A positioning mechanism for aligning a first component with a second component

Abstract

The present invention proposes an alignment mechanism for aligning a first component with a second component, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises: a guide rail group, a telescopic assembly, which is slidably connected to the guide rail group, and the telescopic assembly is configured so that when the first component contacts the telescopic assembly, the telescopic assembly can drive the second component to move along a first direction and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that the first component is aligned with the second component. The alignment mechanism of the present invention can realize automatic alignment and assembly of the first component and the second component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of calibration technology, and in particular relates to an alignment mechanism for aligning a first component and a second component. Background Art

[0002] The existing automatic loading method of the bottom bracket is to be manually operated by the employee, who manually lifts the bottom bracket and installs it on the hovering base of the outdoor unit, and then presses the start descent button. With the support of the employee, the bottom bracket slowly descends to the roller line along with the outdoor unit, finally completing the assembly of the bottom bracket and the outdoor unit.

[0003] The existing problem is that the assembly of the external unit and the base bracket needs to be performed manually by one operator.

[0004] In order to at least partially solve the defects of the existing technology, it is necessary to propose a new alignment mechanism for aligning the first component and the second component. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide an alignment mechanism for aligning a first component with a second component, which can at least partially solve the defects of the existing technology and realize automatic alignment and assembly of the first component and the second component.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention proposes an alignment mechanism for aligning a first component with a second component, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises:

[0007] Guide rail set,

[0008] A telescopic assembly is slidably connected to the guide rail assembly, and the telescopic assembly is configured so that when the first component contacts the telescopic assembly, the telescopic assembly can drive the second component to move in a first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that the first component is aligned with the second component.

[0009] The alignment mechanism as described above, wherein the telescopic assembly includes:

[0010] A first telescopic member is arranged opposite to each other along the first direction, and a second telescopic member is arranged opposite to each other along the second direction. Both the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member are matched with the first component in shape.

[0011] The alignment mechanism as described above, wherein the second telescopic member is provided on the lower side of the first telescopic member.

[0012] As described above, the alignment mechanism, wherein the first telescopic member includes a first roller and a first spring return rod that match the shape of the first component, wherein the first roller is connected to the guide rail group through the first spring return rod, and the first spring return rod is connected to the calibration unit used for calibrating the second component, so that the second component is positioned relative to the first component in the first direction.

[0013] As described above, the alignment mechanism, wherein the second telescopic member includes a second roller and a second spring return rod that match the shape of the first member, wherein the second spring return rod is connected to the alignment mechanism to position the second member relative to the first member in the second direction.

[0014] In the alignment mechanism as described above, the first spring return rod and the corresponding second spring return rod are both connected to the calibration unit via a vertical rod.

[0015] In the alignment mechanism as described above, the calibration unit includes a first positioning member arranged along the first direction and a second positioning member arranged along the second direction, and the first positioning member is connected to the second positioning member.

[0016] The alignment mechanism as described above further includes a base, and the guide rail assembly is arranged on the base.

[0017] In the alignment mechanism as described above, the guide rail assembly is connected to the base via a connecting plate, a cylinder is provided on the connecting plate, and the cylinder is connected to the first telescopic member to enable the first telescopic member to move up and down.

[0018] In the alignment mechanism as described above, the guide rail assembly includes guide rail units provided at both ends of the base, and the guide rail units include guide rails provided at both sides of the base.

[0019] The alignment mechanism of the present invention solves the problem that the existing alignment process needs to rely on manual operation by an operator. After using this mechanism, the purpose of reducing manpower and increasing efficiency can be achieved, and the effect of automatic alignment can be realized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or descriptions of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of an alignment mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a vertical moving component of an alignment mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the alignment mechanism provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description, specific details such as the alignment mechanism are provided for purposes of illustration, not limitation, to facilitate a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced in other embodiments without these specific details. In other cases, detailed descriptions of well-known elements are omitted to avoid obscuring the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.

[0025] In addition, to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] In order to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, specific embodiments are provided below.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention proposes an alignment mechanism for aligning a first component 2 with a second component, wherein the alignment mechanism of the present invention includes: a guide rail group 1 and a telescopic assembly, wherein the telescopic assembly is slidably connected to the guide rail group 1, and the telescopic assembly is configured so that when the first component 2 contacts the telescopic assembly, the telescopic assembly can drive the second component 3 to move along a first direction and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that the first component 2 and the second component 3 are automatically aligned.

[0028] Specifically, the first component 2 can be an external unit, the second component 3 can be a bottom bracket, and the first direction is Figure 1 The second direction is Figure 1 In the longitudinal direction, of course, the first component 2 can also be other types of devices, and the second component 3 can also be other types of devices. The types of the first component 2 and the second component 3 are not limited here, and all are within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] In a specific embodiment, the alignment mechanism of the present invention includes a base 4 (also referred to as a material line simulation body), and the guide rail assembly 1 is disposed on the base 4 .

[0030] Specifically, the guide rail group 1 includes guide rail units arranged at both ends of the base 4, and the guide rail unit includes guide rails 11 arranged on both sides of the base 4, that is, four guide rails 11 are arranged on the base 4, respectively arranged at the four corners of the base 4 or near the corners of the base 4.

[0031] In a specific embodiment, the telescopic assembly includes: Figure 1 The first telescopic member and the second telescopic member are arranged in a relatively horizontal direction (such as Figure 1 The first telescopic member and the second telescopic member are both matched with the first component 2 in shape. Preferably, the second telescopic member is located on the lower side of the first telescopic member, so that the alignment mechanism of the present invention is more stable.

[0032] The specific implementation of the present invention will now be described by taking the first component 2 as the fuselage and the second component 3 as the base as an example.

[0033] In a specific embodiment, the first telescopic member includes a first roller 51 and a first spring return rod 52 that match the shape of the fuselage, wherein the first roller 51 is connected to the guide rail 11 through the first spring return rod 52, and the first spring return rod 52 is connected to the calibration unit (also called the base support calibration mechanism) used for calibrating the second component to position the base support laterally relative to the fuselage.

[0034] Furthermore, the second telescopic member includes a second roller 61 and a second spring return rod 62 that match the shape of the fuselage, wherein the second spring return rod 62 is connected to the calibration unit to position the base relative to the fuselage in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] Specifically, when the air conditioner outdoor unit is sucked down from the top of the positioning mechanism of the invention by the gantry suction crane, it will first contact the first roller 51, slide and press the first roller 51 through the outer wall of the air conditioner outdoor unit, and compress the first spring return rod 52. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The entire alignment mechanism is symmetrical, and the aforementioned functions are used to achieve lateral positioning of the air conditioner outdoor unit on the alignment mechanism of the present invention. Specifically, the first roller 51 is kept in close contact with the wall of the air conditioner outdoor unit, driving the alignment unit (also known as the base alignment mechanism) below to move laterally, thereby achieving lateral positioning of the air conditioner outdoor unit and the base.

[0036] When the first roller 51 is pressed by the wall of the air-conditioning outdoor unit to achieve the horizontal positioning of the base on the base 4, the air-conditioning outdoor unit continues to move downward to make the wall of the air-conditioning outdoor unit slide and press the second roller 61, the second roller 61 pushes the second spring return rod 62 through the connecting rod, thereby adjusting the second roller 61 and making it close to the wall of the air-conditioning outdoor unit, thereby adjusting the calibration unit below to move in the longitudinal direction, and achieving the longitudinal positioning of the base relative to the outdoor unit.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the first spring return lever 52 and the corresponding second spring return lever 62 are both connected to the calibration unit via the vertical rod 7. Each calibration unit includes a first positioning member 81 arranged in the transverse direction and a second positioning member 82 arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the first positioning member 81 and the second positioning member 82 are connected. The two opposing first positioning members 81 arranged in the transverse direction realize the transverse positioning of the base relative to the fuselage, and the two opposing second positioning members 82 arranged in the longitudinal direction realize the longitudinal positioning of the base relative to the fuselage.

[0038] Preferably, if Figure 3 As shown, the guide rail 11 is connected to the base 4 via a connecting plate 91. A cylinder 92 is mounted on the connecting plate 91. The cylinder 92 is connected to the crossbar of the first telescopic member. The crossbar is located between the two guide rails 11 and is connected to the first spring return rod 52, enabling both the first spring return rod 52 and the first roller 51 to move up and down. The guide rails allow the first spring return rod to be adjusted in position, and the cylinder's expansion and contraction on the guide rails drives the first spring return rod 52 and the first roller 51 to move up and down.

[0039] The clamping cylinder is fixed to the base through the connecting plate 91. Its function is to adjust the height position of the first spring return rod 52 and the first roller 51 when the workshop produces different models of outdoor unit products to meet the production requirements of the corresponding model base bracket of outdoor units of different heights and sizes.

[0040] Now combined Figures 1 to 3 The working principle of the alignment mechanism of the present invention is described below to clarify the present invention, but is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0041] The positioning mechanism of the present invention can automatically align the external unit and the base, and the positioning mechanism of the present invention is a purely mechanical structure, which is manufactured to meet the production requirements of assembling the external unit and the base.

[0042] The alignment mechanism of the present invention allows for assembly of the external unit and the base support without the aid of electrical or hydraulic devices. The radius of the first roller also defines the maximum allowable offset of the external unit's position in the plane when the external unit is lifted downward. Within this range, the first spring return lever 52 and first roller 51 of the fixture can follow the external unit for alignment and correction. The functional principles of the automatic alignment mechanism for the external unit base support are as follows:

[0043] Horizontal positioning of the bottom support on the base: Step 1. The external machine is lifted by the gantry suction crane to the top of the positioning mechanism (in the attached figure, it is directly above the external machine). When the proximity sensor detects that the sucked external machine is approaching, the auxiliary feeding line pushes the bottom support onto the main production line (the position shown by the external machine in the figure); Step 2. After the material sensor detects that the material has been pushed to the work station, the suction crane continues to suck the external machine down, and during the slow descent, the wall of the external machine first touches the first roller; Step 3. When the first roller is slowly squeezed and rotated backward, it pushes the first spring return rod (also known as the first spring push rod return mechanism, a pair of spring return rods on the left and right sides of the equipment) to move horizontally; Step 4. (Positioning of the bottom support in the radial direction) During the lateral movement of the first spring return rod, it drives the bottom support calibration mechanism to make it move concomitantly, so that the calibration unit pushes the bottom support below to move left and right, completing the lateral positioning of the line.

[0044] Radial positioning of the base on the line: Step 5: As the external unit continues to be sucked down and touches the second roller at the bottom, radial positioning of the base on the base begins. As the external unit moves down, it squeezes the second roller at the bottom through the wall. As the second roller rotates and moves backward, it pushes the second spring return lever (also called the second spring push rod return mechanism) at the bottom. Step 6: The second spring return lever at the bottom drives the calibration unit at the bottom to make accompanying radial movement. Step 7: As the external unit continues to fall and passes the second roller at the bottom, radial positioning of the base is achieved. Step 8: As the external unit continues to fall, the alignment sensor detects whether the four corners of the base are in the correct position for the external unit. When the position is correct, the external unit continues to be sucked down and finally falls onto the base to complete assembly. Step 9: The base alignment mechanism moves up the distance of the base via its bolted mini-cylinder, releasing the assembled external unit and base. Step 10: The sensor detects that the external unit has left the workstation and starts the next cycle.

[0045] The alignment mechanism of the present invention can automatically align and assemble the external unit and the base, thereby solving the problem that the existing assembly of the external unit and the base requires manual operation by one operator. By using this mechanism, the purpose of reducing manpower and increasing efficiency can be achieved.

[0046] In addition, the alignment mechanism of the present invention also has the following beneficial effects: abandoning the visual positioning solution and reducing the investment in equipment and funds; using a purely mechanical structure to achieve adaptive alignment and verification between the outdoor unit and the base bracket before installation (the alignment machine adjusts the base bracket position according to the outdoor unit position to achieve alignment, and it does not rely on electricity, liquid, or gas); using a spring push rod reset mechanism, with the help of which the spring push rod reset mechanism is fitted to the wall of the outdoor unit that is being lowered, so that the base bracket alignment mechanism below the alignment machine follows the spring push rod reset mechanism to make accompanying movements; achieving alignment and assembly of the outdoor unit and the base bracket. Compared with visual positioning, the investment cost is very low, and it is easy to install and maintain. This mechanism can save about 80% of the cost and can 100% coordinate the speed change during the process of the air-conditioning outdoor unit being sucked and lifted down, without restricting the production rhythm.

[0047] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A positioning mechanism for aligning a first component with a second component, characterized in that: The alignment mechanism comprises: Guide rail set, a telescopic assembly, which is slidably connected to the guide rail assembly, and the telescopic assembly is configured so that when the first component contacts the telescopic assembly, the telescopic assembly can drive the second component to move along a first direction and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that the first component is aligned with the second component; The telescopic assembly comprises: a first telescopic member arranged opposite to each other along the first direction and a second telescopic member arranged opposite to each other along the second direction, wherein the first telescopic member and the second telescopic member are both matched with the first member in shape; The second telescopic member is disposed on the lower side of the first telescopic member; The first telescopic member comprises a first roller and a first spring return rod which are matched with the first component in shape, wherein the first roller is connected to the guide rail assembly through the first spring return rod, and the first spring return rod is connected to a calibration unit for calibrating the second component, so that the second component is positioned relative to the first component in the first direction; The second telescopic member includes a second roller and a second spring return rod that match the shape of the first member, wherein the second spring return rod is connected to the calibration unit to position the second member relative to the first member in the second direction.

2. The alignment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first spring return rod and the corresponding second spring return rod are both connected to the calibration unit through a vertical rod.

3. The alignment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The calibration unit includes a first positioning member arranged along the first direction and a second positioning member arranged along the second direction, and the first positioning member is connected to the second positioning member.

4. The alignment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a base, and the guide rail group is arranged on the base.

5. The alignment mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The guide rail group is connected to the base through a connecting plate, and a cylinder is arranged on the connecting plate. The cylinder is connected to the first telescopic member so that the first telescopic member moves up and down.

6. The alignment mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The guide rail assembly includes guide rail units arranged at two ends of the base, and the guide rail unit includes guide rails arranged at two sides of the base.

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