JPH0126964B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Application) The present invention relates to a positioning chucking mechanism in a tension spring assembly device, and relates to a tension spring separation and positioning device that can reliably control the separation posture of a spring; The present invention relates to a tension spring separation positioning chucking device whose extension can be arbitrarily adjusted.

(Background) The positioning and chucking mechanism of the tension spring assembly device can be divided into a spring separation section, a posture control section, and a spring extension adjustment section that can arbitrarily adjust the extension of the spring.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a spring separation section of a conventional positioning chucking mechanism. A spring 52 is continuously fed out horizontally from a spring supply means 50 through a guide 51.
Then, the leading spring hits the stopper 53 and stops. At this time, the leading spring rests on a moving plate 54 whose length is approximately equal to the length of the spring.

After the first spring hits the stopper 53,
The moving plate 54 is moved at an appropriate timing, and the elevating rod 55 is dropped onto the top spring. This causes the leading spring to be orthogonally separated from the following spring and fall into the spring receiver 56.

The spring receiver 56 has a guide tube 57 that sends the spring to the attitude control section. Therefore,
The spring dropped into the spring receiver 56 is sent to the attitude control section through the guide tube 57.

However, in the spring separation section of this chucking mechanism, the tension springs that are continuously supplied from the horizontal direction are separated by applying a force in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction. For this reason, the hook portion of the spring tends to overlap with the hook portion of the succeeding spring, resulting in drawbacks such as failure to securely separate the spring and deformation of the spring. In addition, the spring that has fallen into the spring receiver 56 does not enter the guide tube 57 successfully, and the spring 51' shown in FIG.
There was a drawback that the signal was not sent to the attitude control section through the .

On the other hand, in the spring extension adjustment section of the conventional chucking mechanism, there is a device in which a pawl is inserted into the hook of the spring and the distance between the two pawls is widened in a figure-eight shape (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-30983, No. (See Publication No. 44754, etc.) Further, as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 2a and a bottom view in FIG. There is a device that opens in a figure-eight shape.

However, the former device had the disadvantage that the extension of the spring could not be changed arbitrarily. Further, the latter device has the disadvantage that the shape of the hook 52a is easily deformed into an ellipse by the force of the chuck pawls 58a and 58b, and the life of the chuck pawls is short and assembly reliability is lacking.

(Objective) An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional devices described above, and to provide a tension spring separation and positioning device that ensures separation of tension springs and posture control, and that can easily accommodate changes in the assembly pitch of the spring. An object of the present invention is to provide a chucking device for separating and positioning a tension spring, which has added flexibility and enhanced reliability of assembly.

(Summary) The present invention is characterized by: a presser block that holds continuously supplied springs; a means for placing each spring that is intermittently supplied through the presser block and horizontally moving the springs in the axial direction; In order to prevent movement and position the spring placed on the means, it has a set pin that pierces the spring from a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, and a stepped portion that horizontally controls the attitude of the hooks at both ends of the spring. The feature lies in the provision of a shutter and upper and lower pieces on which spring hooks are supported when the shutter is pulled and the spring is placed on the lower step.

In addition to the above-mentioned features, other features of the present invention include: a pair of claw guides having claws that can be inserted into the hook; means for supporting the claw guides so as to be horizontally movable; The spring is equipped with an adjustment stopper that regulates the amount of horizontal movement so that the spring can be extended to an arbitrary length.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to Examples.

FIG. 3 shows an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a spring supply means 33, a separation positioning means 13, and a transfer means 34 are arranged at predetermined positions on a table 32.
A tracking means 18 is supported on the holder. Further, at a predetermined position on the table 32, a product 38 having hook receivers 39, 39' for tension springs is placed.

The supply means 33 is a vibrating parts feeder 35.
A guide 36 is provided to guide the tension spring 40 fed out by the parts feeder 35 along a predetermined path.

Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be explained. The tension spring 40 continuously fed from the parts feeder 35 through the guide 36 enters the separating and positioning means 13, where it is separated and positioned from the following spring. The transfer means 34 carries the chucking means 18 onto the spring positioned by the separation positioning means and causes the chucking means 18 to retain the spring. When the chucking means 18 holds the spring,
Stretch the spring to the appropriate length. The transfer means 34 then lifts the chucking means 18 upwards, translates it further towards the product 38 and then lowers it onto the product 38. When the tip of the chucking means 18 hits the product 38, the spring is hooked onto the hook receivers 39, 39', and when the chucking means 18 is lifted again, only the spring remains on the product 38.

As described above, the assembly of the tension spring to the product is completed.

Next, the configuration of the separation and positioning means 13 is changed to the fourth
This will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. Positioning means 1
3 is a block consisting of a main base 1 and base plates 2, 2' fixed on both sides thereof, and a separation positioner that slides along guide bars 7, 7' installed in parallel between the base plates 2, 2'. It consists of a block 5 and a holding block 29 that holds a tension spring 40 fed from a parts feeder through a guide 36.

First, the configuration and operation of the presser block 29 are as follows.
This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The presser block 29 is composed of an L-shaped arm 6 rotatably supported by the operation of a cylinder 11 around a shaft 30 supported by the base plates 2 and 2', and a separation guide 3 fixed to the base plate 2. has been done. At the same time that the frontmost spring of the springs 40 sent through the guide 36 hits the stopper 9 (see Figure 4), the cylinder 11 is actuated and the arm 6 is brought to the position shown by the solid line in the figure. . As a result, the arm 6 holds the subsequent spring that is continuously supplied onto the presser block 29. Thereafter, when the cylinder 11 is turned off at an appropriate timing, the arm 6 moves in an arc around the shaft 30 and is placed at the position shown by the dashed dot line in the figure. In this way, the arm 6 functions to hold down and release the springs that are successively fed.

Note that a soft rubber 19 is adhesively fixed to the spring abutting surface of the arm 6 in order to protect the spring.

Next, the structure and operation of the separation positioning block 5 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The separation positioning block 5 is provided with a main block 4. This main block 4 is
A cylinder 10 fixed to the main base 1 moves between the base plates 2 and 2' along guide bars 7 and 7'.
Initially, the main block 4 is stopped on the base plate 2 side. At this time, by operating the cylinder 12, the stopper 9, the spring cover 24, and the shutter 8 are in a protruding state.

Therefore, the tension spring that has passed over the separation guide 3 of the holding block 29 is pushed into the main block 4 by the following tension spring. Then, the tip of the first tension spring is
Its movement is stopped by hitting the stopper 9.

Next, the cylinder 28 fixed to the main block 4 is operated, and the spring 40, which has reached the stopper 9 position, is locked by the set pin 23.

The situation at this time will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of FIG. 4 taken parallel to the set pin 23 and perpendicular to the spring cover 24. Further, FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the line A-A.

As shown in FIG.
Alternatively, it is possible to move in the direction b. Further, as is clear from the figure, the set pin 23 has a finely finished tip like an insect pin. Therefore, by operating the cylinder 28, the set pin 23
by moving the spring 40 in the direction of arrow a.
It can be held and locked by inserting the coil part.

In FIG. 7, reference numerals 20 and 21 are vertically movable pieces to which an upward force is applied by springs 27 and 27'. This vertical moving piece 20,2
1 has a vertically elongated guide hole through which guide pins 22, 22' pass. Therefore, when the upper and lower pieces 20, 21 are pressed by the lowering of the chuck claws 17, 17', they descend straight downward.
The structure and operation of the chuck pawls 17, 17' will be explained in detail later.

This locking method using the set pin 23 is an extremely effective means for holding the spring in a place with little space.

Next, with the spring 40 locked by the set pin 23, the cylinder 1 is
0 is operated in reverse. Then, the main block 4 is moved toward the base plate 2' and stopped. Thereafter, the set pin 23 is moved in the direction of arrow b by the cylinder 28 to release the holding lock of the set pin 23, and the spring 40 is set free.

Next, the spring cover 24 and the stopper 9,
and shutter 8 by reverse operation of cylinder 12,
Attract them at the same time. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the spring coil portion 40a rotates and rides on the stepped portion 45 of the shutter 8, and the spring hook 40b is controlled horizontally on the vertically moving pieces 20, 21. Positioned.

Subsequently, the chucking means 18 is lowered from above, and the chuck claws 17, 17' are lowered onto the spring hook 40b. Chuck claw 17,1
7' is lowered onto the spring hook 40b, the vertically movable pieces 20, 21 are pressed downward by the chuck claws 17, 17', and are pushed downward using the guide pins 22, 22' as guides. As a result, the spring hooks 40b are inserted into the chuck claws 17, 17'.

The compression springs 26, 26' incorporated in the claw guides 14, 15 are designed to ensure that the hook is fully inserted to the base of the chuck claws 17, 17'.
It is made stronger than the counter pressure of the compression springs 27, 27' incorporated in the lower part of the vertically moving piece.

Next, when the cylinder 41 fixed to the claw guide 15 is operated with the spring hook 40b inserted into the chuck claws 17, 17', the claw guide 14 slides as shown in FIG. It moves horizontally using the moving bars 16, 16' as a guide. after that,
The pawl guide 14 abuts and locks on the end surface of an adjusting nut stopper 31 fixed to the sliding bar 16, and the spring 40 is expanded to a predetermined length.

The adjusting nut stopper 31 is composed of a double nut, and can be adjusted and fixed at any predetermined position. Therefore, by this adjustment, the spring 40 can be extended to an arbitrary length.

After the spring 40 has been stretched to a desired length, when the chucking means 18 is raised upward using the transfer means 34 shown in FIG. 3, the spring 40 remains stretched to a predetermined length. In the state
It is held at the base of both claws 17, 17' and rises together.

Here, the chucking means 18 is connected to the transporting means 3.
4, and the transfer means 34 is constituted by a pick-and-place unit that can reciprocate between the spring supply position and the assembly position of the positioning means 13 along a predetermined path, that is, as shown by arrow c. , is fixed to the stand 32. Therefore, by this transfer means 34, the chuck claws 17, 1
A spring 40 held at an arbitrary length at 7',
Move it above the product 38 waiting at the assembly position,
Once the upper part of the assembly is reached, the chucking means 18 can be lowered. Then, the hook of the spring 40 held at the lowering end position is inserted into the hook receivers 39, 39' of the product 38 to a predetermined depth.

At this time, the chuck claws 17, 17' are connected to the hook receiver 3.
They are locked or engaged along the slopes of 9 and 39' in a close or overlapping manner. However, since the chuck claws 17, 17' have compression springs 26, 26' built into the claw guides 14, 15, they are always guided by the guide pins 25, 25'.
It is pressed so that it protrudes downward.

Therefore, after the chuck pawls 17, 17' have engaged with the hook receivers 39, 39', when the chucking means 18 is further forcibly lowered by a certain stroke, the pawl guides 14, 15 move the hook portions of the springs downward. While pressing the chuck claws 17, 17'
slide on the engaging part. Therefore, the hook is inserted into the hook receiver 39, 39' to a predetermined depth, and the hook is engaged with the hook receiver 39, 39'.

Thereafter, when the chucking means 18 is raised by the operation of the transfer means 34, the spring 40
remains on the product 38 while being caught on the hook receivers 39, 39'. The chuck claws 17 and 17' are product 3.
8 and again the compression springs 26, 26'
The guide pins 25, 2 are pushed downward by the force of
It is projected to the stopper position of 5'.

Finally, by actuation of the transfer means 34,
The chucking means 18 is returned to the spring supply position of the positioning means 13.

By repeating the above operation, the waiting product 38 will be
The tension springs 40 can be assembled automatically in sequence.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, the presser block that holds the continuously supplied spring, the presser block that horizontally moves the continuously supplied spring in its axial direction, and horizontally supports the spring hook. The spring is composed of a separation positioning means consisting of a separation positioning block, and a chucking means that can extend the spring to an arbitrary length. Therefore,
The spring separation, posture control and assembly work is perfectly done, increasing its reliability. Also, even if the spring assembly pitch changes, simply change the position of the adjustment nut stopper.
It can be easily handled.

Further, there are effects such as preventing spring damage and deformation, prolonging the life of the device, and providing an inexpensive mechanism with good maintainability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a spring separation part of a conventional positioning chucking mechanism, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a part of a conventional spring extension adjustment part, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a tension spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the separation positioning means and chucking means according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the operating state of the presser block, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the positioning means. The cross-sectional view, Fig. 7, is the A- of Fig. 6 with the positioning chucking means added.
A sectional view taken along line A, FIG. 8, shows a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 when the spring is positioned. 5... Separation positioning block, 13... Separation positioning means, 18... Chucking means, 29...
...presser block, 33...spring supply means,
34... Transportation means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A presser block that holds continuously supplied springs, a means for placing each spring that is intermittently supplied through the presser block, and horizontally moving the springs in the axial direction thereof; A shutter having a set pin that pierces the spring from a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction in order to prevent movement and position the spring placed on the spring, and a stepped portion that horizontally controls the attitude of the hooks at both ends of the spring. . A tension spring separation and positioning device comprising: a vertically moving piece that supports a spring hook when the shutter is pulled and the spring is placed on the lower stage. 2. The tension spring separation and positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement separates the spring from the following one. 3. Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that when the holding block is holding down a subsequent spring, the means for horizontally moving the spring in the axial direction moves back and forth. The tension spring separation positioning device described. 4. The tensioning mechanism according to claim 1, wherein when the horizontally moving means reaches the end position of the forward movement, the set pin is removed from the spring and the shutter is retracted. Spring separation positioning device. 5. A presser block that holds continuously supplied springs, a means for placing each spring that is intermittently supplied through the presser block and horizontally moving the springs in the axial direction, and a spring placed on the means. A shutter having a set pin that pierces the spring from a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction in order to prevent movement and position the spring, and a stepped portion for horizontally controlling the posture of the hooks at both ends of the spring; a vertically moving piece on which a spring hook is supported when the spring is pulled and the spring rests on the lower step; a pair of claw guides each having a claw that can be inserted into the hook; and a pair of claw guides that can be horizontally moved. and an adjustment stopper for regulating the amount of horizontal movement, and after the spring is separated and positioned, the claw is inserted into the hook to hold the spring, and then the spring can be moved to any desired length. A tension spring separation positioning chucking device characterized in that the tension spring is extended in the opposite direction. 6. The tension spring separation positioning device according to claim 5, wherein the vertically moving piece is moved downward by the pressing force of the claw.