JPH0540902Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <<Industrial Application Field>> The present invention relates to a multi-component assembling device applied to, for example, an automobile assembly line, and in particular, to an apparatus for automatically fitting a plurality of assembling parts into one base work. The present invention relates to an assembly device for assembling multiple parts together.

<<Prior Art>> For example, as a component of a steering wheel of an automobile, there is an integral assembly of a knuckle arm and a wheel hub.
This part is constructed by integrally assembling parts such as an oil seal, a bearing, a snap ring, a wheel hub, and a dust cover into the shaft hole of a knuckle arm as a base work.

Conventionally, when assembling multiple parts to one base work in this way, the base work is fed into an assembly device that is sequentially installed on a line and configured independently for each part to be assembled. Generally, each assembly part is assembled in sequence each time it passes through each assembly device.

《Problems to be solved by the invention》 However, when multiple independent assembly devices are used, space efficiency is low because each device requires a large installation space, and each device requires a separate base work holding mechanism and assembly device. A mechanism for applying force for assembling the attached parts is required, and there are problems such as waste caused by using a large number of duplicated mechanical parts and an increase in costs due to this.

The present invention was developed in view of these circumstances, and is a multi-component assembly device that can efficiently assemble each assembly component to a base work, improve base efficiency, and simplify the device configuration. The purpose is to provide.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention is a multi-component assembling device for assembling a plurality of different assembling parts onto one base work,
A workpiece support that fixes and supports a base workpiece in a fixed position; a component pressing means disposed at least on either the upper or lower side of the workpiece supporter that applies a force for assembling parts to be assembled onto the basework; and these workpiece supporters. and a component pressing means, and has a pressing head and a component holding member for each component as a set at intervals along the circumferential direction, and supplies a plurality of held assembly components to an assembly position. It is characterized by being equipped with a rotating table.

<<Operation>> According to the above configuration, a plurality of assembly parts are supplied to the base work fixedly supported by the workpiece support by rotation of the rotary table, and at the supply position, the parts are pressed with a predetermined assembly force by the component pressing means. Can be assembled. That is, the workpiece support and the pressing means are fixedly arranged in one place, and the pressing head and the necessary assembly parts required for each part are supplied by the rotary table. Therefore, although the assembly mechanism has a single configuration, multiple different parts can be assembled efficiently, and the overall device configuration is integrated, reducing the required installation space. By making the pressing mechanism more versatile, duplication of mechanical parts can be avoided, and the configuration can be simplified and costs can be reduced.

<<Example>> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

This example concerns an assembly device for a knuckle arm/wheel hub integral assembly, which is a component of a steering wheel for an automobile. Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of the device, and Figures 2 to 6 show each part. Structure and operation, and FIG. 7 shows the cross-sectional structure of the assembled finished product.

Natsukuru arm/wheel hub integrated assembly 1
As shown in FIG. 7, a knuckle arm 2 as a base work, a bearing 4 as assembly parts assembled to the boss portion 2a of this knuckle arm 2, a wheel hub 5, a snap spring 6, a pair of oil seals 7, 8 and a dust cover 9. The shaft hole 3 of the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 has a small diameter at one end in the axial direction (lower end in FIG. 7), and a first oil seal (hereinafter referred to as , lower oil seal) 7 is press-fitted and fixed. Also,
A bearing 4 is press-fitted into the large-diameter axial center portion 3b of the shaft hole 3 from the other end in the axial direction (upper end in the figure), and this bearing 4 is press-fitted from the outside (above) in the axial direction of the shaft hole 3. It is held in the axial direction by the stopped snap spring 6 and the small diameter portion 3a. The shaft portion 5 of the wheel hub 5 is placed on the inner peripheral side of this bearing 4.
a is press-fitted from above and is rotatably held with respect to the knuckle arm 2. A second oil seal (hereinafter referred to as upper oil seal) 8 is press-fitted between the wheel hub 5 and the other end (upper end) portion 3c of the shaft hole 3.

Further, a dust cover 9 is attached to the outer peripheral side of the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 from above in a pressurized fit state.

Next, the multi-component assembling device will be explained. The multi-component assembling device 10 is basically a multi-component assembling device that assembles a plurality of different assembly components 4 to 9 to one base work 2, and is a work that fixes and supports the base work 2 in a fixed position. A support stand 12 , component pressing means 13 and 14 disposed at least on either the upper or lower side of the work support stand 12 and applying a force for assembling the assembly parts 4 to 9 to the base work 2 , and these work support stands 12 and component pressing means 13, 14
It has a set of pressing heads and component holding members for each of the parts 4 to 9 at intervals along the circumferential direction, and the plurality of held assembly parts 4 to 9 are placed at the assembly position. The rotary table 16 supplies the More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a workpiece support 12 attached to a frame 11 of a predetermined height, and a pair of upper and lower parts provided on the frame 11 and arranged in the vertical direction of this workpiece support 12. Pressing means 13 and 14 and workpiece support stand 12
and a horizontal rotary table 16 which is provided on the frame 11 via a vertical shaft 15 so as to be capable of intermittent rotation and horizontal movement, with its peripheral edge sandwiched between the upper part pressing means 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary table 16 has a disc shape, and has first to fourth parts holding parts on its periphery.
, , are formed at intervals along the circumferential direction and are intermittently rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction (direction of arrow a) in plan view via a shaft 15. That is, this rotary table 16 has parts holding parts, .
, temporarily stops at the installation position of the workpiece support stand 12 (for example, the position of the first part holding section shown at the bottom of the figure). At each stop position, the rotary table 16 can be driven forward and backward in one direction on the horizontal plane (vertical direction b in the figure).

Figures 3 to 6 show in detail the vertical cross-sectional configuration of each part when each part holding part shown in Figure 2 stops at the installation position of the workpiece support stand 12. The structure and operation will be explained according to the following.

FIG. 3 shows the mechanism used in the first assembly process and its operation. In this step, the workpiece support 12, upper and lower part pressing means 13 and 14, and the first part holding portion of the rotary table 16 are used, and the lower oil seal 7 and dust cover 9 are assembled to the knuckle arm 2. Work support stand 1
2 is a horizontal base part 12 fixed to the frame 11
a, a plurality of leg portions 12b standing at intervals above the base portion 12a, and each of the leg portions 12b.
It consists of a horizontal underframe part 12c attached to the upper end of the frame. The lower end of the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 is inserted and supported from above into the frame hole 12d of the frame portion 12c of the workpiece support table 12.

The upper part pressing means 13 is a vertical cylinder mechanism 17 (first
(see figure), and the axial center of the downward ram 18 of this cylinder mechanism 17 is set to coincide with the axial center of the shaft hole 3 of the knuckle arm 2 supported by the workpiece support stand 12. This ram 18
An engagement hole 19 that opens downward and toward the center of the rotary table 16 is formed in the lower end of the rotary table 16, and components of the first part holding section are engaged and held in this engagement hole 19.

The first part holding section includes a vertical cylindrical holder 20 with open upper and lower ends integrated into the rotary table 16, and a press head 21 held in the holder 20 so as to be movable up and down. .
The press head 21 has a vertical engagement pin 22 with a large diameter head 22a at its upper end.
The engagement hole 1 of the ram 18 of the upper part pressing means 13 is caused by the horizontal movement of the rotary table 16 (arrow b).
9, and can be raised and lowered integrally with the ram 18. Note that the press head 21 is normally attached to the holder 20.
It is locked at a predetermined height position (the position shown in FIG. 3) by a spring-equipped ball stopper 23, and operates when a lifting load exceeding the locking force is applied from the ram 18. A dust cover 9 is detachably attached to the lower end of the press head 21.

Further, the lower part pressing means 14 is a vertical cylinder mechanism 24 attached to the lower end of the frame 11.
(See Fig. 1), and the axis of the upward drive rod 25 of this cylinder mechanism 24 is
It is set to coincide with the axis of the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 supported by the workpiece support stand 12.
A lower oil seal 7 is attached to the upper end of this drive rod 25.
is attached removably.

Thus, in the first assembly process, the ram 18 of the upper part pressing means 13 is lowered and the drive rod 25 of the lower part pressing means 14 is raised. As a result, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
The lower oil seal 7 is inserted into the lower end of the shaft hole 3 in a pressurized state. After assembly, the press head 21 rises together with the ram 18 of the upper part pressing means 13 and returns to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. be done. In addition,
The drive rod 25 of the lower part pressing means 14 is held in position for the second assembly step.

FIG. 4 shows the mechanism used in the second assembly step and its operation. In this step, the workpiece support 12, the upper part pressing means 13, and the second part holding portion of the rotary table 16 are used, and the bearing 4 and the snap ring 6 are assembled to the knuckle arm 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second parts holding section includes a vertical cylindrical holder 26 with open upper and lower ends integrally incorporated into the rotary table 16. This holder 26 has a compression coil spring 27
The internal holder 2 which can be raised and lowered is biased upward by
It has 8. Moreover, on the top of this holder 26,
A guide frame 29 that also serves as a stopper for positioning the internal holder 28 upward is integrally formed. and,
A bearing 4 and a snap ring 6 are removably installed in the internal holder 28, and a press head 30 is held in the guide frame 29 so as to be movable up and down.
are held at predetermined height positions by spring-equipped ball stoppers 31 and 32, respectively.
Note that the press head 30 is connected to the upper part pressing means 13.
The ram 18 is engaged with the ram 18 via the engagement pin 33 in the same manner as described above, and the snap spring 6 and the bearing 4 are pressed down when lowered.

Therefore, in the second assembly process, after the second part holding section rotates to the assembly position and the press head 30 engages with the ram 18, the ram 18 is lowered by the drive of the upper part pressing means 13. The assembly operation takes place at . That is, the ram 18 gradually descends from the maximum raised position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, and as a result, the press head 30 disengages from the ball stopper 32 and descends. The lowered press head 30 presses down the bearing 4 via the snap spring 6. At this time, the compression coil spring 27 first contracts, and the internal holder 28 descends together with the bearing 4. As a result, bearing 4
can be lowered while being reliably aligned with the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 waiting below.

After the internal holder 28 has descended to the maximum extent and stopped, the bearing 4 comes off from the ball stopper 31 and slides down along the internal holder 28, and the bearing 4 and the snap ring 6 are attached to the knuckle arm as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It is assembled into the boss portion 2a of No. 2 in a press-fitted state. Note that the lower component pressing means 14 assists the knuckle arm 2 from below in the second assembly process.

After assembling the bearing 4 and the snap spring 6, press the press head 3 in the same way as in the first assembling process.
0 is removed from the ram 18 as it rises. Thereafter, the rotary table 16 rotates again, and the process moves to the third assembly process described below.

FIG. 5 shows the mechanism used in the third assembly step and its operation. In this step, the third parts holding section is used to assemble the upper oil seal 8 to the knuckle arm 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the third parts holding section includes a vertically long cylindrical holder 34 with vertical openings at the upper and lower ends, which is integrated into the rotary table 16, and this holder 34.
An internal holder 3 is biased upwardly through a compression coil spring 35 and is slidably held in such a manner that it can be raised and lowered.
6 and a press head 37 inserted into this internal holder 36. The press head 37 has a vertically long shaft shape, and the holder 3 is attached to the lower end.
The ram 1 of the upper part pressing means 13 is provided at the upper end.
It has an engaging pin 38 that engages with the inner holder 8, and further has a locking step portion 37b in the middle portion for moving up and down together with the internal holder 36. An upper oil seal 8 is removably attached to the lower end of the press head 37.

Therefore, in the third assembly process, after the third part holding section rotates to the assembly position and the press head 37 engages with the ram 18, the ram 18 is lowered by the drive of the upper part pressing means 13. Assembling is done at That is, the ram 18 shown in FIG.
The ram 18 gradually descends from the maximum raised position of
This causes the press head 37 to move into the internal holder 36.
At the same time, it descends while being guided in sliding contact within the holder 34. Therefore, the upper oil seal 8 mounted on the press head 37 is reliably guided and press-fitted into the shaft hole 3 of the boss portion 2a of the knuckle arm 2 without causing misalignment. After assembly, the press head 37 rises and comes off the ram 18, and as the rotary table 16 rotates, the process moves to the fourth assembly process described below.

FIG. 6 shows the mechanism used in the fourth assembling process as the final assembling process and its operation. In this step, the fourth parts holding section is used to assemble the wheel hub 5 to the knuckle arm 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fourth parts holding section includes a large-diameter vertical cylindrical holder 39 integrated into the rotary table 16, an internal holder 40 that slides up and down within this holder 39, and an internal The press head 41 is configured to move the holder 40 up and down. The internal holder 40 is urged upward by a first compression coil spring 42 interposed between the internal holder 40 and the holder 39 . In addition, the press head 41 is
A second compression coil spring 43, which is interposed between the inner holder 40 and the first compression coil spring 42 and has a larger elastic force than the first compression coil spring 42, urges upward. The holder 39 is provided with a spring-loaded ball stopper 44 for locking the internal holder 40 in a predetermined position, and the internal holder 40 is provided with a spring-loaded ball stopper 45 for locking the wheel hub 5 in a predetermined position. Further, an engagement pin 46 that engages with the ram 18 of the upper part pressing means 13 is formed at the upper end of the press head 41 in the same manner as described above, and the wheel hub 5 is removably attached to the lower end of the press head 41. There is.

Therefore, in the fourth assembly process, after the fourth part holding section rotates to the assembly position and the press head 41 engages with the ram 18, the ram 18 descends, and as a result, the elastic The first compression coil spring 42, which has a smaller force, is compressed and the inner holder 40 is lowered together with the press head 41. When the internal holder 40 descends to the maximum extent and stops, the second
The compression coil spring 43 is compressed, the press head 41 is further lowered relative to the internal holder 40, and the wheel hub 5 is press-fitted into the bearing 4 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
At this time, the drive rod 2 of the lower part pressing means 14
The back-up rod 50 in the workpiece support 12 is raised by an actuator (not shown), and its stepped portion 50a lifts up the inner race of the bearing 4 (at this time, the knuckle arm 2 is floating above the workpiece support 12), causing an overload on the bearing 4. I'm getting used to not having to worry about it. During this time, the press head 41 is attached to the internal holder 40.
The sliding guide action of the holder 39 prevents the wheel from deviating from the predetermined axis, so that the wheel hub 5 and the bearing 4 are reliably aligned.

After the wheel hub 5 is assembled, the press head 41 is raised and removed from the ram 18 in the same manner as described above, thereby completing the entire assembly process. Therefore, after removing the finished product, all the parts need to be set again and the same process as described above can be carried out.

According to the above embodiment, the knuckle arm/wheel hub integral assembly 1 can be efficiently carried out in a series of continuous processes, and the workpiece support 12 and the upper and lower part pressing means 1 are fixedly arranged in one place.
Since the parts to be assembled are supplied to the parts 3 and 14 via the rotary table 16, the apparatus structure is compact, and space efficiency can be improved and the number of components can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can also be applied to general automobile parts and other various mechanical parts.

<<Effects of the invention>> As described above, according to the present invention, although it is basically a single component pressing means, it is possible to efficiently assemble different assembly parts to the base work, and it is also space efficient. Excellent effects such as improvement in performance and simplification of the device configuration can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing the entire device, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of parts on a rotary table, and Figs. 3 to 6 are assembled. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along arrows A to D in FIG. 2, showing the structure and function of each part in the order of the assembly process, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the assembled finished product. 2...Base work (Natsukuru arm), 4~
9... Assembly parts, 12... Work support stand, 13,
14...component pressing means, 16...rotary table.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A multi-component assembling device for assembling a plurality of different assembling parts onto one base work, a work support stand that fixedly supports the base work in a fixed position;
A component pressing means is disposed at least on either the upper or lower side of the workpiece support and applies a force for assembling the assembly component to the base work; It is characterized by comprising a set of pressing heads and component holding members for each component at intervals along the direction, and a rotary table for supplying the held plurality of assembly components to an assembly position. Multiple parts assembly equipment.