JPS61284332A - Elastic membrane opening end fitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to automate the fitting operation of a boot to the outer periphery of a part by moving a holding section for fitting in the released condition of holding by means of a holding section for alignment toward the part connected to a shaft together with the boot. CONSTITUTION:A holding section 81 for alignment is of nearly same configuration as that of a holding section 82 for fitting supporting the boot 17 on the portion other than an opening end 17a from both sides and has a semi circle shaped jaw 83 of nearly same internal diameter as the external diameter of the boot 17. And the holding section 82 for fitting has an auxiliary holding section 82a forming a semi circle shaped jaw holding the small diameter side end section 17b of the boot 17. Each of the holding sections 81 and 82 is connected to arms 84 and 85 becoming a couple, and the arms 84 and 85 are rotated around the supporting shaft 87 fixed to a moving unit 86 as a holding section moving means. The moving unit 86 is connected to the cylinder 99 fixed on a side wall 44 through a rod 98.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an apparatus for automatically fitting the open end of a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane attached to a shaft onto the outer periphery of a component connected to the shaft. Regarding.

(Prior Art) A power transmission groove is essential for transmitting the rotational force of an engine as a prime mover to driving wheels and driving the vehicle as a driven object, such as in an automobile.

This mechanism is described in "Automotive Engineering Volume 9, Power Transmission Device,
Editor: Automotive Engineering Complete Book Editorial Committee, published by Sankaido Co., Ltd. as shown in J.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of an automobile drive shaft in which a constant velocity join is assembled to the shaft as the power transmission tUt.

In this drive shaft, a tri-board type constant velocity joint 2 is attached to the left side of the shaft 1 in the figure, and a bell type constant velocity joint 3 is attached to the right side in the figure. These constant velocity joints 2.degree. 3 are essential for front wheel drive so-called FF vehicles, and have the function of maintaining a constant rotational speed transmitted from the shaft to the joint even when the front wheels are steered.

In this case, the tri-board type constant velocity joint 2 is on the final drive side (wheel side), and has an inner race 6 in which female serrations 5 corresponding to male serrations 4 formed on the shaft 1 are cut, Spiders 7 are arranged on the outer periphery of the inner race 6 at three equal intervals in the circumferential direction and protrude, and a spherical roller 8 is rotatably held on the outer periphery of the spider 7, and these are housed so as to be slidable in the axial direction. It has a housing 9 and a boot 10 made of a rubber material or the like to keep the inside waterproof and dustproof. In order to prevent the shaft 1 from coming off the inner race 6, a circlip 11 is attached to the shaft. Further, a final drive side shaft 12 is connected to the housing 9.

In such a tri-board type constant velocity joint 2, the inner race 6 and the spherical roller 8 attached to the end of the shaft 1 are in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the housing, so that the shaft 1 is aligned with the axis of the final drive shaft 12. It allows rotational force to be transmitted at a constant speed despite this.

Further, the bell-shaped constant velocity joint 3 is on the wheel side (drive side) in this case, and the inner race 13 has female serrations 5 corresponding to the male serrations 4 formed on the shaft 1. A steel ball 15 rotatably held in a ball cage 14 on the outer periphery of this inner race 13, a housing 16 in which this steel ball 15 is inscribed, and a rubber boot 17 for keeping the interior waterproof and dustproof. has. In the case of this constant velocity joint 3 as well, a circlip 11 is attached to the shaft to prevent the shaft 1 from moving away from the inner race 13. Further, a wheel-side shaft 18 is connected to the housing 16. In such a bell-shaped constant velocity joint 3, the inner race 13 attached to the end of the shaft 1 and the steel balls 15 held in the ball cage 14 slide against the inner peripheral wall of the housing 16, so that the shaft 1 is moved toward the wheel side. shaft 1
8 is allowed to be tilted relative to the axis, and rotational force is transmitted at a constant speed despite this.

In the case of this drive shaft, the spider 7 attached to the end of the shaft 1 slides on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 9 in the axial direction within the tri-port type constant velocity joint 2 on the final drive side, and heats up. This is intended to absorb axial movement of the shaft 1 due to strain or other causes. Furthermore, regardless of the axial movement of the shaft 1, the rotational force of the shaft 1 is effectively transmitted to the final drive side shaft 12 via the housing 9.

Each joint 2, 3 is
．． Each sliding contact portion (inner race 6
．． 13, spider 7, spherical roller 8, steel ball 15, etc.). Since it is necessary for this sliding contact portion to slide smoothly, it is necessary to inject a predetermined amount of grease into the housings 9 and 16.

As a pre-process of injecting a predetermined amount of grease into the inside of this housing 9.16, the small-diameter open end of the boot 10.17 as a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane is inserted into the boot mounting groove 18, 1b formed in the shaft 1. The work involved installing parts 10b and 17b, assembling joints 2 and 3 on both ends of the shaft with each boot 10 and 17 installed on the shaft, and assembling joints 1-2 and 3 on both ends of the shaft. the large diameter open end 10a of the boot 10.17.

17a to the outer periphery of each casing 9.16.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the assembly process of such a drive shaft, the large-diameter open end 10 of the boot 10.17 as the elastic membrane body
The work of fitting a and 17a onto the outer periphery of each casing 9 and 16 was carried out as in the conventional method.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, the shaft 1 is fixed with some kind of tool or device, and the axis of the wheel-side shaft 18 in the joint 3 assembled to the end of the shaft 1 is tilted with respect to the shaft 1, and the casing 16 A part of the outer periphery of is located inside the boot 17. Next, driver 19
A part of the large-diameter end 17a of the boot 17 is expanded using a tool such as the following. At the same time, move the casing 1 so that the axis of the wheel side shaft 18 is aligned with the axis of the shaft 1.
6, the large-diameter open end 17a of the boot 17 fits onto the outer periphery of the casing.

In this way, the work of fitting the large-diameter open end 17a of the boot 17 as an elastic membrane body onto the outer periphery of the casing is completed, but all of the above work was performed manually. For this reason, the work requires skill, and an unskilled worker has to open the boot several times using a tool such as a screwdriver, which takes a long time.

There is a risk of damaging soft rubber boots with tools such as screwdrivers, and if they are damaged,
The work of assembling joints 2 and 3 had to be redone, which significantly delayed the process time and potentially increased manufacturing costs.

The present invention has been made by focusing on such conventional problems, and the present invention has been made by mechanically attaching the open end of a boot, which is a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane body attached to a shaft, to the outer periphery of a component connected to the shaft. The aim is to reduce working time and reliability of work by automatically fitting the parts into place, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention achieves the above object by fitting an open end of a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane attached to a shaft onto the outer periphery of a component connected to the shaft. In the apparatus for fitting an open end of an elastic membrane body, a gripping part for holding the frontage from both sides and centering the center of the opening end with respect to the center of the outer periphery of the component; A fitting grip part that grips a part other than the front end of the elastic membrane body gripped by the mandrel U grip part, and the fitting grip part in a state where the grip by the mandrel grip part is released. and a gripping part moving means for moving the part together with the elastic membrane body in the axial direction toward the component.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device for fitting an open end of an elastic membrane body according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a partially broken section taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the entire device in which the device for fitting the open end of the elastic membrane body is used; FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the operation of the positioning device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 (
A) to (D) are side views of main parts showing the effect of the present invention,
Components common to those shown in FIG. 8.9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and some explanations thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the opening end fitting device 80 of the elastic membrane body according to the present invention, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, is as shown in FIG.
Used in one process when assembling automotive drive shafts. Since this work process is all performed automatically, the opening end fitting device 8 of the elastic membrane body according to the present invention
It is necessary to align the shaft 1 and the joints 2 and 3, which are the workpieces, with the opening end fitting device 80. The second positioning device @32.33 is connected.

Therefore, the opening end fitting device 80 of the elastic membrane body according to the present invention
Before explaining in detail, first. Second positioning device 3
2.33 will be explained.

As shown in Figure 3, in the previous process, a tri-board type constant velocity joint 2 and a bell type constant velocity joint 3 were attached to the shaft 1.
The shaft component with which the
It is located between the positioning device 33 and the positioning device 33.

The first positioning device e32 is mounted on a first base 35 that is guided by a guide rail 34 and can move forward and backward in the axial direction of the shaft 1.

The first base 35 is driven by an NC (numerical control) motor (not shown), and is configured to control forward and backward movement of the first base with considerable accuracy.

This NC motor serves as a first driving means for a first gripping means, which will be described later.

A stopper 36 is fixed to the right end of the first base 35 in FIG. 3, and cylinders 38 and 39 for moving the rod 37 forward and backward in two stages are connected to the stopper 36. These cylinders 38 and 39 are fixed to the first base 35 by detents 40.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the rod 37 has a lever receiver part 37a formed at its tip, and the lever receiver is attached to one side of the L-shaped levers 41 and 41. The first @41a and 41a are connected. The center base of this "R" shaped lever 41.41 is rotatably connected to a bracket 43.43 by a support shaft 42.42, and the bracket 43.43 is connected to a side wall 44 erected on the base 35.
．． It is fixed at 44. The other end portions 41b, 41b of the lever 41.41 are part of the pant portion 47a of the arm 47.47, which moves guided by two upper and lower guide bars 45.46 that are stretched between the side walls 44.44. .

It is connected to 47a. Arm 47. 47 other end 47
b, 47b are provided with clamp claws 48 as first gripping means.
48 is fixed.

The clamp claws 48, 48 are provided with a clamp on the outer periphery of the wheel-side shaft 18 at the joint 3, which is connected so that the intersection angle of the axis of the wheel-side shaft 18 with respect to the shaft 1 is variable within a predetermined range and cannot be moved relative to the wheel direction. A clamping edge 48a is formed which abuts and fixes the axial position of the clamping edge 48a (see FIG. 3). Further, the clamp claws 48, 48 have seat surfaces 48b, 48b that come into contact with the first reference surface 16a formed in the joint 3. This first criterion
6-a, since shaft 1 and joint 3 cannot move relative to each other in the axial direction, joint 21 of shirt [・1]
This serves as a reference for the relative axial position to.

The first base 35 is connected to the shaft 1 by an NC motor (not shown) as a first driving means.
When moving forward with respect to the shaft 1, the first reference surface 16a comes into contact with the first reference surface 16a and moves the first reference surface 16a, which was at the position a in FIG. 6, in the axial direction together with the shaft 1 to a predetermined first initial position. It has become. At that time, the cylinder 38 is actuated to move the rod 37 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
1 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the arm 47 is moved in the direction of arrow C, and the wheel-side shaft 18 is clamped in the middle. Here, the intermediate clamp is a state in which the shaft 18 is not completely gripped, but the shaft 18 is not completely gripped.
8 is held to such an extent that the axis of the shaft 1 is substantially aligned with the axis of the shaft 1.

When the first reference surface 1ba is moved forward to a predetermined initial position by the NC motor as the first driving means, the clamp claw 48 as the first gripping means The movement completely grips the wheel side shaft 18. At that time, the seat surface 48b is in contact with the first reference surface 16a. After that, the clamp claw 48 as this first gripping means
grips the wheel-side shaft 18, moves the joint 3 and the shaft 1 backward by moving the first base 35 backward with the NC motor serving as the first driving means, and moves the first reference member 16a to the first position. It is arranged to be located at the reference position C.

On the other hand, the first positioning device 33 is installed on a second base 57 that is guided by a guide rail 56 and can move forward and backward in the axial direction of the shaft 1. This second base 57 is driven by a pressure cylinder or the like (not shown),
Shirt]~1 is placed by the pallet 31 on the first. When it is conveyed between the second positioning devices 32 and 33, it moves forward in one direction of the shaft.

A movable base 59 is held on the second base 57 via a guide rail 58 so as to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction of the shaft 1 . This movable base 59 is connected to a cylinder 61.62 via a fixed part 60.
2 is fixed on the first base 57 by a rotation stopper 63. Further, this cylinder 61.132 is connected to the second base 57.
Its axial movement is regulated by a stopper 64 fixed above, and the expansion and contraction of each cylinder 61, 62 causes
The movable base 59 can be moved forward and backward in two steps in the axial direction of the shaft 1. These two cylinders 61 and 62 serve as second driving means for driving a second gripping means, which will be described later.

A fixed part 60 fixed on the movable base 59 has a cylinder 65 on the side opposite to the side to which the cylinders 61 and 62 are connected.
．． 66 are connected, and these cylinders 65, 66 are installed on the moving base 59 by a detent 67. A rod 68 is attached to the cylinders 65 and 66, and is configured to move forward and backward in two stages as the cylinders 65 and 66 expand and contract.

This rod 68 corresponds to the rod 37 shown in FIG.
Similarly, a lever holder 68a (corresponding to the reference numeral 37a shown in FIG. 2) is formed at the tip of the lever, and a lever 69 (
In the same figure, the tips of the parts (corresponding to the reference numeral 41) are connected.

The lever 69 rotates about the support shaft like the lever 41 shown in FIG. 2, and moves the arm 70 (corresponding to the reference numeral 47 in FIG. ,
45 and 46). A clamp claw 73 as a second gripping means, which corresponds to the clamp claw 48 as the first gripping means shown in FIG. 4, is fixed to the tip of the arm 70.

This clamp claw 73 is similar to the clamp claw 4 shown in FIGS.
8, and as shown in FIG. 6, the joint 2, which is connected to the shaft 1 so as to be movable in the axial direction, comes into contact with the outer periphery of the final drive side shaft 12 and fixes its axial center position. Clamping edge 73a
have.

Similarly, the clamp claw 73 is attached to the seat surface −7 that comes into contact with the second reference surface 9a formed in the joint 2.
Has 3b. This reference surface 9a serves as a reference for the relative position of the joint 2 with respect to the shaft 1 in the axial direction.

The seat surface 73b has a cylinder 61 as a second driving means.
, 62 are driven and extended, and when the movable base 59 moves forward with respect to the shaft 1, it comes into contact with the second reference 9a, and the second reference 9a, which was at position d in FIG.
2 to a predetermined second initial position e in the axial direction.

At that time, the cylinder 65 is extended, drives the rod 68 and the lever 69, and the clamp claw 73 clamps the shaft 12 in the middle. Here, the intermediate clamp refers to a state in which the shaft 12 is not completely gripped, but is held to such an extent that the axis of the shaft 12 is substantially aligned with the axis of the shirt 1-1.

When the second reference surface 9a moves to the second initial position e, the clamp claw 73 serving as the second gripping means is moved to the cylinder 65.
66 plow and final drive side shaft l~12,
With the seat surface 73b in contact with the second reference surface 9a,
It is designed to be completely gripped. Thereafter, with the clamp claw 73 gripping the shaft 12, the joint 2 is moved backward to position the second reference surface 9a at the second reference position f. This backward movement is performed by the cylinder 61
This is done by driving and contracting only the moving base 59 and moving the movable base 59 backward by that amount.

Above 1. As shown in FIG. Distance between second reference positions c and f 1. a at a constant distance, and the first.
End 17 of each boot 17.10 from second reference position c, f
．． Since the distances 1-b and LC from a to 10a are constant, the absolute position of each boot end 17a and 10a is specified. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
7a.

Relative displacement of the opening end fitting device 80 of each elastic membrane body with respect to 10a is prevented.

Next, the structure of the elastic membrane opening end fitting device 80 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

This opening end fitting device 80 is the first one. The first positioning device in the second positioning device 32.33. It is installed on the second base 35.57.

As shown in FIG. 1.2, the open end fitting device 80 grips the large diameter open end 17a of the boot 17, which is a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane attached to the groove of the shaft 1, from both sides. It has a grip part 81°81 for centering. The centering grips 81, 81 have approximately the same structure as the fitting grips 82, 82 that grip the boot 17 from both sides at a portion other than the open end. It has semicircular claw portions 83, 83 having approximately the same inner diameter. However, the fitting grip part 8
2.82 is an auxiliary gripping part 82 in which semicircular claw parts 83a, 83a are formed to grip the small diameter side end 17b of the boot 17.
It is different from the centering grip part 81.81 in that it has the centering grip part 81.82a.

Each gripping part 81, 82 has a pair of arms 8.
4.85 is connected. These arms 84 and 85 are designed to rotate (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2) about a support shaft 87 fixed to a moving unit 86 as a gripping section moving means.

These arms 84, 85 each have a projection 88.
88 is formed, and when these protrusions 88 and 88 come into contact with the stopper 89, rotation in the direction of the arrow in the figure is restricted, and the claws 83 and 83 are prevented from crushing the boot 17 more than a predetermined amount. It's Nishide. In addition, these arms 84
．． A pair of drive levers 90.
91 are connected to each other, and rods 92 and 93 interlocked with these drive levers 90 and 91 are driven in the direction of arrow E by cylinders 94 and 95, so that the arms 84 and 85 are rotated in the direction of the arrow. be.

A moving unit 86 as a gripping portion moving means that holds the arm 84, 85, cylinder 94, 95, etc.
Hn can be freely moved forward and backward via a guide 97 on a rail 96 formed between side walls 44 erected on the first base 35.
It is L/. This moving unit i.86 is connected to a cylinder 99 fixed on the side wall 44 via a rod 98, and when the cylinder 99 is driven and the rod 98 moves in the axial direction, the shaft 1 is moved. It is configured to move relative to the shaft 1 in the axial direction.

In the above description, the open end bottom @ device 80 for attaching the open end 17a of the boot 17 attached to one end of the shaft 1 to the outer periphery of the joint 3 has been described. An open end fitting device 80 for fitting the open end 10a of the boot 10 attached to the outer periphery of the joint 2 has a similar structure.

Next, the operation of the apparatus for fitting an open end of an elastic membrane according to the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the axial positioning of the shaft 1 to which the joint 2.3 is assembled is determined by the first step. Second
Once completed by the positioning device 32.33, each boot 1
7.10 is located on the mounting ft80 except for each opening end without any positional deviation.

Then, first, the cylinder 94 shown in FIG. 1 is driven, the rod 92 is moved backward, and the arms 84, 84 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 in the direction of approaching each other. When the arms 84.84 are rotated in a direction in which they approach each other, the centering grips 81.81 connected thereto also approach each other, and the semicircular claws formed on each grip 81.81 83 abuts and grips the large-diameter open end 17a of the boot 17 from both sides thereof. The state is shown in FIG. 7(A), and the boot 17 which was initially tilted (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure)
is gripped by the alignment gripping parts 81.81, and the open end 1
The center of 7a is not aligned with the center of the outer periphery at join [・3.

Next, the cylinder 95 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is driven, the rod 93 is moved backward, and the arms 85, 85 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in the center of FIG. 2 in a direction toward each other. When the arms 85.85 rotate in a direction in which they approach each other, the fitting grips 82, 82 connected thereto also approach each other, and the semicircular claws 83 formed on each grip 82.82 ，
83 and each auxiliary grip part 82a, 82 connected thereto
The semicircular claws 83a, 83a formed in the boots 17
Grip it by pinching it against the outer periphery of the object from both sides. This state is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7(B), in which the boot 17 is held by the centering grip 81, the fitting grip 82, and the auxiliary grip 82a.

Next, the cylinder 94 shown in FIG. 1 is driven again, the rod 92 moves forward, and the arms 84, 84 are rotated in the direction of the arrow in the center of FIG. 2 in a direction away from each other.

Then, the centering grips 81, 81 connected to the arms 84, 84 also rotate in the direction of separation, and the grip on the open end 17a of the boot 17 is released. This state is shown in FIG. 7(C), where the open end 1 of the boot 17
The fitting grip part 82 grips the boot 17 with the center of the casing 16 aligned with the center of the outer periphery of the casing 16 at the joint 3 .

Next, the cylinder 99 shown in FIG. 1 is driven, and the rod 9
8 moves backward in the direction of arrow F in the figure, and a moving unit 86 as a gripping portion moving means also moves in the direction of arrow F. When the moving unit 86 moves in the direction of the arrow F in the state shown in FIG. The open end 17a is attached to the outer periphery of the casing 16 at the joint 3 at v! ! wear it. This state is shown in FIG. 7(D), and at the same time as the large-diameter open end 17a of the boot 17 is fitted, the small-diameter open end 17b also moves in the axial direction, and the boot fitting groove 1b of the shaft 1 moves in the axial direction. You can see that it is attached to.

In this way, the process of fitting the open end 17a of the boot 17, which is an elastic membrane attached to the shaft 1, onto the outer periphery of the joint 3, which is a component connected to the shaft 1, is completed. Then, the opening end fitting device 80 releases the grip of the boot 17 by the fitting grip portion 82 in order to perform the fitting device for the next component, and the moving unit 86 returns to the initial position.

Thereafter, the pallet 31 shown in FIG. 3 transports the shaft 1 that has been fitted to the next process, and also transports a new shaft 1 that has not been fitted, and carries out the above-mentioned fitting process. repeat.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the work of fitting the front end of the trumpet-shaped elastic membrane attached to the shaft onto the outer periphery of the component connected to the shaft A1. All can be applied when automating processes.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the elastic membrane body fits the open end of the trumpet-shaped elastic membrane body attached to the shaft onto the outer periphery of the component connected to the shaft. In the open end fitting device, the centering grip part grips the open end part from both sides and aligns the center of the open end part with the center of the outer periphery of the component; a fitting grip part that grips a portion of the elastic membrane other than the open end of the elastic membrane body gripped by the elastic membrane body; Since the holding part moving means is provided to move the holding part in the axial direction, it is easy to insert the open end of the trumpet-shaped elastic membrane mounted on the shaft onto the outer periphery of the component connected to the shaft. It is automated and has the excellent effect of shortening work time, improving work reliability, and reducing manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device for fitting an open end of an elastic membrane body according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a partially broken section taken along the RF-N line shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the entire device in which the device for fitting the open end of the elastic membrane body is used; FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along line IV-f'V shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the operation of the positioning device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. Main part side view showing the action, No. 8
The figure is a cutaway side view of the main parts of an automobile drive shaft, No. 9
The figure is a partially cutaway side view showing the process of fitting the open end of a conventional elastic membrane body. 1... Shaft, 2, 3... Constant velocity joint, 10
．． 17-... Boot, 10a, 17a... Open end,
80...Opening end fitting device, 81...Gripping part for centering, 82...Gripping part for fitting,
86...Movement unit, 99...Cylinder. Patent applicant Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 7: j 4 co t 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an elastic membrane opening end fitting device for fitting an open end of a trumpet-shaped elastic membrane attached to a shaft onto the outer periphery of a component connected to the shaft, the opening end is gripped from both sides. , an alignment grip that aligns the center of the open end with the center of the outer periphery of the component; and a centering grip that grips a portion of the elastic membrane other than the open end that is gripped by the alignment grip. An elastic membrane body comprising a fitting grip part and a grip part moving means for moving the fitting grip part together with the elastic membrane body in the axial direction in the direction of the component in a state in which the grip by the centering grip part is released. Open end fitting device