Device and method for automatic feeding and press-in and locking of automobile steering gear bushing

Abstract

The application discloses a device and method for automatic feeding and pressing and locking of a gear bushing of a vehicle steering gear, which comprises a base plate, a linear material guiding groove, a pulling punch assembly, a bushing clamping assembly and a bushing automatic guiding assembly. The automatic arrangement and feeding of the bushing are realized by setting a disc vibrator and a linear vibrator, the clamping and positioning of the bushing are completed by a pneumatic finger driven by a slide table cylinder, and a guiding sleeve constitutes a guiding cavity to ensure the accurate positioning of the bushing. The punch assembly is moved by being driven by a slide rail and a cylinder, and is matched with a lock punch arranged below a press machine to realize the precise pressing and lock assembly of the bushing. After the workpiece is clamped by the pneumatic finger, the workpiece is placed in a punch base to realize automatic feeding, automatic guiding and assembly. The method can continuously complete the automatic assembly of multiple bushings and workpieces, the operation process is complete, the structure is compact, the assembly efficiency is high, and the method is suitable for the batch and beat production requirements of gear bushings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of steering gear parts assembly technology, specifically to an automatic feeding and pressing device and method for automotive steering gear bushings. Background Technology

[0002] Hydraulic steering systems are widely used in various mid-to-high-end passenger and commercial vehicles, and their structure often incorporates gear bushings. These bushings are typically installed within the steering system housing or gear shaft bore to optimize shaft-hole clearance, absorb axial loads, and reduce friction and wear, thereby improving the steering system's service life and operational stability. Therefore, the quality of the bushing's press-fit directly affects the reliability and assembly consistency of the entire vehicle's steering system.

[0003] Currently, gear bushing installation primarily relies on manual operation. Taking some traditional automotive parts production lines as an example, the bushing assembly process includes: the operator manually picks up the gear and places it into a positioning fixture below the press; then, the operator manually takes the bushing and inserts it into the punch; the punch is flipped and inserted into the gear hole; finally, the switch is turned to start the press for pressing and end-face locking. This entire process depends on manual judgment and repetitive operation, which has the following drawbacks: The manual loading, unloading, flipping, and alignment processes are cumbersome and time-consuming, making it impossible to meet the needs of mass assembly. Secondly, the repetitive precision assembly work over a long period of time can easily lead to operator fatigue or even work-related injuries. Thirdly, the manual pressing process relies on experience, making it difficult to achieve high consistency in the pressing depth, direction, and punching quality of the bushings. Fourthly, the low level of automation hinders the company's transformation to a digital and intelligent production model and limits the expansion capabilities of the assembly line.

[0004] Patent document CN214291820U discloses an automatic press-fitting machine for steering knuckle bushings. This device, through the setting of multiple upper bushing components and pressing bushing components, realizes the automatic gripping, feeding, and pressing of bushings on both sides of the steering knuckle, achieving a high degree of automation. Although the above device has improvements in structural integration and process control, it is mainly designed for double-sided pressing of steering knuckle components, and its structure is relatively complex. It is suitable for dedicated production lines with large spaces, but not for steering gear bushing scenarios where pressing space is limited and the process requires rapid response. At the same time, such devices generally adopt a fixed feeding and positioning method, lacking flexible adjustment and module replacement capabilities, making it difficult to adapt to the compatibility requirements of different types of gears and bushings.

[0005] Patent document CN214291799U discloses a positioning mechanism for an automatic press-fitting machine for steering knuckle bushings. It uses a positioning plate cylinder to drive the upper / lower positioning plates to move, thereby achieving tooling positioning. The structure is equipped with a buffer pressing pin and a floating anti-misalignment pin. However, this positioning mechanism is only suitable for the fixed positioning process of steering knuckle components. It relies on an external transmission chain plate for station movement. The structure is complex and has limited adaptability. Furthermore, it fails to cover the entire assembly process, including feeding, clamping, guiding, and punching, making it difficult to meet the high integration requirements of automatic feeding, precise guidance, and integrated press-fitting of steering gear bushings in space-constrained scenarios.

[0006] Patent document CN112276523A discloses an automatic press-fitting line for automotive steering knuckles and its working method. This device automates the identification, defective product screening, automatic oiling, and bushing press-fitting processes of steering knuckles by setting up a bushing feeding mechanism, a steering knuckle feeding mechanism, and a press-fitting mechanism. However, this device is mainly used in large-scale assembly scenarios of axle steering knuckle structures. Its structure is complex and occupies a large space, making it unsuitable for application in space-constrained or single-station assembly of steering components. Furthermore, this solution does not involve a bushing punching and locking operation, lacks a refined structure to guide bushing press-fitting accuracy, and does not have the ability to flexibly adapt to press machine worktables. It is unsuitable for gear bushing press-fitting operations that are cost-sensitive to automation retrofitting. Similarly, patent document CN214393097U also suffers from the same problems.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an automatic gear bushing assembly equipment with a reasonable structure, simple operation, and suitable for the automatic modification of presses, so as to realize automatic feeding, automatic positioning, automatic pressing and punching of bushings, thereby improving assembly efficiency, reducing manpower input and ensuring assembly consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to overcome the existing defects and provide an automatic feeding, pressing and locking device and method for automotive steering gear bushings. It realizes the automatic feeding, automatic clamping, automatic guidance and alignment, automatic pressing and locking of gear bushings, and can continuously complete the pressing operation of multiple bushings, effectively replacing the traditional multi-step operation process that relies on manual operation. This greatly improves the production cycle and adapts to the assembly requirements of mass production and cycle time for steering gear products, and can effectively solve the problems in the background technology.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an apparatus and method for automatically feeding and pressing automotive steering gear bushings into a locking pin, comprising a base plate, a linear guide chute, a pulling punch assembly, a bushing clamping assembly, and an automatic bushing guide assembly. The pulling punch assembly is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate and includes a punch base, a punch cover ring, a locking punch, and a cylinder. The locking punch and the punch cover ring are sequentially disposed on the upper end of the punch base. The punch base is slidably connected to the base plate via a slide rail, and the cylinder is connected to the punch... The head base is connected to the side of a linear guide chute, a bushing clamping assembly, and an automatic bushing guide assembly, which are arranged side-by-side on the rear side of the base plate. One end of the linear guide chute is connected to the outlet of the disc vibration. The bushing clamping assembly includes a slide cylinder, a pneumatic finger, and a finger gripper. The pneumatic finger is mounted on the slide cylinder, and its telescopic end is connected to the pneumatic finger. The gripping end of the pneumatic finger has a finger gripper for clamping the bushing on the linear guide chute. The pneumatic finger is used to drive the pneumatic... As the finger moves up and down, the slide cylinder drives the pneumatic finger to move left and right, thereby realizing the picking and unloading actions of the bushing. The automatic bushing guide assembly includes a second pneumatic finger, left and right guide sleeves, and a second slide cylinder. The telescopic end of the second slide cylinder is connected to the second pneumatic finger. The left and right guide sleeves are respectively set on the gripping end of the second pneumatic finger. The inner surfaces of the left and right guide sleeves are respectively provided with guide grooves, and the two guide grooves of the left and right guide sleeves form guide cavities for guiding the bushing held by the first pneumatic finger, enabling the bushing to be smoothly... The workpiece is placed on the punch head of the punch lock. A placement rack is provided on one side of the base plate. The workpiece is placed on the placement rack. A workpiece clamping assembly is provided above the workpiece. The workpiece clamping assembly includes cylinder two, cylinder three and pneumatic finger three. The two ends of the pneumatic finger three are respectively provided with workpiece grippers. Cylinder two is used to drive the pneumatic finger three to move up and down. Cylinder three is used to drive cylinder two to move back and forth. The pneumatic finger three uses the workpiece grippers to clamp the workpiece on the placement rack. Then, the workpiece is inserted into the punch base by the cooperation of cylinder two and cylinder three.

[0010] Furthermore, a cylinder front support block 1 is provided on the base plate, and cylinder 4 is fixed on the cylinder front support block 1. The telescopic end of cylinder 4 is connected to the side of the base plate through a floating joint. Cylinder 4 can drive the punch base to move directly below the pneumatic finger 3, at the same horizontal position as the placement frame, so as to realize automatic feeding and workpiece loading. A limit stop is provided on one side of the upper surface of the base plate. The limit stop is used to restrict the movement position of the punch base, so that the punch base is located directly below the gear sleeve.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a press, with a base plate fixed on the press's worktable. A pressure rod is installed on the press's lower pressure shaft. The press drives the pressure rod to move downwards, completing the bushing pressing. The punching and locking punch completes the punching and locking on the inner end face of the workpiece.

[0012] Furthermore, a support plate is provided on the base plate, a linear guide chute is provided on the support plate, a linear vibrator is provided below the linear guide chute, the linear vibrator drives the bushing to move forward, and an opening is provided at the other end of the linear guide chute for pneumatic fingers to grip the bushing.

[0013] Furthermore, the slide cylinder is fixed on the base plate, and the cylinder is fixedly connected to the slider of the slide cylinder through the upper and lower cylinder fixing pads. The telescopic end of the cylinder is connected to the pneumatic finger fixing plate, and the pneumatic finger is fixed on the pneumatic finger fixing plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the left and right guide sleeves are provided with fixing holes, and the left and right guide sleeves are fixed to the clamping end of the pneumatic finger two through the fixing holes, which corresponds to the placement frame.

[0015] Furthermore, a cylinder front support block two is fixed on the base plate, and cylinder three is fixed on cylinder front support block two. A horizontal cylinder connector is provided at the telescopic end of cylinder three. A double-rod cylinder pad is fixed on cylinder two. The double-rod cylinder pad is slidably connected to the base plate through slide rail one. The horizontal cylinder connector is connected to the double-rod cylinder pad. The telescopic movement of cylinder three can drive the double-rod cylinder pad to move back and forth, thereby realizing the movement of cylinder two. A slider fixing plate is also provided on the double-rod cylinder pad. A slide rail three is fixed on the slider fixing plate. The telescopic end of cylinder two is connected to upper and lower finger pads. The upper and lower finger pads are slidably connected to slide rail three. Pneumatic finger three is fixed on the upper and lower finger pads. The pneumatic finger three can move up and down through cylinder two, thereby realizing the clamping of workpieces on the placement rack.

[0016] A method for automatically feeding and pressing automotive steering gear bushings into the punch lock includes the following steps: Step 1: Pour the bushing into the disc vibrator. The bushing is fed into the linear guide chute by the disc vibration and the linear vibrator. Step 2: The cylinder four pulls the punch base to the position directly below the pneumatic finger three. At this time, the punch base, the placement rack, and the bushing automatic guide assembly are in the same horizontal position. Step 3: The movement of the slide cylinder 1 drives the cylinder 1 and the pneumatic finger 1 to the position of the linear guide chute. The cylinder 1 moves downward to one end of the linear guide chute, so that the pneumatic finger 1 corresponds to the bushing. The pneumatic finger 1 clamps the bushing through the finger clamping block and moves in the opposite direction to the top of the punch base. Step 4: Simultaneously with Step 3, the second slide cylinder actuates, driving the second pneumatic finger forward to move directly above the punch lock punch on the punch base, where the second pneumatic finger clamps to form a guide cavity; Step 5: As soon as the pneumatic finger is released, the bushing smoothly falls onto the punch head under the guidance of the guide cavity; Step 6: Place the workpiece with the thin end facing down in the placement rack. The pneumatic finger 3 is moved to the workpiece position by the cooperation of cylinder 2 and cylinder 3. The pneumatic finger 3 opens and closes, the workpiece gripper holds the workpiece and moves upward, and is moved to the punch base position by cylinder 3. The pneumatic finger 3 opens and closes, and the workpiece is automatically placed in the punch base. Step 7: The cylinder pushes the punch base to move to the pressure rod of the press by relying on the mechanical positioning of the limit block. The pressure rod moves downward to complete the bushing pressing and the punch lock punch completes the punch lock on the inner hole end face of the workpiece. Step 8: All actuators are reset, and the finished workpiece is automatically placed in the placement rack. Repeat the above actions to complete the automatic feeding and pressing of the next workpiece and bushing.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. This invention completes the automatic sorting, conveying, clamping, guiding and unloading of bushings by setting up components such as a linear guide chute, a disc vibrator, a sliding cylinder and multiple sets of pneumatic fingers. At the same time, it combines the punch base, punch lock punch and press linkage system to realize the automated closed-loop process of pressing and punch lock. Compared with the existing manual operation, the device greatly reduces the operation steps and non-operation time, and can continuously complete the assembly task without human intervention, effectively improving the automation level and production efficiency of the overall production line.

[0018] 2. This invention uses an integrated base plate to mount all functional components. All motion modules, such as punch base, cylinder, and gripper, are arranged around the working area of ​​the press. The punch base is slidably connected by slide rails to achieve automatic alignment from the loading position to the pressing position, and limit blocks ensure that the punch accurately enters below the pressure axis. This structure is highly compatible with mainstream press platforms on the market and can be embedded into existing production lines as a modular assembly unit without large-scale equipment modification.

[0019] 3. In the bushing feeding and guiding stage, the present invention sets up pneumatic fingers and left and right guide sleeves on their clamping ends. The guide cavity formed in the guide sleeve can effectively prevent the bushing from deviating or having abnormal posture. The guide cavity is strictly matched with the clamping path of the pneumatic fingers, so that the bushing naturally slides into the punch above the punch lock at the moment of release, realizing the three-stage precise introduction process of "suspended-stabilized-introduced". This structure significantly improves the bushing blanking alignment accuracy and effectively reduces common defects such as bushing jamming, skewing or oblique pressing, thereby ensuring the consistency of the pressing position and depth.

[0020] 4. Compared with the traditional method of pressing before punching and manually flipping the workpiece for punching and locking, this solution effectively eliminates workpiece deformation or clamping errors caused by handling, avoids safety accidents, and achieves functional superposition and cycle synchronization through mechanism integration, which greatly shortens the assembly time and improves the overall smoothness and reliability of the operation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the press removed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the right-side structure of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the punch base with punch lock and the workpiece of the present invention; Figure 6 This is an isometric view of the punch mounting of the punch lock of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the punch lock of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the automatic bushing guide assembly of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the left and right guide sleeve structure of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the workpiece structure of the present invention; Figure 11 This is an isometric view of the workpiece of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Gear sleeve; 2. Punch base; 3. Base plate; 4. Cylinder front support block 1; 5. Disc vibrator; 6. Upper and lower cylinder fixing pads; 7. Pneumatic finger fixing plate; 8. Finger gripper; 9. Linear guide chute; 10. Placement rack; 11. Double-rod cylinder pad; 12. Upper and lower finger pads; 13. Punch cover ring; 14. Limiting block; 15. Linear vibrator; 16. Support plate; 17. Horizontal cylinder connector; 18. Slider fixing plate; 19. Workpiece gripper; 20. Cylinder 4; 21. Cylinder 1 22 Pneumatic finger one, 23 Cylinder three, 24 Cylinder two, 25 Pneumatic finger three, 26 Floating joint, 27 Slide rail one, 28 Slide rail two, 29 Slide rail three, 30 Slide table cylinder one, 31 Slide table cylinder two, 32 Pneumatic finger two, 33 Left and right guide sleeves, 34 Clamping cylinder support plate, 35 Push cylinder support plate, 36 Press, 37 Pressure rod, 38 Fixing hole, 39 Guide groove, 40 Punch lock punch, 41 Workpiece, 42 Bushing, 43 Cylinder front support block two. Detailed Implementation

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Example 1

[0024] Please see Figure 1-11 This invention provides a technical solution: an automatic feeding and pressing device and method for automotive steering gear bushings, including a base plate 3, a linear guide trough 9, a pulling punch assembly, a bushing clamping assembly, and an automatic bushing guiding assembly. The pulling punch assembly is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 3 and includes a punch base 2, a punch cover ring 13, a pressing punch 40, and a cylinder 20. The pressing punch 40 and the punch cover ring 13 are sequentially installed on the upper end of the punch base 2. The punch base 2 is open to... The slide rail 28 is slidably connected to the base plate 3, and the cylinder 4 20 is connected to the side of the punch base 2; the linear guide chute 9, the bushing clamping assembly, and the automatic bushing guide assembly are arranged side by side on the rear side of the base plate 3, and one end of the linear guide chute 9 is connected to the outlet of the disc vibration 5; the bushing clamping assembly includes a slide table cylinder 30, a cylinder 21, a pneumatic finger 22, and a finger gripper 8. The cylinder 21 is mounted on the slide table cylinder 30, and its telescopic end is connected to the pneumatic finger 22 for clamping. The end is equipped with a finger gripper 8 for gripping the bushing 42 on the linear guide trough 9. A cylinder 21 drives the finger 22 to move up and down, while a slide cylinder 30 drives it to move left and right to achieve the picking and placing of materials. The automatic bushing guide assembly consists of a pneumatic finger 32, left and right guide sleeves 33, and a slide cylinder 31. The telescopic end of the slide cylinder 31 is connected to the pneumatic finger 32, and the left and right guide sleeves 33 are located at its gripping end, with guide grooves 39 on their inner sides. The grooves 39 together form a guide cavity, which is used to guide the bushing 42 to fall smoothly above the punch 40; the bottom plate 3 is provided with a placement rack 10 on the side, on which the workpiece 41 is placed. The workpiece is provided with a workpiece clamping assembly above the workpiece, including cylinder 24, cylinder 3 23 and pneumatic finger 3 25. The clamping end of the pneumatic finger 3 25 is equipped with a workpiece gripper 19. Cylinder 24 realizes its up and down movement, and cylinder 3 23 drives cylinder 2 24 to move back and forth, thereby completing the picking and assembly of workpiece 41.

[0025] The device uses a disc vibrator 5 and a linear guide chute 9 to transport the bushing 42 to the end. Cylinder 1 21 controls the pneumatic finger 22 to descend and the bushing is picked up by the finger gripper 8. Then, the slide cylinder 30 moves it above the punch 40. At the same time, the pneumatic finger 2 32 moves forward and forms a guide cavity through the guide groove 39 of the left and right guide sleeves 33 to ensure that the bushing 42 can be accurately slid into the punch 40. Subsequently, the workpiece 41 is picked up by the pneumatic finger 3 25 and placed in the punch base 2. Driven by cylinder 4 20, the punch base 2 moves to the punching position of the press 36. Finally, the pressure rod 37 presses down to press the bushing 42 into the inner hole of the workpiece 41, and the punch 40 completes the punching operation.

[0026] This implementation method automates the entire process of automatic clamping, guiding, assembly, and punching of gear bushings, significantly reducing manual operation and improving assembly efficiency and consistency. The guide cavity structure significantly reduces the bushing drop deviation rate and improves pressing accuracy. The modular layout facilitates integration with presses and has strong compatibility and scalability. The coordinated operation of multiple cylinders enables high-cycle automated operation, significantly improving the automation level and operating efficiency of the production line.

[0027] Without affecting the basic functions, the device can replace the corresponding finger gripper 8 and left and right guide sleeves 33 according to different bushing sizes; the pneumatic finger assembly can also be replaced with an electric actuator to meet high precision requirements; the geometry of the punch 40 can be appropriately adjusted according to the inner hole structure of the workpiece 41 to meet different locking forms; the device control unit can be upgraded from PLC to an embedded industrial control system to realize remote control and data tracking functions; in addition, a modular structure can be adopted to integrate the bushing clamping and guiding unit on an independent platform for quick replacement and maintenance.

[0028] In one possible implementation, a cylinder front support block 4 is provided on the base plate 3, and a cylinder 20 is fixedly installed on the cylinder front support block 4. The telescopic end of the cylinder 20 is connected to the side of the base plate 3 through a floating joint 26. The cylinder 20 drives the punch base 2 to move to a position directly below the pneumatic finger 25, so that it is at the same level as the placement rack 10, so as to complete the automatic feeding and workpiece 41 loading operation. A limit stop 14 is provided on one side of the upper surface of the base plate 3. The limit stop 14 is used to limit the stroke position of the punch base 2 to ensure that it is directly below the gear sleeve 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the cylinder 20 is fixed by the cylinder front support block 4, so that it can stably drive the punch base 2 to move laterally along the slide rail 28 to the designated assembly position; the floating joint 26 alleviates the influence of lateral force during the movement of the punch base 2, and improves the life and stability of the mechanism; the physical limiting function of the limit block 14 ensures the positioning accuracy of the punch and avoids assembly errors.

[0030] This structure significantly improves the positioning accuracy and repeatability of the punch during its movement, avoiding poor assembly due to punch position deviation, while also enhancing the stability and service life of the overall mechanical structure. Through sliding fit and limit control, precise docking of the press area can be achieved, improving the reliability of press fitting.

[0031] Cylinder 20 can be replaced with a servo slide to enhance position controllability and speed adjustment capability; floating joint 26 can adopt a ball joint structure to adapt to larger load displacement requirements; limit block 14 can also be replaced with an inductive position sensor to achieve intelligent limit and fault detection in conjunction with the control system.

[0032] In one possible implementation, a press 36 is also included. The base plate 3 is fixed on the worktable of the press 36. The lower pressing shaft of the press 36 is provided with a pressure rod 37. The press 36 drives the pressure rod 37 to move down to complete the pressing of the bushing 42. The punching and locking punch 40 performs a punching and locking action on the inner end face of the workpiece 41.

[0033] When the bushing 42 is precisely inserted into the hole of the workpiece 41 and placed on the punch 40, the press 36 is started, and the pressure rod 37 acts downward on the workpiece 41, so that the bushing 42 is pressed into the hole. At the same time, the punch 40 completes the end face punching and locking to ensure the bushing is fixed. The entire pressing process is completed in the vertical direction, and the constant force provided by the pressure rod ensures the bushing fitting depth and punching and locking consistency.

[0034] By leveraging the uniform pressing force applied by the press and the coordinated action of the punch, the bushing can be precisely pressed in and locked in one go, improving work efficiency and avoiding multiple clamping operations. The integrated pressure mechanism makes the assembly process highly centralized, effectively controlling quality parameters and making it suitable for automated mass production.

[0035] The press 36 can be equipped with a servo pressure mechanism to achieve higher pressure fitting accuracy; the structure of the pressure rod 37 can be changed to a sleeve type or a ball guide column type to adapt to different rigidity requirements; in addition, an electric cylinder structure can be used to replace the pneumatic method to adapt to special working environments or scenarios without air source.

[0036] In one possible implementation, a support plate 16 is provided on the base plate 3, and a linear guide trough 9 is provided on the support plate 16. A linear vibrator 15 is arranged below the support plate 16 to push the workpiece 41 forward. An opening is provided at the end of the linear guide trough 9 for the pneumatic finger 22 to hold the bushing 42.

[0037] The linear vibrator 15 provides linear vibration transmission, which pushes the bushing 42 forward in the linear guide trough 9 to the opening position; the pneumatic finger 22 completes the material picking operation at the opening; the support plate 16 serves as a structural support component to ensure the horizontal stability of the linear guide trough and prevent jamming.

[0038] By combining a linear vibrator with a linear guide chute, efficient and continuous material feeding of the bushing is achieved, significantly improving feeding efficiency; the pneumatic gripping combined with the opening simplifies the end-positioning requirements and ensures reliable material handling; the whole system has a compact structure and strong adaptability.

[0039] The linear vibrator 15 can be replaced with a stepper feeding mechanism to obtain higher control accuracy; the linear guide trough 9 can be changed to a multi-channel structure for parallel feeding; the opening size and position can be adapted and changed according to the bushing diameter.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the slide cylinder 30 is fixedly mounted on the base plate 3, and the cylinder 21 is fixedly connected to the slider of the slide cylinder 30 through the upper and lower cylinder fixing pads 6. The telescopic end of the cylinder 21 is connected to the pneumatic finger fixing plate 7, and the pneumatic finger 22 is fixed on the fixing plate.

[0041] The slide cylinder 30 drives the cylinder 21 to move horizontally, and the cylinder 21 is responsible for the vertical movement, which in turn drives the pneumatic finger 22 to perform up and down clamping movements. The above structure enables the clamping mechanism to achieve two-dimensional controllable movement, which can meet the collaborative operation between different workstations for clamping and unloading.

[0042] The structural design ensures that the gripping mechanism can move freely in multiple directions, with flexible gripping paths, high operational reliability, and reduced risk of mis-gripping; independent control of sliding and gripping facilitates debugging and maintenance, and has strong adaptability.

[0043] The slide cylinder 30 can be replaced with a linear module to improve motion stability; the pneumatic finger 22 can also be replaced with a servo electric gripper; the finger fixing plate 7 can be equipped with a quick-release mechanism to facilitate module replacement.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the left and right guide sleeves 33 are provided with fixing holes 38, and are installed on the clamping end of the pneumatic finger 32 through the fixing holes 38. The pneumatic finger 32 is positioned corresponding to the placement frame 10.

[0045] The left and right guide sleeves 33 are securely installed on the clamping end of the pneumatic finger 32 through the fixing hole 38, so as to effectively constrain the guide path of the bushing 42; the installation position corresponds to the placement frame 10 to ensure that the guiding action is consistent with the assembly rhythm; the guide cavity constructed by the guide groove 39 plays a guiding and positioning role.

[0046] The guide structure design prevents the bushing from drifting or exhibiting abnormal posture during the unloading process, thus improving installation accuracy; the replaceable guide bushing offers good versatility and ease of maintenance, ensuring the stability of system operation. The guide sleeve 33 can be quickly replaced using a quick-release structure; the fixing hole 38 can be configured with an adjustable slide structure to adapt to different assembly heights; different models of guide structures can also be customized using 3D printing materials to adapt to various specifications of bushings.

[0047] In one possible implementation, a cylinder front support block 43 is fixed on the base plate 3, and a cylinder 23 is installed on it. The telescopic end is provided with a horizontal cylinder connector 17, which is connected to the double-rod cylinder pad 11. The pad 11 is slidably connected to the base plate 3 via a slide rail 27. The cylinder 24 is installed on the double-rod cylinder pad 11 and is connected to the slide rail 29 via a slider fixing plate 18. Its telescopic end is connected to upper and lower finger pads 12. The finger pads 12 are slidably connected to the slide rail 29. The pneumatic finger 25 is fixed on the upper and lower finger pads 12.

[0048] Cylinder 3 23 controls the double-rod cylinder pad 11 to move back and forth, thereby adjusting the overall position of cylinder 2 24; cylinder 2 24 drives the upper and lower finger pads 12 to move up and down, enabling the pneumatic finger 3 25 to grip the workpiece 41 and move it to the assembly position; multiple slide rails work together to ensure smooth and accurate movement.

[0049] The multi-layer structure enables layered control of clamping, displacement, and lifting functions, ensuring stable and reliable operation and making it suitable for assembling workpieces of various sizes. The slide rail structure reduces component wear and extends the service life of the equipment.

[0050] The slide rail 127 can be replaced with a guide rail ball block slider to improve smooth operation; the upper and lower finger pads 12 can integrate position detection elements to achieve automatic alignment; the pneumatic finger 325 can be upgraded to a flexible clamping system to adapt to workpieces of different shapes.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the device described in claims 1 to 7 is used to perform an automatic feeding and pressing method for automotive steering gear bushings, comprising the following steps: the bushing is fed into a linear guide groove via a disc vibrator and a linear vibrator; cylinder 4 20 pulls the punch base 2 to the assembly position; pneumatic finger 1 22 picks up the material and moves it above the punch 40, forming a guide cavity in conjunction with pneumatic finger 2 32; after the bushing is unloaded, pneumatic finger 3 25 places the workpiece on the punch base; the punch moves below the pressure rod for pressing and punching; all components are reset, completing one operation cycle.

[0052] This process coordinates multiple actuators to work together, and uses mechanical positioning and pneumatic control to build a complete work cycle, realizing a closed-loop automatic control system from material feeding, positioning, pressing to punching and locking.

[0053] Specific, continuous, and coordinated automated operation steps: Step 1: Pour the bulk bushings 42 into the disc vibrator 5; through the annular vibration generated by the disc vibrator 5, the bushings 42 are arranged in an orderly manner and conveyed to the outlet, and then enter the linear guide chute 9 connected to it; the linear vibrator 15 set below the linear guide chute 9 further pushes the bushings 42 to move linearly along the linear guide chute 9 towards the outlet, so as to achieve efficient and continuous feeding preparation. Step 2: Cylinder 4 20 is activated, and its extension and retraction motion drives the punch base 2 to move along the slide rail until the punch base 2 is directly below the pneumatic finger 3 25. This position is consistent with the horizontal direction of the placement rack 10 and the bushing automatic guide assembly, providing an alignment basis for subsequent bushing placement and workpiece loading. Step 3: The slide cylinder 30 is activated, causing cylinder 21 and pneumatic finger 22 to move laterally to the end of the linear guide trough 9; then, cylinder 21 moves vertically downward, so that the clamping end of pneumatic finger 22 is precisely aligned with the bushing 42, and the bushing is clamped by the finger clamping block 8; after the clamping is completed, the slide cylinder 30 and cylinder 21 move the bushing 42 in the opposite direction and lift it to directly above the punch base 2, in preparation for feeding. Step 4: While Step 3 is being executed, the slide cylinder 2 31 drives the pneumatic finger 2 32 to move forward to the position directly above the punch 40; the gripping end of the pneumatic finger 2 32 is provided with left and right guide sleeves 33, and as they close, the guide groove 39 forms a closed guide cavity structure; the guide cavity is designed to limit the movement direction and posture of the bushing 42, ensuring that it falls vertically and in the correct posture. Step 5: When the pneumatic finger 22 reaches the punch position and aligns with the guide cavity, the finger 22 releases the finger clamp 8 and releases the bushing 42; at this time, the bushing 42 falls naturally under the action of the guide cavity and falls precisely into the top center position of the punch-lock punch 40, completing the precision feeding. Step Six: The operator places the workpiece 41 with the thin end facing down in the placement rack 10; then, cylinders 24 and 33 work together to drive the pneumatic finger 3 25 to move towards the workpiece 41; the workpiece gripper 19 closes, gripping the workpiece 41, and cylinders 24 lift the workpiece upwards. At the same time, driven by cylinders 3 23, the workpiece is moved horizontally to above the punch base 2 and placed into its inner cavity. Step 7: Cylinder 4 20 actuates again, pushing the punch base 2 forward to the limit stop 14 to achieve precise positioning, while being directly below the pressure rod 37 of the press 36; the pressure rod 37 then presses vertically downward, and with the cooperation of the punch-lock punch 40, presses the bushing 42 into the inner hole of the workpiece 41, and completes the end face punch lock, ensuring that the bushing is firmly positioned and assembled in place; Step 8: After the above assembly operation is completed, each execution component (cylinder, slide, etc.) automatically resets, the gripper releases and releases the assembled workpiece 41, allowing it to fall back to the placement rack 10; the system automatically prepares for the next round of bushing and workpiece combination assembly, forming a closed-loop cycle process.

[0054] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

Claims

1. An automatic feeding and pressing device for automotive steering gear bushings, comprising a base plate (3), a linear guide chute (9), a pulling punch assembly, a bushing clamping assembly, and an automatic bushing guiding assembly, characterized in that: The pull punch assembly is located on the upper surface of the base plate (3). The pull punch assembly includes a punch base (2), a punch cover ring (13), a punch lock punch (40), and a cylinder four (20). The punch lock punch (40) and the punch cover ring (13) are sequentially located on the upper end of the punch base (2). The punch base (2) is slidably connected to the base plate (3) via a slide rail two (28). The cylinder four (20) is connected to the side of the punch base (2). The linear guide groove (9), the bushing clamping assembly, and The three bushing automatic guide components are arranged side by side on the rear side of the base plate (3). One end of the linear guide chute (9) is connected to the outlet of the disc vibration (5). The bushing clamping assembly includes a slide cylinder (30), a cylinder (21), a pneumatic finger (22), and a finger clamp (8). The cylinder (21) is mounted on the slide cylinder (30). The telescopic end of the cylinder (21) is connected to the pneumatic finger (22). The clamping end of the pneumatic finger (22) is equipped with a finger clamp. Block (8), the bushing automatic guide assembly includes pneumatic finger two (32), left and right guide sleeves (33) and slide cylinder two (31). The telescopic end of slide cylinder two (31) is connected to pneumatic finger two (32). The left and right guide sleeves (33) are respectively set on the clamping end of pneumatic finger two (32). The inner side of the left and right guide sleeves (33) is respectively provided with guide grooves (39). The two guide grooves (39) of the left and right guide sleeves (33) form guide cavities. The base plate (3) has one A placement rack (10) is provided on the side, and a workpiece (41) is placed on the placement rack (10). A workpiece clamping assembly is provided above the workpiece (41). The workpiece clamping assembly includes cylinder two (24), cylinder three (23) and pneumatic finger three (25). Workpiece grippers (19) are provided at both ends of the pneumatic finger three (25). Cylinder two (24) is used to drive the pneumatic finger three (25) to move up and down, and cylinder three (23) is used to drive cylinder two (24) to move back and forth. A cylinder front support block 1 (4) is provided on the base plate (3), and cylinder 4 (20) is fixed on cylinder front support block 1 (4). The telescopic end of cylinder 4 (20) is connected to the side of the base plate (3) through a floating joint (26). A limit stop block (14) is provided on one side of the upper surface of the base plate (3). A support plate (16) is provided on the base plate (3), a linear guide trough (9) is provided on the support plate (16), a linear vibrator (15) is provided below the linear guide trough (9), and an opening is provided at the other end of the linear guide trough (9).

2. The device for automatic feeding and pressing of automotive steering gear bushings according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a press (36), with a base plate (3) fixed on the worktable of the press (36), and a pressure rod (37) installed on the lower pressure shaft of the press (36).

3. The device for automatic feeding and pressing of automotive steering gear bushings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slide cylinder 1 (30) is fixed on the base plate (3). The cylinder 1 (21) is fixedly connected to the slider of the slide cylinder 1 (30) through the upper and lower cylinder fixing pads (6). The telescopic end of the cylinder 1 (21) is connected to the pneumatic finger fixing plate (7). The pneumatic finger 1 (22) is fixed on the pneumatic finger fixing plate (7).

4. The device for automatic feeding and pressing of automotive steering gear bushings according to claim 1, characterized in that: The left and right guide sleeves (33) are provided with fixing holes (38). The left and right guide sleeves (33) are fixed to the clamping end of the pneumatic finger two (32) through the fixing holes (38). The pneumatic finger two (32) corresponds to the placement frame (10).

5. The device for automatic feeding and pressing of automotive steering gear bushings according to claim 1, characterized in that: A cylinder front support block 2 (43) is fixed on the base plate (3). Cylinder 3 (23) is fixed on cylinder front support block 2 (43). A horizontal cylinder connector (17) is provided at the telescopic end of cylinder 3 (23). A double rod cylinder pad (11) is fixed on cylinder 2 (24). The double rod cylinder pad (11) is slidably connected to the base plate (3) through slide rail 1 (27). The horizontal cylinder connector (17) is connected to the double rod cylinder pad (11). A slider fixing plate (18) is also provided on the double rod cylinder pad (11). A slide rail 3 (29) is fixed on the slider fixing plate (18). An upper and lower finger pad (12) is connected to the telescopic end of cylinder 2 (24). The upper and lower finger pad (12) is slidably connected to slide rail 3 (29). Pneumatic finger 3 (25) is fixed on the upper and lower finger pad (12).

6. A method for automatically feeding and pressing automotive steering gear bushings into a locking mechanism, characterized in that... The automatic feeding and pressing device for automotive steering gear bushings according to any one of claims 1-5 includes the following steps: Step 1: Pour the bushing (42) into the disc vibrator (5). The bushing (42) is fed into the linear guide trough (9) by the disc vibrator (5) and the linear vibrator (15). Step 2: Cylinder 4 (20) pulls the punch base (2) to move directly below pneumatic finger 3 (25). At this time, the punch base (2), the placement rack (10) and the bushing automatic guide assembly are in the same horizontal position. Step 3: The movement of the slide cylinder 1 (30) drives the cylinder 1 (21) and the pneumatic finger 1 (22) to the position of the linear guide groove (9). The cylinder 1 (21) moves downward to one end of the linear guide groove (9), so that the pneumatic finger 1 (22) corresponds to the bushing (42). The pneumatic finger 1 (22) clamps and holds the bushing (42) through the finger clamping block (8). The movement is reversed according to the above action to the top of the punch base (2). Step 4: Simultaneously with Step 3, the second slide cylinder (31) moves, driving the second pneumatic finger (32) forward to move directly above the punch lock punch (40) on the punch base (2), and the second pneumatic finger (32) clamps to form a guide cavity; Step 5: The pneumatic finger 1 (22) is released, and the bushing (42) falls smoothly onto the punch (40) under the guidance of the guide cavity; Step 6: Place the thin end of the workpiece (41) downward in the placement rack (10). Move the pneumatic finger three (25) to the position of the workpiece (41) by the cooperation of cylinder two (24) and cylinder three (23). The pneumatic finger three (25) opens and closes, the workpiece gripper (19) clamps the workpiece (41) and moves it upward. It is then moved to the position of the punch base (2) by cylinder three (23). The pneumatic finger three (25) opens and closes, and the workpiece is automatically placed in the punch base (2). Step 7: Cylinder 4 (20) pushes the punch base (2) to move to the pressure rod (37) of the press (36) under the mechanical positioning of the limit block (14). The pressure rod (37) moves downward to complete the pressing of the bushing (42). The punch lock punch (40) completes the punch lock on the inner end face of the workpiece (41). Step 8: Each actuator is reset, and the completed workpiece is automatically placed in the placement rack (10). Repeat the above actions to complete the automatic feeding and pressing of the next workpiece (41) and bushing (42).

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