An assembly apparatus for an automotive connector

Abstract

The application discloses an assembling equipment for automobile connectors, which comprises a workbench, a placing table, a grabbing mechanism, a conveying mechanism and an assembling mechanism installed on the workbench; a feeding station and an assembling station are sequentially arranged on the workbench; the conveying mechanism is suitable for driving the placing table to move to the feeding station, so that the sealing ring and the end cover to be assembled are separately placed on the placing table; the conveying mechanism is also suitable for driving the placing table to move the sealing ring and the end cover to be assembled to the assembling station; the grabbing mechanism is suitable for simultaneously grabbing the sealing ring and the end cover to be assembled, and sequentially stacking the sealing ring and the end cover on the placing table. The application has the beneficial effects that the sealing ring and the end cover of the connector are placed at the appropriate positions of the workbench, and then the sealing ring and the end cover can be automatically assembled through the mutual cooperation of the conveying mechanism, the grabbing mechanism and the assembling mechanism, so that time and labor are saved, the work efficiency is high, and the production efficiency is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive parts manufacturing technology, and in particular to an assembly device for automotive connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Automotive connectors are components frequently encountered by electronic engineers. Their function is quite simple: to bridge gaps in circuits or between isolated circuits, allowing current to flow and enabling the circuit to perform its intended function. Automotive connectors come in a wide variety of forms and structures, but they are primarily composed of four basic structural components: contacts, housing (depending on the type), insulator, and accessories.

[0003] Connectors in the prior art, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes an end cap A1 and a sealing ring A2. Multiple positioning grooves b1 are provided on the end cap A1, and multiple corresponding positioning blocks b2 are provided on the sealing ring A2. During connector assembly, the positioning blocks b2 on the sealing ring A2 need to be aligned with the positioning grooves b1 on the end cap A1. Then, the end cap A1 and the sealing ring A2 are pressed together, causing the positioning blocks b2 to be pressed into the positioning grooves b1, thus assembling the end cap A1 and the sealing ring A2 together and completing the assembly of connector A. However, existing assembly methods rely on manual assembly, resulting in low assembly efficiency, high labor intensity, and reduced production efficiency. Therefore, a device capable of automatically assembling automotive connectors is proposed to solve the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a device that can automatically assemble automotive connectors.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: an assembly device for automotive connectors, comprising a workbench and a placement platform, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and an assembly mechanism installed on the workbench; a loading station and an assembly station are sequentially arranged on the workbench; the conveying mechanism is adapted to move the placement platform to the loading station, so that the sealing ring and end cap to be assembled are placed separately on the placement platform; the conveying mechanism is also adapted to move the placement platform to move the sealing ring and end cap to be assembled to the assembly station; the gripping mechanism is adapted to simultaneously grip the sealing ring and end cap to be assembled, and sequentially stack the sealing ring and end cap on the placement platform; the assembly mechanism is installed on the placement platform, and the assembly mechanism is adapted to assemble the sealing ring and end cap stacked on the placement platform.

[0006] Preferably, the placement platform includes a first placement area and a second placement area; the first placement area is used to place the sealing ring, and the second placement area is used to place the end cap; the sealing ring and the end cap to be assembled are adapted to be stacked in the second placement area; a positioning component is installed in the first placement area, and the positioning component is adapted to cooperate with the gripping mechanism so that when the gripping mechanism grips the sealing ring, the positioning component is adapted to position the sealing ring under the drive of the gripping mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, the positioning component includes four positioning blocks slidably mounted at the four corners of the first placement area. The moving direction of the positioning blocks is parallel to the corresponding diagonal direction. Each positioning block is elastically connected to the first placement area via an elastic element. The positioning blocks cooperate with the gripping mechanism through a drive structure. The gripping mechanism grips the sealing ring in two processes: a first process and a second process; wherein, in the first process, the gripping mechanism is adapted to move downward toward the first placement area, so that the drive structure drives each positioning block to move synchronously away from the center of the first placement area, thereby positioning the sealing ring placed in the first placement area; in the second process, the gripping mechanism is adapted to continue moving downward, so that the sealing ring is tensioned by the gripping mechanism, thereby causing the tensioned sealing ring to disengage from the first placement area; after the gripping mechanism disengages from the first placement area, the positioning blocks are adapted to reset under the elastic force of the elastic element.

[0008] Preferably, the driving structure includes a guide surface disposed on the upper end of the positioning block and a guide block disposed on the gripping mechanism; the guide surface is an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface, and the positioning block slides along the first placement area by the compression between the guide surface and the guide block.

[0009] Preferably, the gripping mechanism includes a displacement mechanism and a pair of gripping components; the two gripping components are respectively used to grip the sealing ring and the end cap, and the guide block is disposed therein for gripping the gripping component for gripping the sealing ring; the displacement mechanism is connected to the gripping components; when assembling the connector, the displacement mechanism is adapted to move the gripping components to the assembly station and grip the sealing ring and the end cap on the placement table; subsequently, the displacement mechanism is adapted to move the gripping components holding the sealing ring and the end cap sequentially to directly above the second placement area, so that the gripping components stack the sealing ring and the end cap in the second placement area.

[0010] Preferably, the gripping assembly is connected to the displacement mechanism via a connecting plate; the gripping assembly includes multiple grippers and a driving device; the grippers are spaced apart along the circumference of the sealing ring or end cap, the grippers slide in engagement with the bottom of the connecting plate, and the driving device is mounted on the connecting plate and engages with the grippers through its output end; when gripping the sealing ring and placing the end cap, the driving device is adapted to drive the grippers to expand, thereby tensioning the sealing ring and loosening the end cap; when placing the sealing ring and gripping the end cap, the driving device is adapted to drive the grippers to contract, thereby loosening the sealing ring and clamping the end cap; wherein, the bottom of the connecting plate corresponding to the gripping assembly for gripping the sealing ring is equipped with the guide block.

[0011] Preferably, the assembly mechanism includes an assembly platform, multiple limiting components, and a telescopic device; the assembly platform is vertically slidably installed in the second placement area, and the assembly platform is used for sealing rings and end caps; the limiting components are installed in the second placement area and located around the assembly platform; the telescopic device is installed at the lower end of the second placement area and connected to the assembly platform through its output end; when it is necessary to assemble the superimposed sealing rings and end caps, the limiting components are adapted to first move synchronously towards the assembly platform to horizontally position and vertically limit the sealing rings and end caps superimposed on the assembly platform; subsequently, the telescopic device is adapted to drive the assembly platform to move vertically upward, so that the superimposed sealing rings and end caps are pressed and assembled under the vertical compression of the assembly platform and the limiting components.

[0012] Preferably, the limiting component includes a third displacement device and at least one limiting plate; the third displacement device is located on the side of the assembly table and is connected to the limiting plate through an output end; the limiting plate is higher than the assembly table and a top plate is provided at the lower front end of the limiting plate; when assembling the sealing ring and the end cap, the third displacement device is adapted to drive the limiting plate to move closer to the superimposed sealing ring and end cap until the top plate abuts against the superimposed sealing ring and end cap, at which time the front end of the limiting plate is attached to or higher than the upper surface of the end cap.

[0013] Preferably, the assembly equipment for the automotive connector further includes a feeding device, a rotary table, and a testing device; the rotary table is adjacent to the assembly station, and the testing direction of the testing device is facing the rotary table; after the superimposed sealing ring and end cap are assembled, the gripping mechanism is adapted to grip the assembled connector and place it on the rotary table, and the rotary table is adapted to drive the placed connector to rotate so that the testing device can perform multi-directional testing on the connector; the feeding device is adapted to grip the tested connector on the rotary table and place it in the feeding area on one side of the workbench for feeding.

[0014] Preferably, the workbench is provided with multiple placement platforms, as well as multiple sets of loading stations and assembly stations. The connector is assembled in multiple stations by moving the multiple placement platforms along the corresponding sets of loading stations and assembly stations.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0016] This invention features a conveying mechanism, a gripping mechanism, and an assembly mechanism on a worktable. The sealing ring and end cap of the connector are placed at appropriate positions on the worktable, and then, through the coordinated action of these three mechanisms, the sealing ring and end cap are automatically assembled, thus completing the automatic assembly of the connector. This saves time and labor, increases work efficiency, and significantly improves production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connector structure of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a top view of the structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a partial structural diagram of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding device, rotating table, and detection device of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a partial structural diagram of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the placement platform structure of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a partial component structure of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the first placement area structure of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 11 This is an enlarged structural diagram of point A in the present invention.

[0028] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the grabbing component structure of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 13 This is a partial structural diagram of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the second placement area structure of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 15 This is an enlarged structural diagram of section B of the present invention.

[0032] In the diagram: A, Connector; A1, End Cap; A2, Sealing Ring; b1, Positioning Groove; b2, Positioning Block; 1, Workbench; 101, Loading Station; 102, Assembly Station; 2, Placement Table; 201, First Placement Area; 202, Second Placement Area; 3, Gripping Mechanism; 301, Displacement Mechanism; 3011, First Displacement Device; 3012, Second Displacement Device; 302, Gripping Assembly; 3021, Gripper; 3022, Drive Device; 4, Conveying Mechanism; 5, Assembly Mechanism; 501, Assembly Table; 502. Limiting component; 5021, Third displacement device; 5022, Limiting plate; 503, Telescopic device; 6, Unloading device; 601, Rotary seat; 602, Telescopic component one; 603, Mounting bracket; 604, Telescopic component two; 605, Gripper; 7, Rotary table; 701, Drive component; 702, Rotary plate; 8, Detection device; 9, Drive structure; 901, Guide surface; 902, Guide block; 10, Positioning component; 1001, Positioning block; 1002, Elastic element; 11, Top plate; 12, Fourth displacement device. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0034] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this application.

[0035] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0036] One preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figures 1 to 15As shown, an assembly device for automotive connectors includes a workbench 1, such as... Figure 2 As shown, this assembly equipment is a dual-station equipment, meaning it can simultaneously produce two sets of connectors A. A loading station 101 and an assembly station 102 are sequentially arranged on the workbench 1. A placement platform 2 is located between the loading station 101 and the assembly station 102, sliding on the workbench 1. There is also a conveying mechanism 4, a gripping mechanism 3, and an assembly mechanism 5. The conveying mechanism 4 and the gripping mechanism 3 can be installed on the workbench 1. The conveying mechanism 4 can connect and cooperate with the placement platform 2, allowing the placement platform 2 to move back and forth between the loading station 101 and the assembly station 102 under the action of the conveying mechanism 4. The gripping mechanism 3 is installed above the placement platform 2, and the assembly mechanism 5 is installed on the placement platform 2.

[0037] When assembling connector A: First, the placement platform 2 moves to the loading station 101 of the workbench 1 under the action of the conveying mechanism 4. Then, the worker places the sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 to be assembled in the appropriate positions on the placement platform 2. After placement, the conveying mechanism 4 moves the placement platform 2 to the assembly station 102 of the workbench 1. At this time, the gripping mechanism 3 picks up the sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 at the same time, and then stacks the sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 on the placement platform 2 with the sealing ring A2 at the bottom and the end cap A1 at the top. Finally, the assembly mechanism 5 automatically assembles the sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 stacked on the placement platform 2, thereby completing the automatic assembly of connector A. Compared with the manual assembly method in the existing technology, this method saves time and effort, increases work efficiency, and greatly improves production efficiency.

[0038] It should be understood that the specific structure and working principle of the conveying mechanism 4 are well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail here. A common conveying mechanism 4 generally includes a slide rail and a drive source; that is, the slide rail is fixed on the worktable 1, and the extension direction of the slide rail passes through the loading station 101 and the assembly station 102; the placement table 2 can be slidably mounted on the slide rail, and the placement table 2 is connected to the drive source, so that under the drive source, the placement table 2 can move along the slide rail to reciprocate along the loading station 101 and the assembly station 102 respectively. Common drive sources include motors, cylinders, and hydraulic cylinders, which can then form motor screw devices or pneumatic slide rail devices, etc.

[0039] In this embodiment, as Figure 8 , Figure 10 , Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, the placement platform 2 includes a first placement area 201 and a second placement area 202, wherein the first placement area 201 is used to place the sealing ring A2, and the second placement area 202 is used to place the end cap A1; during assembly, the gripping mechanism 3 places both the sealing ring A2 and the end cap A1 on the second placement area 202, with the sealing ring A2 at the bottom and the end cap A1 at the top.

[0040] like Figures 10 to 12 As shown, during material loading, the sealing ring A2 is positioned on the first placement area 201. To facilitate gripping and loading, a gap is left between the sealing ring A2 and the first placement area 201. Due to this gap, deviations may occur during gripping, as it is difficult for operators to ensure that the gap between the sealing ring A2 and the first placement area 201 remains consistent, making it difficult for the center lines of the sealing ring A2 and the second placement area 202 to coincide. Therefore, a positioning component 10 is installed on the first placement area 201. The positioning component 10 works in conjunction with the gripping mechanism 3. When the gripping mechanism 3 grips the sealing ring A2, its downward gripping action acts on the positioning component 10, which then precisely positions the sealing ring A2 on the second placement area 202, facilitating accurate gripping.

[0041] In this embodiment, the positioning component 10 is as follows: Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the positioning component 10 includes four positioning blocks 1001, which are slidably mounted at the four corners of the first placement area 201. The moving direction of the positioning blocks 1001 is parallel to the corresponding diagonal direction. The positioning blocks 1001 and the first placement area 201 are connected by elastic members 1002, which are preferably springs. When the positioning blocks 1001 are only subjected to the action of the elastic members 1002 and are not subjected to other external forces, the four positioning blocks 1001 are attached to the four corners of the first placement area 201.

[0042] When the gripping mechanism 3 grips the sealing ring A2, the positioning blocks 1001 and the gripping mechanism 3 cooperate through the drive structure 9. The gripping mainly includes two processes: First process: When the gripping mechanism 3 moves downward toward the first placement area 201, under the action of the drive structure 9, the four positioning blocks 1001 can move simultaneously away from the first placement area 201, so that the four positioning blocks 1001 just support the four corners of the sealing ring A2. At this time, the elastic element 1002 is compressed, thus reducing the gap between the sealing ring A2 and the first placement area 201. The gap is the same, that is, the center of the sealing ring A2 and the center of the first placement area 201 coincide, thereby positioning the sealing ring A2 placed in the first placement area 201; the second process: the gripping mechanism 3 continues to move down, at this time the positioned sealing ring A2 will be precisely tensioned on the gripping mechanism 3, and then the tensioned sealing ring A2 will separate from the first placement area 201; finally, after the gripping mechanism 3 grips the sealing ring A2 and separates it from the first placement area 201, the positioning block 1001 will be reset under the action of the elastic element 1002, and then the next loading and gripping will be carried out.

[0043] In this embodiment, as Figures 10 to 12 As shown, the drive structure 9 includes a guide surface 901 and a guide block 902. The guide surface 901 is disposed on the positioning block 1001. Of course, the first placement area 201 corresponding to the positioning block 1001 can also be provided with a guide surface 901. Due to the setting of the guide surface 901, the upper part between the positioning block 1001 and the first placement area 201 will not fit tightly, that is, there is a certain gap between the upper part of the positioning block 1001 and the first placement area 201. The guide block 902 is disposed on the gripping mechanism 3. The number of guide blocks 902 and the positioning block 1001 are the same and correspond to each other. When the gripping mechanism 3 moves down to grip, the guide block 902 will move down into the insertion gap. When it continues to move down, the guide block 902 will touch the guide surface 901 on the guide block 902, thereby squeezing the guide block 902 to slide along the first placement area 201, so that the guide block 902 completes the precise positioning of the sealing ring A2.

[0044] It is understandable that the guide surface 901 preferably adopts an arc-shaped or inclined structure.

[0045] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 As shown, the gripping mechanism 3 includes a displacement mechanism 301 and a pair of gripping components 302. The two gripping components 302 grip the sealing ring A2 and the end cap A1 respectively, while the guide block 902 is installed on the gripping component 302 used to grip the sealing ring A2. The displacement mechanism 301 and the gripping components 302 are connected and cooperate.

[0046] During use, when assembling the connector, the displacement mechanism 301 first moves the gripping assembly 302 above the assembly station 102. Then, the two gripping assemblies 302 simultaneously grip the sealing ring A2 and the end cap A1 placed in the first placement area 201 and the second placement area 202. Subsequently, the displacement mechanism 301 moves the gripping assembly 302 holding the sealing ring A2 horizontally to directly above the second placement area 202. Then, the displacement mechanism 301 drives the gripping assembly holding the sealing ring A2... 302 moves down, thereby placing the sealing ring A2 on the second placement area 202; then, the displacement mechanism 301 drives the gripping component 302 holding the end cap A1 to move horizontally to directly above the second placement area 202, and then the displacement mechanism 301 drives the gripping component 302 holding the end cap A1 to move down, thereby placing the end cap A1 on the second placement area 202; since the sealing ring A2 is placed first and the end cap A1 is placed behind, that is, the second placement area 202 is in the stacked form of end cap A1 on top and sealing ring A2 below.

[0047] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the gripping component 302 is connected to the displacement mechanism 301 via a connecting plate. The gripping component 302 includes multiple grippers 3021 and a driving device 3022. The grippers 3021 are spaced apart along the circumference of the sealing ring A2 or the end cap A1. The grippers 3021 slide in contact with the bottom of the connecting plate. The driving device 3022 is mounted on the connecting plate, and its output end is connected to the grippers 3021.

[0048] When gripping the sealing ring A2, as follows Figure 12 As shown, the drive device 3022 will drive the multiple grippers 3021 to expand, that is, the sealing ring A2 is tensioned on the outside of the multiple grippers 3021, so that the gripping component 302 grips it; when the sealing ring A2 is released, the drive device 3022 will drive the multiple grippers 3021 to contract, thereby releasing the sealing ring A2. The bottom of the connecting plate corresponding to the gripping component 302 used to grip the sealing ring A2 is equipped with a guide block 902.

[0049] It should be noted that since the sealing ring A2 is flexible, at least four grippers 3021 are used in the gripping component 302 that grips the sealing ring A2. That is, when the four grippers 3021 grip, they are located at the four inner corners of the sealing ring A2, so as to better and more stably hold the sealing ring A2.

[0050] When grasping end cap A1, such as Figure 13As shown, the drive device 3022 will drive the multiple grippers 3021 to retract, thereby gripping and holding the end cap A1; and when the end cap A1 is released, the drive device 3022 will drive the multiple grippers 3021 to expand, thereby releasing the end cap A1.

[0051] It should be noted that the end cap A1 is rigid, therefore, at least two grippers 3021 are used in the gripping component 302 that grips the end cap A1, that is, two grippers 3021 are located on both sides of the end cap A1 for clamping and fixing.

[0052] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 As shown, the displacement mechanism 301 includes a first displacement device 3011 and two second displacement devices 3012. Two gripping components 302 are respectively installed on the second displacement devices 3012. The second displacement devices 3012 can drive the gripping components 302 to move vertically up and down. Both second displacement devices 3012 are installed on the first displacement device 3011. That is, the first displacement device 3011 can drive the second displacement devices 3012 together with the gripping components 302 to move horizontally synchronously. This allows it to cooperate with the assembly mechanism 5 to perform gripping and assembly processes on the end cap A1 and the sealing ring A2.

[0053] In this embodiment, as Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the assembly mechanism 5 includes an assembly platform 501, multiple limiting components 502, and a telescopic device 503. The assembly platform 501 is vertically slidably installed on the second placement area 202, while the limiting components 502 are installed in the second placement area 202 and located around the assembly platform 501. The telescopic device 503 is installed at the lower end of the second placement area 202, and the output end of the telescopic device 503 is connected to the assembly platform 501.

[0054] When assembling the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, the limiting component 502 first moves synchronously towards the assembly table 501, and then limits the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Subsequently, the telescopic device 503 is activated, which drives the assembly table 501 to move upward. Under the interaction of the assembly table 501 and the limiting component 502, the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 are pressed together, thereby assembling the two together.

[0055] In this embodiment, as Figure 14 and Figure 15As shown, the limiting component 502 includes a third displacement device 5021 and at least one limiting plate 5022. The limiting plate 5022 and the third displacement device 5021 are connected and cooperate. Under the action of the third displacement device 5021, the limiting plate 5022 can move towards or away from the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1. The bottom end of the limiting plate 5022 must be at least higher than the top end of the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, so that the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 will not interfere with the movement of the limiting plate 5022. Figure 15 As shown, a top plate 11 is installed at the bottom end of the limiting plate 5022 near the front. The top plate 11 limits the sides of the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1.

[0056] When assembling the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, the limiting plate 5022, under the action of the third displacement device 5021, will move closer to the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 until the top plate 11 moves and abuts against the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1. At this time, the front end of the limiting plate 5022 is in contact with or higher than the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, thus limiting the sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 to be assembled.

[0057] It should be understood that the specific structure and working principle of the first displacement device 3011, the second displacement device 3012 and the third displacement device 5021 are well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail here. Common types include hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders and linear motors, etc., and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0058] It should be noted that when one limiting plate 5022 is used, it can vertically limit the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, but the horizontal limiting effect is not very good. Therefore, it is preferable to use four limiting plates 5022. The four limiting plates 5022 are located on the four sides of the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, improving the stability of the limiting. Since the end cap A1 has a long side and a short side, to further improve the limiting effect, such as... Figure 14 As shown, two can be set on each of the long sides and one on each of the short sides, that is, the number of limiting plates 5022 is six, so that the limiting effect will be better; of course, those skilled in the art can set it according to the actual situation.

[0059] In this embodiment, in order to allow the assembled connector A to be inspected and cut into parts, such as... Figures 5 to 8As shown, the automotive connector assembly equipment also includes a feeding device 6, a rotary table 7, and a detection device 8. The rotary table 7 is installed near the assembly station 102. The rotary table 7 includes a drive component 701 and a rotating plate 702, with the rotating plate 702 installed at the output end of the drive component 701. The detection device 8 is installed near the rotary table 7, with its detection orientation facing the rotary table 7. The feeding device 6 has a similar structure to the gripping assembly 302, gripping and feeding the assembled connector A. However, the feeding device 6 has an additional rotating seat 601 compared to the gripping assembly 302. The rotating base 601 is equipped with a telescopic component 602. A mounting bracket 603 is mounted on the output end of the telescopic component 602. At least two grippers 605 are slidably mounted on the mounting bracket 603. A second telescopic component 604 is also mounted on the mounting bracket 603. The grippers 605 and the output end of the second telescopic component 604 are connected. The rotating base 601 includes a base body and a power component (not shown in the figure) located inside the base body. The first telescopic component 602 is fixedly mounted on the output end of the power component by a mounting block. That is, the rotating base 601 can drive the mounting bracket 603, grippers 605, first telescopic component 602 and second telescopic component 604 to rotate synchronously.

[0060] After the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 are assembled, that is, after the connector A is assembled, the gripping mechanism 3 will place the assembled connector A on the rotating plate 702 of the rotary table 7. Then, the rotating plate 702 can rotate under the action of the driving component 701, that is, the assembled connector A can be rotated, so that the detection device 8 can perform multi-directional detection on the connector A, that is, to check whether the end cap A1 and sealing ring A2 are assembled in place. After the detection is completed, the rotating seat 601 drives the gripper 605 to rotate to the position above the connector A. Then, the first telescopic component 602 drives the gripper 605 to move down to the appropriate position. Subsequently, the second telescopic component 604 drives the gripper 605 to clamp the connector A. Finally, the connector A that has completed the detection is gripped from the rotary table 7 to the unloading area on one side of the worktable 1 for unloading.

[0061] It should be noted that since this assembly equipment can be multi-station, meaning that multiple workers can simultaneously assemble multiple sets of connectors A, a fourth displacement device 12 can be installed on the side of the workbench 1, and the unloading device 6 is installed on the fourth displacement device 12. That is, multiple workstations share one unloading device 6, so the unloading device 6 can move between multiple workstations to unload the connectors A produced at multiple workstations. However, since the unloading speed of the unloading device 6 is limited, we prefer to use two workstations to share one unloading device 6 to ensure production efficiency.

[0062] It should be understood that the specific structure and working principle of the fourth displacement device 12 are similar to those of the conveying mechanism 4, and are common knowledge known to those skilled in the art; therefore, they will not be described in detail here. A common fourth displacement device 12 generally includes a slide rail and a drive source. The slide rail is fixed at a suitable position on the side of the worktable 1, and the unloading device 6 is slidably mounted on the slide rail. The unloading device 6 and the drive source are connected in cooperation. Driven by the drive source, the unloading device 6 can move back and forth along the slide rail between multiple workstations, thus facilitating the unloading process. Common drive sources include motors, cylinders, and hydraulic cylinders, which can then form motor screw devices or pneumatic slide rail devices, etc.

[0063] The working principle of this invention is as follows:

[0064] First, the worker stands near the loading station 101 close to the workbench 1. The placement platform 2 moves to the loading station 101 of the workbench 1 under the action of the conveying mechanism 4. Then, the worker places the sealing ring A2 and the end cap A1 to be assembled in the first placement area 201 and the second placement area 202 of the placement platform 2, respectively.

[0065] After placement, the conveying mechanism 4 moves the placement platform 2 to the assembly station 102 of the workbench 1. Then, the second displacement device 3012 drives the gripping component 302 to move vertically downward to a suitable position. Subsequently, the two gripping components 302 grip the sealing ring A2 and the end cap A1 respectively. After gripping, the second displacement device 3012 drives the gripping component 302 to move the gripped sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 upward synchronously. Then, the first displacement device 3011 drives the second displacement device 3012 and the gripping component 302 to move horizontally synchronously. First, the sealing ring A2 gripped by the gripping component 302 is moved to a position directly above the second placement area 202. Then, the sealing ring A2 is placed in the second placement area 202 by the second displacement device 3012 and the gripping component 302. Similarly, the end cap A1 is then placed in the second placement area 202. Since the sealing ring A2 is placed first, the sealing ring A2 is stacked with the end cap A1 on top.

[0066] When assembling the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1, the limiting component 502 first moves synchronously towards the assembly table 501, and then limits the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Subsequently, the telescopic device 503 is activated, which drives the assembly table 501 to move upward. Under the interaction of the assembly table 501 and the limiting component 502, the superimposed sealing ring A2 and end cap A1 are pressed together, thereby assembling the two together.

[0067] After connector A is assembled, the gripping mechanism 3 will place the assembled connector A onto the rotating plate 702 of the rotating table 7. Then, the rotating plate 702 can rotate under the action of the driving component 701, which can rotate the assembled connector A. In turn, the detection device 8 can perform multi-directional detection on connector A, that is, detect whether the end cap A1 and the sealing ring A2 are assembled in place.

[0068] After the inspection is completed, the rotary table 601 drives the gripper 605 to rotate to the position above the connector A. Then, the telescopic component 1 602 drives the gripper 605 to move down to the appropriate position. Subsequently, the telescopic component 2 604 drives the gripper 605 to clamp the connector A. Finally, the connector A, which has completed the inspection, is picked up from the rotary table 7 and placed in the unloading area on one side of the worktable 1 for unloading.

[0069] It should be noted that the specific structure and working principle of the drive device 3022, telescopic device 503, telescopic component one 602, and telescopic component two 604 are well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail here. Common examples include hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, and linear motors. The specific structure and working principle of the drive component 701 and the power component are well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be described in detail here. Motors, rotary cylinders, or rotary hydraulic cylinders can be used. Those skilled in the art can choose according to actual needs.

[0070] It should be further noted that the working principles of the electrical components and devices appearing in this application are common knowledge known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the electrical components and devices appearing in this application are all electrically connected to the controller and powered by an external power source. The control circuit of the controller can be implemented by those skilled in the art through simple programming, which is common knowledge in the art. Furthermore, since this application is mainly used to protect mechanical devices, the control method and circuit connection will not be explained in detail in this application.

[0071] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims. The scope of protection claimed by this application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An assembly device for automotive connectors, characterized in that, include: The device includes a workbench and a placement platform, a gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and an assembly mechanism mounted on the workbench. A loading station and an assembly station are sequentially arranged on the workbench. The conveying mechanism is adapted to move the placement platform to the loading station, so that the sealing ring and end cap to be assembled are placed separately on the placement platform. The conveying mechanism is also adapted to move the placement platform to the assembly station. The gripping mechanism is adapted to simultaneously grip the sealing ring and end cap to be assembled and place them sequentially on the placement platform. The assembly mechanism is mounted on the placement platform and is adapted to assemble the sealing ring and end cap stacked on the placement platform. The placement platform includes a first placement area and a second placement area; the first placement area is used to place a sealing ring, and the second placement area is used to place an end cap; the sealing ring and the end cap to be assembled are adapted to be stacked in the second placement area; a positioning component is installed in the first placement area, and the positioning component is adapted to cooperate with the gripping mechanism so that when the gripping mechanism grips the sealing ring, the positioning component is adapted to position the sealing ring under the drive of the gripping mechanism; The gripping mechanism includes a displacement mechanism and a pair of gripping components; the two gripping components are respectively used to grip the sealing ring and the end cap, and the gripping component used to grip the sealing ring is provided with a guide block; the displacement mechanism is connected to the gripping components; when assembling the connector, the displacement mechanism is adapted to move the gripping components to the assembly station and grip the sealing ring and the end cap on the placement table; subsequently, the displacement mechanism is adapted to move the gripping components holding the sealing ring and the end cap to directly above the second placement area, so that the gripping components stack the sealing ring and the end cap in the second placement area; The gripping assembly is connected to the displacement mechanism via a connecting plate. The gripping assembly includes multiple grippers and a driving device. The grippers are spaced apart along the circumference of the sealing ring or end cap. The grippers slide in contact with the bottom of the connecting plate. The driving device is mounted on the connecting plate and engages with the grippers through its output end. When gripping the sealing ring and placing the end cap, the driving device is adapted to drive the grippers to expand, thereby tensioning the sealing ring and loosening the end cap. When placing the sealing ring and gripping the end cap, the driving device is adapted to drive the grippers to contract, thereby loosening the sealing ring and clamping the end cap. The guide block is installed at the bottom of the connecting plate corresponding to the gripping assembly used for gripping the sealing ring.

2. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The positioning component includes four positioning blocks slidably mounted at the four corners of the first placement area. The movement direction of the positioning blocks is parallel to the corresponding diagonal direction. Each positioning block is elastically connected to the first placement area via an elastic element. The positioning blocks cooperate with the gripping mechanism through a drive structure. The gripping mechanism grips the sealing ring in two processes: a first process and a second process. In the first process, the gripping mechanism is adapted to move downwards towards the first placement area, so that the drive structure drives each positioning block to move synchronously away from the center of the first placement area, thereby positioning the sealing ring placed in the first placement area. In the second process, the gripping mechanism is adapted to continue moving downwards, so that the sealing ring is tensioned by the gripping mechanism, thereby causing the tensioned sealing ring to disengage from the first placement area. After the gripping mechanism disengages from the first placement area, the positioning blocks are adapted to reset under the elastic force of the elastic element.

3. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The driving structure includes a guide surface disposed on the upper end of the positioning block and the guide block; the guide surface is an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface, and the positioning block slides along the first placement area by the compression between the guide surface and the guide block.

4. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The assembly mechanism includes an assembly platform, multiple limiting components, and a telescopic device. The assembly platform is vertically slidably installed in the second placement area and is used for sealing rings and end caps. The limiting components are installed in the second placement area and located around the assembly platform. The telescopic device is installed at the lower end of the second placement area and connected to the assembly platform through its output end. When it is necessary to assemble the stacked sealing rings and end caps, the limiting components are adapted to move synchronously towards the assembly platform first to horizontally position and vertically limit the sealing rings and end caps stacked on the assembly platform. Subsequently, the telescopic device is adapted to drive the assembly platform to move vertically upward so that the stacked sealing rings and end caps are pressed and assembled under the vertical compression of the assembly platform and the limiting components.

5. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting component includes a third displacement device and at least one limiting plate; the third displacement device is located on the side of the assembly table and is connected to the limiting plate through an output end; the limiting plate is higher than the assembly table and a top plate is provided at the lower front end of the limiting plate; when assembling the sealing ring and the end cap, the third displacement device is adapted to drive the limiting plate to move closer to the superimposed sealing ring and end cap until the top plate abuts against the superimposed sealing ring and end cap, at which time the front end of the limiting plate is attached to or higher than the upper surface of the end cap.

6. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The automotive connector assembly equipment further includes a feeding device, a rotary table, and a testing device; the rotary table is adjacent to the assembly station, and the testing direction of the testing device is facing the rotary table; after the superimposed sealing ring and end cap are assembled, the gripping mechanism is adapted to grip the assembled connector and place it on the rotary table, and the rotary table is adapted to drive the placed connector to rotate so that the testing device can perform multi-directional testing on the connector; the feeding device is adapted to grip the tested connector on the rotary table and place it in the feeding area on one side of the workbench for feeding.

7. The assembly equipment for automotive connectors as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The workbench is provided with multiple placement platforms, as well as multiple sets of loading stations and assembly stations. The connectors are assembled in multiple stations by moving the multiple placement platforms along the corresponding sets of loading stations and assembly stations.

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