Automobile sunroof flexible shaft support assembly mechanism and method thereof
By using automated assembly mechanisms and automatic lubrication technology, the cumbersome installation process of the sunroof flexible shaft has been solved, achieving efficient flexible shaft assembly and lubrication and improving overall installation efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FUZHOU COHON AUTOMATION EQUIP
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-21
AI Technical Summary
The existing installation process for sunroof flexible shafts is cumbersome and inefficient, requiring manual application of lubricant, which leads to low efficiency.
An automated assembly mechanism is adopted, including components such as material conveyor belts, positioning tables, flexible shaft conveying clamps, and dial wheels, to achieve automatic conveying and lubrication of flexible shafts. Combined with automatic lubricant spraying, manual operation is reduced.
It improves the assembly efficiency of sunroof flexible shafts, reduces manual operation time, and realizes automated lubrication of flexible shafts and efficient installation of brackets.
Smart Images

Figure CN117773514B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to an assembly mechanism and method for a flexible shaft bracket for an automotive sunroof. Background Technology
[0002] The tracks of a car sunroof need to transmit a certain amount of torque under bending conditions and be able to transmit power over long distances while reducing noise or vibration. For this purpose, flexible shafts are generally used to achieve an efficient and economical rotary transmission method. Current methods for installing sunroof flexible shafts typically involve manual labor. The shaft surface is pre-impregnated or lubricated before being inserted into the through-holes in the sunroof guide rail. This process is cumbersome and inefficient. Summary of the Invention
[0003] This invention aims to solve the problem that the existing sunroof flexible shaft installation process is cumbersome and inefficient due to the manual installation.
[0004] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A car sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism includes a frame and a pair of material conveyor belts located on the frame, a positioning platform that is driven to move between the pair of material conveyor belts, the positioning platform having a track clamp for limiting the sunroof guide rail, a flexible shaft conveying clamping platform being provided on the frame in front of the material conveyor belts, the flexible shaft conveying clamping platform including a fixed clamping seat, the other side of the fixed clamping seat having a movable clamping plate driven to move laterally by a clamping drive mechanism, the lower part of the movable clamping plate having a groove for accommodating the flexible shaft, a dial wheel for moving the flexible shaft being provided inside the fixed clamping seat, and a vertical bracket cylinder being provided above the flexible shaft conveying clamping platform, which is driven by a longitudinal slide table to move along the length direction of the sunroof guide rail, the telescopic end of the vertical bracket cylinder having a top block for pushing the bracket fixed.
[0005] Preferably, the fixed clamp includes a support plate for supporting the flexible shaft and a side clamp fixed to one side of the support plate. The dial is located at the lower part of the side clamp and is driven to rotate by a motor. A front bracket for supporting the flexible shaft is fixed on the front side of the fixed clamp. The front bracket is groove-shaped, and a sensor for detecting the flexible shaft inside the front bracket is provided on the side of the front bracket.
[0006] Preferably, the lower part of the side clamp is also provided with a lubricant nozzle located next to the dial wheel. The lubricant nozzle is located between the sunroof guide rail and the dial wheel. The outer side of the side clamp has a pipe for introducing lubricant. The pipe has a pump body and the pipe opening faces the lubricant nozzle.
[0007] Preferably, the flexible shaft conveying clamp is disposed on the moving end of a horizontal electric slide, and the horizontal electric slide is fixed on the moving end of a vertical electric slide.
[0008] Preferably, the vertical support cylinder is fixed to the moving end of the longitudinal slide, and the longitudinal slide is fixed to the frame to drive the vertical support cylinder to move along the length of the sunroof guide rail.
[0009] Preferably, the telescopic end of the vertical support cylinder is fixed with a transverse convex rail, and a top block seat is slidably fitted on the transverse convex rail. The top block is fixed to the lower end of the top block seat, and the top block seat is bolted to the transverse convex rail.
[0010] Preferably, a rail oiling operating table is also provided on the front side of the frame, next to the flexible shaft conveying clamp. The oiling operating table includes pads for limiting the rail and a pressing cylinder fixed to the oiling operating table. The pads have two rows, and a pressing limiting cylinder is fixed between the ends of the two rows of pads. The telescopic end of the pressing limiting cylinder is fixedly connected to a pressure plate for pressing down the guide rail.
[0011] Preferably, a robotic arm is provided on the side of the frame, the movable end of the robotic arm is fixed with an oiling transverse slide, the movable end of the oiling transverse slide is fixed with an oil outlet pipe, and the oil outlet pipe is connected to the oil tank via a pump body.
[0012] Preferably, the track clamp includes a positioning base plate fixed on a positioning platform, a support block for supporting both ends of the track fixed on the positioning base plate, a side support piece for abutting the recessed part of the track edge fixed on the positioning base plate, a rotary pressing cylinder fixed in the middle of the positioning base plate, the rotary pressing cylinder fixed on a slide block, the slide block having a clamp guide rail, the slide block slidingly engaging with the clamp and being locked by bolts.
[0013] This invention also includes a method for assembling a flexible shaft bracket for an automotive sunroof, utilizing the automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism described above, specifically including the following steps:
[0014] (1) Place the car sunroof guide rail on a pair of parallel material conveyor belts and move with the material conveyor belts. When it moves to the oiling worktable, manually place the sunroof guide rail on the pads. Each sunroof guide rail is placed on an independent row of pads.
[0015] (2) Apply lubricating oil to the support groove of the guide rail by manual or robotic arm. After completion, place it on the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table and lift it up. Manually position the track on the track clamp of the positioning platform to position the sunroof guide rail.
[0016] (3) The positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table releases the positioning of the sunroof guide rail, and the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table is lowered under the drive of the lifting cylinder so that the sunroof guide rail that has completed the oiling is located on the material conveyor belt.
[0017] (4) The material conveyor belt moves so that the skylight guide rail is located at the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp. The positioning table corresponding to the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp rises and clamps the rail on the positioning table. Then, one end of the flexible shaft is manually inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the guide rail. The movable clamp is driven by the flexible shaft clamping cylinder to approach the side clamp of the fixed clamp, so that the flexible shaft is limited to the groove that accommodates the flexible shaft. When the flexible shaft is clamped by the movable clamp, the lubricant pipeline sprays paste lubricant into the lubricant nozzle, thereby achieving lubrication of the surface of the flexible shaft.
[0018] (5) The motor drives the dial to rotate, causing the dial to move the flexible shaft, thereby forcing the flexible shaft to be inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail under the drive of the dial;
[0019] (6) Manually insert the end of the bracket into the bracket groove that has been lubricated on the track. In the initial state, the extension end of the vertical bracket cylinder is higher than the top of the bracket. The vertical bracket cylinder above the flexible shaft conveying clamp moves to the front side of the bracket under the drive of the longitudinal slide table. The vertical bracket cylinder drives the top block to descend so that the top block corresponds to the upper end of the bracket. Then the longitudinal slide table drives the bracket cylinder together with the top block to push the bracket along the groove until the bracket moves to the end of the groove and stops.
[0020] (7) The vertical support cylinder is reset, the positioning table track clamp is released from the restriction on the sunroof guide rail, the positioning table is lowered so that the sunroof guide rail with the completed support installation and flexible shaft installation is placed back on the material conveyor belt and output to the next station by the material conveyor belt.
[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0022] (1) The present invention utilizes a material conveyor belt to realize the automatic conveying of the sunroof guide rail, and uses a positioning table to fix the sunroof guide rail in the fixed work area. Then, the fixed clamp and the dial wheel are used to realize the automatic input of the flexible shaft, which can effectively improve the assembly efficiency of the flexible shaft. The top block moves along the length of the sunroof guide rail under the drive of the longitudinal slide table and pushes the bracket to move along the groove of the sunroof guide rail, thereby realizing the installation of the bracket, so as to reduce manpower and improve efficiency.
[0023] (2) In this embodiment of the invention, the lubricant is added to the flexible shaft by automatically spraying the lubricant, which saves the time of manually dipping the softener and improves the work efficiency.
[0024] (3) In this embodiment of the invention, an oiling workbench is also used to make it easier to fix the track for oiling operation.
[0025] (4) The present invention uses a material conveyor belt to transport materials, which can meet the continuous material transport of the sunroof guide rail oiling process and the flexible shaft and bracket installation process. The sunroof accessories at different work stations are stopped and operated by the lifting mechanism driving the lifting positioning platform, thereby realizing the overall sunroof assembly and transfer efficiency and installation efficiency.
[0026] (5) In this embodiment of the invention, the lubricant is controlled by using a bracket and a sensor to sense the degree of insertion of the flexible shaft. Attached Figure Description
[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly station structure of the flexible shaft and the bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible shaft conveyor clamp structure of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the working structure of the flexible shaft conveying clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the vertical support cylinder and support working state in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the oiling workbench structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the oiling workbench structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning platform structure of the present invention (the symmetrical track clamp on the other side is omitted).
[0035] In the diagram: 100-skylight guide rail, 101-flexible shaft, 102-horizontal electric slide table, 103-vertical electric slide table, 104-flexible shaft cavity, 105-bracket, 10-frame, 20-material conveyor belt, 210-anti-slip rubber block, 30-positioning table, 301-lifting cylinder, 310-track clamp, 311-positioning base plate, 312-support block, 313-side top component, 314-rotary downward pressing cylinder, 315-limiting column, 316-slide seat, 317-clamping guide rail, 40-flexible shaft conveying clamp, 401-flexible shaft clamping cylinder Cylinder, 410-Fixed clamp, 420-Modible clamp, 421-Groove, 411-Panel, 412-Side clamp, 413-Dial, 414-Lubricant nozzle, 415-Pipeline, 50-Front bracket, 510-Sensor, 601-Longitudinal slide, 60-Vertical support cylinder, 610-Top block, 620-Transverse convex rail, 630-Top block seat, 70-Oil application operating table, 710-Padded block, 720-Downward limit cylinder, 721-Pressure plate, 80-Mechanical arm, 810-Oil application transverse slide, 811-Oil outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation
[0036] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0037] See Figure 1-8 A flexible shaft assembly mechanism for an automotive sunroof includes a frame 10 and a pair of material conveyor belts 20 located on the frame 10. A positioning platform 30, driven to move up and down by a lifting mechanism, is located between the material conveyor belts 20. The positioning platform 30 has a track clamp 310 for limiting the sunroof guide rail 100. A flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 is provided on the frame in front of the material conveyor belts 20. The flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 includes a fixed clamp 410. On the other side of the fixed clamp, there is a movable clamp 420 driven to move laterally by a clamping drive mechanism. The lower part of the movable clamp 420 has a groove 421 for accommodating the flexible shaft. A dial wheel 413 for moving the flexible shaft is provided inside the fixed clamp 410. A vertical support cylinder 60, driven by a longitudinal slide 601, is provided above the flexible shaft conveying clamp 40. It can move along the length direction of the sunroof guide rail. The telescopic end of the vertical support cylinder 60 is fixed with a top block 610 for pushing the support.
[0038] In this embodiment, the fixed clamp 410 includes a support plate 411 supporting the flexible shaft 101 and a side clamp 412 fixed to one side of the support plate. The dial 413 is located at the lower part of the side clamp 412 and is driven to rotate by a motor.
[0039] In this embodiment, the material conveyor belt 20 is used to transport the sunroof guide rail or the sunroof as a whole along the assembly line. The structures set on the front side of the frame of different workstations are different. Some positions that require manual operation are also equipped with manual operation tables or tool tables to facilitate operation. This invention mainly protects the structure of the flexible shaft assembly workstation area and the track oiling machine workstation area. The flexible shaft assembly and bracket installation are located at the same workstation. Each workstation is equipped with a positioning platform 30 and a lifting cylinder.
[0040] The material conveyor belts 20 are arranged in pairs to stably place the sunroof frame and sunroof guide rail 100. There are positioning platforms 30 between the material conveyor belts 20, which are driven to rise and fall by a lifting mechanism. They are arranged along the moving direction of the material conveyor belts 20. When the material conveyor belts move, the materials on each station move to the next station in a unified manner. The positioning platforms 30 are used to lift and raise the materials on the material conveyor belts 20, so that the sunroof accessories are freed from the material conveyor belts 20. When the material conveyor belts 20 are working, the positioning platforms 30 are lowered to a height lower than the material conveyor belts 20 by the lifting mechanism to avoid interference between the positioning platforms and the sunroof guide rail.
[0041] In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism is a lifting cylinder 301.
[0042] To ensure stability during the lifting process, the positioning platform 30 has a track clamp 310 for limiting the sunroof guide rail 100.
[0043] In the flexible shaft assembly station area, a flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 is set on the front side of the material conveyor belt 20 on the frame. The fixed clamp 410 is used to support the flexible shaft 100, and the movable clamp 420 is used to ensure that excessive lateral movement does not occur during the input of the flexible shaft, thereby limiting the flexible shaft in the lateral direction and ensuring continuous contact between the flexible shaft and the dial wheel 413.
[0044] The clamping drive mechanism is a flexible shaft clamping cylinder 401. The flexible shaft clamping cylinder is arranged horizontally. When one end of the flexible shaft is manually inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the guide rail, the movable clamping plate 420 approaches the side clamping plate 412 of the fixed clamping seat 410 under the drive of the flexible shaft clamping cylinder, so that the flexible shaft is confined in the groove 421 that accommodates the flexible shaft, and the outer end of the dial wheel 413 is located in the groove, thereby ensuring that the flexible shaft 100 located on the support plate 411 is clamped between the dial wheel 413 and the side clamping plate 412.
[0045] Then the motor drives the dial wheel 413 to rotate, causing the dial wheel 413 to move the flexible shaft, thereby forcing the flexible shaft 101 to be inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail under the drive of the dial wheel, thus satisfying the automatic assembly of the flexible shaft.
[0046] In order to improve the lubrication of the flexible shaft when it enters the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail 100, and to facilitate the direct addition of lubricant to the flexible shaft, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lower part of the side clamp plate 412 is also provided with a lubricant nozzle 414 located next to the dial wheel. The lubricant nozzle is located between the sunroof guide rail and the dial wheel. The outer side of the side clamp plate has a pipe 415 for introducing lubricant. The pipe is connected to a tank for storing lubricant, and a pump body is provided on the pipe to pump the lubricant to the flexible shaft. In this embodiment, the lubricant is in paste form, and the pipe opening faces the lubricant nozzle 414.
[0047] When the flexible shaft 100 is clamped by the movable clamping plate 420, the lubricant pipeline 415 delivers a paste-like lubricant to the lubricant nozzle 414, thereby lubricating the surface of the flexible shaft. The lubricant nozzle is located between the sunroof guide rail and the dial wheel, which can improve the lubrication effect.
[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, a front bracket 50 for supporting the flexible shaft is fixed to the front side of the fixed clamp. The front bracket 50 is groove-shaped, and a sensor 510 for detecting the flexible shaft inside the front bracket is provided on the side of the front bracket. The dial is opened manually. When the operator inserts the end into the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail, he manually controls the dial to rotate, driving the flexible shaft into the flexible shaft cavity. At this time, when the flexible shaft is in the groove of the bracket 50, when the sensor 510 senses that the flexible shaft is not in the groove of the bracket 50, the lubricant stops spraying out, and the dial stops working.
[0049] To accommodate different sunroof guide rail structures, the flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 is integrally mounted on the moving end of a horizontal electric slide. Specifically, the fixed clamp 410 and flexible shaft clamping cylinder 401, along with the front bracket 50, are all located on the horizontal electric slide 102, which is fixed to the moving end of a vertical electric slide 103. The horizontal electric slide 102 and the vertical electric slide 103 form a two-axis slide configuration for both lateral and vertical movement, enabling automatic adjustment of the flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 in both the vertical and horizontal directions to accommodate sunroof guide rails of different sizes and specifications.
[0050] The vertical support cylinder 60 is fixed to the moving end of the longitudinal slide 601. The slider of the longitudinal slide 601 moves along the length of the guide rail, that is, along the length of the groove into which the support is to be inserted. The longitudinal slide 601 is fixed to the frame 10 or the ground to drive the vertical support cylinder to move along the length of the sunroof guide rail.
[0051] During operation, a bracket installation structure is also set up at the workstation where the flexible shaft conveying clamp 40 is located. Specifically, after the flexible shaft is installed, the end of the bracket 105 is manually inserted into the bracket groove of the track that has been lubricated. In the initial state, the extension end of the vertical bracket cylinder 60 is higher than the top of the bracket. Then, the vertical bracket cylinder 60 located above the positioning table 30 moves to the front of the bracket under the drive of the longitudinal slide table 601. The vertical bracket cylinder 60 drives the top block 610 to descend so that the top block 610 corresponds to the upper end of the bracket. Then, the longitudinal slide table 601 drives the bracket cylinder 60 together with the top block 610 to push the bracket to move along the groove until the bracket moves to the end of the groove and stops. Then, the top block is lifted and reset by the vertical bracket cylinder 60 to complete one work process.
[0052] Generally, the sunroof guide rails are arranged in pairs and are symmetrically arranged. The longitudinal slide table 6401, the vertical support cylinder 60 and the top block 610 are also arranged in pairs symmetrically to facilitate the simultaneous pushing of the supports on both sides of the sunroof guide rails.
[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, a transverse convex rail 620 is fixed to the telescopic end of the vertical support cylinder, and a top block seat 630 is slidably fitted on the transverse convex rail. The top block is fixed to the lower end of the top block seat 630, and the top block seat is bolted to the transverse convex rail 620. By adjusting the transverse position of the top block seat 630 on the transverse convex rail 620, the transverse position of the top block 610 can be adjusted according to different window models.
[0054] In one embodiment of the present invention, in order to facilitate the case of the bracket, a rail oiling operation table 70 is also provided on the front side of the frame. The oiling operation table 70 includes a pad 710 for limiting the rail and a pressing cylinder 720 fixed to the oiling operation table. The pad 710 has two rows, and the pressing limiting cylinder 720 is fixed between the ends of the two rows of pads. The telescopic end of the pressing limiting cylinder 720 is fixedly connected to a pressure plate 721 for pressing down the guide rail.
[0055] In this embodiment, the oiling operation table 70 is located at the work station above the bracket and flexible shaft installation. After the operator places the sunroof guide rail 100 on the pad 710 of the oiling operation table 70, the pressure plate 721 of the downward limiting cylinder 720 presses down the rail to satisfy the rail fixation.
[0056] During operation, oiling can be done manually or automatically using a robotic arm. When the robotic arm automatically applies oil, a robotic arm 80 is installed on the side of the frame. The movable end of the robotic arm is fixed with an oiling transverse slide 810, and the movable end of the oiling transverse slide is fixed with an oil outlet pipe 811. The oil outlet pipe 811 is connected to the oil tank via a pump body. The number of oil outlet pipes 810 can vary depending on the number of oil channels on the track.
[0057] The robotic arm 80 moves to the top of the sunroof guide rail 100 on the pad 710, with the oil outlet pipe 810 positioned to be oiled. Then, the oiling horizontal slide 810 drives the oil outlet pipe 811 to move along the sunroof guide rail 100 while the oil outlet pipe 811 pumps oil through the pump body to achieve oiling of the guide rail. Generally, the oil outlet pipe 811 has a narrow opening. To achieve uniform coating, a brush is fixed at the lower end of the oil outlet pipe 810.
[0058] In the above embodiment, the track clamp 310 includes a positioning base plate 311 fixed on the positioning platform, a support block 312 for supporting both ends of the track fixed on the positioning base plate, a side top member 313 for abutting the recessed part of the track edge fixed on the positioning base plate, and a rotating pressing cylinder 314 fixed in the middle of the positioning base plate.
[0059] The side top component 313 and the support block 312 are limiting components for the outer contour of the guide rail. The rotary pressing cylinder 314 adopts a commercially available conventional rotary pressing cylinder. When the lifting cylinder 301 is raised to the position, the rotary pressing cylinder can press down and lock the sunroof guide rail.
[0060] In this embodiment, a pair of track clamps 310 are provided and symmetrically located on the positioning platform 30.
[0061] To facilitate adjustment, a limit post 315 is fixed to the outer end of the positioning base plate. The rotary pressing cylinder is fixed on a slide block 316. The slide block has a clamp guide rail 317. The slide block is slidably fitted onto the clamp and locked with bolts. The position of the rotary pressing cylinder 314 can be adjusted appropriately using the slide block 316 and the clamp guide rail 317, thereby facilitating the adaptation to different sunroof guide rail sizes and positions.
[0062] To improve the stability of the material conveyor belt during the conveying process, anti-slip rubber blocks 210 are fixed on the upper surface of the material conveyor belt 20.
[0063] The above-described method for assembling a flexible shaft bracket for an automotive sunroof specifically includes the following steps:
[0064] (1) Place the car sunroof guide rail on a pair of parallel material conveyor belts and move with the material conveyor belts. When it moves to the oiling worktable, manually place the sunroof guide rail on the pads. Each sunroof guide rail is placed on an independent row of pads.
[0065] (2) Apply lubricating oil to the support groove of the guide rail by manual or robotic arm. After completion, place it on the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table and lift it up. Manually position the track on the track clamp of the positioning platform to position the sunroof guide rail.
[0066] (3) The positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table releases the positioning of the sunroof guide rail, and the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table is lowered under the drive of the lifting cylinder so that the sunroof guide rail that has completed the oiling is located on the material conveyor belt.
[0067] (4) The material conveyor belt moves so that the skylight guide rail is located at the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp. The positioning table corresponding to the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp rises and clamps the rail on the positioning table. Then, one end of the flexible shaft is manually inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the guide rail. The movable clamp is driven by the flexible shaft clamping cylinder to approach the side clamp of the fixed clamp, so that the flexible shaft is limited to the groove that accommodates the flexible shaft. When the flexible shaft is clamped by the movable clamp, the lubricant pipeline sprays paste lubricant into the lubricant nozzle, thereby achieving lubrication of the surface of the flexible shaft.
[0068] (5) The motor drives the dial to rotate, causing the dial to move the flexible shaft, thereby forcing the flexible shaft to be inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail under the drive of the dial;
[0069] (6) Manually insert the end of the bracket into the bracket groove that has been lubricated on the track. In the initial state, the extension end of the vertical bracket cylinder is higher than the top of the bracket. The vertical bracket cylinder above the flexible shaft conveying clamp moves to the front side of the bracket under the drive of the longitudinal slide table. The vertical bracket cylinder drives the top block to descend so that the top block corresponds to the upper end of the bracket. Then the longitudinal slide table drives the bracket cylinder together with the top block to push the bracket along the groove until the bracket moves to the end of the groove and stops.
[0070] (7) The vertical support cylinder is reset, the positioning table track clamp is released from the restriction on the sunroof guide rail, the positioning table is lowered so that the sunroof guide rail with the completed support installation and flexible shaft installation is placed back on the material conveyor belt and output to the next station by the material conveyor belt.
[0071] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention. The driving components described in the present invention, such as horizontal electric slides, vertical electric slides, and flexible shaft clamping cylinders, can be replaced by conventional electric cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, or hydraulic cylinders, etc., conventional linear conveying structures. Any equivalent structural or process transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism for an automotive sunroof, characterized in that, The system includes a frame and a pair of material conveyor belts on the frame, a positioning platform that is driven to move between the pair of material conveyor belts, a track clamp for limiting the skylight guide rail on the positioning platform, a flexible shaft conveying clamp on the frame located in front of the material conveyor belts, the flexible shaft conveying clamp including a fixed clamp, a movable clamp plate driven to move laterally by a clamping drive mechanism on the other side of the fixed clamp, a groove for accommodating the flexible shaft at the lower part of the movable clamp, a dial wheel for moving the flexible shaft inside the fixed clamp, and a vertical support cylinder driven by a longitudinal slide table to move along the length direction of the skylight guide rail above the flexible shaft conveying clamp, the telescopic end of the vertical support cylinder being fixed with a top block for pushing the support.
2. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed clamp includes a support plate for supporting the flexible shaft and a side clamp fixed to one side of the support plate. The dial is located at the lower part of the side clamp and is driven to rotate by a motor. A front bracket for supporting the flexible shaft is fixed on the front side of the fixed clamp. The front bracket is groove-shaped, and a sensor for detecting the flexible shaft inside the front bracket is provided on the side of the front bracket.
3. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lower part of the side clamp is also provided with a lubricant nozzle located next to the dial wheel. The lubricant nozzle is located between the sunroof guide rail and the dial wheel. The outer side of the side clamp has a pipe for introducing lubricant. The pipe has a pump body and the pipe opening faces the lubricant nozzle.
4. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The flexible shaft conveying clamp is mounted on the moving end of a horizontal electric slide, which is fixed to the moving end of a vertical electric slide.
5. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The vertical support cylinder is fixed to the moving end of the longitudinal slide, which is fixed to the frame to drive the vertical support cylinder to move along the length of the sunroof guide rail.
6. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The telescopic end of the vertical support cylinder is fixed with a transverse convex rail, and a top block seat is slidably fitted on the transverse convex rail. The top block is fixed to the lower end of the top block seat, and the top block seat is bolted to the transverse convex rail.
7. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, A rail oiling operating table is also provided on the front side of the frame, next to the flexible shaft conveying clamp. The oiling operating table includes pads for limiting the rail and a pressing cylinder fixed to the oiling operating table. The pads have two rows, and a pressing limiting cylinder is fixed between the ends of the two rows of pads. The telescopic end of the pressing limiting cylinder is fixedly connected to a pressure plate for pressing down the guide rail.
8. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that, A robotic arm is installed on the side of the frame. The movable end of the robotic arm is fixed with an oiling transverse slide. The movable end of the oiling transverse slide is fixed with an oil outlet pipe. The oil outlet pipe is connected to the oil tank via a pump body.
9. The automotive sunroof flexible shaft bracket assembly mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The track clamp includes a positioning base plate fixed on a positioning platform, a support block fixed on the positioning base plate for supporting both ends of the track, a side support piece fixed on the positioning base plate to abut the recessed part of the track edge, a rotary pressing cylinder fixed in the middle of the positioning base plate, the rotary pressing cylinder fixed on a slide block, the slide block having a clamp guide rail, the slide block slidingly engaging with the clamp and being locked with bolts.
10. A method for assembling a flexible shaft bracket for an automotive sunroof, characterized in that, The assembly mechanism for a car sunroof flexible shaft bracket as described in claim 8 specifically includes the following steps: (1) Place the car sunroof guide rail on a pair of parallel material conveyor belts and move with the material conveyor belts. When it moves to the oiling worktable, manually place the sunroof guide rail on the pads. Each sunroof guide rail is placed on an independent row of pads. (2) Apply lubricating oil to the support groove of the guide rail by manual or robotic arm. After completion, place it on the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table and lift it up. Manually position the track on the track clamp of the positioning platform to position the sunroof guide rail. (3) The positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table releases the positioning of the sunroof guide rail, and the positioning platform corresponding to the oiling operation table is lowered under the drive of the lifting cylinder so that the sunroof guide rail that has completed the oiling is located on the material conveyor belt. (4) The material conveyor belt moves so that the skylight guide rail is located at the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp. The positioning table corresponding to the position of the flexible shaft conveying clamp rises and clamps the rail on the positioning table. Then, one end of the flexible shaft is manually inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the guide rail. The movable clamp is driven by the flexible shaft clamping cylinder to approach the side clamp of the fixed clamp, so that the flexible shaft is limited to the groove that accommodates the flexible shaft. When the flexible shaft is clamped by the movable clamp, the lubricant pipeline sprays paste lubricant into the lubricant nozzle, thereby achieving lubrication of the surface of the flexible shaft. (5) The motor drives the dial to rotate, causing the dial to move the flexible shaft, thereby forcing the flexible shaft to be inserted into the flexible shaft cavity of the sunroof guide rail under the drive of the dial; (6) Manually insert the end of the bracket into the bracket groove that has been lubricated on the track. In the initial state, the extension end of the vertical bracket cylinder is higher than the top of the bracket. The vertical bracket cylinder above the flexible shaft conveying clamp moves to the front side of the bracket under the drive of the longitudinal slide table. The vertical bracket cylinder drives the top block to descend so that the top block corresponds to the upper end of the bracket. Then the longitudinal slide table drives the bracket cylinder together with the top block to push the bracket along the groove until the bracket moves to the end of the groove and stops. (7) The vertical support cylinder is reset, the positioning table track clamp is released from the restriction on the sunroof guide rail, the positioning table is lowered so that the sunroof guide rail with the completed support installation and flexible shaft installation is placed back on the material conveyor belt and output to the next station by the material conveyor belt.
Citation Information
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