An automatic tightening mechanism for a power steering gear plug

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic tightening mechanism for a power steering gear screw plug, which comprises a rotary table mechanism, a screw plug tightening mechanism, a screw plug feeding mechanism, a translation mechanism and a feeding rotary mechanism; the rotary table mechanism is provided with a shell positioning jig; the screw plug feeding mechanism is provided with a screw plug feeding carrier; the feeding rotary mechanism is provided with a movable rotary clamp cylinder; the clamp on the rotary clamp cylinder can grab the screw plug on the screw plug feeding carrier; the translation mechanism is provided with a movable translation jig and receives the screw plug on the clamp; the screw plug tightening mechanism is provided with a movable screw plug gun; the screw plug gun is connected with a chuck and drives the chuck to rotate; the chuck moves up and down with the screw plug gun and can grab the screw plug on the translation jig; after the translation jig moves out, the chuck continues to move downward and abuts against the power shell and tightens the screw plug on the power shell. Through the automatic tightening mechanism, the screw plug can be effectively assembled on the power shell, the screw plug is automatically tightened, the overall degree of automation is high, and the screw plug assembling efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive non-standard automation and relates to an automatic tightening mechanism for power steering plugs. Background Technology

[0002] As automobiles become increasingly prevalent in people's lives, the production capacity of auto parts has also increased. The pursuit of high-capacity, high-quality auto parts has become an urgent need for OEMs. Power steering systems, as an indispensable component of automobiles, can no longer be supplied by traditional semi-automatic production lines. As a crucial part of the power steering system, the screw plug, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the screw plug is mounted on the auxiliary housing. Currently, the tightening equipment used for screw plugs requires manual operation and has low production capacity, which can no longer meet market demand.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to improve existing technologies to overcome their shortcomings. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic tightening mechanism for power steering plugs, thereby improving the automation level of plug tightening and increasing plug assembly efficiency.

[0005] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] An automatic tightening mechanism for power steering system plugs includes a turntable mechanism, a plug tightening mechanism, a plug feeding mechanism, a translation mechanism, and a feeding rotation mechanism; wherein...

[0007] The turntable mechanism has several housing positioning fixtures for placing the auxiliary housings distributed circumferentially, and each housing positioning fixture can be moved to the installation position.

[0008] The screw plug feeding mechanism has a screw plug feeding carrier, which is provided with a discharge trough for placing a single screw plug. The screw plug feeding carrier is driven by the drive mechanism to position the discharge trough at the feeding position.

[0009] The feeding rotation mechanism has a movable rotating gripper cylinder. The gripper on the rotating gripper cylinder can grab the screw plug located in the discharge slot at the feeding station and transfer it to the discharge station.

[0010] The translation mechanism has a movable translation fixture. The translation fixture moves to the unloading station and receives the screw plug on the gripper. Then the screw plug moves with the translation fixture to the installation station. At this time, the position of the translation fixture is higher than the housing positioning fixture.

[0011] The screw plug tightening mechanism has a screw plug gun that can move up and down, and the screw plug gun is located above the installation position. The screw plug gun is connected to the chuck and rotates to drive the chuck to rotate. The chuck moves up and down with the screw plug gun and can grab the screw plug on the translation fixture. Then the translation fixture moves out of the installation position. The chuck continues to move down and abuts against the auxiliary housing. The screw plug gun drives the chuck to rotate and tighten the screw plug onto the auxiliary housing.

[0012] Furthermore, the turntable mechanism, the screw plug tightening mechanism, the screw plug feeding mechanism, the translation mechanism, and the feeding rotation mechanism are all mounted on the base plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the screw plug feeding mechanism includes a feed tube, and a feeding cylinder carrier for receiving screw plugs inside the feed tube is provided below the feed tube. The feeding cylinder carrier is provided with a screw plug feeding carrier and a drive mechanism. The screw plug feeding carrier has a discharge groove. When the drive mechanism is in a first state, the discharge groove is located below the feed tube. When the drive mechanism is in a second state, the discharge groove moves to the feeding position and the upper end face of the screw plug feeding carrier blocks the feed tube.

[0014] Furthermore, the upper end of the feeding cylinder carrier is provided with a feeding flap, and the feeding flap is provided with a feeding positioning sleeve into which the feeding pipe is inserted; a feeding positioning component is provided above the feeding cylinder carrier to horizontally position the feeding flap.

[0015] Furthermore, the driving mechanism is a rodless cylinder; the feeding cylinder carrier is equipped with a pair of feeding sensors, which are used to monitor whether there is a screw plug in the discharge trough when it is in the first state; the feeding cylinder carrier is set on the feeding base.

[0016] Furthermore, the feeding rotation mechanism includes a motor-driven slide table, on which a first carrier plate that moves back and forth is provided. The first carrier plate is fixedly connected to a second carrier plate above it via guide posts. A third carrier plate that can move vertically is provided above the second carrier plate. A rotary cylinder is provided on the third carrier plate. The output end of the rotary cylinder is connected to a fourth carrier plate. The rotary gripper cylinder is located on the fourth carrier plate.

[0017] Furthermore, the second carrier plate is provided with an inverted first cylinder, the end of the telescopic rod of the first cylinder is fixedly connected to the third carrier plate; the four corners of the second carrier plate are provided with guide sleeves, the guide sleeves are provided with guide posts, the upper ends of the guide posts are fixed on the third carrier plate 305; a limit plate is provided between the guide posts below the second carrier plate, and the limit plate is provided with a height-adjustable stop.

[0018] Furthermore, the translation mechanism includes a translation carrier plate, a fifth carrier plate driven by a rodless translation cylinder is provided above the translation carrier plate, the fifth carrier plate is fixedly connected to a first vertical side plate on the outer side of the translation carrier plate, a first vertical cylinder is provided on the first vertical side plate, the first vertical cylinder is connected to a sixth carrier plate through a connector, a second vertical cylinder is provided below the sixth carrier plate, and the extension end of the second vertical cylinder is connected to a translation fixture above the sixth carrier plate.

[0019] Furthermore, the turntable mechanism includes a circular turntable, and a driving mechanism for driving the circular turntable to rotate in an orderly manner is provided on the base plate; a positioning guide sleeve is provided below the housing positioning fixture, and a positioning post extending into the housing positioning fixture is provided inside the positioning guide sleeve; a receiving post corresponding to the positioning guide sleeve is provided on the base plate; when the housing positioning fixture moves to the installation position, the positioning post abuts against the receiving post.

[0020] Furthermore, the screw plug tightening mechanism includes a screw plug tightening support, a vertically lifting seventh carrier plate is provided on one side of the screw plug tightening support, a ninth carrier plate and a tenth carrier plate are provided on the seventh carrier plate, the screw plug gun is inverted and placed on the ninth carrier plate and connected to the chuck below the tenth carrier plate; the tenth carrier plate is provided with a chuck driving cylinder for driving the chuck to move.

[0021] The screw tightening mechanism has a positioning assembly, which includes a push rod that passes vertically through the tenth carrier plate and is fixed to the ninth carrier plate. The lower end of the push rod is located below the tenth carrier plate and has a top post. A positioning sleeve and a spring are fitted on the push rod, and the positioning sleeve and spring are located on the push rod between the ninth and tenth carrier plates. The positioning sleeve is located below and fixed to the push rod, the upper end of the spring abuts against the ninth carrier plate, and the lower end of the spring abuts against the positioning sleeve.

[0022] The screw plug tightening support is equipped with a first tightening cylinder and a second tightening cylinder. The first tightening cylinder is located at the upper end of the screw plug tightening support, and the second tightening cylinder is located on the back of the screw plug tightening support and fixed to the eighth carrier plate. The second tightening cylinder is placed upside down, and its telescopic rod end is fixedly connected to the telescopic rod end of the first tightening cylinder through a connector. One end of the eighth carrier plate is directly or fixedly connected to the seventh carrier plate through a connector.

[0023] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects: the automatic tightening mechanism of the present invention can effectively realize the assembly of the screw plug onto the auxiliary housing. The screw plug feeding mechanism, feeding rotation mechanism, translation mechanism, turntable mechanism and screw plug tightening mechanism are integrated into a whole to realize automatic screw plug installation. The overall automation level is high, which greatly improves the screw plug assembly efficiency and reduces labor costs. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0025] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the screw plug assembly position provided by the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram provided for the present invention.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the screw plug feeding mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 An enlarged schematic diagram of region A in the middle.

[0030] Figure 5 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the screw plug feeding carrier provided by the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the feeding rotation mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0032] Figure 7 This is a side view of the feeding rotation mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0033] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the translation mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a top view schematic diagram of the translation mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0035] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the turntable mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0036] Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the screw plug tightening mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0037] Figure 12This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the screw plug tightening mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0038] Figure 13 This is a side view of the screw plug tightening mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0039] Figure 14 This is a rear view schematic diagram of the screw plug tightening mechanism provided by the present invention.

[0040] In the diagram: 1-Plug tightening mechanism; 101-Plug tightening support; 102-Seventh carrier plate; 103-First tightening cylinder; 104-Eighth carrier plate; 105-Second tightening cylinder; 106-Plug gun; 107-Ninth carrier plate; 108-Tenth carrier plate; 109-Chuck; 110-Chuck drive cylinder; 111-Push rod; 112-Push column; 113-Positioning sleeve; 114-Spring; 2-Plug feeding mechanism; 201-Feeding base; 202-Material tube; 203-Feeding cylinder carrier; 204-Feeding cylinder; 205-Plug feeding carrier; 2051-Discharge chute; 2052-Upper end face; 206-Feeding sensor; 207-Feeding positioning sleeve; 208-Feeding flip plate; 209-Feeding positioning component; 3-Feeding rotation mechanism ; 301-Slide table; 302-First carrier plate; 303-Second carrier plate; 304-Guide post; 305-Third carrier plate; 306-Rotary cylinder; 307-Fourth carrier plate; 308-Rotary gripper cylinder; 309-First cylinder; 310-Limiting plate; 4-Translation mechanism; 401-Translation carrier plate; 402-Translation linear slide rail; 403-Rodless translation cylinder; 404-Fifth carrier plate; 405-First vertical side plate; 406-First vertical cylinder; 407-Sixth carrier plate; 408-Translation fixture; 409-Second vertical cylinder; 410-Sensor; 5-Turntable mechanism; 501-Circular turntable; 502-Drive mechanism; 503-Positioning guide sleeve; 504-Receiving post; S1-Assist housing; S2-Screw plug; 100-Base plate. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these descriptions are for the purpose of aiding understanding the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0042] Example

[0043] See Figure 2 As shown, an automatic tightening mechanism for power steering system plugs includes a turntable mechanism 5, a plug tightening mechanism 1, a plug feeding mechanism 2, a translation mechanism 4, and a feeding rotation mechanism 3. Wherein:

[0044] The turntable mechanism 5 has several housing positioning fixtures (3 in the figure) distributed circumferentially. The auxiliary housing S1 is mounted on the housing positioning fixtures with its mounting position facing upwards. The turntable mechanism 5 drives the auxiliary housing S1 to rotate and can move the auxiliary housing S1 to the installation position.

[0045] The translation mechanism 4 is located above the turntable mechanism 5 and has a feeding station. The translation mechanism 4 can transfer the screw plug at the feeding station to the installation station. At this time, the screw plug is located directly above the auxiliary housing S1 (installation station).

[0046] The feeding rotation mechanism 3 is located on one side of the translation mechanism 4, and can grab the screw plug at the screw plug feeding mechanism 2 and transfer it to the feeding station of the translation mechanism 4.

[0047] The screw plug tightening mechanism 1 is located on one side of the installation station and has a tightening component that can grab the screw plug at the installation station and tighten it onto the auxiliary housing S1 at the installation station.

[0048] In this embodiment, the turntable mechanism 5, the screw plug tightening mechanism 1, the screw plug feeding mechanism 2, the translation mechanism 4, and the feeding rotation mechanism 3 are all mounted on the base plate 100.

[0049] Specifically, in this embodiment, there are three screw plug feeding mechanisms 2, arranged side by side on the substrate 100. The three screw plug feeding mechanisms 2 have the same structure, as shown in... Figures 3-5 As shown, the system includes a feeding base 201, a feeding cylinder carrier 203 mounted on the feeding base 201, and a feeding cylinder 204 mounted on the feeding cylinder carrier 203. The feeding cylinder 204 is a rodless cylinder, on which a screw plug feeding carrier 205 is mounted, capable of moving the screw plug feeding carrier 205 back and forth. A material pipe 202 is mounted above the feeding cylinder carrier 203, which can hold multiple screw plugs. A feeding flap 208 is mounted on the upper end face of the feeding cylinder carrier 203, and a feeding positioning sleeve 207 is mounted on the feeding flap 208, with the material pipe 202 inserted into the feeding positioning sleeve 207. The feeding flap 208 corresponding to the feeding positioning sleeve 207 has a material inlet. When the feeding cylinder 204 is in the retracted state, the discharge groove 2051 on the screw plug feeding carrier 205 is located directly below the inlet, allowing the screw plug in the material tube 202 to fall into the discharge groove 2051. When the feeding cylinder 204 is in the extended state, the discharge groove 2051 on the screw plug feeding carrier 205 protrudes outward, and at this time, the discharge groove 2051 is in a state of waiting for the feeding rotating mechanism 3 to grab the screw plug (the position of the discharge groove 2051 at this time is called the feeding station). At the same time, the upper end face 2052 of the screw plug feeding carrier 205 will block the inlet to prevent the screw plug in the material tube 202 from falling.

[0050] In this embodiment, to monitor whether there is a screw plug in the discharge trough 2051, a pair of feeding sensors 206 are installed on the feeding cylinder carrier 203. When the sensing signal of the pair of feeding sensors 206 is blocked, it means that there is a screw plug in the discharge trough 2051; when the sensing signal of the pair of feeding sensors 206 is not blocked, it means that there is no screw plug in the discharge trough 2051.

[0051] Meanwhile, to prevent the feeding flap 208 from flipping over during use, a feeding positioning component 209 is provided on the feeding cylinder carrier 203. The feeding positioning component 209 is inserted into the groove below the feeding positioning sleeve 207 to keep the feeding flap 208 in a horizontal state.

[0052] Combination Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the loading and rotating mechanism 3 includes a motor-driven slide table 301, on which a first carrier plate 302 that moves back and forth is mounted. The first carrier plate 302 can move back and forth on the slide table 301. In this embodiment, the motor is a servo motor, which can precisely control the movement distance of the first carrier plate 302, allowing it to stop at a designated position. A second carrier plate 303 is mounted above the first carrier plate 302, and the first and second carrier plates 302 are fixed together by four guide pillars 304. A third carrier plate 305 that can move vertically is mounted on the second carrier plate 303. A rotary cylinder 306 is mounted on the third carrier plate 305, and the output end of the rotary cylinder 306 is connected to a fourth carrier plate 307, driving the fourth carrier plate 307 to rotate continuously counterclockwise by 90 degrees. A rotary gripper cylinder 308 is mounted on the fourth carrier plate 307, having four grippers arranged at 90-degree intervals, and each gripper has a telescopic function.

[0053] In this embodiment, a first cylinder 309 is invertedly mounted on the second carrier plate 303, and the end of the telescopic rod of the first cylinder is fixedly connected to the third carrier plate 305. To ensure stable lifting and lowering of the third carrier plate 305, guide sleeves are provided at the four corners of the second carrier plate 303, and each guide sleeve contains a guide post, the upper end of which is fixed to the third carrier plate 305. Meanwhile, a limit plate 310 is provided between two adjacent guide posts located below the second carrier plate 303, and an adjustable height stop is provided on the limit plate 310. By using the stop, the vertical lifting height of the third carrier plate 305 can be adjusted to meet process requirements.

[0054] In use, the rotary gripper cylinder grabs the screw plug in the feeding trough 2051 at the feeding station and transfers it to the feeding station of the translation mechanism 4, where the translation mechanism 4 receives the screw plug transferred by the rotary gripper cylinder.

[0055] Combination Figure 8 , Figure 9As shown, the translation mechanism 4 includes a translation platform 401, on which a linear translation rail 402 and a rodless translation cylinder 403 are mounted. The linear translation rail 402 and the rodless translation cylinder 403 are arranged in the same direction and are parallel to each other. A fifth platform 404 is mounted on both the linear translation rail 402 and the rodless translation cylinder 403. The fifth platform 404 is connected to a tank track mounted on the translation platform 401, and is connected to the first vertical side plate 405 via a connector.

[0056] The aforementioned first vertical side plate 405 is located outside the translational carrier plate 401, and a first vertical cylinder 406 is mounted on it. The first vertical cylinder 406 is connected to the sixth carrier plate 407 via a connector, enabling the sixth carrier plate 407 to move vertically up and down. A second vertical cylinder 409 is located below the sixth carrier plate 407, and the telescopic end of the second vertical cylinder 409 is connected to the translational fixture 408 above the sixth carrier plate 407. To ensure the stability of the translational fixture 408's vertical movement, guide sleeves are provided at the four corners of the sixth carrier plate 407, and each guide sleeve is equipped with a guide post, the upper end of which is fixed to the translational fixture 408.

[0057] In this embodiment, the upper end of the translation fixture 408 has a snap-fit ​​portion that can snap the screw plug in place. To ensure the stable operation of the screw plug snapped in the translation fixture 408, a spring is provided on the guide post below the sixth carrier plate 407. One end of the spring abuts against the sixth carrier plate 407, and the other end abuts against the locking nut of the guide post.

[0058] In this embodiment, driven by the rodless translation cylinder 403, the translation fixture 408 slides between the unloading station and the installation station. When the translation fixture 408 is at the unloading station, the gripper of the rotating gripper cylinder 308 picks up the screw plug and transfers it to the unloading station. Depending on the requirements, the first vertical cylinder 406 can be selectively driven upwards. When the translation fixture 408 is below the gripper, the second vertical cylinder 409 is driven to move the translation fixture 408 upwards, causing the screw plug on the gripper to engage with the engagement part of the translation fixture 408. When the gripper releases, the first vertical cylinder 406 returns to its original position, causing the translation fixture 408 to move downwards (if the first vertical cylinder 406 is driven upwards, it also needs to return to its original position). The sensor 410, located on the first vertical side plate 405, faces the engagement part of the translation fixture 408 and senses whether a screw plug is present in the translation fixture 408. When sensor 410 detects the screw plug, rodless translation cylinder 403 drives translation fixture 408 to move to the installation position. When sensor 410 does not detect the screw plug, it waits for the next loading operation.

[0059] The screw plug feeding mechanism 2, the feeding rotation mechanism 3, and the translation mechanism 4 work together to automatically transfer the screw plug inside the feed tube 202 to the installation position. No manual operation is required during this process, greatly improving the efficiency of screw plug feeding.

[0060] Combination Figure 10 As shown, the turntable mechanism 5 includes a circular turntable 501, and a drive mechanism 502 is provided on the base plate 100. The drive mechanism 502 includes a drive motor and a gearbox, which are used to drive the circular turntable 501 to rotate in an orderly manner.

[0061] In this embodiment, the circular turntable 501 has three housing positioning fixtures distributed circumferentially. Each housing positioning fixture has a positioning guide sleeve 503 below it, and each housing positioning fixture has a positioning post located inside the positioning guide sleeve 503. Three receiving posts 504 are provided on the base plate 100, and the positions of the receiving posts 504 correspond to those of the positioning guide sleeves 503 (when the housing positioning fixture moves to the installation position, the positioning post abuts against the receiving post). When the auxiliary housing S1 placed on the housing positioning fixture is assembled with the screw plug, the downward pressure on it during assembly is transferred to the receiving post 504 through the positioning post inside the positioning guide sleeve 503, thereby reducing the force on the circular turntable 501 and ensuring the effective operation of the circular turntable 501.

[0062] Combination Figures 11-14 As shown, the plug tightening mechanism 1 includes a plug tightening support 101. A vertically movable seventh carrier plate 102 is provided on one side of the plug tightening support 101. A drive mechanism for driving the seventh carrier plate 102 to move up and down is provided on the plug tightening support 101. The drive mechanism includes a first tightening cylinder 103 and a second tightening cylinder 105. The first tightening cylinder 103 is located at the upper end of the plug tightening support 101, and the second tightening cylinder 105 is located on the back of the plug tightening support 101 and fixed to the eighth carrier plate 104. The second tightening cylinder 105 is placed upside down, and its telescopic rod end is fixedly connected to the telescopic rod end of the first tightening cylinder 103 through a connector.

[0063] A seventh carrier plate 102 is provided on the front side of the screw plug tightening support 101, and vertically distributed linear slide rails are provided on the front side of the screw plug tightening support 101. The seventh carrier plate 102 is slidably mounted on the linear slide rails by a slider. One end of an eighth carrier plate 104 is directly or through a connector fixedly connected to the seventh carrier plate 102, thereby enabling the drive mechanism to drive the seventh carrier plate 102 to move vertically up and down.

[0064] The seventh carrier plate 102 is provided with a ninth carrier plate 107 and a tenth carrier plate 108. The screw plug gun 106 is inverted and disposed on the ninth carrier plate 107 and connected to the chuck 109 below the tenth carrier plate 108. The tenth carrier plate 108 is provided with two chuck drive cylinders 110 for driving the chuck 109. The number of the chuck drive cylinders 110 is two, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the chuck 109.

[0065] In use, the chuck 109 is positioned above the installation station, with the screw plug on the translation fixture 408 directly below it. The chuck drive cylinder 110 drives the chuck 109 to the open state. Simultaneously, driven by the first tightening cylinder 103 and / or the second tightening cylinder 105, the chuck 109 moves downwards to the screw plug on the translation fixture 408. Then, the chuck drive cylinder 110 drives the chuck 109 to grip the screw plug on the translation fixture 408. The translation fixture 408 moves out and returns to the unloading station. At this time, the first tightening cylinder 103 and / or the second tightening cylinder 105 continue to drive the chuck 109 downwards to the assembly position of the assist housing S1. Then, the screw plug gun 106 is activated, causing the chuck 109 to rotate and fix the screw plug onto the assist housing S1.

[0066] To prevent the auxiliary housing S1 from shaking during the screw plug tightening process, the screw plug tightening mechanism 1 in this embodiment has a positioning component. There are two sets of these positioning components with identical structures, each including a push rod 111. The push rod 111 vertically passes through the tenth carrier plate 108 and is fixed to the ninth carrier plate 107. The lower end of the push rod 111 is located below the tenth carrier plate 108 and has a push post 112. A positioning sleeve 113 and a spring 114 are fitted onto the push rod 111. The positioning sleeve 113 and spring 114 are located on the push rod 111 between the ninth carrier plate 107 and the tenth carrier plate 108. Specifically, the positioning sleeve 113 is located below and fixed to the push rod 111, the upper end of the spring 114 abuts against the ninth carrier plate 107, and the lower end of the spring 114 abuts against the positioning sleeve 113.

[0067] When in use, the top post 112 is pre-positioned on the auxiliary housing S1 or the translation fixture 408, thereby providing a stable environment for the gripping and tightening operation of the chuck 109.

[0068] In this embodiment, the screw plug feeding mechanism 2, the feeding rotation mechanism 3, the translation mechanism 4, the turntable mechanism 5, and the screw plug tightening mechanism 1 work together in a coordinated manner to move the screw plug and the auxiliary housing to the installation position. The chuck 109 grabs the screw plug, and the screw plug gun 106 drives the chuck 109 to rotate, thereby assembling the screw plug onto the auxiliary housing to complete the assembly operation.

[0069] This invention employs PLC control and is supplied with air and power by a unified air and power supply unit, enabling it to perform the set actions.

[0070] The automatic tightening mechanism of this invention can effectively assemble the screw plug onto the auxiliary housing. The screw plug feeding mechanism 2, the feeding rotation mechanism 3, the translation mechanism 4, the turntable mechanism 5, and the screw plug tightening mechanism 1 are integrated into a whole to achieve automatic screw plug assembly. The overall automation level is high, which greatly improves the screw plug assembly efficiency and reduces labor costs.

[0071] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and these variations still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic tightening mechanism for a power steering system plug, characterized in that: It includes a turntable mechanism, a screw plug tightening mechanism, a screw plug feeding mechanism, a translation mechanism, and a feeding rotation mechanism; in The turntable mechanism, screw plug tightening mechanism, screw plug feeding mechanism, translation mechanism, and feeding rotation mechanism are all mounted on the base plate; The turntable mechanism has several housing positioning fixtures arranged circumferentially to hold the auxiliary housings, and each housing positioning fixture can be moved to the installation position. The turntable mechanism includes a circular turntable, and a drive mechanism for driving the circular turntable to rotate in an orderly manner is provided on the base plate. A positioning guide sleeve is provided below each housing positioning fixture, and a positioning post extending into the housing positioning fixture is provided inside the positioning guide sleeve. A receiving post corresponding to the positioning guide sleeve is provided on the base plate. When the housing positioning fixture moves to the installation position, the positioning post abuts against the receiving post to transfer the downward force during tightening to the base plate and protect the turntable. The screw plug feeding mechanism includes a screw plug feeding carrier with a discharge slot for placing a single screw plug. The discharge slot is positioned at the feeding station by a drive mechanism. The screw plug feeding mechanism includes a feed tube with a feeding cylinder carrier below it for receiving screw plugs. The feeding cylinder carrier houses the screw plug feeding carrier and the drive mechanism. The screw plug feeding carrier has a discharge slot. When the drive mechanism is in its first state, the discharge slot is located below the feed tube. When the drive mechanism is in the second state, the feeding chute moves to the feeding station and the upper end face of the screw plug feeding carrier blocks the material pipe; the feeding cylinder carrier is equipped with a pair of feeding sensors, which are used to monitor whether there is a screw plug in the feeding chute when it is in the first state; the feeding cylinder carrier is set on the feeding base; the upper end of the feeding cylinder carrier is equipped with a feeding flap, and the feeding flap is equipped with a feeding positioning sleeve for inserting the feeding pipe; a feeding positioning component is provided above the feeding cylinder carrier to horizontally position the feeding flap; The feeding rotation mechanism has a movable rotating gripper cylinder. The gripper on the rotating gripper cylinder can grab the screw plug located in the discharge slot at the feeding station and transfer it to the discharge station. The translation mechanism has a movable translation fixture. The translation fixture moves to the unloading station and receives the screw plug on the gripper. Then the screw plug follows the translation fixture to the installation station. At this time, the position of the translation fixture is higher than the housing positioning fixture. The translation mechanism includes a translation carrier plate. A fifth carrier plate driven by a rodless translation cylinder is provided above the translation carrier plate. The fifth carrier plate is fixedly connected to a first vertical side plate on the outer side of the translation carrier plate. A first vertical cylinder is provided on the first vertical side plate. The first vertical cylinder is connected to a sixth carrier plate through a connector. A second vertical cylinder is provided below the sixth carrier plate. The telescopic end of the second vertical cylinder is connected to the translation fixture above the sixth carrier plate. The screw plug tightening mechanism has a screw plug gun that can move up and down, located above the installation station. The screw plug gun is connected to a chuck and rotates to drive the chuck to rotate. The chuck moves up and down with the screw plug gun and can grab the screw plug on the translation fixture. Then the translation fixture moves out of the installation station. The chuck continues to move down and abuts against the auxiliary housing. The screw plug gun drives the chuck to rotate and tighten the screw plug onto the auxiliary housing. The screw plug tightening mechanism includes a screw plug tightening support. A vertically lifting seventh carrier plate is provided on one side of the screw plug tightening support. A ninth carrier plate and a tenth carrier plate are provided on the seventh carrier plate. The screw plug gun is inverted and placed on the ninth carrier plate and connected to the chuck below the tenth carrier plate. A chuck drive cylinder is provided on the tenth carrier plate to drive the chuck to move. The screw plug tightening mechanism has a positioning component, which includes a push rod. A push rod passes vertically through the tenth carrier plate and is fixed to the ninth carrier plate. The lower end of the push rod is located below the tenth carrier plate and has a top post. A positioning sleeve and a spring are fitted on the push rod, and the positioning sleeve and spring are located on the push rod between the ninth and tenth carrier plates. The positioning sleeve is located below and fixed to the push rod. The upper end of the spring abuts against the ninth carrier plate, and the lower end of the spring abuts against the positioning sleeve. A first tightening cylinder and a second tightening cylinder are provided on the screw plug tightening support. The first tightening cylinder is located at the upper end of the screw plug tightening support, and the second tightening cylinder is located on the back of the screw plug tightening support and fixed to the eighth carrier plate. The second tightening cylinder is placed upside down, and its telescopic rod end is fixedly connected to the telescopic rod end of the first tightening cylinder through a connector. One end of the eighth carrier plate is directly or through a connector fixedly connected to the seventh carrier plate.

2. The automatic tightening mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding and rotating mechanism includes a motor-driven slide table, on which a first carrier plate that moves back and forth is provided. The first carrier plate is fixedly connected to a second carrier plate above it via guide posts. A third carrier plate that can move vertically is provided above the second carrier plate. A rotary cylinder is provided on the third carrier plate. The output end of the rotary cylinder is connected to a fourth carrier plate. A rotary gripper cylinder is provided on the fourth carrier plate.

3. The automatic tightening mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second carrier plate is provided with an inverted first cylinder, and the end of the telescopic rod of the first cylinder is fixedly connected to the third carrier plate; the four corners of the second carrier plate are provided with guide sleeves, and the guide sleeves are provided with guide posts, the upper ends of the guide posts are fixed to the third carrier plate; a limit plate is provided between the guide posts below the second carrier plate, and the limit plate is provided with a height-adjustable stop.

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