is performed on the groove portion 1f located in a position other than the vicinity of the position (upper position) where the seal 10 is assembled by the movement of the sorter 30 on the workpiece 21 in the supported state. That is, in a state where the seal 10 is assembled in the groove portion 1 f by the movement of the sorter 30, the state where the seal 10 is fitted in the groove portion 1 f is maintained by the guide surface 31 in the portion of the guide protrusion 32 included in the sorter 30. On the other hand, the seal 10 in the groove 1f moves from the position of the guide protrusion 32 by rotating the workpiece 21 from the state in which the seal 10 fitted in the groove 1f is supported by the guide protrusion 32. As described above, the seal 10 (the seal 10 released from the support by the guide protrusion 32) that is separated from the guide protrusion 32 while being fitted in the groove 1f as the work 21 rotates is supported by the holding peripheral surface 81. The

  The seal holding jig 80 allows the guide protrusion 32 to enter the workpiece 21 when the seal 10 is assembled, that is, the sorter 30 to move the seal 10 on the guide protrusion 32 to the groove 1f. An entry allowing portion 82 is provided. In the present embodiment, the entry allowing portion 82 is formed as a slit portion along the entry direction of the guide projection 32 that enters the supported workpiece 21 as the sorter 30 moves. In other words, the entry allowing portion 82 avoids interference with the seal holding jig 80 of the guide protrusion 32 entering the workpiece 21 in the supported state at the lower end portion of the seal holding jig 80 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape. It is provided as a notch portion.

  As described above, in the seal assembling apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the seal holding jig 80 holds the seal 10 assembled in the groove 1 f of the workpiece 21 and the guide protrusion 32. It functions as a seal holding means having an entry allowing portion 82 that allows entry of the workpiece 21 into the workpiece 21.

  The configuration of the seal holding jig 80 is not limited to this embodiment. That is, for the holding peripheral surface 81 of the seal holding jig 80, the seal 10 in a state of being fitted in the groove portion 1 f located outside the vicinity of the position (lower position) where the seal 10 is assembled with respect to the workpiece 21 in the supported state. If it can hold | maintain, the shape etc. will not be limited. In addition, as for the entry allowing portion 82 included in the seal holding jig 80, if the guide protrusion 32 can be allowed to enter the workpiece 21 when the seal 10 is assembled to the groove portion 1 f of the workpiece 21 in the supported state, the shape thereof can be obtained. Etc. are not limited.

  As described above, the rotor 1 and the housing 2 in a state where a total of four seals 10 are assembled with respect to the groove portions 1f and 2f of the seal assembly device 20 are provided in the VVT mechanism assembly process. The seals 10 are assembled together while being held. As a result, a state in which a total of eight seals 10 are assembled is realized in the configuration including the rotor 1 and the housing 2 that constitute the VVT mechanism in a state of being assembled with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotor 1b Vane 1c Rotor outer peripheral surface 1f Groove part 2 Housing 2b Protrusion part 2c Housing inner peripheral surface 2f Groove part 10 Seal 11 Seal main body 12 Leaf spring (elastic member)
20 Seal assembly device 21 Work 30 Sorter (seal guide means)
31 Guide surface 32 Guide protrusion 40 Seal holding jig (seal holding means)
41 peripheral surface for holding 42 entry allowing portion 50 tunnel forming member (guide passage forming means)
51 passage groove 52 compression surface 60 setting jig (seal standby means)
70 pusher (seal insertion means)
71 Insertion part 80 Seal holding jig (seal holding means)
81 Peripheral surface for holding 82 Access allowance

Claims (2)

As a member constituting the variable valve timing mechanism, a rotor that is rotatably provided and has a plurality of vanes on the outer peripheral surface whose rotation direction is the circumferential direction, or can be rotated concentrically with the rotor in a state in which the rotor is accommodated. A housing having a plurality of protrusions on the inner peripheral surface with the rotation direction as a circumferential direction is a workpiece, and is formed at the tip of the vane and the tip of the projection in parallel with the rotation axis direction of the workpiece. A seal assembly device for a variable valve timing mechanism for assembling a seal having a seal body and an elastic member that applies a predetermined urging force to the seal body in the groove,
A reciprocating linear movement is provided in a direction parallel to the rotation axis direction with respect to the workpiece supported in a predetermined position, and the elastic member is a surface parallel to the rotation axis direction on the seal body. A guide surface that is a surface that guides movement in the assembly direction of the seal with respect to the groove portion, and a guide protrusion that is a portion that forms the guide surface and that protrudes in the assembly direction. And seal guide means for bringing the seal on the guide surface of the guide protrusion into the groove by moving in the assembly direction;
A circumferential surface for holding, which is a surface for holding the seal in a state assembled to the groove portion by covering the groove portion with the rotation direction of the workpiece being a circumferential direction, and a portion that allows the guide protrusion to enter the workpiece A seal holding means having an entry allowing portion,
A concave passage having a compression surface that is a surface that compresses the elastic member together with the guide surface so that the biasing force by the elastic member acts on the seal on the guide surface, and includes the compression surface A guide passage forming means for forming, together with the guide surface, a tunnel-shaped guide passage substantially continuous to the groove portion to which the seal of the workpiece is assembled by the groove;
Seal standby means for waiting in a state where the seal can be inserted into the guide passage on the upstream side in the assembly direction of the guide passage;
It is provided so as to be able to reciprocate linearly in a direction parallel to the rotational axis direction, and has an insertion portion that is a rod-like portion that can be inserted from the upstream side with respect to the guide passage, and the movement in the assembly direction causes the Seal insertion means for pushing the seal in a standby state by a seal standby means into the guide passage by the insertion portion;
A device for assembling a seal for a variable valve timing mechanism.   2. The seal assembly device for a variable valve timing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the compression surface is formed such that a distance from the guide surface is gradually or continuously narrowed toward the assembly direction. .

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