JPH069827U - Snap ring automatic assembly device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To enable stable and reliable automatic assembly of snap rings. [Structure] A chuck cylinder 95 is fixedly mounted on a movable bracket 87a which is movable in the vertical direction, a claw member 98 is supported by a chuck claw 97 of the chuck cylinder 95, and the movable bracket 87a is supported on the upper side of the claw member 98. The snap ring mounting member 100 and the annular pushing member 101 that is driven up and down by the cylinder 96 are arranged, the claw member 98 is contracted, and the snap ring S is received from the snap ring expanding device. After being held at 100, the claw member 98 is brought close to the work W supported by the work support table, the rubber boot Wc is reduced by the claw member to reduce the step, and then the snap ring S is pressed by the pushing member 101. Is pushed to the work W side.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a snap ring automatic assembling apparatus for automatically assembling a snap ring on a work.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 For example, an upper arm assembly, which is an automobile part, has a rubber boot covering the space between the upper arm and the ball joint, and the rubber boot is generally fixed by using a snap ring. 11 and 12 show a conventional snap ring automatic assembling apparatus used for fixing such a rubber boot, and includes a pedestal 1 and a support frame 2 erected on the pedestal 1. A schematic structure including a snap ring supporting device 3 and a snap ring pushing device 4 supported by the supporting frame 2, and a work supporting base 5 disposed on the pedestal 1 below the snap ring pushing device 3. Has been done.

The snap ring support device 3 includes a rod 8 having a rod guide 6 fixed to the support frame 2 slidably extended and an arm 7 attached to a lower end thereof. The rod 8 is driven up and down by a lifting cylinder 10 fixed to the upper part of the support frame 2 via a bracket 9, and is rotated by a turning actuator 11 fixed to the upper surface of the support frame 2. Has become. A chuck cylinder 12 is supported on the arm 7. The chuck cylinder 12 has a pair of chuck claws 13 that can be opened and closed at its tip, and a snap ring assembly cap 14 (hereinafter, It is designed so that it can be detachably held.

As shown in FIG. 12, the cap 14 includes a body portion 16 having a shaft hole 15 and a skirt portion 17 formed integrally with a lower portion of the body portion 16. The body portion 16 has an upper end side. Is formed as a small diameter portion 16a, and a curved portion 16b is formed between the small diameter portion 16a and the skirt portion 17 so as to be smoothly curved. Further, a stopper 18 is arranged in the shaft hole 15 of the cap 14, and the position of the stopper 18 is fixed by a set bolt 19 screwed into the shaft hole 15. The small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 is gripped by the chuck claw 13 and the arm 7 pivots in accordance with the rotation of the rod 7, thereby pushing the waiting position shown by a broken line in FIG. The position (solid line) will be set. A snap ring S (FIG. 12) is set on the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 at the waiting position.

On the other hand, the snap ring pushing device 4 includes an elevating base 21 which is driven up and down by a pushing cylinder 20 fixed to the upper surface of the support frame 2. A guide rod 23, which is slidably extended with a plurality of rod guides 22 attached to the support frame 2, is connected to the upper surface of the elevating base 21. The elevating base 21 smoothly elevates and lowers with these guide rods 23 as guides. You can do it. Further, on the lower surface of the elevating base 21, push claws 24 are slidably provided in three directions, and claw cylinders 25 for moving the push claws 24 back and forth are arranged. The claw cylinder 25 expands and contracts in synchronization with each other, whereby the three push claws 24 open and close. Further, the work support base 5 has a work receiver 26 at its upper end, and the upper arm assembly W is set on the work receiver 26. The upper arm assembly W is composed of an upper arm Wa, a universal joint Wb assembled to the upper arm Wa, and a rubber boot Wc having one end fixed to the universal joint Wb. Is set to.

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

When the stopper 18 comes into contact with the top of the universal joint Wb, the chuck cylinder 12 operates to open the pair of chuck claws 14 of the chuck cylinder 12 and release the grip of the cap 14. Then, the snap ring S slides down from the small diameter portion 16a to the curved portion 16b due to its own weight, and is locked in the middle portion of the main body portion 16. After that, the pushing cylinder 20 is activated to lower the elevating base 21. At this time, the push claw 24 is in the closed state, but its center is vacant, so it passes through the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14 and rides on the curved portion 16b and abuts on the snap ring S. Further, when the elevating base 21 descends, the push claw 24 gradually descends along the curved portion 16b of the cap 14 against the biasing force of the claw cylinder 25 and descends, and the snap ring S also expands following this. While descending, it rides on the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14. Then, finally, the snap ring S passes through the skirt portion 17, moves on the upper arm Wa while being contracted by its elastic force, and the other end of the rubber boot Wc is fastened and fixed to the upper arm Wa from the outside.

When the snap ring S passes through the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14, the valve (not shown) of the claw cylinder 25 is switched to open the push claw 24, and in accordance with the opening operation of the push claw 24. Then, the pushing cylinder 20 operates to raise the elevating base 21. On the other hand, when the push claw 24 returns to the original position, the chuck cylinder 12 operates to close the pair of chuck claws 14 to grip the small diameter portion 16a of the cap 14, and thereafter, in the reverse order to the above, the arm 7 To return to the waiting position. During this time, the upper arm assembly W to which the snap ring S is assembled is carried out by an ejector (not shown), and one cycle of snap ring assembly is completed.

[0009]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, according to the above-described conventional snap ring automatic assembling apparatus, the skirt portion 17 of the cap 14 is formed to have a size sufficient to accommodate the rubber boot Wc, and therefore the snap portion of the skirt portion 17 and the upper arm assembly W is snapped. There is a problem that a considerably large step is generated between the ring assembly portion (upper arm Wa), the transfer of the snap ring S becomes uncertain, and assembly failure easily occurs. Further, since the stopper 18 is only brought into contact with the universal joint Wb of the upper arm assembly W to position the cap 14, the state of the cap 14 becomes unstable, and the snap ring S does not move like the above. There was a problem that it became stable and defective assembly was likely to occur. Furthermore, since the snap ring S is assembled while backing up the push claw 24 with the claw cylinder 25, it is necessary to make a delicate adjustment of the pressure of the cylinder 25. There was a problem that it was difficult to guarantee 24 smooth movements.

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

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of arc-shaped snap ring expanding surfaces having the same arc radius on the outer circumference, and the snap ring expanding surfaces are movably arranged so as to share the arc center. Snap ring expansion member, first driving means for synchronously moving the plurality of snap ring expansion members, vertically movable around the snap ring expansion member, and the snap ring expansion surface on the inner periphery. A snap ring expanding device provided with an annular first pressing member forming an arc surface having the same arc radius and a second driving means for moving the first pressing member, and above the snap ring expanding device. The snap ring mounting surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface is formed on the outer periphery and the snap ring mounting surface shares the arc center. A plurality of snap ring mounting members fixedly disposed on the inner surface of the snap ring mounting member, and a plurality of snap ring mounting members disposed below the plurality of snap ring mounting members. , A plurality of claw members movably provided so that the guide surface shares an arc center, a third drive means for synchronously moving the plurality of claw members, and slidable on the plurality of snap ring mounting members Snap ring mounting device equipped with an annular second pressing member fitted to the above and a fourth driving means for moving the second pressing member, and a workpiece positioned adjacent to the snap ring expanding device for positioning a workpiece. And a transfer device for moving the snap ring mounting device between the snap ring expansion device and the work supporting device. That.

[0012]

[Action]

 In the snap ring automatic assembly device configured as described above, the snap ring expansion device is brought close to the snap ring expansion device, and the plurality of claw members of the snap ring installation device are contracted to expand the snap ring expansion device. When the annular first pushing member of the device is moved upward, the snap ring is expanded from the snap ring expanding member of the snap ring expanding device to the snap ring mounting member of the snap ring mounting device via the guide surface of the pawl member. It is transferred by. On the other hand, when the snap ring mounting device is moved above the work supporting device by the transfer device and is brought close to the work supporting device and the plurality of claw members are contracted, the second pressing member is moved downward, so that the snap ring mounting device is moved. Is pushed onto the work from the snap ring mounting member via the guide surface of the claw member. When pushing the snap ring onto the work, the pawl member is contracted so that the pawl member presses the rubber boot even if the rubber boot is present on the work side. , The transition step of the snap ring is extremely small. In addition, the position of the claw member is fixed independently of the work, so that the transition of the snap ring is stable. Further, since the second pushing member for pushing the snap ring into the work does not need to be expanded / contracted, no special mechanism such as back-up is required.

[0013]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show the overall structure of the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus according to the present invention. In these drawings, reference numeral 30 denotes a support frame which is erected on a floor 31, and a pair of guide rails 32 are horizontally extended and supported on a front surface of an upper side of the support frame 30. A traveling base 34 is slidably mounted on the pair of guide rails 32 via bearings 33, and a rodless cylinder 35 is horizontally installed on the upper surface of the support frame 31 in the same direction as the extension direction of the guide rails 32. Has been done. The traveling base 34 and the rodless cylinder 35 are connected by a connecting member 38 bridged between a bracket 36 fixed to the traveling base 34 and a bracket 37 fixed to the output portion of the rodless cylinder 35. Therefore, the traveling base 34 is adapted to travel on the pair of guide rails 32 in the left-right direction as seen in FIG. 1 by the operation of the rodless cylinder 35. The traveling base 34, the rodless cylinder 35, and the like constitute one transfer device.

A snap ring inserting device 40 and a snap ring mounting device 41, which will be described later, are provided side by side on the traveling base 34, while the support base 42 provided laterally in the middle part of the support frame 30 is provided. The snap ring cradle 43 and the snap ring expansion device 44 are arranged side by side. The interval between the snap ring insertion device 40 and the snap ring mounting device 41 is the same as the interval between the snap ring cradle 43 and the snap ring expansion device 44. A snap ring S, which will be described later, is supplied from a parts feeder (not shown) to the snap ring cradle 43, and the supplied snap ring S is held at a predetermined position on the snap ring cradle 43. To be done. Further, a work for positioning and holding a work (here, the upper arm assembly) W is provided on one side of the support frame 30 and at a position (snap ring assembly position) P below the extended portion of the guide rail 32. A support device 45 is provided. The work support device 45 includes a transfer pallet 47 that is transferred on a transfer pedestal 46, which will be described in detail later, and a work support base 48 that is erected on the transfer pallet 47. It is set at 48 and is carried into the snap ring assembly position P together with the transfer pallet 47.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the snap ring inserting device 40 has a guide rail 51 fixed vertically to the traveling base 34 and a bearing 52 on the guide rail 51. The movable bracket 53 is slidably mounted on the traveling base 34, and the loading cylinder 55 is mounted on the mountain bracket 54 fixed to the traveling base 34 and supports the movable bracket 53. The movable bracket 53 is a loading cylinder 55. Is operated to move up and down while being guided by the guide rail 51. A pair of rod guides 56 is provided on the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, and a rod 57 is slidably inserted into each rod guide 56. The upper ends of the pair of rods 57 are connected by a synchronizing bar 58, and a chuck mounting plate 59 is bridge-supported at their lower ends. A two-jaw chuck 61 having a pair of chuck claws 60 is mounted on the chuck mounting plate 59.

The chuck claws 60 of the two-claw chuck 61 are opened and closed by the operation of a chuck cylinder 62 fixed to the lower surface of the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, so that the snap ring S can be gripped from the inner diameter side. There is. An ascending / descending cylinder 63 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the lower plate 53a of the movable bracket 53, and the piston rod 63a of the ascending / descending cylinder 63 is connected to the synchronizing bar 58. Therefore, as the piston rod 63a of the lifting cylinder 63 expands and contracts, the 2-jaw chuck 61 moves up and down.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the snap ring expansion device 44 includes a pair of rod guides 65 fixed to the support base 42 and a rod 66 slidably fitted to the rod guides 65. It has and. The lower end of the rod 66 is connected by a synchronizing bar 67, and an elevating cylinder 68 and an expanding cylinder 69 are arranged between the synchronizing bar 67 and the support base 42. The expansion cylinder 69 is fixed to a mount bracket 70 attached to the lower surface of the support base 42, and the lifting cylinder 68 has its head side fixed to the expansion cylinder 69, and its piston rod 68a is connected to the synchronization bar 67. (Figs. 1 and 2). That is, the rod 66 moves up and down by the operation of the lifting cylinder 68.

A six-jaw chuck 71 is fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the support base 42. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the 6-claw chuck 71 includes a bottomed cylindrical chuck body 72 and a plurality of chuck bodies 72 mounted on the chuck body 72 in a radially slidable manner. Six sliding members 73 and chuck claws (snap ring expansion members) 74 attached to each sliding member 73 are provided. Each chuck claw 74 of the 6-claw chuck 71 has an arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 with the same arc radius formed on the outer periphery of the upper part thereof, and the snap ring expansion surface 75 is arranged so as to share the arc center. ing. At the axial center position inside the chuck body 72, a drive shaft 77, which is slidably extended a linear bush 76 fixed to the support base 42, is arranged. The base end of the drive shaft 77 is connected to the piston rod 69a of the expansion cylinder 69 and is vertically moved by the operation of the cylinder 69.

A plurality of L-shaped levers 78 corresponding to the sliding members 73 are rotatably supported on the chuck body 72 by hinge pins 79, and each lever 78 has one end portion. The other end of the sliding member 73 is fitted in the fitting groove 73a formed in the upper end of the drive shaft 77. The expansion cylinder 69, the drive shaft 77, the lever 78, etc. constitute a first drive means, and the expansion cylinder 69 operates to move the drive shaft 77 up and down, whereby the lever 78 rotates and each slide. The member 73 slides inward or outward in the radius in synchronism, and accordingly, the chuck claws 74 open and close in synchronism. A stopper 80 that engages with the drive shaft 77 and restricts its upward movement is screwed into the central portion of the chuck body 72, and the amount of movement of the drive shaft 77 can be adjusted by adjusting the screwing depth. Is adjusted.

Further, a support plate 81 having a center hole 81a through which the chuck claw 74 is inserted is bridge-supported at the upper end of the rod 66, and an annular first pressing member is provided around the center hole 81a of the support plate 81. Gold (first pushing member) 82 is fixed. The first pusher 82 is provided with a pushing portion 83 having an arcuate surface 83a having the same arc radius as the arcuate snap ring expanding surface 75 formed on the chuck claw 74 on the inner peripheral side thereof. The first pusher 82 moves up and down along the chuck claw 74 as the rod 66 moves up and down by the operation of the lifting cylinder 68, and the snap ring S exists on the snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck claw 74. If this is done, it is pushed up, and the lifting cylinder 68, rod 66, etc. constitute the second drive means. Further, among the six chuck claws 74, the escape grooves 84 are formed at the tops of the two chuck claws that are arranged facing each other (FIG. 7). When setting the snap ring S on the snap ring expansion device 44, the chuck claw 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 of the snap ring input device 40 does not interfere with the chuck claw 74 of the six-jaw chuck 71 of the snap ring expansion device 44. It is provided. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the pressing portions 83 and the chuck claws 74 of the first pressing metal 82 are arranged so as to alternate with each other at equal intervals. The pushing portion 83 may be formed in an annular shape.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the snap ring mounting device 41 is slidable via a bearing 86 (FIG. 3) on a pair of guide rails 85 provided vertically on the traveling base 34. It is equipped with a movable bracket 87 attached and a mounting cylinder 89 attached to a mount bracket 88 fixed to the traveling base 34 and supporting the movable bracket 87. The movable bracket 87 responds to the operation of the mounting cylinder 89. Are guided by a pair of guide rails 78 to move up and down. A bottom plate 87a (FIG. 9) of the movable bracket 87 is provided with a pair of rod guides 90, and rods 91 are slidably fitted in the rod guides 90. The upper end of each rod 91 is connected by a synchronizing bar 92, while the lower end of the rod 91 has a pusher plate 93 supported by a bridge.

A casing 94 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 87a of the movable bracket 87, and the chuck portion 95a of the 4-jaw chuck cylinder (third driving means) 95 is housed and held in the casing 94. ing. The head portion 95b of the 4-jaw chuck cylinder 95 penetrates the bottom plate 87a of the movable bracket 87 and is projected upward, and the push portion cylinder (fourth driving means) 96 is fixedly mounted on the head portion 95b. The piston rod 96a (FIG. 1) of the presser cylinder 96 is connected to the synchronizing bar 92. Therefore, the rod 91, that is, the pusher plate 93, moves up and down according to the operation of the pusher cylinder 96.

Reference numeral 97 denotes four chuck claws of the four-claw chuck cylinder 95, 98 denotes a pressing claw (claw member) supported by the chuck claw 97, and the pressing claw 98 has a snap ring of the snap ring expansion device 44 on its outer circumference. It has an arc surface (guide surface) 98a having the same arc radius as the expansion surface 75 (FIG. 7). The chuck claw 97 is opened and closed according to the operation of the four-claw chuck cylinder 95, and accordingly, the pressing claw 98 is also opened and closed according to the operation of the chuck cylinder 95. However, the snap ring mounting bracket (snap ring mounting member) 100 is located between the four chuck claws 97 and has an arc surface 99 having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface 75 of the snap ring expansion member 74 on the outer circumference. Are arranged. The snap ring fitting 100 is fixed to the casing 94 so that the arc surface 99 shares the arc center. The pressing claw 98 is arranged below the snap ring fitting 100. Further, an annular second pusher (second pusher member) 101 which is slidably fitted to the snap ring fitting 100 is fixed to the pusher plate 93. The second pusher 101 slides along the snap ring fitting 100 by the pusher mounting plate 93 moving up and down by the operation of the pusher cylinder 96.

A stopper metal fitting 105 is provided on one side of the traveling base 34, and a stopper 106 engageable with the stopper metal fitting 105 is provided on the support frame 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2). . The stopper 106 is fixedly supported by a piston rod of a stopper cylinder 107 fixedly mounted on the support frame 30, and can be retracted and retracted at a position where it can be engaged with the stopper fitting 105. When the stopper 107 moves forward due to the operation of the cylinder 107, the stopper fitting 105 comes into contact with the stopper 106, and the movement of the traveling base 34 to the left as seen in FIG. 1 is restricted. The device 40 is now positioned over the snap ring expander 44.

The work supporting device 45 includes a work positioning two-claw chuck cylinder 110 corresponding to the work supporting base 48 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The two-claw chuck cylinder 110 is fixedly mounted on the support base 42 of the support frame 30, and has a pair of gripping hands 111 at the tip thereof, which can hold the base of the upper arm Wa of the work (upper arm assembly) W. The transfer pallet 47 provided with the work support base 48 is movably supported by the support guide roller 112 and the auxiliary guide roller 113 disposed on the upper part of the transfer base 46, and is lifted up at a proper position above the transfer base 46. Lifting is prevented by the prevention member 114. A transfer bar 115 is provided so as to be movable in the arrangement direction of the transport base 46, and is reciprocally moved by a servo motor 116. The transfer bar 115 is provided with a support member 117 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the transfer pallet 47 so that the support member 117 stands up and its tip engages with the transfer pallet 47 during transfer. The pallet 47 is carried into the snap ring mounting position P according to the movement of the transfer bar 115. An auxiliary work support base 48a for supporting the arm tip of the upper arm Wa of the upper arm assembly W is provided adjacent to the work support base 48 on the transfer pallet 47.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a plurality of positioning pins arranged at the snap ring mounting position P for positioning the transport pallet 47. The positioning pin 118 is slidably extended on a rod guide 120 fixed to a substrate 119 provided on the carrier frame 46, and its base end (lower end) is connected by a synchronizing bar 121. The synchronizing bar 121 is connected to a piston rod 122a of a positioning cylinder 122 fixed to a substrate 119, and the positioning pin 118 is moved upward by the operation of the cylinder 122 to shorten the piston rod 122a. As a result, the tip of the positioning pin 118 engages with the transfer pallet 47, and the transfer pallet 47 is positioned at a predetermined position within the snap ring assembly position P.

The operation of the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

At the time of assembling the snap ring, the traveling base 34 is moved to the right end in FIG. 1 in advance, and the snap ring inserting device 40 is positioned above the snap ring receiving base 43. At this time, the movable bracket 53 and the two-claw chuck 61 in the snap ring inserting device 40 are at the rising end, and the chuck claw 60 is in a closed state. Further, in the snap ring expansion device 44, the piston rod 69a of the expansion cylinder 69 is contracted so that the chuck claw 74 of the 6-claw chuck 71 is closed, and the piston rod of the lifting cylinder 68 is When extended, the first pusher 82 is at the lower end. Further, in the snap ring attachment device 41, the movable bracket 87 and the second pusher 101 are at the rising end, and the pressing claw 98 is closed.

In the above-mentioned state, when the snap ring S is sent from the parts feeder (not shown) to the snap ring receiving base 43, the closing cylinder 55 of the snap ring inserting device 40 is actuated to set the movable bracket 53 to a predetermined position. Lower to position. When the movable bracket 53 descends to a predetermined position, the lifting cylinder 63 operates, the piston rod 63a is shortened, and the two-jaw chuck 61 is held at a predetermined position, that is, the chuck claw 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 grips the snap ring S. Lower to a position where you can. At this stage, the chuck cylinder 62 operates to open the chuck claws 60 of the two-claw chuck 61 and grip the snap ring S from the inside. After that, the lifting cylinder 63 operates again to raise the two-jaw chuck 61.

When the 2-jaw chuck 61 moves up, the rodless cylinder 35 operates this time to move the traveling base 34 leftward in FIG. At this time, the stopper cylinder 107 operates, the piston rod of the stopper cylinder 107 extends and the stopper 106 advances, the stopper metal fitting 105 of the traveling base 34 abuts on the stopper 106, and the traveling base 34 moves to its position. Stop at. That is, the snap ring input device 40 is positioned just above the snap ring expansion device 44. Next, the ascending / descending cylinder 63 in the snap ring feeding device 40 operates, and the piston rod 63a is shortened to lower the two-jaw chuck 61, whereby the chuck claw 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61 moves the snap ring expanding device 44. The 6-jaw chuck 71 approaches to the vicinity of the chuck jaw 74. After that, the chuck cylinder 62 operates to close the chuck jaws 60 of the two-jaw chuck 61, the grip of the snap ring S by the two-jaw chuck 61 is released, and the snap ring S chucks the six-jaw chuck 71 by its own weight. It falls on the nail 74.

When the snap ring S falls on the chuck jaws 74 of the 6-jaw chuck 71, the lifting cylinder 63 operates to raise the 2-jaw chuck 61, and the loading cylinder 55 operates to move the movable bracket 53. Raise. Then, the rodless cylinder 35 operates to move the traveling base 34 to the right in FIG. 1 and return the snap ring inserting device 40 to the original position shown in FIG. At the same time, the stopper cylinder 107 is operated so that the stopper 106 is retracted. On the other hand, the expansion cylinder 69 of the snap ring expansion device 44 is actuated to extend the piston rod 69a and move the drive shaft 77 upward until it abuts the stopper 79. As a result, the plurality of levers 78 rotate about the hinge pin 79, and the respective sliding members 73 move in synchronism with the outer direction. As a result, the chuck claws 74 of the 6-jaw chuck 71 also synchronize with the outer direction. By moving, the snap ring S is expanded to a predetermined size by the arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck claw 74. At this time, the pressing portion 83 of the annular first pusher 82 is located just below the snap ring S, and the circular arc center of the circular arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck claw 74 and the annular first presser. The arc center of the arc surface 83a of the pushing portion 83 of the gold 82 is on the same axis.

After that, the mounting cylinder 89 of the snap ring mounting device 41 is activated to lower the movable bracket 87 to a predetermined position. When the movable bracket 87 descends to a predetermined position, the tip of the pressing claw 98 descends to the vicinity of the chuck claw 74 of the 6-claw chuck 71 of the snap ring expansion device 44, and the arc-shaped snap ring expansion surface 75 of the chuck claw 74, The circular arc center of the circular arc surface 83a of the pressing portion 83 of the annular first pusher 82, the circular arc surface 98a of the pressing claw 98, and the circular arc surface 99 of the snap ring mounting bracket 100 are on the same axis. Then, when the movable bracket 87 descends to a predetermined position, the elevating cylinder 68 of the snap ring expansion device 44 operates and moves the annular first pusher 82 upward. Then, the snap ring S is pushed upward by the pushing portion 83 of the first pusher 82 and moves from the chuck claw 74 of the 6-claw chuck 71 to the circular arc surface 98a of the pressing claw 98 and the circular arc of the snap ring mounting tool 100. It moves to surface 99 and is attached to snap ring attachment metal fitting 100 by its own elastic force.

When the snap ring S is mounted on the snap ring mounting bracket 100, the lifting cylinder 68 of the snap ring expansion device 44 operates to lower the annular first pusher 82 and expand the cylinder 69. Is operated to lower the drive shaft 77, and the chuck claw 74 of the 6-claw chuck 71 is closed. That is, the snap ring expansion device 44 returns to the original position. On the other hand, the mounting cylinder 89 of the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to raise the movable bracket 87, and the rodless cylinder 35 operates to move the traveling base 34 to the left in FIG. The ring mounting device 41 is moved to above the snap ring mounting position P.

The upper arm assembly W is positioned and mounted on the work support bases 48, 48a of the transfer pallet 47 in the previous step, and the transfer pallet 47 is carried into the snap ring assembly position P at a predetermined timing. . When the transfer pallet 47 is carried in, the positioning pin 122 is moved upward by the operation of the positioning cylinder 122, and the transfer pallet 47 is positioned at a predetermined position. Then, the positioning two-jaw chuck cylinder 110 is actuated, the base of the upper arm Wa is gripped by the pair of gripping hands 101, and the position of the upper arm assembly W is fixed. In this way, the upper arm assembly W is positioned at the snap ring mounting position P, and upon completion of this positioning, the 4-claw chuck cylinder 95 in the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to open the pressing claw 98, and at the same time. The mounting cylinder 89 operates to lower the movable bracket 87 to a predetermined position. When the tip of the pressing claw 98 is in a state of surrounding the rubber boot Wc of the upper arm assembly W on the work support 48 (FIG. 9), the four-claw chuck cylinder 95 operates to close the pressing claw 98 and The boot Wc is compressed from the outside. As a result, the arc center of the arc surface 98a of the pressing claw 98 and the arc center of the arc surface 99 of the snap ring fitting 100 are on the same axis.

Then, the pusher cylinder 96 operates, and the piston rod 96a is shortened to move the annular second pusher 101 downward. Then, the snap ring S is pushed downward by the annular pusher 96, and is assembled at a predetermined position of the upper arm assembly W from the snap ring mounting metal fitting 100 via the circular arc surface 98a of the pressing claw 98. That is, the snap ring S is pushed downward by the annular pusher 96, is separated from the tip of the pressing claw 98, and at the same time contracts due to the elastic force, and is attached to the rubber boot Wc at a predetermined position on the upper arm Wa. Thus, the rubber boot Wc is firmly fixed to the upper arm assembly W 1. At this time, since the rubber boot Wc is compressed by the pressing claw 98 and the transition step of the snap ring S is reduced, the transition of the snap ring S becomes smooth and the assembly is stable.

When the snap ring S is assembled at a predetermined position of the upper arm assembly W, the four-claw chuck cylinder 95 of the snap ring mounting device 41 operates to open the pressing claw 98 and release the pressing of the rubber boot Wc. At the same time, the mounting cylinder 89 operates to raise the movable bracket 87. When the movable bracket 87 rises, the 4-claw chuck cylinder 95 operates to close the pressing claw 98, and the rodless cylinder 35 also operates to move the traveling base 34 to the right in FIG. Return 41 to its original position. On the other hand, the positioning two-jaw chuck cylinder 110 in the work supporting device 45 is actuated to release the grip of the upper arm assembly W by the pair of gripping hands 101, and at the same time, the positioning cylinder 122 is actuated to operate the positioning pin. 118 is retracted and the positioning of the carrier pallet 47 by the positioning pin 118 is released. The transfer pallet 47 is then transferred to the next step by the transfer bar 107 moving forward by the operation of the pulse motor 108, whereby one cycle of snap ring assembly is completed.

[0038]

[Effect of device]

 As described above in detail, according to the snap ring automatic assembling apparatus according to the present invention, since the snap ring mounting apparatus has the claw member which can be expanded and contracted, even if the rubber boot is not provided on the work side. Even if there is, the rubber boot can be compressed by the claw member and the transition step of the snap ring can be made extremely small, the transition of the snap ring to the work becomes smooth, and the assembly is remarkably stable. Further, since the position of the claw member can be fixed independently of the work by the driving means in the snap ring mounting device, the snap ring can be assembled more stably. Moreover, since the pushing member for pushing the snap ring into the work does not need to be expanded / contracted, a special mechanism such as a backup is not required and the operability is improved. Furthermore, since the snap ring expansion device is organically combined with the snap ring mounting device so that the snap ring can be delivered and received smoothly, the snap ring assembly can be fully automated.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 6 is a front view showing, as a partial cross section, a snap ring expansion device that is a part of the present snap ring automatic assembly device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the snap ring expansion device seen from above.

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

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a partial section of a snap ring mounting device that is a part of the present snap ring automatic assembly device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the snap ring attachment device as seen from below.

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

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Support frame 34 Traveling base 40 Snap ring feeding device 41 Snap ring mounting device 43 Snap ring receiving device 44 Snap ring expanding device 45 Work support device 47 Transfer pallet 48 Work support platform 68 Lifting cylinder (second drive means) 69 Expansion cylinder (first drive means) 74 Snap ring expansion member 75 Snap ring expansion surface 82 First pushing member 83a Arc surface of first pushing member 95 4-jaw chuck cylinder (third driving means) 96 Pusher Cylinder (4th drive means) 98 Claw member 98a Claw member guide surface (arc surface) 99 Snap ring mounting bracket 100 arc surface 100 Snap ring mounting bracket 100 101 Second pressing member 110 Positioning 2-jaw chuck cylinder W work (upper arm assembly)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Onoki 1 Toyota-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A plurality of snap ring expansion members, each having an arcuate snap ring expansion surface having the same arc radius formed on an outer periphery thereof, the snap ring expansion surface being movably disposed so as to share the arc center. First driving means for synchronously moving a plurality of snap ring expansion members, vertically movable around the snap ring expansion members, and forming an arc surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring expansion surface on the inner circumference. A ring-shaped first pushing member and a second driving means for moving the first pushing member, and a snap ring expanding device, which is disposed above the snap ring expanding device so as to be able to approach and separate from the snap ring expanding device. A plurality of slits are formed on the outer circumference of the snap ring expansion surface, the snap ring mounting surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring mounting surface, and the snap ring mounting surfaces are fixedly arranged so as to share the arc center. A nap ring mounting member, which is disposed below the plurality of snap ring mounting members, forms an arcuate guide surface having the same arc radius as the snap ring mounting surface on the outer periphery, and the guide surfaces share the arc center. A plurality of claw members that are movably provided to the third claw member, a third driving unit that synchronously moves the plurality of claw members, and an annular second pressing member that is slidably fitted to the plurality of snap ring mounting members. And a snap ring mounting device having a fourth drive means for moving the second pushing member, a work support device disposed adjacent to the snap ring expansion device for positioning and mounting a work, and the snap ring. An automatic snap ring assembling device comprising a transfer device for moving a mounting device between the snap ring expanding device and the work supporting device.