A clamping tooling for the front-end module sub-assembly process

Abstract

The present invention provides a clamping tool for the front-end module sub-assembly process, belonging to the technical field of automobile assembly. It includes a bottom cross beam, a bottom main positioning pin, a side positioning pin, a supporting block and various accessory fixing mechanisms. The clamping accuracy of the front-end module on the tooling is ensured by the bottom main positioning pin, the side positioning pin and the supporting block, and the controllable accuracy range reaches ±1 mm in the X and Y directions, meeting the requirements of the front-end manipulator for material taking process. Through the design of the side positioning pin and the supporting block, a structure that automatically opens after the clamping block is locked is invented, which can be interlocked with the automatic opening structure of the elevator, reducing the operations of the front-end manipulator operator during the material taking process and improving the automation level. The application performance and structural form of the overall clamping tooling are applicable to high-beat and automatic conveying and running clamping tooling; the clamping structural form of the bottom cross beam + bottom main positioning pin + side positioning pin and supporting block.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of automobile assembly, and specifically relates to a clamping tool for the front-end module sub-assembly process. Background Art

[0002] In the high-tempo assembly production line of a complete vehicle, in order to reduce the working hours of the main assembly line, modular assembly is adopted as much as possible. The front-end module sub-assembly is generally set in the general assembly workshop. After sub-assembly, it is transported to the main line assembly station by a conveying structure. From the sub-assembly fixture to the main line vehicle assembly, a special front-end fixture is required for handling and transfer. Due to the complex structure of the front-end module product, its fixture design structure is also relatively complex.

[0003] Generally, the front-end module can be fixed on the clamping tool in the form of a bottom support block and upper clamping. This method has poor positioning accuracy. The accuracy control of the front-end module on the clamping tool depends on manual judgment of the placement position, and the controllable accuracy range is about ±10 mm. The front-end manipulator cannot position the front-end module at one time when taking materials, and the one-time material-taking success rate is less than 20%. The average loss time for each material-taking is 35 s, which greatly affects the production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the problem of poor positioning accuracy of the front-end module on the clamping tool, improve the material-taking success rate of the front-end manipulator, and improve the production efficiency, a high-precision and highly automated clamping tool is specifically invented.

[0005] The present invention creates a clamping tool for the front-end module sub-assembly process. This tool adopts the method of clamping with positioning pins, and the controllable range of positioning accuracy reaches ±1 mm, solving the problem of poor positioning accuracy of the front-end module on the clamping tool. At the same time, the high-precision positioning of the front-end module on the clamping tool realizes a 100% one-time material-taking success rate of the front-end manipulator. At the same time, the front-end clamping tool is signal-linked with the conveyor line elevator and the front-end manipulator, and the side locking positioning pins for clamping the front-end module can be automatically disengaged, reducing the personnel operation beat by 10 s and improving the production efficiency.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A clamping tool for the front-end module sub-assembly process, comprising: a tooling frame, side brackets, a main positioning pin, and side positioning modules. The main positioning pin is arranged on the tooling frame, side brackets are arranged on both sides of the tooling frame, and the side positioning modules are arranged on the side brackets.

[0007] Furthermore, the side positioning module includes: an auxiliary positioning pin, a supporting block, a transverse slide rail, a spring, a connecting plate, a slider, a clamping block, and a fixing block. Among them, the connecting plate includes a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate, and a third connecting plate; a transverse slide rail is provided on the first connecting plate, a slider is provided on the transverse slide rail, one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the first connecting plate, the other end is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate, the slider is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate, and the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are movably matched through the slider and the transverse slide rail. The third connecting plate is fixed on the second connecting plate, and an auxiliary positioning pin and a supporting block are provided on the third connecting plate. A fixing block is also provided on the second connecting plate, and the fixing block can cooperate with the clamping block provided on the first connecting plate.

[0008] Furthermore, the side positioning module further includes a handle provided on the second connecting plate, and the handle can control the movement of the fixing block.

[0009] Furthermore, the side positioning module further includes a roller provided on the first connecting plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the main positioning pin is fixed to the bottom of the tooling frame by bolts and is made of nylon or polyurethane material.

[0011] Furthermore, the positioning pin is made of Q235 carbon steel material, and the machining accuracy is ±0.1 mm.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. The present invention discloses a front-end clamping tooling applicable to high-tempo and automatic conveying operation, mainly including a bottom cross beam, a bottom main positioning pin, side positioning pins, supporting blocks, and various accessory fixing mechanisms. The clamping accuracy of the front-end module on the tooling is ensured by the bottom main positioning pin, side positioning pins, and supporting blocks, and the controllable accuracy range reaches ±1 mm in X and Y directions, meeting the material-taking process of the front-end manipulator.

[0014] 2. Through the design of the side positioning pins and supporting blocks, a structure in which the clamping block automatically opens after being locked is invented, which can be interlocked with the automatic opening structure of the elevator, reducing the operations of the front-end manipulator operator during the material-taking process and improving the automation level.

[0015] 3. The application performance and structural form of the overall clamping tooling, that is, it is applicable to high-tempo and automatic conveying operation clamping tooling; the clamping structural form of the bottom cross beam + bottom main positioning pin + side positioning pins and supporting blocks.

[0016] 4. The design structure of the automatic supporting block of the side positioning pins and supporting blocks, and the side clamping positioning pins and supporting blocks are automatically disengaged through the interlock with the elevator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the front-end clamping tooling of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the unilateral positioning pin at the bottom of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the unilateral positioning pin and supporting block on the side of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the working process of the positioning pin and supporting block on the side of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the supporting block at the bottom of the prior art.

[0022] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the upper clamping block of the prior art.

[0023] In the figure:

[0024] 1 - bottom crossbeam; 2 - main positioning pin; 3 - auxiliary positioning pin; 4 - supporting block; 5 - transverse slide rail; 6 - connecting plate; 7 - spring; 8 - side bracket; 9 - handle; 10 - fixing block; 11 - clamping block; 12 - roller; 13 - tooling frame; 14 - third connecting plate; 15 - second connecting plate; 16 - first connecting plate; 17 - slider. Detailed implementation manners

[0025] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0026] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, terms such as "set", "install", "connect", "link" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fix" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; "connect" can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; "link" can be a direct link or an indirect link through an intermediate medium, and can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0027] The front-end clamping tooling designed in the present invention adopts the form of a bottom main positioning pin 2, side auxiliary positioning pins 3, and a supporting block 4 as a whole. The front-end clamping tooling is automatically conveyed on the roller bed of the front-end subassembly line through a bottom cross beam 1 to meet the subassembly operations of the front-end process; the bottom main positioning pin 2 is fixed on the bottom hole of the tooling frame 13; the side auxiliary positioning pins 3 and the supporting block 4 are clamped on the side brackets 8 of the tooling frame, and at the same time cooperate with the elevator opening mechanism, and are signal-interlocked with the front-end manipulator through the elevator to automatically open the side auxiliary positioning pins 3 and the supporting block 4. The overall front-end clamping tooling is as shown in Figure 1 shown.

[0028] The subassembly operation process is as follows: The operator confirms the front-end module, aligns the holes of the front-end module with the bottom positioning pin 2, places it on the bottom positioning pin 2, then aligns the side positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 with the side locking positions of the front-end module, moves to the locking position, locks the front-end module, and then performs the subassembly process operation on the subassembly conveyor line. After the operation is completed, it is automatically conveyed to the front-end manipulator's material-taking position, and the manipulator performs the material-taking operation. After the material-taking is completed, the clamping tooling automatically returns.

[0029] The layout form of the bottom main positioning pin 2 is a bilateral layout on the left and right. The positioning pin is made of nylon or polyurethane material, and the bottom is directly fixed on the positioning pin support beam through bolts. The height of the positioning pin is specifically designed according to the front-end module to be subassembled. The positioning pin of the present invention is a double-set positioning pin and is applicable to two different platform models. The schematic diagram of the single-side bottom positioning pin is as shown in Figure 2 shown.

[0030] The layout form of the side auxiliary positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 is a bilateral layout on the left and right. The positioning pin 3 is made of Q235 carbon steel, and the machining accuracy is ±0.1 mm. The supporting block 4 adopts the form of a supporting block. The positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 are fixed on the connecting plate 6 through a transverse slide rail 5, and the connecting plate 6 is connected to the side bracket 8 of the tooling frame. The side bracket 8 of the tooling frame is the main side beam of the tooling. The schematic diagram of the single-side side positioning pin and the supporting block is as shown in Figure 3 shown.

[0031] The operator moves the positions of the side positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 through the handle 9. When moving to the locking position, the front-end module is in a locked state on the positioning pin. At this time, the side positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 are interlocked through the locking block 10 and the fixed block 11, and the operator can perform the subassembly operation of the front-end module. When the subassembly operation is completed and the front-end manipulator takes the material, through the interlock of the manipulator and the elevator, the elevator opening device moves the fixed block 11 to automatically open the locking block 10, and the side positioning pin 3 and the supporting block 4 automatically rebound to the open position by the spring force of the spring 7. The schematic diagram is as shown in Figure 4 shown.

[0032] Traditional design solutions use a bottom support block and an upper clamping block to fix the front-end module. The bottom support block holds up the frame of the front-end module. The controllable range of the positioning accuracy in this way is about ±10 mm. The deviation values in the X and Y directions of the position of the front-end module on the clamping fixture are on average more than 10 mm. When the manipulator picks up materials, the success rate of picking up materials at one time is less than 20%. Therefore, in the present invention, a clamping form using a bottom positioning pin to fix the front-end tray is adopted, which has the advantage of high precision. The schematic diagram of the bottom support block is as shown in Figure 5 ; The upper clamping block fixes the frame of the front-end module. There is a gap of 2 - 4 mm when clamping the front-end frames of different vehicle models. This method cannot guarantee the X-direction pitching angle of the front-end module on the clamping fixture, and the angle deviation > 5°. Therefore, in the present invention, a method of clamping with an upper side positioning pin is adopted, and the side positioning deviation is less than 1 mm, ensuring that the X-direction pitching angle deviation < 1°, which has the advantage of high precision. The schematic diagram of the upper clamping block is as shown in Figure 6 ; In addition, in the present invention, a structure of a front-end elevator automatically opening the front-end clamping fixture is designed, which improves the automation rate of the equipment. Compared with the traditional design solution, it has the advantage of high automation.

[0033] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, for those skilled in the art, they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clamping tool for the front-end module subassembly process, characterized in that, it includes: a tooling frame, side brackets, a main positioning pin and a side positioning module. The main positioning pin is arranged on the tooling frame, side brackets are arranged on both sides of the tooling frame, and the side positioning module is arranged on the side brackets; The side positioning module includes: an auxiliary positioning pin, a support block, a transverse slide rail, a spring, a connecting plate, a slider, a clamping block and a fixing block. Among them, the connecting plate includes a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate and a third connecting plate; the transverse slide rail is arranged on the first connecting plate, the slider is arranged on the transverse slide rail, one end of the spring is fixedly connected to the first connecting plate, and the other end is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate. The slider is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate. The first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are movably matched through the slider and the transverse slide rail. The third connecting plate is fixed on the second connecting plate, and the auxiliary positioning pin and the support block are arranged on the third connecting plate. A fixing block is also arranged on the second connecting plate, and the fixing block cooperates with the clamping block arranged on the first connecting plate.

2. The clamping tool for the front-end module subassembly process according to claim 1, characterized in that, the side positioning module further includes a handle arranged on the second connecting plate, and the handle controls the movement of the fixing block.

3. The clamping tool for the front-end module subassembly process according to claim 1, characterized in that, the side positioning module further includes rollers arranged on the first connecting plate.

4. The clamping tool for the front-end module subassembly process according to claim 1, characterized in that, the main positioning pin is fixed on the tooling frame by bolts and is made of nylon or polyurethane material.

5. The clamping tool for the front-end module subassembly process according to claim 1, characterized in that, the main positioning pin is made of Q235 carbon steel material, and the machining accuracy is ±0.1 mm.

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