Automatic steel ball assembling device for ball screw

Abstract

The automatic steel ball assembling device for the ball screw comprises a feeding mechanism and a pushing mechanism, the feeding mechanism comprises a fixing frame, a plurality of storage columns arranged on the fixing frame and two sets of material blocking parts, each set of material blocking parts comprises a plurality of material blocking units, the storage columns correspond to the material blocking units in each set of material blocking parts one to one, and the pushing mechanism is arranged on the fixing frame. One group of material blocking parts can move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame; the material blocking unit comprises a blocking needle and a blocking needle driver; the material pushing mechanism comprises a nozzle assembly, a supporting frame, a push rod assembly arranged on the top face of the supporting frame and a material receiving assembly, the supporting frame can move back and forth relative to the fixing frame, the push rod assembly is slidably connected with the supporting frame, the material receiving assembly comprises a material gun and a fixing base which are arranged at one end of the supporting frame, and the fixing base is fixedly connected with the top face of the supporting frame. The material gun is rotationally connected with the fixing base, a material groove used for containing a plurality of steel balls is formed in the material gun, the nozzle assembly is located at one end of the material gun, and one end of the nut is in butt joint with one end of the nozzle assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of ball screw assembly, and in particular relates to an automatic steel ball assembly device for a ball screw. Background Art

[0002] Ball screws are the most commonly used transmission elements in tool machinery and precision machinery. Their main function is to convert rotational motion into linear motion, or torque into axial repetitive force, while having the characteristics of high precision, reversibility and high efficiency. Due to their low friction resistance, ball screws are widely used in various industrial equipment and precision instruments.

[0003] Specifically, the ball screw includes a screw, a nut and a steel ball. During assembly, the nut with the steel ball needs to be connected to the screw. In the prior art, the steel ball needs to be manually installed into the nut, and the steel ball is often sorted incorrectly during the manual installation process, which leads to low assembly efficiency and uneven assembly quality. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, in order to overcome the defects of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a steel ball automatic assembly device for a ball screw, which can automatically sort the steel balls and assemble the sorted steel balls into the nuts.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] An automatic steel ball assembly device for a ball screw comprises a feeding mechanism and a pushing mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism is located above the pushing mechanism, the feeding mechanism is used to transfer the steel ball to the pushing mechanism, and the pushing mechanism is used to push the steel ball to a position close to a nut of the ball screw and install the steel ball into the nut;

[0007] The feeding mechanism includes a fixed frame, a plurality of material storage columns arranged on the fixed frame and two groups of material blocking parts, each group of material blocking parts includes a plurality of material blocking units, the material storage columns are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the material blocking units in each group of material blocking parts, wherein one group of material blocking parts can move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame, and the material storage columns are used to store steel balls; the material blocking unit includes a blocking needle and a blocking needle driver for driving the blocking needle to extend and retract along the length direction perpendicular to the material storage column;

[0008] The material pushing mechanism includes a nozzle assembly, a support frame, a push rod assembly arranged on the top surface of the support frame and a material receiving assembly. The support frame can move back and forth relative to the fixed frame, the push rod assembly is slidably connected to the support frame, the material receiving assembly includes a material gun and a fixed seat arranged at one end of the support frame, the fixed seat is fixedly connected to the top surface of the support frame, the material gun is rotatably connected to the fixed seat, the material gun has a material trough for accommodating multiple steel balls, the nozzle assembly is located at one end of the material gun, one end of the nut is connected to one end of the nozzle assembly, and the push rod assembly is used to push the steel balls located in the material trough from the end away from the nozzle assembly to the end close to the nozzle assembly and assemble them into the nut through the nozzle assembly.

[0009] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the feeding mechanism also includes a first side plate fixedly arranged on a side of the fixed frame close to the pushing mechanism, a second side plate, a third side plate and a fourth side plate are fixedly arranged on the side of the first side plate close to the pushing mechanism in sequence from top to bottom, and a fifth side plate and a sixth side plate are fixedly arranged on the side of the first side plate away from the pushing mechanism in sequence from top to bottom; the length direction of the material storage column is parallel to the height direction of the fixed frame, and a plurality of the material storage columns are evenly spaced along the length direction of the second side plate, each of the material storage columns includes a first column portion and a second column portion, the axis center line of the first column portion of each of the material storage columns coincides with the axis center line of the second column portion, and the first column portion is located above the second column portion.

[0010] According to some preferred implementation aspects of the present invention, the first column runs through the height direction of the second side plate, the bottom end of the first column is fixedly connected to the top edge of the third side plate, the top end of the second column is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the third side plate, and the bottom end of the second column is fixedly connected to the top edge of the fourth side plate; the third side plate is provided with a plurality of first material channels corresponding to the material storage column, and the fourth side plate is provided with a plurality of second material channels corresponding to the material storage column, the two ends of the first material channel are respectively connected and communicated with one end of the first column and one end of the second column, the top end of the second material channel is connected and communicated with the bottom end of the second column, the length direction of the first material channel is parallel to the height direction of the fixed frame, and the second material channel is set in an arc shape. The material storage column is divided into the corresponding first column and the second column, so as to set the first material channel between the first column and the second column, so that the stopper needle of the material stopper unit can extend into and / or leave the first material channel under the driving action of the stopper needle driver to block the steel ball from falling and / or release the steel ball from falling.

[0011] According to some preferred implementation aspects of the present invention, the fifth side plate is slidably connected to a side of the first side plate away from the material pushing mechanism, and the material feeding mechanism further comprises a first driver, which is used to drive the fifth side plate to move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame; two groups of material blocking parts are respectively arranged on the fifth side plate and the sixth side plate, a group of material blocking parts arranged on the sixth side plate is located between the bottom end of the second column part and the top end of the second material channel, and a plurality of the material blocking units are evenly spaced and arranged along the length direction of the fifth side plate and / or the sixth side plate;

[0012] The needle stopper driver is connected to the fifth side plate and / or the sixth side plate, one end of the needle stopper is fixedly connected to one end of the telescopic shaft of the needle stopper driver, and a group of first through-hole units are respectively arranged on the first side plate corresponding to the top of the first material channel and the top of the second material channel, each group of the first through-hole units includes a plurality of first through-holes, and the first through-holes in a group of the first through-hole units are arranged one-to-one with the needle stopper in a group of the material stopper, and the first through-holes are used for the needle stopper to pass through. Through the driving action of the needle stopper driver, the needle stopper can be extended to resist the steel ball, thereby preventing the steel ball from falling; when the needle stopper is retracted, the steel ball can fall into the material trough of the material pushing mechanism.

[0013] According to some preferred implementation aspects of the present invention, the push mechanism also includes a first connecting plate, the first connecting plate is fixedly connected to one side of the fixed frame, the first connecting plate is slidably connected to the support frame, and the sliding direction of the push rod assembly on the support frame is parallel to the sliding direction of the support frame on the first connecting plate; the push rod assembly includes a push rod, a pressure sensor, a position sensor, a first fixed plate, a second fixed plate, a third fixed plate, a first fixed block, a second fixed block and a second connecting plate, the first fixed plate is slidably connected to the support frame, the first fixed block and the second fixed block are respectively fixedly arranged on both sides of the top surface of the first fixed plate, the second fixed plate and the third fixed plate are respectively fixedly connected to the two ends of the second fixed block, the second connecting plate is slidably connected to the second fixed block, the pressure sensor is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate, the push rod is fixedly connected to the pressure sensor, the position sensor is connected to the second fixed plate, the push rod is parallel to the length direction of the support frame, and the length of the push rod is greater than the length of the material trough in the material gun. The pressure sensor and the position sensor of the present invention are both set to detect whether there is a steel ball blocking the material trough in the material gun, so as to find the blockage in time, thereby avoiding affecting the assembly of the steel ball. When there are steel balls stuck in the trough, the thrust of the push rod to push the steel balls in the trough changes, and accordingly, the value on the pressure sensor will also change. According to the change in the value of the pressure sensor, it can be detected whether there is a steel ball blockage.

[0014] According to some preferred implementation aspects of the present invention, the push mechanism also includes a second driver, the second driver is used to drive the support frame to move back and forth along the length direction of the first connecting plate; the push rod assembly also includes a push rod driver and a third connecting plate, one end of the third connecting plate is fixedly connected to the first fixed block, the other end of the third connecting plate is connected to the push rod driver, the push rod driver is used to drive the push rod to move back and forth along the length direction of the support frame; the second connecting plate is located between the second fixed plate and the third fixed plate, an elastic member is provided between one end of the second connecting plate and one end of the second fixed plate, one end of the elastic member is fixedly connected to one end of the second connecting plate, and the other end of the elastic member is fixedly connected to one end of the second fixed plate. In some embodiments of the present invention, a fixed rod is provided between the second connecting plate and the second fixed plate, the elastic member is sleeved on the outer periphery of the fixed rod, and the end of the fixed rod close to the position sensor penetrates the thickness direction of the second fixed plate and contacts the sensing end of the position sensor. Under normal circumstances, when there are no steel balls blocking the material trough, the support frame and the push rod assembly on the support frame move as a whole in the direction approaching and / or away from the nut under the driving action of the second driver. At this time, the elastic member located between the second connecting plate and the second fixed plate always maintains a natural state and is not compressed; when there are steel balls blocking the material trough, the push rod can no longer continue to push the steel balls forward, that is, the push rod and the second connecting plate connected to the push rod no longer move. When the push rod driver continues to drive the push rod to move in the direction close to the nut, it will drive the second fixed plate to move in the direction close to the second connecting plate to compress the elastic member. When the elastic member is compressed, the interaction force between the sensing end of the position sensor and the fixed rod will change, thereby reflecting the change in the value of the position sensor.

[0015] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the material receiving assembly further includes a third driver, one end of the housing of the third driver is rotatably connected to the bottom of the support frame, one end of the telescopic shaft of the third driver is fixedly connected to the bottom of the material gun, the material gun has a first state and a second state, the third driver is used to drive the material gun to rotate to the first state and / or the second state, when the material gun is in the first state, the material gun is tilted downward from the top surface of the support frame; when the material gun is in the second state, the length direction of the material gun is parallel to the length direction of the support frame, and the axis of the material trough in the material gun coincides with the axis of the push rod. In the present invention, the material gun is set to have two states, the first state and the second state, and when in the first state, the material gun is tilted downward from the top surface of the support frame, which can minimize the space occupied by the material gun when it is in a non-working state, and avoid the situation that it also extends outward when not in use and may interfere with or accidentally collide with other mechanisms.

[0016] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a receiving groove is provided at one end of the fixing seat close to the material gun, one end of the material gun is located in the receiving groove, the fixing seat is located below the plurality of second material channels, the center line of the top surface of the receiving groove along its length direction coincides with an extension line formed by connecting the centers of the bottom ends of the plurality of second material channels, and the width of the top surface of the receiving groove is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second material channel; such a setting can ensure that when the material gun moves toward the direction close to the second material channel under the driving action of the second driver to a position directly below a part of the second material channel, when the steel balls in the material storage column fall from the second material channel, they can just enter the receiving groove from the top surface of the receiving groove, and further fall into the material channel of the material gun, thereby preventing the steel balls from falling onto the ground.

[0017] An insertion hole for inserting the push rod is formed at one end of the fixing seat away from the material gun, and the insertion hole is communicated with the accommodating groove. When the material gun is in the second state, the insertion hole is communicated with the material groove of the material gun.

[0018] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle, a plug rod, a fourth driver and an adapter plate, one end of the plug rod is fixedly connected to the telescopic shaft of the fourth driver, the shell of the fourth driver is fixedly connected to the top surface of the end of the material gun away from the fixed seat, the fourth driver is used to drive the plug rod to move up and down, the material gun is provided with a through slot for the plug rod to pass through from its top surface downward, the through slot is connected to the material trough, the plug rod is located above the material trough, and the length direction of the plug rod is perpendicular to the length direction of the material trough. In the present invention, when the steel ball has not been assembled into the nut, the fourth driver drives the plug rod to move downward to block the steel ball closest to the nozzle assembly from continuing to move forward, thereby blocking the subsequent one or more steel balls from continuing to move, so as to avoid the situation of misassembly during the feeding process of the steel ball, and when the current steel ball is assembled into the mounting groove in the nut, the plug rod will extend to block it to prevent the remaining steel balls from moving toward the nut at the same time.

[0019] According to some preferred implementation aspects of the present invention, the nozzle comprises a connected nozzle body and a protrusion, the protrusion is located at an end of the nozzle body away from the material gun, the outer diameter of the nozzle body is larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion, one side of the adapter plate is fixedly connected to an end of the material gun away from the fixing seat, the other side of the adapter plate is fixedly connected to an end of the nozzle body away from the protrusion, the nut is sleeved on the protrusion and one end of the nut is in contact with an end of the nozzle body close to the protrusion;

[0020] The adapter plate is provided with a plurality of second through holes, and the nozzle body is provided with a channel inside. The two ends of one of the plurality of second through holes are respectively connected with one end of the material trough and one end of the channel, and the second through hole and the channel are used for the steel ball to move from the material trough to the nut. When the nut is sleeved on the protruding portion, the end of the channel away from the second through hole will be connected with a corresponding mounting groove on the nut to ensure that the steel ball flowing out of the channel can smoothly enter the corresponding mounting groove on the nut.

[0021] According to some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a control system is also included, which is used to control the number and specifications of the falling steel balls in the feeding mechanism according to the specifications and models of the target nuts, so as to ensure that the number and specifications of the steel balls provided in the feeding mechanism match the nuts to be assembled with the steel balls.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention lie in that an automatic steel ball assembly device for a ball screw of the present invention, by providing a feeding mechanism and a pushing mechanism, and the various mechanisms cooperate with each other, can automatically sort the required steel balls and automatically assemble the sorted steel balls into the nuts of the corresponding ball screws, without the need for manual assembly. This can not only effectively improve work efficiency and greatly save labor costs, but also effectively avoid the problem of steel ball sorting errors that occur in manual assembly, thereby helping to improve the qualified rate of product assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the automatic assembly device for steel balls in the preferred embodiment of the present invention after hiding part of the structure of the push rod assembly (the material gun is in the second state);

[0025] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the top view of the feeding mechanism in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the feeding mechanism after hiding part of the structure in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the material pushing mechanism after hiding part of the structure when the material gun is in the first state in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the push rod assembly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a top view structure;

[0030] Figure 7 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the matching of the material gun and the nozzle assembly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Wherein, the accompanying drawings are marked as follows:

[0032] Feeding mechanism-10,

[0033] Fixed frame 11, first side plate 12, second side plate 13, third side plate 14, first material channel D1, fourth side plate 15, second material channel D2, fifth side plate 16, sixth side plate 17, first driver 18, first slider 191, first slide rail 192, first column 21, second column 22, needle stopper 31, needle stopper driver 32;

[0034] Pushing mechanism-20,

[0035] Support frame-41, first connecting plate-42, second slide rail-43, second driver-44, push rod-51, pressure sensor-521, position sensor-522, first fixed plate-531, second fixed plate-532, third fixed plate-533, first fixed block-541, second fixed block-542, second connecting plate-551, third connecting plate-552, push rod driver-56, elastic member-571, fixing rod-572, third slider-581, third slide rail-582, fourth slider-591, fourth slide rail-592, material gun-61, material trough-C1, fixing seat-62, containing groove-C2, plug hole-621, third driver-63, nozzle body-711, channel-D3, protrusion-712, plug rod-72, fourth driver-73, adapter plate-74, second through hole-K1;

[0036] Steel balls - 30. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, an automatic steel ball assembly device for a ball screw of the present invention is used to automatically assemble the steel ball 30 into the mounting groove of the nut, which includes a feeding mechanism 10, a pushing mechanism 20 and a control system. The feeding mechanism 10 is located above the pushing mechanism 20, and the feeding mechanism 10 is used to transmit the steel balls 30 of the target size and quantity to the pushing mechanism 20, and the pushing mechanism 20 is used to push the steel balls 30 to a position close to the nut of the ball screw and install the steel balls 30 into the mounting groove of the nut. The control system is used to control the number and specifications of the falling steel balls 30 in the feeding mechanism 10 according to the specifications and model of the target nuts, so as to ensure that the number and specifications of the steel balls 30 provided in the feeding mechanism 10 match the nuts to be assembled with the steel balls 30.

[0039] Furthermore, if Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the feeding mechanism 10 includes a fixed frame 11, a plurality of material storage columns arranged on the fixed frame 11, and two groups of material blocking parts. The material storage columns are used to store steel balls 30, and the length direction of the material storage columns is parallel to the height direction of the fixed frame 11. The two groups of material blocking parts are arranged at intervals along the height direction of the fixed frame 11, and each group of material blocking parts includes a plurality of material blocking units. The material storage columns are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the material blocking units in each group of material blocking parts, wherein one group of material blocking parts is located in the middle of the fixed frame 11 and can move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame 11, and the other group of material blocking groups is located at the lower end of the fixed frame 11 and the height position on the fixed frame 11 remains unchanged.

[0040] Specifically, the feeding mechanism 10 further comprises a first side plate 12 fixedly arranged on a side of the fixing frame 11 close to the pushing mechanism 20, a second side plate 13, a third side plate 14 and a fourth side plate 15 are fixedly arranged on the side of the first side plate 12 close to the pushing mechanism 20 from top to bottom, and a fifth side plate 16 and a sixth side plate 17 are fixedly arranged on the side of the first side plate 12 away from the pushing mechanism 20 from top to bottom. A plurality of material storage columns are evenly spaced and arranged along the length direction of the second side plate 13, each material storage column comprises a first column portion 21 and a second column portion 22, the axis center line of the first column portion 21 of each material storage column coincides with the axis center line of the second column portion 22, and the first column portion 21 is located above the second column portion 22; the outer diameter of the first column portion 21 is equal to the outer diameter of the second column portion 22, and the inner diameter of the first column portion 21 is equal to the inner diameter of the second column portion 22. The third side plate 14 is located between the first column 21 and the second column 22. The first column 21 runs through the height direction of the second side plate 13. The bottom end of the first column 21 is fixedly connected to the top edge of the third side plate 14. The top end of the second column 22 is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the third side plate 14. The bottom end of the second column 22 is fixedly connected to the top edge of the fourth side plate 15. The third side plate 14 is provided with a plurality of first material channels D1 corresponding to the plurality of material storage columns. The fourth side plate 15 is provided with a plurality of second material channels D2 corresponding to the plurality of material storage columns. The two ends of the first material channel D1 are respectively connected and communicated with one end of the first column 21 and one end of the second column 22. The top end of the second material channel D2 is connected and communicated with the bottom end of the second column 22. The length direction of the first material channel D1 is parallel to the height direction of the fixing frame 11. The second material channel D2 is set to be arc-shaped.

[0041] In addition, a first slide rail 192 is fixedly provided on the side of the first side plate 12 away from the material pushing mechanism 20, and a first slider 191 is fixedly provided on the side of the fifth side plate 16 close to the first side plate 12. The first slider 191 is slidably connected to the first slide rail 192, and the length of the first slide rail 192 is greater than the length of the first material channel D1. The feeding mechanism 10 also includes a first driver 18, the housing of the first driver 18 is fixedly connected to the top of the first side plate 12, the telescopic shaft of the first driver 18 is fixedly connected to the fifth side plate 16, and the first driver 18 is used to drive the fifth side plate 16 to move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame 11 through the interaction between the first slider 191 and the first slide rail 192. Further, a group of material blocking parts is arranged on the fifth side plate 16, and another group of material blocking parts is arranged on the sixth side plate 17. The group of material blocking parts arranged on the sixth side plate 17 is located between the bottom end of the second column 22 and the top end of the second material channel D2 and the height position remains unchanged. In this embodiment, a plurality of material stop units in a group of material stop portions arranged on the fifth side plate 16 are evenly arranged along the length direction of the fifth side plate 16, and a plurality of material stop units in a group of material stop portions arranged on the sixth side plate 17 are evenly arranged along the length direction of the sixth side plate 17.

[0042] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown (in this embodiment, in order to clearly show the structure of the feeding mechanism 10, part of the material storage column and the material blocking unit are hidden), each material blocking unit includes a blocking needle 31 and a blocking needle driver 32 for driving the blocking needle 31 to extend and retract along the length direction perpendicular to the material storage column, the housing of the blocking needle driver 32 is fixedly connected to the fifth side plate 16 and / or the sixth side plate 17, and one end of the telescopic shaft of the blocking needle driver 32 is fixedly connected to one end of the blocking needle 31. A through opening is provided on the first side plate 12 at a position corresponding to the third side plate 14, and the area where the multiple first material channels D1 on the third side plate 14 are located is located within the area range of the through opening. In addition, a group of first through hole units are respectively provided at the top of the first material channel D1 and the top of the second material channel D2 of the first side plate 12, and each group of first through hole units includes a plurality of first through holes. The first through holes in a group of first through hole units and the stopper needles 31 in a group of material blocking units are arranged one by one in correspondence, and the first through holes are used for the stopper needles 31 to pass through. The stopper needles 31 in the material blocking portion arranged on the fifth side plate 16 can be extended toward the direction close to the steel ball 30 by the driving action of the stopper needle driver 32, and then inserted into the corresponding first material channel D1 through the first through hole, so as to resist a steel ball 30 at the corresponding height, thereby preventing the steel ball 30 from falling; when the stopper needle 31 retracts, the steel ball 30 can fall. Such a setting enables the blocking part to drive the fifth side plate 16 to rise or fall through the first driver 18 under the control system to drive a group of blocking parts to rise or fall to the target position, and then drive the blocking needle 31 to extend through the blocking needle driver 32 to block the steel balls 30 from falling. Such mutual cooperation can control the number of steel balls 30 that need to fall according to the rising or falling position of the fifth side plate 16 and the number of extending blocking needles 31. A group of blocking parts arranged on the sixth side plate 17 can selectively drive the blocking needle 31 to extend or retract according to the number of steel balls 30 that can be accommodated in the pushing mechanism 20, so as to ensure that when the number of steel balls 30 that can be accommodated in the pushing mechanism 20 is saturated, the steel balls 30 will no longer continue to fall from the second material channel D2, so as to avoid the steel balls 30 from being scattered.

[0043] Furthermore, if Figure 1 , Figures 4 to 7As shown, the pushing mechanism 20 includes a support frame 41, a nozzle assembly, a push rod assembly arranged on the top surface of the support frame 41, a material receiving assembly and a second driver 44, wherein a first connecting plate 42 is fixedly provided on the side of the fixed frame 11 close to the pushing mechanism 20, two second slide rails 43 are fixedly provided on one side of the first connecting plate 42, a second slider is fixedly provided on the side of the support frame 41 close to the first connecting plate 42, the second slide rail 43 is slidably connected to the second slider, and the second driver 44 is used to drive the support frame 41 to move back and forth along the length direction of the first connecting plate 42 through the interaction between the second slider and the second slide rail 43, the sliding direction of the support frame 41 along the second slide rail 43 is perpendicular to the length direction of the material storage column, and through the movement of the support frame 41, the push rod assembly, the material receiving assembly and the nozzle assembly on the support frame 41 can be driven to move back and forth as a whole along the length direction of the first connecting plate 42 to approach and / or move away from the nut.

[0044] Specifically, the push rod assembly includes a push rod 51, a push rod driver 56, a pressure sensor 521, a position sensor 522, a first fixed plate 531, a second fixed plate 532, a third fixed plate 533, a first fixed block 541, a second fixed block 542, a second connecting plate 551 and a third connecting plate 552. The push rod 51 is parallel to the length direction of the support frame 41. A third slider 581 is fixedly provided on the bottom surface of the first fixed plate 531. Two third slide rails 582 are fixedly provided on the top surface of the support frame 41. The third slide rail 582 is slidably connected to the third slider 581. The length direction of the third slider 581 is parallel to the length direction of the support frame 41. The first fixed block 541 and the second fixed block 542 are respectively fixedly arranged on both sides of the top surface of the first fixed plate 531, the second fixed plate 532 and the third fixed plate 533 are respectively fixedly connected to the two ends of the second fixed block 542, the second fixed plate 532 and the third fixed plate 533 are both perpendicular to the second fixed block 542, a fourth slide rail 592 is fixedly arranged on one side of the second fixed block 542, a fourth slider 591 is fixedly arranged on one side of the second connecting plate 551 close to the second fixed block 542, and the fourth slider 591 is slidably connected to the fourth slide rail 592. One end of the third connecting plate 552 is fixedly connected to the first fixed block 541, and the other end of the third connecting plate 552 is connected to the push rod driver 56. The push rod driver 56 is used to drive the third connecting plate 552 to move back and forth along the length direction of the third slide rail 582, thereby driving the entire push rod assembly to move back and forth along the length direction of the third slide rail 582 to approach and / or move away from the nut. In this embodiment, the sliding direction of the push rod assembly on the support frame 41 is parallel to the sliding direction of the support frame 41 on the first connecting plate 42.

[0045] In addition, the pressure sensor 521 is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate 551 and one end of the push rod 51 is fixedly connected to the pressure sensor 521; the position sensor 522 is fixedly connected to the side of the second fixing plate 532 away from the third fixing plate 533, the second connecting plate 551 is located between the second fixing plate 532 and the third fixing plate 533, and a fixing rod 572 is arranged between the second connecting plate 551 and the second fixing plate 532, and an elastic member 571 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the fixing rod 572, one end of the elastic member 571 is fixedly connected to one end of the second connecting plate 551, and the other end of the elastic member 571 is fixedly connected to one end of the second fixing plate 532. One end of the fixing rod 572 close to the position sensor 522 penetrates the thickness direction of the second fixing plate 532 to contact the sensing end of the position sensor 522. The settings of the pressure sensor 521 and the position sensor 522 are used to monitor whether there is a steel column blocking in the material receiving assembly, so as to find the blocking situation in time, thereby avoiding affecting the assembly of the steel ball 30.

[0046] When a steel ball 30 is stuck in the receiving assembly, the thrust of the push rod 51 pushing the steel ball 30 in the receiving assembly to move will change, and accordingly, the value on the pressure sensor 521 will also change. According to the change in the value of the pressure sensor 521, it can be detected whether there is a steel ball 30 stuck. Under normal circumstances, when there is no steel ball 30 blocking the material receiving assembly, the support frame 41 and the push rod assembly on the support frame 41 move as a whole in the direction close to and / or away from the nut under the driving action of the second driver 44, and the elastic member 571 located between the second connecting plate 551 and the second fixing plate 532 at this time always maintains a natural state and is not compressed; when there is a steel ball 30 blocking the material receiving assembly, the push rod 51 can no longer continue to push the steel ball 30 forward, that is, the push rod 51 and the second connecting plate 551 connected to the push rod 51 no longer move, when the push rod driver 56 continues to drive the push rod 51 to move in the direction close to the nut, it will drive the second fixing plate 532 to move in the direction close to the second connecting plate 551 to compress the elastic member 571, when the elastic member 571 is compressed, the interaction force between the sensing end of the position sensor 522 and the fixing rod 572 will change, so that the change is reflected in the value of the position sensor 522. The elastic member 571 in this embodiment is preferably a spring.

[0047] Furthermore, if Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, the material receiving assembly includes a material gun 61 and a fixed seat 62 and a third driver 63 arranged at one end of the support frame 41, the fixed seat 62 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the support frame 41, one end of the material gun 61 is rotatably connected to the fixed seat 62, one end of the shell of the third driver 63 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the support frame 41, and one end of the telescopic shaft of the third driver 63 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the material gun 61. The material gun 61 has a material groove C1 for accommodating a plurality of steel balls 30, and the length of the material groove C1 in the material gun 61 is less than the length of the push rod 51. The material gun 61 of this embodiment has a first state and a second state, and the third driver 63 is used to drive the material gun 61 to rotate to the first state and / or the second state. When the material gun 61 is in the first state, the material gun 61 is tilted downward from the top surface of the support frame 41, which can minimize the space occupied by the material gun 61 when it is in a non-working state, and avoid the situation that it also extends outward when not in use and may interfere with or accidentally collide with other mechanisms. When the material gun 61 is in the second state, the length direction of the material gun 61 is parallel to the length direction of the support frame 41 , and at this time, the axis center line of the material tank C1 in the material gun 61 coincides with the axis center line of the push rod 51 .

[0048] The fixing seat 62 is located below the plurality of second material channels D2, and a receiving groove C2 is provided at one end of the fixing seat 62 close to the material gun 61, and one end of the material gun 61 is located in the receiving groove C2, and the center line of the top surface of the receiving groove C2 along its length direction coincides with the extension line formed by connecting the centers of the bottom ends of the plurality of second material channels D2, and the width of the top surface of the receiving groove C2 is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second material channel D2. Such a setting can ensure that when the material gun 61 moves toward the direction close to the second material channel D2 under the driving action of the second driver 44 to be located directly below a part of the second material channel D2, when the steel balls 30 in the material storage column fall from the second material channel D2, they can just enter the receiving groove C2 from the top surface of the receiving groove C2, and further fall into the material channel C1 of the material gun 61, so as to prevent the steel balls 30 from being scattered on the ground. In addition, a socket 621 for inserting the push rod 51 is provided at one end of the fixing seat 62 away from the material gun 61, and the socket 621 is connected to the accommodating groove C2. When the material gun 61 is in the second state, the socket 621 is also connected to the material groove C1 of the material gun 61 to ensure that the push rod 51 can enter the material groove C1 through the socket 621 to push the steel ball 30 located therein to move toward the direction close to the nut.

[0049] Furthermore, if Figure 4 and Figure 7As shown, the nozzle assembly is located at the end of the material gun 61 away from the fixed seat 62, and the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle, an insertion rod 72, a fourth driver 73 and an adapter plate 74. The insertion rod 72 is located above the material trough C1, and the length direction of the insertion rod 72 is perpendicular to the length direction of the material trough C1. The material gun 61 is provided with a through groove for the insertion rod 72 to pass through from its top surface downward, and the through groove is connected to the material trough C1; one end of the insertion rod 72 is fixedly connected to the telescopic shaft of the fourth driver 73, and the shell of the fourth driver 73 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the end of the material gun 61 away from the fixed seat 62, and the fourth driver 73 is used to drive the insertion rod 72 to move up and down to approach and / or move away from the material trough C1. In this embodiment, the insertion rod 72 is provided so that when the steel ball 30 has not yet been assembled into the nut, the fourth driver 73 drives the insertion rod 72 to move downward to block the steel ball 30 closest to the nozzle assembly from continuing to move forward, thereby blocking the continued movement of one or more subsequent steel balls 30 to avoid misassembly during the feeding process of the steel balls 30. When the current steel ball 30 is assembled into the mounting groove in the nut, the insertion rod 72 will extend to block it to prevent the remaining steel balls 30 from moving toward the nut at the same time.

[0050] The nozzle includes a nozzle body 711 and a protrusion 712 that are connected to each other. The protrusion 712 is located at the end of the nozzle body 711 away from the material gun 61, and the outer diameter of the nozzle body 711 is larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 712; one side of the adapter plate 74 is fixedly connected to the end of the material gun 61 away from the fixed seat 62, and the other side of the adapter plate 74 is fixedly connected to the end of the nozzle body 711 away from the protrusion 712. The protrusion 712 is used for the nut to be assembled to be sleeved on its outer periphery, and one end of the nut is in contact with the end of the nozzle body 711 close to the protrusion 712. Specifically, the adapter plate 74 is provided with a plurality of second through holes K1, and the nozzle body 711 is provided with a channel D3 inside. The two ends of one of the plurality of second through holes K1 are respectively connected with one end of the material groove C1 and one end of the channel D3. The second through hole K1 and the channel D3 are used together to allow the steel ball 30 to move from the material groove C1 to the mounting groove in the nut. When the nut is sleeved on the protrusion 712, the end of the channel D3 away from the second through hole K1 will be connected with a corresponding mounting groove on the nut to ensure that the steel ball 30 flowing out of the channel D3 can smoothly enter the corresponding mounting groove on the nut to complete the current assembly of the steel ball 30. In addition, in some other embodiments of the present invention, the adapter plate 74 can be replaced accordingly according to the specifications and models of the nut to ensure that the second through hole K1 on the adapter plate 74 can allow the steel ball 30 of the corresponding size to pass through.

[0051] In the present invention, when the feeding mechanism 10 does not feed materials to the pushing mechanism 20, the material gun 61 is in the first state, and the support frame 41 is located at the end of the second slide rail 43 away from the nut, and the push rod assembly is located at the end of the third slide rail 582 away from the material gun 61, so that there is a distance between the end of the push rod 51 close to the fixed seat 62 and the end of the material trough C1 close to the fixed seat 62, so as to avoid the push rod 51 from breaking due to the inability to insert into the material trough C1 in the first state. When the steel balls 30 in the feeding mechanism 10 are ready to fall into the material groove C1 in the material gun 61, the third driver 63 drives the material gun 61 to rotate to the second state, and under the driving action of the second driver 44, drives the material gun 61 on the support frame 41 to move along the length direction of the second slide rail 43 to gradually approach the nut. During the movement, the material groove C1 of the material gun 61 will continuously collect the falling steel balls 30, and in this process, the insertion rod 72 extends downward under the action of the fourth driver 73 to block the steel balls 30 in the material groove C1 from passing through the adapter plate 74. When the material groove C1 is full of the target number of steel balls 30, the support frame 41 no longer moves, but drives the push rod 51 to gradually approach the steel balls 30 in the material groove C1 under the driving action of the push rod driver 56, and pushes the steel balls 30 from the material groove C1 through the adapter plate 74 and the nozzle to the installation groove of the nut, completing the automatic assembly of the steel balls 30.

[0052] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable people familiar with this technology to understand the contents of the present invention and implement them accordingly. They cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic steel ball assembly device for a ball screw, characterized in that: It includes a feeding mechanism and a pushing mechanism, wherein the feeding mechanism is located above the pushing mechanism, the feeding mechanism is used to transmit steel balls to the pushing mechanism, and the pushing mechanism is used to push the steel balls to a position close to the nut of the ball screw and install the steel balls into the nut; The feeding mechanism includes a fixed frame, a plurality of material storage columns arranged on the fixed frame and two groups of material blocking parts, each group of material blocking parts includes a plurality of material blocking units, the material storage columns are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the material blocking units in each group of material blocking parts, wherein one group of material blocking parts can move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame, and the material storage columns are used to store steel balls; the material blocking unit includes a blocking needle and a blocking needle driver for driving the blocking needle to extend and retract along the length direction perpendicular to the material storage column; The material pushing mechanism includes a nozzle assembly, a support frame, a push rod assembly arranged on the top surface of the support frame and a material receiving assembly. The support frame can move back and forth relative to the fixed frame, the push rod assembly is slidably connected to the support frame, the material receiving assembly includes a material gun and a fixed seat arranged at one end of the support frame, the fixed seat is fixedly connected to the top surface of the support frame, the material gun is rotatably connected to the fixed seat, the material gun has a material trough for accommodating multiple steel balls, the nozzle assembly is located at one end of the material gun, one end of the nut is connected to one end of the nozzle assembly, and the push rod assembly is used to push the steel balls located in the material trough from the end away from the nozzle assembly to the end close to the nozzle assembly and assemble them into the nut through the nozzle assembly.

2. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism also includes a first side plate fixedly arranged on a side of the fixed frame close to the pushing mechanism, a second side plate, a third side plate and a fourth side plate are fixedly arranged in sequence from top to bottom on the side of the first side plate close to the pushing mechanism, and a fifth side plate and a sixth side plate are fixedly arranged in sequence from top to bottom on the side of the first side plate away from the pushing mechanism; the length direction of the material storage column is parallel to the height direction of the fixed frame, and a plurality of the material storage columns are evenly spaced along the length direction of the second side plate, each of the material storage columns includes a first column portion and a second column portion, the axis center line of the first column portion of each of the material storage columns coincides with the axis center line of the second column portion, and the first column portion is located above the second column portion.

3. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first column portion runs through the height direction of the second side plate, the bottom end of the first column portion is fixedly connected to the top edge of the third side plate, the top end of the second column portion is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the third side plate, and the bottom end of the second column portion is fixedly connected to the top edge of the fourth side plate; a plurality of first material channels are opened on the third side plate corresponding to the material storage columns, and a plurality of second material channels are opened on the fourth side plate corresponding to the material storage columns, the two ends of the first material channels are respectively connected and communicated with one end of the first column portion and one end of the second column portion, the top end of the second material channel is connected and communicated with the bottom end of the second column portion, the length direction of the first material channel is parallel to the height direction of the fixed frame, and the second material channel is arranged in an arc shape.

4. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The fifth side plate is slidably connected to a side of the first side plate away from the material pushing mechanism, and the material feeding mechanism further comprises a first driver, which is used to drive the fifth side plate to move up and down along the height direction of the fixed frame; two groups of material blocking parts are respectively arranged on the fifth side plate and the sixth side plate, a group of material blocking parts arranged on the sixth side plate is located between the bottom end of the second column part and the top end of the second material channel, and a plurality of the material blocking units are evenly spaced and arranged along the length direction of the fifth side plate and / or the sixth side plate; The stopper needle driver is connected to the fifth side plate and / or the sixth side plate, one end of the stopper needle is fixedly connected to one end of the telescopic shaft of the stopper needle driver, and a group of first through hole units are respectively arranged on the first side plate corresponding to the top of the first material channel and the top of the second material channel, each group of the first through hole units includes a plurality of first through holes, and the first through holes in a group of the first through hole units and a group of stopper needles in the material blocking part are arranged one-to-one, and the first through holes are used for the stopper needles to pass through.

5. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pushing mechanism also includes a first connecting plate, the first connecting plate is fixedly connected to one side of the fixed frame, the first connecting plate is slidably connected to the support frame, and the sliding direction of the push rod assembly on the support frame is parallel to the sliding direction of the support frame on the first connecting plate; the push rod assembly includes a push rod, a pressure sensor, a position sensor, a first fixed plate, a second fixed plate, a third fixed plate, a first fixed block, a second fixed block and a second connecting plate. The first fixed plate is slidably connected to the support frame, the first fixed block and the second fixed block are respectively fixedly arranged on both sides of the top surface of the first fixed plate, the second fixed plate and the third fixed plate are respectively fixedly connected to the two ends of the second fixed block, the second connecting plate is slidably connected to the second fixed block, the pressure sensor is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate, the push rod is fixedly connected to the pressure sensor, the position sensor is connected to the second fixed plate, the push rod is parallel to the length direction of the support frame, and the length of the push rod is greater than the length of the material trough in the material gun.

6. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The pushing mechanism also includes a second driver, which is used to drive the support frame to move back and forth along the length direction of the first connecting plate; the push rod assembly also includes a push rod driver and a third connecting plate, one end of the third connecting plate is fixedly connected to the first fixed block, and the other end of the third connecting plate is connected to the push rod driver, and the push rod driver is used to drive the push rod to move back and forth along the length direction of the support frame; the second connecting plate is located between the second fixed plate and the third fixed plate, and an elastic member is provided between one end of the second connecting plate and one end of the second fixed plate, one end of the elastic member is fixedly connected to one end of the second connecting plate, and the other end of the elastic member is fixedly connected to one end of the second fixed plate.

7. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The material receiving assembly also includes a third driver, one end of the shell of the third driver is rotatably connected to the bottom of the support frame, one end of the telescopic shaft of the third driver is fixedly connected to the bottom of the material gun, the material gun has a first state and a second state, and the third driver is used to drive the material gun to rotate to the first state and / or the second state. When the material gun is in the first state, the material gun is tilted downward from the top surface of the support frame; when the material gun is in the second state, the length direction of the material gun is parallel to the length direction of the support frame, and at this time, the axis center line of the material trough in the material gun coincides with the axis center line of the push rod.

8. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The fixing seat is provided with a receiving groove at one end close to the material gun, one end of the material gun is located in the receiving groove, the fixing seat is located below the plurality of second material channels, the center line of the top surface of the receiving groove along its length direction coincides with an extension line formed by connecting the centers of the bottom ends of the plurality of second material channels, and the width of the top surface of the receiving groove is greater than the width of the bottom end of the second material channel; An insertion hole for inserting the push rod is formed at one end of the fixing seat away from the material gun, and the insertion hole is communicated with the accommodating groove. When the material gun is in the second state, the insertion hole is communicated with the material groove of the material gun.

9. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle, an insertion rod, a fourth driver and an adapter plate, one end of the insertion rod is fixedly connected to the telescopic shaft of the fourth driver, the shell of the fourth driver is fixedly connected to the top surface of an end of the material gun away from the fixed seat, the fourth driver is used to drive the insertion rod to move up and down, the material gun is provided with a through groove for the insertion rod to pass through from its top surface downward, the through groove is connected to the material trough, the insertion rod is located above the material trough, and the length direction of the insertion rod is perpendicular to the length direction of the material trough.

10. The steel ball automatic assembly device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The nozzle comprises a nozzle body and a protrusion connected to each other, the protrusion is located at an end of the nozzle body away from the material gun, the outer diameter of the nozzle body is larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion, one side of the adapter plate is fixedly connected to an end of the material gun away from the fixing seat, the other side of the adapter plate is fixedly connected to an end of the nozzle body away from the protrusion, the nut is sleeved on the protrusion and one end of the nut is in contact with an end of the nozzle body close to the protrusion; A plurality of second through holes are provided on the adapter plate, a channel is provided inside the nozzle body, two ends of one of the plurality of second through holes are respectively connected with one end of the material trough and one end of the channel, and the second through hole and the channel are used for allowing the steel ball to move from the material trough to the nut.

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