A frame, an automatic installation method for a toggle bolt, and an installation guide

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic installation method for a vehicle frame and a knock bolt, and an installation guide. The installation guide includes a positioning portion for detachably fixing to the surface of a first workpiece and a wire harness limiting portion provided on the positioning portion; a limiting channel for guiding the second workpiece to penetrate into the mounting hole of the first workpiece is provided in the wire harness limiting portion, and the surface of the wire harness limiting portion has a limiting surface for displacing the wire harness toward the circumference of the limiting channel; the minimum radial dimension of the limiting channel is larger than the radial dimension of the disengaging end of the second workpiece. The installation guide is used to assist in the automatic assembly of the first workpiece and the second workpiece. During operation, the installation guide can be connected to the first workpiece before the wire harness, so as to use the limiting surface to displace the wire harness, avoid the wire harness blocking the limiting channel and the mounting hole in the first workpiece, and remove the installation guide after the limiting channel guides the second workpiece to be loaded into the first workpiece, so that the installation guide is separated from the assembly of the first workpiece and the second workpiece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tooling, and in particular to an installation guide, and also to an automatic installation method for a vehicle frame and a knock bolt, using the aforementioned installation guide. Background Art

[0002] The frame longitudinal beam plays an important load-bearing role in the car. Hundreds of parts of the truck, such as the fuel tank, urea tank, battery bracket, leaf spring, fender bracket, air shock absorber, etc., are fixed to the frame longitudinal beam by counter-bolts.

[0003] In the frame assembly process line, the process of installing the wiring harness comes before the process of installing the counter-bolts. In addition, the wiring harness already installed in the frame can easily interfere with the position for installing the counter-bolts in the frame. As a result, vehicle manufacturers often need to manually open the wiring harness and install the counter-bolts on the frame. This is one of the important factors that make it difficult to increase the automation rate of the current frame assembly process line. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an installation guide that facilitates the automated installation of the knock bolts in the vehicle frame. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated installation method for a vehicle frame and the knock bolts, using the aforementioned installation guide.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides an installation guide, comprising a positioning portion for detachably fixing to the surface of a first workpiece and a wire harness limiting portion provided on the positioning portion; a limiting channel for guiding the second workpiece to penetrate into the installation hole of the first workpiece is provided in the wire harness limiting portion, and the surface of the wire harness limiting portion has a limiting surface for displacing the wire harness toward the circumferential side of the limiting channel; the minimum radial dimension of the limiting channel is used to be larger than the radial dimension of the disengaging end of the second workpiece.

[0006] Preferably, the positioning portion includes an adsorption member for achieving adsorption positioning or an adhesive member for achieving adhesive positioning.

[0007] Preferably, the positioning portion further includes a positioning plate for being attached to the surface of the first workpiece; and the adsorption member is specifically a magnet embedded in the positioning plate.

[0008] Preferably, the limiting surface includes a pair of oppositely distributed clamping planes.

[0009] Preferably, the clamping plane is provided with a positioning groove for achieving clamping and positioning of the robot.

[0010] Preferably, the limiting surface further includes a limiting curved surface smoothly connected between adjacent clamping planes.

[0011] Preferably, the limiting channel includes a limiting hole and a first limiting notch and a second limiting notch provided at both ends of the limiting hole for respectively assembling the axial ends of the second workpiece.

[0012] Preferably, the installation guide is specifically a knock bolt installation guide; the first limiting slot is specifically a hexagonal countersunk hole for assembling the hexagonal bolt head of the knock bolt; the second limiting slot is specifically a wrench operating port for accommodating a socket wrench mounted on the knock bolt.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for automatically installing a vehicle frame and a counter-bolt, using the above-mentioned installation guide, comprising:

[0014] Before installing the wiring harness, position the mounting guide on the frame with the limiting channel aligned with the mounting hole;

[0015] installing the wiring harness on the vehicle frame;

[0016] Using a first manipulator to insert the knock bolt into the limiting channel to lock it in the mounting hole;

[0017] The mounting guide is removed from the surface of the vehicle frame.

[0018] Preferably, the step of positioning the installation guide on the vehicle frame with the limiting channel aligned with the installation hole specifically includes:

[0019] A second manipulator is used to clamp and install the harness limiting portion of the guide;

[0020] driving the second manipulator to move to the limiting channel of the mounting guide so as to align with the mounting hole of the vehicle frame;

[0021] After the positioning portion of the mounting guide is fixed to the surface of the vehicle frame, the second manipulator and the wire harness limiting portion are separated.

[0022] Compared with the above-mentioned background technology, the installation guide provided by the present invention includes a positioning portion detachably fixed to the surface of the first workpiece and a wire harness limiting portion provided on the positioning portion; the wire harness limiting portion is provided with a limiting channel for guiding the second workpiece to penetrate into the mounting hole of the first workpiece, and the surface of the wire harness limiting portion has a limiting surface for displacing the wire harness toward the circumferential side of the limiting channel; the minimum radial dimension of the limiting channel is used to be larger than the radial dimension of the disengaging end of the second workpiece.

[0023] The installation guide provided by the present invention can assist in realizing the automatic assembly of a first workpiece and a second workpiece, for example, realizing the automatic assembly of a vehicle frame and a counter-bolt.

[0024] During operation, before the wire harness is connected to the frame, first position several installation guides to the frame so that the limiting channels of all installation guides are aligned with the mounting holes in the frame, so that the limiting surfaces of the installation guides are used to squeeze the wire harness to prevent the wire harness from blocking the limiting channels and the mounting holes; then use the limiting channels to guide the knock bolts to be inserted into the mounting holes, and after the knock bolts are tightened to the mounting holes, remove the installation guides from the surface of the frame, so that the installation guides are separated from the assembly of the frame and the knock bolts.

[0025] In the above operations, the installation guide can be automatically installed and removed from the frame by automated equipment, which is conducive to the automation of the frame assembly process, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing labor costs. Of course, if the number of mounting holes in the frame is limited, the installation guide can also be manually installed and removed from the frame. Compared with manually inserting and tightening the strike bolts into the mounting holes, this operation has less impact on the automation of the frame assembly process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a first direction;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in the second direction;

[0029] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a mounting guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a third direction;

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a fourth direction;

[0032] Figure 6 The present invention provides a flow chart of a method for automatically installing a vehicle frame and counter-bolts according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Among them, 1-positioning plate, 2-wire harness limiting part, 3-limiting channel, 4-positioning groove, 5-magnet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the 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.

[0035] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solutions of the present invention, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0036] Please refer to Figures 1 to 6 , Figure 1 Installation guide provided by the embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a first direction;

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in the second direction; Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a mounting guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a third direction; Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of the installation guide provided by an embodiment of the present invention in a fourth direction; Figure 6 The present invention provides a flow chart of a method for automatically installing a vehicle frame and counter-bolts according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The present invention provides an installation guide, comprising a positioning portion and a wire harness limiting portion 2 provided on the positioning portion; the wire harness limiting portion 2 comprises a limiting channel 3 provided inside and a limiting surface provided on the surface.

[0039] In the installation guide, the positioning portion is used to be detachably fixed to the surface of the first workpiece, specifically, the positioning portion is fixed to the surface of the first workpiece at an angle such that the limiting channel 3 is aligned with the mounting hole of the first workpiece; the limiting channel 3 can allow the second workpiece to pass through, thereby guiding the second workpiece to enter the mounting hole of the first workpiece; the limiting surface is on the surface of the wire harness limiting portion, and is used to squeeze and move the wire harness toward the surrounding side of the limiting channel 3 to avoid the wire harness blocking the mounting hole connected to the limiting channel 3.

[0040] For example, when using this installation guide to assemble fasteners on a vehicle frame, the frame serves as the first workpiece and the fasteners serve as the second workpiece. The installation guide can be fixed to the surface of the vehicle frame before the wiring harness is connected to the vehicle frame. After the wiring harness is connected to the vehicle frame, although some of the wiring harness will be loose and scattered on the surface of the frame, the limiting surfaces of the installation guide at each mounting hole of the vehicle frame can constrain the extension range of the wiring harness, preventing the wiring harness from overlapping with the limiting channel 3 and the mounting hole. Furthermore, the limiting channel 3, based on the limiting surface, provides an unobstructed installation channel for the fastener to enter the mounting hole.

[0041] In the above operation, the installation guide often needs to be detached from the vehicle frame after the fasteners are connected. Therefore, in the installation guide, the minimum radial dimension of the limiting channel 3 is larger than the radial dimension of the second workpiece, i.e., the disengagement end of the fastener. The disengagement end of the fastener refers to the end that is relatively displaced with the installation guide to achieve the installation guide being detached from the vehicle frame and the fastener being detached from the installation guide. For example, the installation guide is Figure 3 When the mounting guide is fixed to the vehicle frame at an angle of , the surface of the vehicle frame is in contact with the bottom end of the mounting guide, and the mounting guide is separated from the vehicle frame by moving upward. During this process, for the fastener inserted into the mounting guide, the middle and upper parts of the fastener are separated from the mounting guide due to the upward movement of the mounting guide. The middle and upper parts of the fastener can be regarded as the disengaged ends of the fastener.

[0042] In the process of assembling the first workpiece and the second workpiece, the use of the installation guide provided by the present invention is conducive to realizing the automation of the entire process, for example, based on the installation guide, the second workpiece can be automatically inserted into and locked into the first workpiece, and the installation guide can be automatically installed and removed, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing labor costs.

[0043] The installation guide provided by the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and implementation methods.

[0044] For the above-mentioned installation guide, it is preferred to adopt adsorption or adhesion to achieve fixed installation of the positioning portion on the surface of the first workpiece, which is conducive to automatic installation and removal of the installation guide.

[0045] The positioning portion being adsorbed on the surface of the first workpiece may refer to the positioning portion being fixedly connected to the first workpiece by vacuum adsorption, or may refer to the positioning portion being fixedly connected to the first workpiece by magnetic attraction.

[0046] Assume again that the first workpiece is a vehicle frame and the second workpiece is a fastener, such as a countersunk bolt. The vehicle frame is often made of ferromagnetic metal. Therefore, the positioning portion can be fixed to the surface of the metal frame by magnetic attraction. For example, the positioning portion can include a positioning plate 1 for attaching to the first workpiece and a magnet 5 embedded in the positioning plate 1. The surface of the magnet 5 can be flush with the surface of the positioning plate 1.

[0047] To enhance the strength of the connection between the positioning plate 1 and the surface of the first workpiece, two or more magnets 5 are typically provided within the positioning plate 1, with all magnets 5 spaced apart within the body of the positioning plate 1. To prevent the magnets 5 from scratching the surface of the first workpiece, a protective film may be provided on the side of the magnets 5 facing outward, or on the side of the mounting plate where the magnets 5 are embedded.

[0048] During the installation of the knock bolts and the metal frame, the installation guide mainly guides the movement of the knock bolts penetrating into the installation holes of the metal frame. Therefore, the magnetic adsorption force of the magnet 5 and the metal frame is sufficient to meet the positioning requirements of the installation guide and the metal frame.

[0049] Of course, for some frames that are not suitable for positioning and installation using the magnetic adsorption principle, vacuum adsorption or adhesive bonding can be used to achieve the positioning connection between the installation guide and the frame. Among them, when the positioning part is positioned and connected to the frame by adhesive bonding, the adhesive used to achieve the adhesive function can preferably be a repeatable and traceless adhesive.

[0050] To simplify installation and removal of the mounting guide from the first workpiece surface, the mounting guide's limiting surface may include a pair of opposing clamping surfaces. Both clamping surfaces are flat and face each other, thereby facilitating reliable inward clamping of the limiting guide by a fixture such as a manipulator from the outside of the two clamping surfaces.

[0051] In addition, the clamping plane can be provided with a positioning structure for realizing rapid positioning with a manipulator or other fixture. For example, a positioning groove 4 can be provided in the clamping plane, and correspondingly, a manipulator or other fixture can be provided with a positioning protrusion for embedding in the aforementioned positioning groove 4.

[0052] When manipulating a manipulator or other fixture to clamp the limiting guide part, the specific clamping position of the installation guide in the fixture is determined by the matching relationship between the positioning protrusion and the positioning groove 4, which is conducive to the fixture driving the installation guide to realize that the limiting channel 3 is aligned with the installation hole of the first workpiece, ensuring that the center axis of the limiting channel 3 of the installation guide is aligned with the center axis of the installation hole in the first workpiece.

[0053] In addition to the clamping plane, the limiting surface of the installation guide can also include a limiting curved surface that smoothly connects the two clamping planes. The limiting curved surface and the clamping plane are arranged around the outer periphery of the limiting channel 3. The clamping plane facilitates the installation of the installation guide and the fixture, while the limiting curved surface helps minimize damage to the wiring harness when it is squeezed.

[0054] As for the limiting channel 3 of the installation guide, it may include a limiting hole and a first limiting notch and a second limiting notch provided at both axial ends of the limiting hole. When the second workpiece, such as a knock bolt, passes through the mounting hole of the first workpiece along the limiting channel 3, the first limiting notch and the second limiting notch respectively accommodate the axial ends of the knock bolt, ensuring that the entire knock bolt can be inserted into and locked in the mounting hole after entering the limiting channel 3. For example, the axial ends of the knock bolt are respectively provided with umbrella-shaped caps, and the size of the first limiting notch and the size of the second limiting notch are not less than the size of their respective corresponding caps, so as to ensure that the knock bolt can be smoothly installed in the mounting hole of the first workpiece.

[0055] With respect to the installation guide for the knock bolt, its first limiting notch can be specifically configured as a hexagonal countersunk hole for assembling the hexagonal bolt head of the knock bolt, and its second limiting notch can be specifically configured as a wrench operating opening for accommodating the knock bolt and a socket wrench for fitting the knock bolt. Compared to the assembly gap between the hexagonal countersunk hole and the hexagonal bolt head, the gap between the wrench operating opening and the knock bolt is larger, accommodating not only the knock bolt but also the socket wrench, making it easier to continuously apply force to the knock bolt within the limiting channel 3, thereby achieving connection between the knock bolt and the mounting hole of the first workpiece.

[0056] Of course, the above description only uses the example of the second workpiece using counter-bolts. If the installation guide provided by the present invention is used to realize the installation of other fasteners and other parts in the first workpiece, the specific structure of the limiting channel 3 of the installation guide should be adaptively adjusted according to the specific product structure of the second workpiece.

[0057] The present invention also provides a method for automatically installing a vehicle frame and counter-bolts using the above-mentioned installation guide, which can realize automatic installation of the counter-bolts on the vehicle frame, and is beneficial to the automation and streamlining of the vehicle production line.

[0058] The automatic installation method of the vehicle frame and the knock bolts comprises the following steps:

[0059] S1: Before installing the wiring harness, position the installation guide on the vehicle frame with the limit channel 3 aligned with the installation hole;

[0060] S2: Install the wiring harness on the frame;

[0061] S3: Use the first manipulator to insert the knock bolt into the limiting channel 3 to lock it in the mounting hole;

[0062] S4: Remove the mounting guide from the surface of the frame.

[0063] The automatic installation method of the vehicle frame and the knock bolts uses an installation guide as an auxiliary tool in the vehicle frame assembly process line. Before the knock bolts are installed on the vehicle frame, the installation guide is first positioned on the surface of the vehicle frame. After the knock bolts are installed on the frame, the installation guide is removed from the surface of the frame.

[0064] Among them, the knock bolt can be operated by the first manipulator to automatically penetrate the limiting channel 3 and lock it in the installation hole. Compared with the specific installation action of the knock bolt in the installation hole, the action of installing the installation guide on the frame is simpler. Therefore, the automatic positioning of the installation guide and the frame can be achieved by automated equipment, or the installation guide can be installed on the frame manually. Regardless of which of the above methods is specifically used to achieve the connection of the installation guide on the surface of the frame, the process of positioning and connecting the installation guide to the frame is usually placed before the frame installation harness. That is to say, in the assembly process line of the frame, the processes of installing the installation guide, installing the harness, installing the knock bolt, and removing the installation guide are distributed in sequence.

[0065] Of course, in order to improve the degree of automation of the frame assembly process line, the installation guide can also be automatically positioned on the surface of the frame using automated equipment. Therefore, the above step S1 may specifically include:

[0066] S11: Using a second manipulator to clamp the harness limiting portion 2 of the installation guide;

[0067] S12: driving the second manipulator to move to the limiting channel 3 of the installation guide and align it with the installation hole of the frame;

[0068] S13: After the positioning portion of the mounting guide is fixed to the surface of the vehicle frame, the second robot arm and the harness limiting portion 2 are separated.

[0069] It can be seen that the automatic installation method of the frame and the knock bolts first uses the second robot to automatically complete the positioning connection of the installation guide and the frame, then installs the wiring harness to the frame, and then uses the first robot to automatically complete the positioning connection of the knock bolts and the frame, and finally removes the installation guide from the surface of the frame, so that the installation guide and the knock bolts that have been connected to the frame are separated from each other.

[0070] The above is a detailed introduction to the frame and the automatic installation method of the knock bolts and the installation guide provided by the present invention. This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method of the present invention and its core idea. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, without departing from the principles of the present invention, the present invention can also be improved and modified, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An installation guide, characterized in that: The invention comprises a positioning portion for being detachably fixed to the surface of a first workpiece and a wire harness limiting portion (2) provided on the positioning portion; a limiting channel (3) for guiding a second workpiece to penetrate into a mounting hole of the first workpiece is provided in the wire harness limiting portion (2); a surface of the wire harness limiting portion (2) has a limiting surface for displacing the wire harness toward the circumferential side of the limiting channel (3); a minimum radial dimension of the limiting channel (3) is greater than a radial dimension of a disengaging end of the second workpiece; The limiting channel (3) comprises a limiting hole and a first limiting notch and a second limiting notch provided at both ends of the limiting hole for respectively assembling the axial ends of the second workpiece; The installation guide is specifically a knock bolt installation guide; the first limiting slot is specifically a hexagonal countersunk hole for assembling the hexagonal bolt head of the knock bolt; the second limiting slot is specifically a wrench operating port for accommodating a socket wrench mounted on the knock bolt.

2. The installation guide according to claim 1, characterized in that The positioning portion includes an adsorption member for achieving adsorption positioning or an adhesive member for achieving adhesive positioning.

3. The installation guide according to claim 2, characterized in that: The positioning portion further comprises a positioning plate (1) for adhering to the surface of the first workpiece; the adsorption member is specifically a magnet (5) embedded in the positioning plate (1).

4. The installation guide according to claim 1, characterized in that The limiting surface includes a pair of relatively distributed clamping planes.

5. The installation guide according to claim 4, characterized in that: The clamping plane is provided with a positioning groove (4) for realizing clamping and positioning of the manipulator.

6. The installation guide according to claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting surface also includes a limiting curved surface smoothly connected between adjacent clamping planes.

7. A method for automatically installing a vehicle frame and a counter-bolt, using the installation guide according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: include: Before installing the wiring harness, the installation guide is positioned on the vehicle frame with the limiting channel (3) aligned with the installation hole; installing the wiring harness on the vehicle frame; Using a first manipulator to insert the knock bolt into the limiting channel (3) to lock it in the mounting hole; The mounting guide is removed from the surface of the vehicle frame.

8. The automatic mounting method of the vehicle frame and the counter-bolts according to claim 7, characterized in that: The step of positioning the installation guide on the vehicle frame with the limiting channel (3) aligned with the installation hole specifically comprises: A second manipulator is used to clamp the harness limiting portion (2) of the installation guide; driving the second manipulator to move to the limiting channel (3) of the mounting guide and align with the mounting hole of the vehicle frame; After the positioning portion of the mounting guide is fixed to the surface of the vehicle frame, the second manipulator and the wiring harness limiting portion (2) are separated.

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