Off-machine tapping device and process for nut production

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of nut production, in particular to an off-machine tapping device and process for nut production, which comprises a tapping assembly, an electric guide rail arranged on one side of the tapping assembly, a tapping machine arranged at the output end of the electric guide rail, a trapezoidal plate arranged at the bottom of the tapping machine, and three groups of driving parts arranged on the inner side of the tapping assembly, the output end of each driving part is connected with a conduction part, each conduction part is slidably connected with a clamping plate, the top of each conduction part is provided with a transmission plate, and the inner side of each clamping plate is provided with a to-be-tapped part; in the process that the electric guide rail drives the tapping machine to move downwards, the tapping machine is matched with the trapezoidal plate to extrude the transmission plate, and the transmission plate is matched with the transverse moving plate to transmit force generated when the electric guide rail drives the tapping machine to move downwards to the longitudinal part. And the longitudinal part is matched with the inclined surface of the clamping plate to amplify the downward moving force of the tapping machine and reduce the transverse moving distance of the clamping plate to clamp the to-be-tapped part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nut manufacturing technology, specifically to an external tapping device and process for nut manufacturing. Background Technology

[0002] The core components of the nut tapping device work together to complete the positioning, tapping, and cleaning of the nuts. The basic structure, such as the processing box and worktable, provides stable support, while an internal mesh plate separates metal chips. The clamping and positioning mechanism uses a hydraulic system to drive pistons or grippers, outputting high-pressure clamping force to fix the nut. Its hydraulically driven axial force far exceeds that of mechanical clamps, ensuring no workpiece displacement during high-speed tapping. Simultaneously, the hydraulic cylinders are adaptable to nuts of different specifications, including irregularly shaped parts, achieving flexible clamping through multiple sets of cylinders and pressure springs. Built-in sensors monitor the gripper position in real time, ensuring precise alignment between the nut center and the tapping axis, preventing misalignment. The power system uses a motor to drive the tapping axis to rotate via belt or gears, while hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders control the feed depth. The tapping execution unit cuts threads with a tap or drill bit; the multi-axis design allows for simultaneous processing of multiple nuts. The chip removal system relies on a negative pressure vacuum cleaner or air jet device to clean residue inside the hole, preventing a decrease in accuracy. The adjustment and automation components include a vibratory feeder and feed rail for continuous feeding, and hydraulic clamps working in conjunction with a pushing mechanism to achieve unmanned operation. Hydraulic clamping also features vibration damping, absorbing the impact of tapping. Its enclosed structure, combined with a protective housing, reduces chip splashing and enhances safety. In summary, hydraulic clamping, with its high precision, strong adaptability, and automated integration, has become a core element in ensuring tapping efficiency and thread quality. In existing technologies, most nut tapping devices use hydraulic clamping. The hydraulic system requires a dedicated hydraulic pump station, oil pipelines, and control valve group, which significantly increases the manufacturing cost and overall structural complexity of the equipment. It also occupies more space. During operation, key components such as hydraulic cylinders and seals are prone to wear and aging due to long-term high-pressure operation, leading to an increased risk of oil leakage. This not only pollutes the working environment but may also cause displacement or stripping of the nut during processing due to a decrease in clamping force, affecting tapping accuracy. In terms of maintenance, hydraulic oil, filter elements, and sealing elements need to be replaced regularly. The maintenance frequency is high and depends on professional personnel. The downtime for maintenance is long, which indirectly reduces production efficiency. The response speed is significantly affected by temperature. The viscosity of hydraulic oil changes with temperature fluctuations. The fluid resistance is high when starting at low temperatures, while the viscosity decreases at high temperatures, leading to pressure drift.

[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides an external tapping device for nut production that features a simplified clamping structure and deep coupling between clamping action and tapping process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the issues of increased equipment manufacturing costs and overall structural complexity, as well as the impact of response speed on production efficiency, existing hydraulic devices have been adapted to design an external tapping device and process for nut production.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is as follows: an external tapping device for nut production, including a tapping assembly, an electric guide rail on one side of the tapping assembly, a tapping machine at the output end of the electric guide rail, a trapezoidal plate at the bottom of the tapping machine, three sets of drive units on the inner side of the tapping assembly, a transmission unit connected to the output end of each drive unit, a clamping plate slidably connected to each transmission unit, a transmission plate at the top of each transmission unit, and a workpiece to be tapped on the inner side of the clamping plate; the transmission unit includes a housing located at the output end of the drive unit, a transverse sliding plate slidably connected to the inner side of the housing about the tapping machine radially, and a longitudinal part slidably connected to the inner side of the housing about the tapping machine axially; during the process of the electric guide rail driving the tapping machine to move downward, the tapping machine, in conjunction with the trapezoidal plate, squeezes the transmission plate, and the transmission plate, in conjunction with the transverse sliding plate, transmits the force of the electric guide rail driving the tapping machine to move downward to the longitudinal part; the longitudinal part, by cooperating with the inclined surface of the clamping plate, amplifies the downward force of the tapping machine while reducing the transverse distance of the clamping plate to clamp the workpiece to be tapped.

[0006] Furthermore, the tapping assembly includes a machine base fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric guide rail, a base fixed to the top of the machine base, a controller fixed to the top of the machine base, a vibratory feeder fixed to the top of the machine base, and a feeder fixed to the top of the machine base. The feeder is located on the side of the electric guide rail away from the controller, the controller is located on the side of the electric guide rail away from the tapping machine, the feeder is located on the side of the vibratory feeder and the base is close to each other, the base is located below the tapping machine and the axes of the two are collinear, and the tapping machine is fixed to the output end of the electric guide rail.

[0007] Furthermore, the trapezoidal plate is fixed to the bottom of the tapping machine, and the trapezoidal plate is located outside the tap of the tapping machine.

[0008] Furthermore, each drive unit includes a bracket fixed to the top of the base, a cylinder fixed to the inner side of the bracket, a support plate fixed to the output end of the cylinder, and a housing fixed to the other end of the support plate.

[0009] Furthermore, a protective component is fixed to the outside of each transmission part, an elastic component is fixed to the bottom of the top wall of each transmission part, and the other end of each elastic component is fixedly connected to the housing. The transmission part is provided on the side of the transmission part that is in contact with the transverse plate.

[0010] Furthermore, each longitudinal section plate has a side plate fixed on both sides, and each side plate has an elastic element three fixed at its bottom. The other end of each elastic element three is fixed to the inside of the housing.

[0011] Furthermore, a power supply section is provided at the top of each longitudinal section, and a power relief section is provided on one side of the bottom of each longitudinal section. The angle between the power relief section and the tapping machine is twelve degrees.

[0012] Furthermore, each clamping plate has a limiting plate fixed on both sides, and each limiting plate has an elastic element two fixed on the side away from the part to be tapped. The other end of each elastic element two is fixed to the inside of the machine housing. Each clamping plate has a relay part on the side away from the part to be tapped. The angle between the relay part and the tapping machine is twelve degrees, and the relay part and the unloading part are in contact.

[0013] Furthermore, each transverse plate has an attractive part on the side near the transmission plate and a guide part on the side near the longitudinal part. The attractive part is in contact with the transmission part, and the guide part is in contact with the power supply part.

[0014] Furthermore, the applicable processes for external tapping devices used in nut production: S1: Receive goods in batches and conduct incoming material inspection on the profiles after receiving them; S2: After the inspection is completed, the parts are processed by automatic lathe. After processing is completed, the parts to be processed are moved to the inside of the vibratory feeder. S3: The vibratory feeder outputs the workpiece to be tapped as needed, and then transports it to the inside of the clamping plate via the feeder. The electric guide rail drives the tapping machine to move to the position where the tap is aligned with the top of the workpiece. At the same time, the clamping plate fixes the workpiece, and the tapping machine performs the tapping operation. S4: After tapping, the workpiece undergoes rolling grinding and magnetic grinding; S5: After grinding, the workpiece is ultrasonically cleaned and then packaged and put into storage or shipped after passing visual inspection, CCD inspection, full inspection with a magnifying glass, and OQC inspection. If any inspection fails, the workpiece is reworked or returned.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The present invention discloses an external tapping device and process for nut production. It employs a multi-sloped linkage of a trapezoidal plate, transmission plate, transverse plate, and longitudinal section to convert the vertical force of the tapping machine downwards into a radial clamping force, achieving force amplification and displacement reduction effects. The 45° slopes of the attraction section, transmission section, guide section, and power supply section ensure lossless transmission of vertical force. The 12° slopes of the unloading section and relay section, through mechanically optimized angles, convert axial displacement into a strong radial clamping force Fr≈4.7Fin. The displacement relationship satisfies R=Z / tan12°, eliminating dependence on external hydraulic devices. The entire clamping process requires only a small amount of energy from the initial positioning cylinder. The downward movement energy of the tapping machine is directly converted into clamping force, which not only reduces manufacturing costs but also significantly reduces long-term operating energy consumption, aligning with the energy conservation and carbon reduction trend in the industrial sector.

[0016] The present invention discloses an external tapping device and process for nut production. The clamping action and tapping process are deeply coupled. The downward movement of the electric guide rail triggers the trapezoidal plate to squeeze the transmission plate. The speed at which the force is transmitted to the clamping plate is much higher than that of the traditional hydraulic system. The design of the transverse plate limiting radial movement and the longitudinal part limiting axial movement eliminates the loss of degree of freedom and avoids the deviation of force transmission. The compact structure saves equipment space. The cylinder is only used for preliminary positioning before tapping. The clamping position can be adjusted to adapt to different nut specifications, which greatly reduces the complexity of the equipment and maintenance costs.

[0017] The present invention discloses an external tapping device and process for nut production. The self-locking characteristics of the 12° inclined plane of the stress relief part and the stress receiving part prevent the clamping from loosening. During the reset stage, the elastic elements one, two and three work together to drive the device. The transverse plate is pushed back by the elastic element one, the longitudinal part is reset by the elastic element three, the clamping plate is opened by the elastic element two, and the protective part (polycarbonate PC material) prevents chips and coolant from entering, thus extending the service life of the transmission components. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the tapping machine of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a front view of the tapping machine of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the base of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the base of the present invention; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of point B; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the trapezoidal plate of the present invention; Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged view of point C; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the conductive part of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the conductive part of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the clamping plate of the present invention; Figure 13 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the transmission plate of the present invention; Figure 14 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the longitudinal portion of the present invention; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the transverse sliding plate of the present invention; Figure 16 This is a flowchart of the production process of the present invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 11. Base; 12. Controller; 13. Feeder; 14. Vibratory feeder; 15. Machine platform; 2. Electric guide rail; 3. Tapping machine; 4. Trapezoidal plate; 5. Transmission plate; 51. Protective component; 52. Elastic component one; 53. Transmission unit; 6. Clamping plate; 61. Limiting plate; 62. Elastic component two; 63. Relay unit; 7. Conducting unit; 71. Machine housing; 72. Transverse plate; 721. Gravity unit; 722. Force guiding unit; 73. Longitudinal unit; 731. Side plate; 732. Elastic component three; 733. Power supply unit; 734. Force unloading unit; 8. Part to be tapped; 9. Drive unit; 91. Bracket; 92. Cylinder; 93. Support plate. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0022] Example: Figures 1-16 As shown, the present invention discloses an external tapping device for nut production, comprising a tapping assembly, an electric guide rail 2 on one side of the tapping assembly, a tapping machine 3 at the output end of the electric guide rail 2, a machine base 15 fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric guide rail 2, a base 11 fixedly fixed to the top of the machine base 15, a controller 12 fixedly fixed to the top of the machine base 15, a vibrating plate 14 fixedly fixed to the top of the machine base 15, and a feeder 13 fixedly fixed to the top of the machine base 15. The feeder 13 is located on the side of the electric guide rail away from the controller 12, the controller 12 is located on the side of the electric guide rail 2 away from the tapping machine 3, the feeder 13 is located on the side of the vibrating plate 14 and the base 11 are close to each other, the base 11 is located below the tapping machine 3 and the axes of the two are collinear, and the tapping machine 3 is fixed to the output end of the electric guide rail.

[0023] In this embodiment, the electric guide rail 2 serves as the moving carrier of the tapping machine 3. A servo motor drives a ball screw to achieve high-precision vertical displacement control of the tapping machine 3, enabling precise completion of the feeding action (moving downwards during tapping) and the resetting action (returning upwards to the initial position after tapping), ensuring consistent tapping depth. The tapping machine 3, as the core execution component, has a spindle driven by a variable frequency motor. Its rotation speed (500-2000 r / min) can be adjusted according to the material of the workpiece 8 (e.g., carbon steel, stainless steel) and thread specifications (e.g., M6, M8). A high-speed rotating tap cuts a standard internal thread into the pre-drilled hole in the workpiece 8. A cooling system during the tapping process provides real-time cooling and lubrication to the tap and workpiece 8, extending tap life and improving thread surface quality. The controller 12 uses a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller 12) as the core control unit, coordinating the movement of the electric guide rail 2, the start / stop of the tapping machine 3, and its rotation speed through preset program logic. The vibration frequency of the vibratory plate 14 and the adsorption and conveying actions of the feeder 13 are adjusted to achieve precise timing coordination of the actions of each component. The operator can set parameters (such as tapping depth, feed speed, etc.) and monitor the status through the touch screen. The vibratory plate 14 generates high-frequency micro-amplitude vibration through an electromagnetic vibrator, so that the workpiece 8 (nut blank) in the storage bin is arranged in an orderly manner along the spiral track and transported to the discharge port. The guide structure set on the inner side of the track can ensure that the workpiece 8 is output in the correct posture (such as the thread hole facing upward), avoiding subsequent tapping failure due to incorrect posture. The feeder 13 is set as a suction nozzle type, which integrates a vacuum generator and a robotic arm structure. The vacuum generator generates negative pressure to make the suction nozzle adsorb the workpiece 8. The robotic arm accurately grabs the workpiece 8 from the discharge port of the vibratory plate 14 through multi-axis linkage and transports it to the top of the base 11 below the tapping machine 3. The three clamping plates 6 match the workpiece 8 to ensure that the workpiece 8 and the tap of the tapping machine 3 are coaxial, completing the automatic feeding process. This is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0024] Specifically, the tapping machine 3 has a trapezoidal plate 4 at its bottom, and three sets of drive units 9 are arranged inside the tapping assembly. The output end of each drive unit 9 is connected to a transmission unit 7. Each transmission unit 7 is slidably connected to a clamping plate 6. Each transmission unit 7 has a transmission plate 5 at its top, and the workpiece 8 to be tapped is arranged inside the clamping plate 6. The transmission unit 7 includes a housing 71 located at the output end of the drive unit 9. A transverse sliding plate 72 is slidably connected to the inner side of the housing 71 about the tapping machine 3. The longitudinal part 73 is axially slidably connected. During the process of the electric guide rail 2 driving the tapping machine 3 to move downward, the tapping machine 3 cooperates with the trapezoidal plate 4 to squeeze the transmission plate 5. The transmission plate 5 cooperates with the transverse plate 72 to transmit the force of the electric guide rail 2 driving the tapping machine 3 to move downward to the longitudinal part 73. The longitudinal part 73 amplifies the downward force of the tapping machine 3 by cooperating with the inclined surface of the clamping plate 6, while reducing the transverse distance of the clamping plate 6 to clamp the workpiece 8 to be tapped. The trapezoidal plate 4 is fixed to the bottom of the tapping machine 3 and is located outside the tap of the tapping machine 3.

[0025] In this embodiment, when the electric guide rail 2 drives the tapping machine 3 to move downwards, the top of the trapezoidal plate 4 contacts the transmission plate 5, causing the transmission plate 5 to move towards the side closer to the base 11. Under pressure, the transmission plate 5 pushes the transverse plate 72 to slide radially along the housing 71. The transverse plate 72, through its cooperation with the longitudinal part 73, converts the radial force into the axial movement of the longitudinal part 73. The top of the longitudinal part 73, at the bevel joint with the clamping plate 6, is made of a high-hardness alloy material to withstand the enormous pressure (up to 500-2000N) generated when the tapping machine 3 moves downwards. Through the bevel amplification principle, the axial force of the longitudinal part 73 is converted into the transverse clamping force of the clamping plate 6, causing the three clamping plates 6 to move synchronously towards the workpiece 8 to be tapped, ultimately achieving a firm clamping of the workpiece 8 to be tapped, ensuring that the workpiece 8 will not be dislodged during the tapping process. The clamping mechanism prevents offset or vibration, ensuring the accuracy of thread processing. The entire clamping process requires no hydraulic equipment, significantly reducing the initial cost and long-term energy consumption of the equipment. Simultaneously, the clamping action responds rapidly, significantly improving production efficiency. The clamping action is deeply coupled with the tapping process. The downward movement of the electric guide rail 2 triggers the trapezoidal plate 4 to press the transmission plate 5, and the force is transmitted to the clamping plate 6 in just milliseconds, a speed improvement compared to traditional hydraulic systems. The design of the transverse plate 72 limiting radial movement and the longitudinal part 73 limiting axial movement eliminates freedom loss and avoids force transmission deviation. The compact structure saves equipment space. The cylinder 92 is only used for initial positioning before tapping. Adjusting the clamping position adapts to different nut specifications, greatly reducing equipment complexity and maintenance costs.

[0026] Specifically, a protective component 51 is fixed to the outside of each transmission part 53.

[0027] In this embodiment, the protective component 51 is made of high-strength engineering plastic (such as polycarbonate PC) and its surface is treated with wear resistance. It can effectively prevent external impurities (such as chips, coolant, etc.) from entering the transmission part 53, protect the transmission part 53 from damage, and extend the service life of the equipment.

[0028] Specifically, each transmission part 53 has an elastic element 1 52 fixed at the bottom of its top wall, and the other end of each elastic element 3 732 is fixedly connected to the housing 71. The transmission part 53 is provided on the side of the transmission part 53 that is in contact with the transverse plate 72. Each longitudinal part 73 has a side plate 731 fixed on both sides, and an elastic element 3 732 is fixed at the bottom of each side plate 731. The other end of each elastic element 3 732 is fixed to the inside of the housing 71. Each clamping plate 6 has a limiting plate 61 fixed on both sides, and an elastic element 2 62 is fixed on the side of each limiting plate 61 away from the part to be attacked 8. The other end of each elastic element 2 62 is fixed to the inside of the housing 71.

[0029] In this embodiment, elastic element 1 52, elastic element 2 62, and elastic element 3 732 can all be configured as springs or other devices that can provide radial elastic force. Before tapping, elastic element 1 52 is compressed during the movement of transmission plate 5, and elastic element 3 732 is compressed through side plates 731 on both sides of longitudinal part 73 during its movement. When tapping machine 3 completes tapping and moves upward, the elastic restoring force of elastic element 1 52 and elastic element 3 732 respectively pushes transverse plate 72 and longitudinal part 73 to reset, so that clamping plate 6 releases the workpiece 8 to be tapped, and prepares for the next tapping operation.

[0030] Specifically, each drive unit 9 includes a bracket 91 fixed to the top of the base 11, a cylinder 92 fixed to the inner side of the bracket 91, a support plate 93 fixed to the output end of the cylinder 92, and a housing 71 fixed to the other end of the support plate 93. The drive unit 9 is only used to push the bracket 91 to move, or the bracket 91 can be moved by a lead screw and a device that can cooperate with manual rotation of the lead screw.

[0031] In this embodiment, cylinder 92 serves as the power source for drive unit 9. It drives piston rod extension and retraction via compressed air, causing support plate 93 and housing 71 to move vertically, thereby adjusting the position of transmission unit 7 and clamping plate 6. Before tapping, cylinder 92 extends, causing support plate 93 to push housing 71 to perform preliminary positioning of workpiece 8. After tapping, cylinder 92 retracts, causing support plate 93 to pull housing 71 to release support of the completed workpiece 8, thus accommodating workpieces 8 of different specifications. The stroke of cylinder 92 can be adjusted according to actual needs to ensure that clamping plate 6 can accurately clamp workpiece 8.

[0032] Specifically, each transverse plate 72 has an attraction part 721 on the side near the transmission plate 5, and each transverse plate 72 has a guide part 722 on the side near the longitudinal part 73. The attraction part 721 is in contact with the transmission part 53, and the guide part 722 is in contact with the power supply part 733.

[0033] In this embodiment, the angle of all inclined surfaces of the attraction part 721, transmission part 53, guide part 722 and force supply part 733 is 45°. The transmission plate 5 and the longitudinal part 73 are restricted to only vertical movement, and the transverse plate 72 can only move horizontally to prevent additional degrees of freedom from causing force loss. When the trapezoidal plate 4 presses the transmission plate 5, the trapezoidal plate 4 applies a vertically downward force Fin to the transmission plate 5, and the 45° inclined surface at the bottom is in contact with the right inclined surface of the transverse plate 72. When the transmission plate 5 moves downward, the normal force N1 generates a vertical component (downward) and a horizontal component (rightward) at the contact point. Due to the 45° angle between the attraction part 721 and the transmission part 53, the magnitude of the vertical component is still Fin. The horizontal component drives the transverse plate 72 to move horizontally. The guide part 722 on the other side of the transverse plate 72 is in contact with the force supply part 733 at the top of the longitudinal part 73. When the transverse plate 72 moves horizontally, the vertical component (downward) of the normal force N2 acts on the longitudinal part 73. Since N2=N1 (the vertical force of the transverse plate 72 is balanced) and the angle is 45°, the magnitude of the vertical component is still Fin. The longitudinal part 73 can only move vertically. The vertical downward force Fin at the top is directly transmitted to the bottom. Therefore, the force Fout = Fin output at the bottom of the longitudinal part 73. The force at the bottom of the longitudinal part 73 is the same as the pressure applied by the trapezoidal plate 4 to the transmission plate 5, and its magnitude remains unchanged.

[0034] Specifically, each longitudinal section 73 has a power supply section 733 at its top and a power relief section 734 at one side of its bottom. The angle between the power relief section 734 and the tapping machine 3 is twelve degrees. Each clamping plate 6 has a power receiving section 63 on the side away from the workpiece 8. The angle between the power receiving section 63 and the tapping machine 3 is twelve degrees, and the power receiving section 63 and the power relief section 734 are in contact.

[0035] In this embodiment, twelve degrees is the optimal solution at the intersection of mechanical limits and ergonomics. If the angle is smaller, the self-locking property is enhanced, but a larger stroke or space is required, resulting in a bulky structure. If the angle is larger, the labor-saving effect is weakened, and sliding failure is easily triggered. When the electric guide rail 2 drives the tapping machine 3 to move downward, the force on the bottom of the longitudinal part 73 is the same as the pressure applied by the trapezoidal plate 4 to the transmission plate 5. Due to the twelve-degree angle between the force receiving part 63 and the force unloading part 734, the radial force Fr on the longitudinal part 73 is approximately 4.7 Fin. The radial displacement R of the longitudinal part 73 and the axial displacement Z of the tapping machine 3 satisfy R = Z / tan12°, thus achieving an increase in force and a decrease in displacement.

[0036] Specifically, the applicable processes for external tapping devices used in nut production are as follows: S1: Receive goods in batches. After receiving the goods, conduct incoming material inspection on the profiles. The inspection includes the dimensional accuracy of the profiles (such as length, width, thickness, etc.), surface quality (such as whether there are cracks, scratches, oxide scale, etc.), and material composition (such as carbon content, alloy element content, etc.) to ensure that the parts to be tapped meet the processing requirements. S2: After the inspection, the parts are machined by automatic lathe. The machining includes drilling pre-drilled holes on the parts to be tapped 8 (the hole diameter is determined according to the thread specification, such as 5.2mm for M6 thread), chamfering (removing burrs from the edge of the pre-drilled holes to prevent damage to the tap during tapping), and deburring (cleaning up the chips and burrs generated during the machining process to ensure that the surface of the parts to be tapped 8 is smooth). After the machining is completed, the parts to be tapped 8 are moved to the inside of the vibratory plate 14. S3: Vibratory feeder 14 outputs the workpiece 8 to be tapped as needed and then transports it to the inside of clamping plate 6 through feeder 13. Electric guide rail 2 drives tapping machine 3 to move to the top of tapping machine 3 tap and workpiece 8. At the same time, clamping plate 6 fixes workpiece 8. Tapping machine 3 performs tapping. During the tapping process, cooling system cools and lubricates tap and workpiece 8 in real time to reduce tapping temperature (controlled at 60-80℃), reduce tap wear and thread burn, and improve thread quality. S4: After tapping, the workpiece undergoes rolling grinding and magnetic grinding. Rolling grinding uses grinding stones (such as alumina ceramic balls) in the grinding machine to rub against the workpiece surface, removing burrs and sharp edges generated during tapping and making the thread surface smooth. Magnetic grinding uses a magnetic field to cause magnetic grinding particles (such as iron powder) in the grinding fluid to impact the workpiece surface at high speed, further removing tiny burrs and oxide scale and improving the surface quality of the workpiece. S5: After grinding, the workpiece undergoes ultrasonic cleaning. It then passes through visual inspection (checking for defects such as cracks, scratches, and rust on the workpiece surface), CCD inspection (using a high-resolution CCD camera to capture images of the threads and analyzing the thread profile, pitch, and height parameters using image processing software to ensure they meet standards), magnifying glass inspection (using a magnifying glass to inspect the threads for defects), and OQC inspection (pre-shipment quality inspection to ensure the workpiece quality meets customer requirements). After these checks, the workpiece is packaged and put into storage or shipped. If any inspection fails, the workpiece is reworked or returned to ensure that the quality of the workpiece leaving the factory is qualified.

[0037] Working principle: Initial state as follows Figures 1-15 As shown, the tapping machine 3 is located above the feeder 13. The tapping machine 3, transmission plate 5, transverse plate 72, longitudinal part 73 and clamping plate 6 are all in an initial unstressed state. At this time, elastic element 1 52, elastic element 2 62 and elastic element 3 732 are all in a naturally extended state. The three clamping plates 6 are in an open state under the action of elastic element 2 62, waiting for the workpiece 8 to be tapped to enter the clamping area.

[0038] When the vibratory feeder 14 delivers the workpiece 8 to be tapped in the correct orientation to the area below the feeder 13, the feeder 13 uses a suction nozzle to pick up the workpiece 8 and precisely transports it to the top of the base 11 below the tapping machine 3. Then, the workpiece 8 is released and moves between the three clamping plates 6. Subsequently, the electric guide rail 2 drives the tapping machine 3 to begin moving downwards, and the trapezoidal plate 4 moves downwards synchronously with the tapping machine 3. When the top of the trapezoidal plate 4 contacts the transmission plate 5, it applies a vertically downward force to the transmission plate 5. Under the pressure, the transmission plate 5 moves towards the side closer to the base 11 and pushes the transverse plate 72 to slide radially. Since the attraction part 721 of the transverse plate 72 close to the transmission plate 5 is in contact with the transmission part 53 and the inclined angle is 45°, the horizontal component of the normal force generated when the transmission plate 5 moves downward drives the transverse plate 72 to move horizontally. The transverse plate 72 pushes the longitudinal part 73 to move downward along the tapping machine axis. The bottom of the longitudinal part 73 cooperates with the inclined surface of the clamping plate 6 to convert the axial force of the longitudinal part 73 into the lateral clamping force of the clamping plate 6 through the inclined surface amplification principle, so that the three clamping plates 6 move synchronously towards the workpiece 8 to be tapped, and finally achieve a firm clamping of the workpiece 8 to be tapped. After the tapping is completed, the electric guide rail 2 drives the tapping machine 3 to move upward, and the trapezoidal plate 4 moves upward accordingly, no longer applying pressure to the transmission plate 5. At this time, the elastic restoring force of the elastic element 1 52 and the elastic element 3 732 respectively pushes the transverse plate 72 and the longitudinal part 73 to reset. The reset of the transverse plate 72 makes the transmission plate 5 also return to the initial position, and the reset of the longitudinal part 73 makes the clamping plate 6 release the workpiece 8 to be tapped, completing one tapping operation. Afterwards, the feeder 13 continues to transport new workpieces 8 to the clamping area, repeating the above clamping and tapping actions to achieve continuous automated production.

[0039] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An external tapping device for nut production, comprising a tapping assembly, an electric guide rail disposed on one side of the tapping assembly, and a tapping machine disposed at the output end of the electric guide rail, characterized in that: It also includes a trapezoidal plate at the bottom of the tapping machine, three sets of drive units are provided on the inner side of the tapping assembly, the output end of each set of drive units is connected to a transmission unit, each transmission unit is slidably connected to a clamping plate, each transmission unit is provided with a transmission plate at the top, and the workpiece to be tapped is provided on the inner side of the clamping plate. The transmission part includes a housing located at the output end of the drive part. A transverse plate is radially slidably connected to the inner side of the housing about the tapping machine, and a longitudinal part is axially slidably connected to the inner side of the housing about the tapping machine. During the process of the electric guide rail driving the tapping machine to move downward, the tapping machine cooperates with the trapezoidal plate to squeeze the transmission plate. The transmission plate cooperates with the transverse plate to transmit the force of the electric guide rail driving the tapping machine to move downward to the longitudinal part. The longitudinal part amplifies the downward force of the tapping machine by cooperating with the inclined surface of the clamping plate, while reducing the lateral movement distance of the clamping plate to clamp the workpiece.

2. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tapping assembly includes a machine base fixedly connected to the bottom of the electric guide rail, a base fixed to the top of the machine base, a controller fixed to the top of the machine base, a vibratory feeder fixed to the top of the machine base, and a feeder fixed to the top of the machine base. The feeder is located on the side of the electric guide rail away from the controller, the controller is located on the side of the electric guide rail away from the tapping machine, the feeder is located on the side of the vibratory feeder and the base is close to each other, the base is located below the tapping machine and the axes of the two are collinear, and the tapping machine is fixed to the output end of the electric guide rail.

3. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 2, characterized in that: The trapezoidal plate is fixed to the bottom of the tapping machine and is located outside the tap of the tapping machine.

4. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the drive units includes a bracket fixed to the top of the base, a cylinder fixed to the inner side of the bracket, a support plate fixed to the output end of the cylinder, and a housing fixed to the other end of the support plate.

5. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the aforementioned transmission parts is fixed with a protective component on its outer side, and each of the top walls of the transmission part is fixed with an elastic component one at its bottom. The other end of each elastic component three is fixedly connected to the housing. The transmission part is provided on the side of the transmission part that is in contact with the transverse plate.

6. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the longitudinal sections is fixed with a side plate on both sides, and each side plate is fixed with an elastic element three at its bottom. The other end of each elastic element three is fixed to the inside of the housing.

7. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 6, characterized in that: Each of the longitudinal sections has a power supply section at its top and a power relief section on one side of its bottom end. The angle between the power relief section and the tapping machine is twelve degrees.

8. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 7, characterized in that: Each clamping plate has a limiting plate fixed on both sides. Each limiting plate has an elastic element two fixed on the side away from the part to be tapped. The other end of each elastic element two is fixed to the inside of the machine housing. Each clamping plate has a relay part on the side away from the part to be tapped. The angle between the relay part and the tapping machine is twelve degrees, and the relay part and the unloading part are in contact.

9. The external tapping device for nut production according to claim 5, characterized in that: Each of the transverse plates has an attractive part on the side near the transmission plate and a guide part on the side near the longitudinal part. The attractive part is in contact with the transmission part, and the guide part is in contact with the power supply part.

10. The applicable process of the external tapping device for nut production as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that: S1: Receive goods in batches and conduct incoming material inspection on the profiles after receiving them; S2: After the inspection is completed, the parts are processed by automatic lathe. After processing is completed, the parts to be processed are moved to the inside of the vibratory feeder. S3: The vibratory feeder outputs the workpiece to be tapped as needed, and then transports it to the inside of the clamping plate via the feeder. The electric guide rail drives the tapping machine to move to the position where the tap is aligned with the top of the workpiece. At the same time, the clamping plate fixes the workpiece, and the tapping machine performs the tapping operation. S4: After tapping, the workpiece undergoes rolling grinding and magnetic grinding; S5: After grinding, the workpiece is ultrasonically cleaned and then packaged and put into storage or shipped after passing visual inspection, CCD inspection, full inspection with a magnifying glass, and OQC inspection. If any inspection fails, the workpiece is reworked or returned.

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