JPH08332575A - Method and device for assembling boot band - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide such method and device for assembling a boot band that are low in the equipment cost, that are capable of joining both ends of a boot band surely and with high strength and that are also capable of assembling the boot band automatically. CONSTITUTION: In joining the superposed part of both ends of a boot band M that is wound around the outer circumference of a boot B, direct spot welding is performed between a back plate electrode 6a, which is positioned between the boot B and the boot band M, and a movable electrode 6b which is in presscontact with the boot band M from the outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for fixing a rubber boot covered with a constant velocity joint portion on a drive shaft of an automobile with a metal band in order to protect the constant velocity joint. Boot band assembling method and device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As represented by a drive shaft of an automobile, a constant velocity joint is used for a power transmission mechanism in an automobile and various industrial machines. Such a constant velocity joint is waterproof and dustproof. For that, rubber boots were attached and secured by boot bands.

When such a boot band is assembled to the boot, the boot is fixed to the shaft, and a gap between the boot band and the shaft is sealed, conventionally, a band made of stainless steel is formed into a ring shape and wound around the outer circumference of the boot. Although it has been tried to tighten it by hand, in recent years, some attempts have been made to automate the assembling of such a boot band.

For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 4-171305 and 4-171306, resistance welding is performed by a series spot welding method or an indirect spot welding method in which the both ends of a boot band wound around a boot are overlapped. It is proposed to join by.

Also, the third issue issued in December 1994
In the 77th to 84th pages of the 3rd Laser Thermal Processing Study Group,
Joining of boot bands using a CO ₂ laser has been proposed.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional automation methods have problems in terms of cost and reliability, and have not necessarily reached a satisfactory level.

That is, in the series spot welding method or the indirect spot welding method described in the above publication, it is difficult to concentrate the welding current on the joint portion, so that the required joint strength cannot be satisfied and the strength is increased. Therefore, if the welding current is increased, the strength of the base material portion is lowered and the base material portion is broken.

In addition, in the method by laser welding described in the above-mentioned Laser Thermal Processing Research Papers, not only the equipment cost increases significantly, but also after the coiled band material is wound around the outer periphery of the boot, Since the band material is cut in the compressed state, the cutting burr of the band material faces the boot side, and there is a problem that it cannot be said that the boot will not be damaged, and these problems are solved. This has been a problem in automating the assembly of the boot band.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems with respect to the automation of boot band assembly, and the equipment cost is relatively low, and both end portions of the boot band can be reliably and strongly strengthened. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for assembling a boot band that can be joined and that can be automatically assembled to the boot.

[0010]

A method of assembling a boot band according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that when a boot mounted on a work is fixed to the work using the boot band, the back plate electrode is attached to the outer circumference of the boot. After setting it at the above predetermined position, wrap the boot band cut to a predetermined length around the outer circumference of the boot, position the overlapping part of the boot band on the back plate electrode, and move the movable electrode from the outside to the overlapping part. The assembly method according to claim 2, which is characterized in that the overlapping portion of the boot band is directly spot-welded by pressing the electrodes and energizing between the electrodes. Has a structure in which the cutting burr of the boot band is directed to the outside of the boot when the boot band is wrapped around the boot. And the symptoms, and the means for solving the conventional problems described above the structure of the assembling method of the boot band.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a boot band assembling apparatus, which includes a work positioning means for positioning a work on which a boot is mounted at a predetermined position and a coiled boot band cut to a predetermined length. And a clamp means for winding a boot band of a predetermined length supplied from the band supply means around the outer circumference of the boot, a boot having a back plate electrode and a movable electrode, and a boot wound around the boot between both electrodes. Implementation of a boot band assembling apparatus having a band assembling unit provided with welding means for direct spot welding of overlapping portions of the band and a unit transferring means for moving the band assembling unit to a predetermined position. As an aspect, the assembling apparatus according to claim 4 is a boot van in which the band assembling unit is supplied from the band supplying means. The mounting device according to claim 5 is a position detecting device for further detecting a band mounting position of the boot. In the assembling apparatus according to claim 6, the position detecting means of the band assembling unit also has a function of detecting the outer diameter of the boot band assembled to the boot. It is characterized in that such a structure of the boot band assembling apparatus is used as a means for solving the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0012]

In the method of assembling the boot band according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the both end overlapping portions of the boot band wound around the outer periphery of the boot are joined, they are positioned between the boot and the boot band. Since the direct spot welding is performed between the back plate electrode and the movable electrode pressed against the boot band from the outside, the equipment cost is lower than that of laser welding, and moreover, the predetermined welding current is applied to the joint. Since it does not flow seriously to the base material of the band, the boot band is securely bonded with high strength without breaking the base material. In the method of assembling the boot band according to claim 2 as an embodiment of the assembling method, when the boot band is wound around the outer periphery of the boot, the cutting burr of the boot band is directed to the outside of the boot. The burrs of the boot band do not damage the boot.

A boot band assembling apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a work positioning means, a band supplying means, a band assembling unit having a clamping means and a welding means, and a unit transferring means. Therefore, first, the band supply means cuts the coiled boot band into a predetermined length, supplies it to the clamp means of the band assembly unit, and receives the boot band of the predetermined length from the band supply means. The unit is transferred to a predetermined work position positioned by the work transfer means by the unit transfer means, and at a predetermined position, the clamp means of the band assembling unit winds the boot band around the outer circumference of the boot mounted on the work, and the welding means backs up. The overlapping portion of the boot band wound around the boot between the plate electrode and the movable electrode is DOO adapted to spot welding, a series of boot band assembling work as described above is performed automatically and smoothly.

As an embodiment of the boot band assembling apparatus, the assembling apparatus according to claim 4 is characterized in that the cutting means of the boot band supplied from the band supplying means by the clamping means of the band assembling unit is provided outside the boot. The wrap around mechanism prevents the boot from being damaged by the burrs of the boot band. Similarly, in the assembling apparatus according to claim 5 as an embodiment, since the band assembling unit is provided with the position detecting means for detecting the band attaching position of the boot, there is an error in manufacturing or attaching the work or the boot. In this case, the boot band can be attached to the proper position by accurately detecting the band wearing position. Furthermore, in the assembling apparatus according to claim 6 as an embodiment, since the position detecting means also has a function of detecting the outer diameter of the boot band in the state of being assembled to the boot, the outer diameter and eccentricity of the boot band can be determined. By asking, the quality of the boot band assembly can be judged online.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are for explaining an embodiment of an assembling apparatus applied to a method of assembling a boot band according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall view of the assembling apparatus. It is a front view which shows a structure.

The boot band assembling apparatus 1 shown in the drawing is an automatic apparatus for assembling the boot band to the boot attached to the constant velocity joint portion of the drive shaft for an automobile. Collect chucks 2 and 2 as work positioning means for fixing a work at a predetermined position
And the reels 3a, 3a and band supply device 3 that form a band supply means for cutting the coiled boot band M to a predetermined length and supplying it to the band assembly unit 4 described later.
b, 3b, a clamp device (clamping means) 5 and a welding device (welding means) 6, and a band assembly unit 4 supported horizontally movable along a horizontally extending rail 7.
And the servomotors 8a and 8a and the ball screws 8b and 8b that form unit transfer means for moving the band assembly unit 4 to a predetermined position.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the collect chucks 2 and 2 as the work positioning means are arranged on the pallet P
The work loaded and loaded on the drive shaft S, that is, the drive shaft S having the boot B mounted on the joint portion is held at both ends thereof, and the drive shaft S is positioned at a predetermined position.

In this embodiment, the assembling apparatus 1 has four units.
Drive shaft S with base band assembly unit 4
Two boots B attached to each of two places, convenience 4
The boot band M can be assembled to the place at one time, and each band assembly unit 4 is moved in the left-right direction in the drawing by the operation of the servo motor 8a. .

2 and 3 are a side view and a plan view showing the structure of the band mounting unit 4 in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the band assembly unit 4 includes a beam member 9 on the lower surface of the beam member 9 which is moved by the servo motor 8a and the ball screw 8b, that is, the unit transfer means.
Clamping device 5 slidably supported on the first rail 9a fixed along the length direction of the same and moving left and right by the operation of the cylinder 10, and also fixed on the lower surface of the beam member 9 along the length direction. The welding device 6 is slidably supported by the formed second rail 9b and moves left and right by the operation of the cylinder 11.

The clamp device 5 of the band assembling unit 4 includes a pair of first clamper arms 12a, 12a and second and third clamper arms attached to the tip ends of the first clamper arms 12a, 12a, respectively. Clamper 12 including 12b and 12c, and this clamper 12
A first cylinder 13a for opening and closing the first clamper arms 12a and 12a, a second cylinder 13b for opening and closing the second clamper arm 12b, and a third cylinder 13c for opening and closing the third clamper arm 12c. .

Further, the welding device 6 for the band assembling unit 4
At the time of welding, the back plate electrode 6a (see FIG. 6) is set at a predetermined position of the boot B at the time of welding, and the back electrode cylinder 14 for extracting the back plate electrode 6a after the welding is finished, and the movable electrode 6b at the time of welding are booted. A pressurizing cylinder 15 for press-contacting the boot band M wound around B and a shift cylinder 16 for moving the movable electrode 6b in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 when performing multi-point welding are provided. The symbol 17 shown in FIG. 1 is a welding power source device.

The band supply device 3b of the band supply means is
It has a feeding mechanism for feeding the boot band M wound on the reel 3a and a cutting mechanism for cutting the fed boot band M into a predetermined length (neither is shown).
As indicated by a phantom line in FIG. 1, by operating the servo motor 8a of the unit transfer means, the clamp device 5 of the band assembling unit 4 in the state of being moved to the front surface of the band supply device 3b has a predetermined length. The cut boot band M is supplied. The band supply device 3b is
A band assembling unit 4 which has a mechanism for changing the cutting length of the boot band M and is responsible for the large diameter portion of the boot B.
The length of the boot band M to be supplied is changed between the band assembling unit 4 and the band assembling unit 4 which receives the small diameter portion.

At this time, in the cutting mechanism of the band supply device 3b, the cutting direction is set so that the cutting flash of the boot band M faces the clamper 12 side of the clamp device 5, that is, the outside of the boot B. The clamp device 5, which receives the supply of the boot band M from the band supply device 3b, winds the cutting flash of the boot band M toward the outside of the boot B.

Next, a boot band assembling procedure by the boot band assembling apparatus 1 having the above structure will be described.

First, in FIG. 1, when the drive shaft S having the boot B mounted on the joint portion is placed on the pallet P and carried in, the collect chucks 2 and 2 as the work positioning means sense this. By holding both ends of the drive shaft S, the drive shaft S is fixed at a predetermined position.

Next, the servo motor 8 of the unit transfer means
By the rotation of the ball screws 8b, 8b based on the operation of a, 8a, each band assembly unit 4 moves to the position of the supply device 3b, 3b of the band supply means, as shown by the phantom line in the figure. From the supply devices 3b, 3b,
The boot band M cut into each length is supplied based on the vehicle type information input in advance. At this time, the boot band M supplied to the clamp device 5 of each band assembly unit 4 from the band supply devices 3b, 3b.
As described above, each of the clamper arms 12 has its cutting beam oriented toward the clamper 12 side of the clamp device 5.
a, 12b, 12c are set in the clamper 12 in an open state.

Clamping device 5 for each band assembly unit 4
When the boot bands M are supplied to the clampers 12 and the boot bands M are set on the respective clampers 12, the band assembling units 4 are changed to the vehicle type information by re-operation of the servo motors 8a, 8a of the unit transferring means. Based on this, it moves at high speed to a predetermined reference position. Then, after reaching the reference position, while moving at a low speed, as shown in FIG. 4, the laser chuck (position detecting means) 18 attached to each band assembly unit 4 causes the collect chucks 2 and 2 to operate. The step of the band groove B1 (B2) of the positioned boot B is detected, each band assembly unit 4 stops at each position based on the detected data, and the band groove B1 (B2) of the boot band M is moved to the position. Winding and welding are started.

That is, when the band mounting unit 4 stops at a predetermined position with respect to the boot B of the drive shaft S, first, the back plate electrode 6a is moved to the movable electrode 6b side by the operation of the back electrode cylinder 14 of the welding device 6. It is set on the band groove B1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Needless to say, at this time, the same operation by each band assembling unit 4 is in progress for the band groove B2 and the band groove of the other boot.

After the back plate electrode 6a is set, the pair of first clamper arms 12a, 12a press the boot band M against the band groove B1 of the boot B by the pushing operation of the first cylinder 13a of the clamp device 5. At the same time, the boot band M is wound around the band groove B1 by half its circumference and tightened. Then, by the pushing operation of the second cylinder 13b and then the third cylinder 13c, the second clamper arm 12b and the third clamper arm 12c clamp and tighten the boot band B in this order, and as shown in FIG. Both ends of B are superposed on the back plate electrode 6a.

Then, in this state, the movable electrode 6b is moved forward by the operation of the pressurizing cylinder 15 of the welding device 6 and is pressed against the overlapping portion of the boot band B wound in the band groove B1 of the boot B. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6, a current is supplied between the electrodes 6a and 6b, and the overlapped portion is directly spot welded.

After the first welding is completed, the welding position can be moved by operating the shift cylinder 16 if necessary, and one or more multi-point welding can be performed. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Assembly of the boot band M to the boot B is completed.

After that, as shown in FIG. 8, by using the laser sensor 18 provided in each band assembly unit 4,
By measuring the distance to the boot band M attached to the boot B, the outer diameter and the eccentricity of the boot band M are calculated, and the quality of the attachment of the boot band M is determined based on the obtained data. . When calculating the outer diameter and the amount of eccentricity, it is desirable to use distance data at several points excluding the portion that became the fulcrum of the clamper 12.

The boot band M assembled to the boot B in this manner does not damage the boot B because the cutting burr thereof faces the outside of the boot B, and both ends are subjected to direct spot welding. Since they are joined, they can be joined with high strength without seriously affecting the base material. Incidentally, as a result of comparing the joint strength of the boot band directly spot-welded according to the present invention with the case of the same material and the same size boot band spot-welded by the series method, the breaking load in the case of four-point welding by the series method Was 140 kgf, whereas in the case of direct spot welding, it was confirmed that it can withstand a load of 200 kgf even though it is two-point welding.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
In the method of assembling the boot band according to the above paragraph, both ends of the boot band wound around the outer periphery of the boot between the back plate electrode positioned between the boot and the boot band and the movable electrode pressed against the boot band from the outside. Since we are doing direct spot welding at the overlapping part,
Compared to laser welding, it requires less equipment cost, welding current concentrates on the joint, and the heat of the band base material is less affected, so the base material does not break and the boot band is joined with high strength. Therefore, the boot band can be reliably assembled to the outer peripheral portion of the boot, and the excellent effect that automation can be easily dealt with is brought about. As an embodiment of this boot band assembling method, the assembling method according to claim 2,
When the boot band is wound around the boot, the cutting burr of the boot band is directed to the outside of the boot, so that the damage of the boot due to the cutting burr can be effectively prevented.

A boot band assembling apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention comprises a work positioning means, a band supplying means, a band assembling unit having a clamping means and a welding means, and a unit transferring means. Therefore, a series of boot band assembling operations such as cutting the boot band, winding it around the boot, and welding the overlapping portion of the boot band can be smoothly and surely performed, and the boot band assembly that has been a problem This has an extremely excellent effect that automation of work can be achieved. As an embodiment of this boot band assembling apparatus, in the assembling apparatus according to claim 4, the clamping means of the band assembling unit winds the cutting flash of the boot band supplied from the band supplying means toward the outside of the boot. Therefore, the boot can be prevented from being damaged by the cutting flash, and the assembling apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is also the position detecting means for detecting the band mounting position of the boot on the band assembling unit. Is equipped with
Even if there is an error in manufacturing or mounting the work or boot, the boot band can be assembled at an appropriate position. Further, in the assembly apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the position detecting means is the boot. Since it also has a function to detect the outer diameter of the boot band in the assembled state, it is possible to determine the quality of the boot band assembly online by determining the outer diameter and eccentricity of the boot band. That is an extremely excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall structure of a boot band assembling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view specifically showing the structure of a band assembling unit in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view specifically showing the structure of a band assembling unit in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a position detection procedure in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a side view for explaining a boot band clamping procedure in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining a boot band welding procedure in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the outer appearance of the drive shaft in a state where the boot band has been assembled.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of quality assurance in the boot band assembling apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Boot Band Assembly Device 2 Collect Chuck (Work Positioning Means) 3a Reel (Band Supply Means) 3b Band Supply Equipment (Band Supply Means) 4 Band Assembly Unit 5 Clamping Device (Clamping Means) 6 Welding Equipment (Welding Means) 6a Back plate electrode 6b Movable electrode 8a Servo motor (unit transfer means) 8b Ball screw (unit transfer means) 18 Laser sensor (position detection means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. When a boot attached to a work is fixed to the work using a boot band, a back plate electrode is set at a predetermined position on the outer circumference of the boot, and then the boot band cut into a predetermined length is cut into a boot band. Wrap around the outer circumference, position the overlapping part of the boot band on the back plate electrode, press the movable electrode against the overlapping part from the outside, and energize between both electrodes to directly connect the overlapping part of the boot band. A method of assembling a boot band, which is characterized by spot welding. 2. The method of assembling a boot band according to claim 1, wherein when the boot band is wound around the boot, the cutting flash of the boot band is directed to the outside of the boot. 3. A work positioning means for positioning a work on which boots are mounted at a predetermined position, a band supplying means for cutting a coiled boot band into a predetermined length and supplying the cut boot band, and a predetermined distance supplied from the band supplying means. A band provided with a clamp means for wrapping a boot band of a length around the outer circumference of the boot, and a welding means for direct spot welding the overlapping portion of the boot band wound around the boot between the two electrodes having a back plate electrode and a movable electrode. An apparatus for assembling a boot band, comprising: an assembling unit and a unit transfer means for moving the band assembling unit to a predetermined position. 4. The boot band according to claim 3, wherein the band assembling unit includes a clamp means for winding the cutting flash of the boot band supplied from the band supply means toward the outside of the boot. Assembly device. 5. The boot band assembling apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the band assembling unit further comprises position detecting means for detecting a band wearing position of the boot. 6. The position detecting means of the band assembly unit comprises:
The boot band assembling apparatus according to claim 5, further having a function of detecting an outer diameter of the boot band assembled to the boot.