JPH06190663A - Piston assembling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the assembling process of a piston in automation by providing means such as arrangement of an automatic inserting device of a piston pin into the connecting part of a piston and a connecting rod, on the start point of the transport passage for a pallet set with the piston and the connecting rod. CONSTITUTION:For assembling a piston 4, an operator is previously arranged on the end point 3a of a transport passage 3, and a parts box receiving pistons 4 and connecting rods 5 is arranged in the vicinity of the operator. At first the operator transfers the piston 4 to a transfer device 2, and sets the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 on an empty pallet 6. Next, this pallet 6 is transferred to a return part 7 by means of an elevator mechanism 8a, and transferred to the position 26 of the transport passage 3 by means of another elevator mechanism 8b. Next a pin 21 is inserted into the connecting part 4a of the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 on the transport passage 3 by means of a pin automatic inserting device 20. Namely the pin 21 in a supply cartridge 22 is held by the arm 24 of a triaxial robot 25, and automatically inserted into the connecting part 4a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a piston assembly device, and more particularly to a device for automatically inserting a piston pin into a connecting portion between a piston and a connecting rod.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the process of assembling a piston, a piston pin is inserted into a connecting portion between the piston and the connecting rod (a portion in which a piston boss hole of the piston and a bearing hole of a small end of the connecting rod are made to correspond to each other). Of the oil hole, the step of press-fitting the piston pin, the step of loosening the tightening nut at the large end connected to the crankshaft of the connecting rod, the step of dividing the cap forming the large end, and the like. As a piston assembling apparatus that performs such a piston assembling process in one line, the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are conventionally known. In these figures, FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the piston assembly apparatus, and FIG. 7 shows a front view.

The piston assembly device 1 is arranged adjacent to a transfer device 2 for transferring a completed piston to the next device, and a transport path 3 of the device 1 is provided with a piston to be assembled and accessory parts (connecting rod, piston). The pin) is intermittently moved in the direction of arrow A. Then, in the transport path 3,
An assembly station that sequentially performs the above-mentioned assembly process,
That is, a station S1 for inserting a piston pin (hereinafter abbreviated as a pin) into the connecting portion between the piston and the connecting rod, a station S2 for detecting an oil hole in the connecting rod, a station S3 for press-fitting the pin, and a nut for the connecting rod are loosened. A station S4 and a station S5 for dividing the cap at the large end are continuously arranged. Here, the assembly process of the stations S2 to S5 is automatically performed by the assembly machine.

Here, the assembled piston 4 and connecting rod 5 move on the conveying path 3 while being set on the pallet 6 shown in FIG. The transport path 3 for moving the pallet 6 in the direction of arrow A is provided below the transport path 3 and a return path 7 for moving the pallet in the direction of arrow B,
An endless rail is formed by the elevator mechanisms 8a and 8b that form a continuous path between the transport path 3 and the return path 7. The elevator mechanism 8a lowers the pallet 6 that has moved to the end point 3a of the transport path 3 while maintaining the horizontal state of the pallet 6 and transfers the pallet 6 to the return path 7, and the elevator mechanism 8b.
Is for moving the pallet 6 that has moved to the end point 7a of the return path 7 to the transport path 3 while raising the pallet 6 while maintaining the horizontal state of the pallet 6.

Here, reference numeral 9 is a parts box in which the assembled piston and connecting rod are housed, and reference numeral 1
0 is a storage box that stores a large number of pins. Further, the start button indicated by reference numeral 11 is a device for making a control device (not shown) recognize that the insertion of the pin is completed.
The start button indicated by 2 is a device for making the control device recognize that the piston 4 which has been assembled is moved to the transfer device 2. Then, the piston assembly device 1 includes a start button 11,
By sending twelve recognition signals to the control signal, the interlock mechanism is activated.

Next, a piston assembling procedure using the conventional piston assembling apparatus 1 will be described. Here, in the conventional device, the worker C is set at the position indicated by the circle C to set the piston and the connecting rod on the empty pallet 6.
To move the assembled piston 4 and connecting rod 5 from the pallet 6 to the transfer device 2.
The worker D is placed at the position indicated by.

First, the empty pallet 6 is moved to the elevator mechanism 8
When it rises above b and moves to the starting point 3b of the transport path 3, the worker C sets the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 taken out from the parts box 9 on the empty pallet 6. At the station S1, the worker C inserts a pin into the piston boss hole corresponding to the connecting portion between the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5, that is, the bearing of the small end portion of the connecting rod 5. Then, the pallet 6 having the pins inserted therein moves to the station S2.

When the pallet 6 moves to the station S2, the oil hole of the connecting rod is automatically detected, and the subsequent assembling steps S3 to S5 are automatically performed. When the pallet 6 moves to the end point 3a (discharge port) of the transport path 3, the piston 4 on the pallet 6 moves.
Since the assembly is completed, the worker D moves the piston 4 to the transfer device 2.

The pallet 6 which has been emptied by the transfer of the piston 4 to the transfer device 2 moves to the return path 7 while the horizontal state is maintained by the elevator mechanism 8a. Further, the empty pallet 6 that has moved to the end point 7a of the return path 7 moves from the end point 7a to the start point 3b of the transport path 3 while being kept in a horizontal state by the elevator mechanism 8b.
Hereinafter, by repeating the procedure described above, a continuous piston assembly process is performed.

[0010]

However, the prior art has the following problems. That is, in the prior art, the work of setting the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 on the empty pallet 6 and the set piston 4
One worker A must insert the pin into the connecting portion (piston boss hole) of the connecting rod 5 and
The burden of human labor has been a factor that reduces the piston assembly efficiency.

Further, the worker D who moves the completed piston 4 to the transfer device 2 together with the worker C is transferred to the end point 3a of the transport path 3.
There was a problem in terms of labor saving.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention that all of the piston assembling process is automated as compared with the prior art, and the piston is installed in the assembling apparatus. It is a point to provide a piston assembly device capable of saving labor for an appropriate worker.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piston assembly apparatus in which a pallet having pistons and connecting rods is intermittently moved from a starting point to an ending point, and a starting point and an ending point of the conveying path. An elevator mechanism that is installed in the lower part of the pallet to raise and lower the pallet while maintaining the horizontal state,
An endless track is formed with a return path that is installed below the transport path and that transfers the pallet that has moved from the elevator mechanism to the start point of the transport path again, and along the transport path, the piston is used until the end point of the transport path is reached. In a piston assembling apparatus having a plurality of assembling machines for assembling the above, at the end of the transfer path, a supply port for setting the piston and connecting rod on an empty pallet and placing them on an endless track is provided, and at the start of the transfer path, A pin automatic insertion device for automatically inserting a piston pin is provided at a connecting portion between a piston and a connecting rod on a pallet that has been set at a supply port and has moved through an elevator mechanism and a return path. It is a device. A piston assembly apparatus according to a second aspect is the apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the automatic pin insertion apparatus includes a pin supply cartridge that accommodates a large number of piston pins and a grip portion that grips the piston pins in a lower portion. It is an apparatus characterized in that it is composed of an arranged arm and a three-axis robot that moves and supports the arm in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a predetermined distance. Further, the apparatus of claim 3 is the apparatus of claim 2,
The device is characterized in that the gripping part is provided with a floating mechanism capable of swinging at a predetermined swing angle with respect to the vertical axis of the arm.

[0014]

According to the piston assembling apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion between the piston and the connecting rod (piston boss, which is automatically set by the pin supplying portion and set on the pallet, is provided at the starting point of the conveying path. Since the automatic pin insertion device for automatically inserting the pin into the hole is provided, the pin insertion work can be performed automatically without requiring an operator.

Further, the conveying path in which the piston is assembled is an endless track consisting of an elevator mechanism arranged below the end point and the starting point of the conveying path and a return path arranged below the conveying path. In the present invention, the discharge port for transferring the completed piston to the transfer device at the end of the transport path is provided with the supply port for setting the piston and the connecting rod to be assembled in the pallet which is emptied by moving the piston. A worker can perform the work of transferring the completed piston, the work of setting the piston on the empty pallet, and the work of setting the connecting rod.

For this reason, the pistons and connecting rods set on the pallet at the supply port automatically move to the starting point of the transport path via the elevator mechanism and the return path,
Unlike the conventional device, it is not necessary for a worker to place the work at the starting point of the transport path, and labor can be saved in the piston assembly work.

Further, in the piston assembling apparatus according to the second and third aspects, the automatic pin inserting apparatus is provided with a floating mechanism in which the gripping portion can swing at a predetermined swing angle with respect to the vertical axis of the arm. Therefore, the pin can be reliably gripped from the pin supply cartridge.
Further, even if the shaft center of the grip portion and the shaft center of the piston boss hole are slightly displaced, the pin can be reliably inserted into the piston boss hole.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified. , It is just an example of explanation. Further, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The first feature of this embodiment is that the piston 4 set on the pallet 6 is located on the side of the starting point 3b of the conveying path 3.
Also, the connecting rod 5 is provided with an automatic pin inserting device 20 capable of automatically inserting a pin.

The second characteristic point is that the end point 3a (discharge port) of the transfer path 3 for transferring the completed piston 4 to the transfer device 2.
To the empty pallet 6 and piston 4 and connecting rod 5.
Is to be the supply port for setting. In the present embodiment, the position where the pallet 6 is lifted by the elevator mechanism 8b and is on the transport path 3 is the position indicated by reference numeral 26 in FIG.

The automatic pin inserting device 20 includes a pin supply cartridge 22 accommodating a large number of pins 21, an arm 24 having a grip 23 at a lower end capable of gripping the pin 21, and an arm. The three-axis robot 25 is configured to support the 24 while moving it by a predetermined distance in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the conveyance path 3 in plan view, and further to move the arm 24 up and down.

The pin supply cartridge 22 includes a mount 22a.
Cylindrical pins 21 are housed while being loosely inserted in each of the support rods that are vertically provided upright at predetermined intervals with a predetermined interval therebetween.

The triaxial robot 25 includes a guide portion 25a arranged in the width direction of the conveying path 3 and a horizontal movable portion movably connected to the guide portion 25a in the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the conveying path 3. 25b, a vertically movable portion 25c vertically connected to a side portion of the horizontally movable portion 25b, and a horizontally movable portion 25.
b, and a control unit (not shown) that controls the movement of the vertically movable unit 25c. The arm 24 is arranged on the vertically movable portion 25b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the arm 24 has a connecting portion 24a connected to the vertically movable portion 25c and a connecting portion 24.
The grip portion 23 is arranged via a shaft 24b extending vertically downward from a. The shaft member 23a of the grip portion 23 is connected to the tip member 24c of the shaft 23b with their axes aligned. Also,
A chuck member 23b that is suspended from the shaft member 23a and holds the pin 21 is provided below the shaft member 23a, and a drive unit 23c that drives the chuck member 23a is provided above the chuck member 23b. 23 are configured.

The chuck member 23b is a member having a three-divided shape that allows the pin 21 to be grasped or released by moving it horizontally away from or closer to it. That is, when the chuck members 23b move close to each other by the operation of the drive unit 23c, the tip end portions thereof can enter the inside of the pin 21 (see FIG. 4A).
Further, when the pins 21 enter the inside of the pin 21 and move away from each other (due to the operation of the driving part 23c), the tip end of the pin 21 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pin 21 to grip the pin 21. (See FIG. 4B).

Here, the shaft member 23a is connected to the tip member 24c so as to be swingable at a swing angle of about 5 ° with respect to the vertical direction. This allows the arm 24
The entire grip portion 23 can swing at the swing angle described above, and is provided with a floating mechanism when gripping the pin 21.

Next, a procedure for assembling the piston using the piston assembling apparatus having the pin automatic insertion device 20 will be described below. Here, in this embodiment, one worker E is arranged near the end point 3a of the transport path 3, that is, at the position indicated by the mark E. In addition, the component box 9 containing the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 is attached to the worker E.
Place it near the.

First, when the completed piston 4 moves together with the pallet 6 at the end point 3a of the transport 3, the worker E
After the completed piston 4 is transferred to the transfer device 2, the piston 4 taken out from the parts box 9 is emptied into the pallet 6 that has become empty.
And set the connecting rod 5. This allows the piston 4
The pallet 6 on which the connecting rod 5 is set moves to the return path 7 while the horizontal state is maintained by the elevator mechanism 8a, and moves from the return path 7 to the position indicated by the reference numeral 26 of the transport path 3 via the elevator mechanism 8b. I will do it.

Next, with respect to the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 set on the conveying path 3, the pin automatic insertion device 2
The pin insertion operation by 0 is performed. That is, the arm 24 moves to the pin supply cartridge 22 by the operation of the horizontal movable portion 25b and the vertical movable portion 25b of the triaxial robot 25. Then, the grip portion 2 is provided inside the one pin 21.
The three chuck members 23b that have moved closer to each other enter, and the chuck members 23b are separated from each other to contact the inner peripheral surface of the pin 21 and grip the pin 21.

Then, the arm 24 holding the pin 21
However, due to the operation of the horizontal movable portion 25b and the vertical movable portion 25b, it rises once and moves to the piston 4. Then, it descends toward the connecting portion of the piston 4 and the connecting rod (piston boss hole 4a of the piston 4).

Then, the pin 21 held by the holding portion 23 is inserted into the piston boss hole 4a. The gripping portion 23 after the insertion of the pin 21 is completed by each chuck member 2
When the pins 3b approach each other, the pin 21 is released from the gripped state. Here, since the grip portion 23 is provided with a floating mechanism capable of swinging at a swing angle of about 5 ° with respect to the vertical direction, the axial center of the pin 21 with respect to the axial center of the piston boss hole 4a. The grip 23
Even if is lowered, the contact between the peripheral edge of the piston boss hole 4a and the lower end of the pin 21 corrects the axial center of the pin 21 in the direction in which the axial center of the pin 21 coincides with the axial center of the piston boss hole 4a. The pin 21 is surely inserted into the piston boss hole 4a.

Next, similarly to the assembling steps shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the subsequent steps are automatically performed at the stations S2 to S5 to complete the assembling of the piston 4. Then, the completed piston 4 is moved to the transfer device 2 by the worker E at the end point 3a of the conveyance 3, and the pallet 6 which is emptied is set with the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 taken out from the parts box 9. Hereinafter, by repeating the procedure described above, a continuous piston assembly process is performed.

As can be easily understood from the above description, the pin supply cartridge 2 is provided at the starting point 3b of the conveying path 3.
2. An automatic pin inserting device for automatically grasping one of the pins 21 accommodated in 2 and automatically inserting it into the connecting portion (piston boss hole 4a) between the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 set in the pallet 6. Since 20 is provided, the entire assembly process of the piston 4 in the transport path 3 can be automated.

Further, the grip portion 23 of the automatic pin insertion device 20
Includes a floating mechanism capable of swinging at a predetermined swing angle, so that the pin 21 can be reliably gripped from the pin supply cartridge 22 and the gripping portion 2
Even if the shaft center of 3 and the shaft center of the piston boss hole 4a are slightly deviated, the pin 21 can be reliably inserted into the piston boss hole 4a.

Further, the transport path 3 is provided with elevator mechanisms 8a and 8b continuously arranged below the end point 3a and the start point 3b.
And the return path 7 disposed below the transport path 3 form an endless track, and the piston 4 is transferred to the discharge port for transferring the completed piston 4 at the end of the transfer path 3 to the transfer device 2. Since the empty pallet 6 is provided with the supply port for setting the piston 4 and the connecting rod 5 to be assembled, one worker E transfers the completed piston 4 to the transfer device 2, The piston 4 and connecting rod 5 are set on the pallet 6. As a result, the piston 4 and connecting rod 5 set on the pallet 6 are
Elevator mechanism 8a, return path 7, elevator mechanism 8
Since b is moved to automatically move to the starting point 3b of the transport path 3, it is not necessary to arrange the worker C unlike the conventional apparatus 1. Therefore, it is possible to save labor in the piston assembly process.

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the piston assembling apparatus automatically supplies the pin from the pin supplying section to the starting point of the conveying path and connects the piston and the connecting rod (piston set on the pallet). Since the pin automatic insertion device that automatically inserts the pin into the boss hole) is provided, the piston assembly process can be automated.

The conveying path for assembling the piston is an endless track consisting of an elevator mechanism continuously arranged below the end point and the starting point of the conveying path and a return path arranged below the conveying path. However, since the completed piston at the end of the transfer path is moved to the transfer device, and the supply port to set the piston and connecting rod to be assembled in the pallet that has been moved to the empty piston is provided A worker can perform the work of transferring the completed piston, the work of setting the piston on the empty pallet, and the work of setting the connecting rod. Therefore, the pistons and connecting rods set on the pallet at the supply port automatically move to the start point of the transfer path via the elevator mechanism and the return path, so it is necessary for the worker to place them on the start point side of the transfer path. It is possible to save labor in the piston assembly work,
The piston assembly throughput can be increased.

Further, in the piston assembling apparatus according to the second and third aspects, the automatic pin inserting apparatus is provided with a floating mechanism in which the grip portion can swing at a predetermined swing angle with respect to the vertical axis of the arm. Therefore, one pin can be securely gripped from the pin supply cartridge, and the pin can be securely fitted into the piston boss hole even if the shaft center of the gripping part and the shaft center of the piston boss hole are slightly misaligned. It can be inserted and a highly accurate device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a piston assembly device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a piston assembly device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an arm of the pin automatic insertion device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a chuck member arranged at a lower end portion of an arm and a piston pin to be gripped.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pallet for setting pistons and connecting rods according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional piston assembly device.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional piston assembly device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 transfer device 3 transport path 3a end point of transport path (supply port) 3b start point of transport path 4 piston 5 connecting rod 6 pallet 7 return path 8a, 8b elevator mechanism 9 parts box 20 pin automatic insertion device 21 pin 22 pin supply cartridge 23 grip Part (arm) 23a Shaft member (holding part) 23b Chuck member (holding part) 23c Drive part (holding part) 24c Connecting member (holding part) 24 Arm 25 Three-axis robot

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transfer path for intermittently moving a pallet having pistons and connecting rods from a start point to an end point, and a pallet arranged below the start point and the end point of the transfer path to hold the pallet in a horizontal state and move up and down. An endless track is formed by an elevator mechanism that causes the pallet, which is installed below the transfer path and moves from the elevator mechanism to the start point of the transfer path again, and along the transfer path. In a piston assembling apparatus having a plurality of assembling machines for assembling pistons until reaching the end point of the transfer path, at the end point of the transfer path, a supply port for setting a piston and connecting rod on an empty pallet and placing them on an endless track is provided. Provided, at the starting point of the transport path, set at the supply port,
A piston assembling apparatus, wherein a pin automatic inserting device for automatically inserting a piston pin is arranged at a connecting portion between a piston and a connecting rod on a pallet that has moved through the elevator mechanism and the return path. 2. The piston assembly device according to claim 1, wherein the pin automatic insertion device has a pin supply cartridge accommodating a large number of piston pins and a grip portion for gripping the piston pins, which are arranged in a lower portion. A piston assembling apparatus comprising an arm and a three-axis robot that moves and supports the arm in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a predetermined distance. 3. The piston assembling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gripping portion is provided with a floating mechanism that can swing at a predetermined swing angle with respect to a vertical axis of the arm. Piston assembly device.