A horizontal assembly device for a shock absorber fork bracket

By using a horizontal assembly equipment for shock absorber fork brackets, and employing automated positioning, spreading, and tightening modules, the problems of large torque fluctuations and low efficiency in manual assembly are solved, achieving a high-quality and efficient assembly process.

CN121624831BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-01NINGBO TUOPU IND AUTOMATION CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
NINGBO TUOPU IND AUTOMATION CO LTD
Filing Date
2026-02-04
Publication Date
2026-05-01

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the existing technology, the assembly of the shock absorber front fork bracket relies on manual operation, which results in large torque fluctuations, low efficiency, difficulty in alignment and poor consistency, and difficulty in tracing tightening data, affecting assembly quality and safety.

Method used

By employing the synergistic action of the shock absorber positioning and clamping module, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module, the spreading module, and the relative drive mechanism, combined with a multi-directionally movable tightening gun and nut positioning component, an automated positioning, spreading, and precise tightening process is achieved.

Benefits of technology

Through automated processes, torque can be precisely controlled, reducing torque fluctuations, improving assembly quality and efficiency, avoiding deformation or stress concentration, achieving traceability, and making it suitable for mass production.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The application discloses a horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork support, characterized by comprising a shock absorber positioning module, a front fork support positioning module, a strutting module, a relative driving mechanism and a tightening module; the shock absorber positioning module horizontally fixes a shock absorber mounting portion; the front fork support positioning module is oppositely arranged, so that the side opening of the connecting cavity faces the shock absorber, and the two tightening walls are vertically arranged; the strutting module is inserted into the side opening and expands the opening and the connecting cavity; the relative driving mechanism makes the shock absorber mounting portion enter the connecting cavity when the opening is strutting; and the tightening module tightens the bolt of the tightening wall. The application has the advantages that the automation of positioning, strutting, alignment insertion and tightening is realized, the problems of difficult torque control, low efficiency, difficult alignment, poor consistency and the like in manual assembly are solved, the assembly quality, efficiency and traceability are improved, and the labor intensity is reduced.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shock absorber manufacturing technology, and in particular to a horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket. Background Technology

[0002] In the suspension system of automobiles, motorcycles and other vehicles, the fork bracket of the shock absorber is a key component that connects the shock absorber to the vehicle body, and its assembly quality directly affects the vehicle's driving safety and comfort. Figure 4 The image shows a fully assembled shock absorber assembly, including shock absorber A and fork bracket B. Figure 5 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the product. The shock absorber A has a mounting part A1 for mounting the front fork bracket. The two opposite ends of the front fork bracket B are the shock absorber connection part B1 and the vehicle body connection part B2, respectively. The shock absorber connection part B1 has a through-hole connecting cavity B11 with a side opening. The shock absorber connection part B1 has two opposite tightening walls B12. The side opening B111 is located between the two tightening walls B12. The side opening B111 is used to provide assembly allowance when the shock absorber connection part B1 is fitted onto the mounting part A1. After the fitting and installation are completed, the assembly allowance is eliminated by installing and tightening high-strength bolts C on the two tightening walls B12, thereby achieving a tight fit between the shock absorber connection part B1 and the mounting part A1.

[0003] Currently, the assembly of the shock absorber fork bracket with the above-mentioned structure mainly involves manual tightening (using a wrench or power tool) after the two major components are connected and high-strength bolts are installed. This assembly method relies on the operator's experience, and the torque fluctuates greatly (the error can reach ±20% or more), which can easily lead to some bolts being overtightened or undertightened, resulting in uneven stress on the bracket, which may cause deformation or stress concentration. At the same time, the assembly efficiency is low, with a single component taking ≥60 seconds to assemble, and it is difficult to trace the tightening data. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a horizontal assembly equipment for shock absorber fork brackets that is stable to assemble and has high assembly efficiency.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0006] A horizontal assembly device for a shock absorber fork bracket includes:

[0007] The shock absorber positioning and clamping module is used to position and fix the shock absorber, and to set the mounting part of the shock absorber in a horizontal direction.

[0008] The fork bracket positioning and clamping module is arranged opposite to the shock absorber positioning and clamping module. It is used to position and fix the fork bracket, and to keep the shock absorber connecting part on the fork bracket with its two tightening walls arranged in the vertical direction, and to make the opening direction of the connecting cavity with the side opening opposite to the mounting part.

[0009] The expansion module includes an expansion actuator that can be inserted into a side opening, the expansion actuator being driven after insertion to temporarily enlarge the side opening and the connecting cavity;

[0010] The relative drive mechanism is used to drive at least one of the shock absorber positioning clamping module and the fork bracket positioning clamping module to move, so that when the side opening is opened, the mounting part can enter the connecting cavity.

[0011] The tightening module is used to tighten the bolts that pass through the two tightening walls of the fork bracket.

[0012] The tightening module includes:

[0013] A multi-directionally movable tightening gun drive mechanism and a tightening gun mounted thereon; the tightening gun drive mechanism can drive the tightening gun to move linearly in at least the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions to accurately align the bolt position and perform the tightening operation.

[0014] A nut positioning element is provided at the lower tightening wall to provide positioning support for the lower tightening wall during assembly and to position and constrain the nut that mates with the bolt during tightening; the nut positioning element is provided with a channel through which the shank of the bolt passes.

[0015] The nut positioning component is a nut positioning sleeve, which has a stepped inner hole, including an upper inner hole and a lower inner hole that are coaxial. The upper inner hole is used to accommodate and position the nut, and the diameter of the lower inner hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut, forming a channel through which the shank of the bolt passes.

[0016] The shock absorber positioning and clamping module, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module, the spreading module, and the nut positioning component are integrated on a bearing platform and form an assembly unit.

[0017] The aforementioned support platform is equipped with multiple sets of the aforementioned assembly units.

[0018] The supporting platform is a rotatable turntable, and multiple sets of the assembly units are arranged circumferentially along the turntable.

[0019] The tightening gun is mounted on the equipment frame via the tightening gun drive mechanism to form a tightening station. The turntable is rotatably mounted on the equipment frame. When an assembly unit rotates to the tightening station with the turntable, the tightening gun drive mechanism drives the tightening gun to move, aligning it vertically with the nut positioning component at the current station and performing a tightening operation on the bolt.

[0020] The aforementioned spreading actuator includes a first spreading insertion part that can move up and down. After being inserted into the side opening, the first spreading insertion part is driven to move upward and push against the tightening wall located above, causing the tightening wall located above to displace upward, thereby expanding the side opening.

[0021] The first opening insertion part is provided with a corresponding avoidance groove for avoiding the bolt.

[0022] The spreading actuator further includes a second spreading insertion part; the second spreading insertion part and the first spreading insertion part can be inserted into the side opening together; when the first spreading insertion part is driven to move upward, the second spreading insertion part remains fixed to constrain the tightening wall located below, so that the two tightening walls produce relative displacement.

[0023] The spreading module is driven by a drive mechanism to enable the actuator to insert or retract from the side opening; after the fork bracket is positioned by the fork bracket positioning and clamping module, the drive mechanism moves to move the spreading actuator and insert it into the side opening; and after the shock absorber mounting part is assembled into the connecting cavity, the drive mechanism moves to retract the spreading actuator from the side opening.

[0024] The shock absorber positioning and clamping module includes a positioning seat for positioning the shock absorber and a pressing mechanism for pressing the shock absorber onto the positioning seat.

[0025] The fork bracket positioning and clamping module includes:

[0026] The positioning part is used to accurately position the vehicle body connection part of the front fork bracket;

[0027] The main clamping part is used to support and clamp the main body of the fork bracket.

[0028] An auxiliary clamping part is provided corresponding to the positioning part and is used to clamp the vehicle body connecting part after positioning;

[0029] The positioning part includes a retractable positioning pin and a linear actuator for driving the positioning pin to extend and retract; the positioning pin can extend to insert into the connecting hole of the vehicle body connection part to achieve precise positioning, and can retract to release the front fork bracket after the overall assembly is completed.

[0030] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: Through an automated process of positioning and clamping—opening the opening—automatic alignment and insertion—precise tightening, it effectively solves the problems of difficult torque control, low efficiency, difficult alignment, and poor consistency caused by manual assembly in traditional technologies. It has significant advantages in improving assembly quality, efficiency, traceability, and reducing labor intensity, specifically manifested in:

[0031] (1) The bolts are automatically tightened by the tightening module, which can accurately control the torque, greatly reduce torque fluctuation, and ensure that the tightening force of each bolt is uniform, thereby avoiding deformation or stress concentration caused by uneven force, and improving the reliability of bracket assembly and driving safety.

[0032] (2) Through the coordinated action of the shock absorber positioning and clamping module, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module, the spreading module and the relative drive mechanism, the shock absorber and the fork bracket are automatically aligned, spread and inserted. In particular, the spreading module can temporarily enlarge the side opening, so that the installation part of the shock absorber can smoothly enter the connecting cavity of the fork bracket. The whole machine has a high degree of automation, which can effectively avoid assembly damage caused by misalignment, and the assembly time of a single piece can be greatly shortened, making it suitable for mass production.

[0033] (3) The overall layout is horizontal, the overall structure is compact, and it is easy to integrate into the production line;

[0034] (4) Automated tightening modules can typically record tightening data such as torque and angle, enabling traceability of the assembly process and providing data support for quality control and problem analysis. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall three-dimensional structure of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram showing the positioning and installation of the shock absorber and front fork bracket in this invention;

[0037] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point E;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the shock absorber assembly after assembly in this invention;

[0039] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the decomposed structure;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the expansion module in this invention;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the front fork bracket positioning and clamping module in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0043] As shown in the figure, a horizontal assembly device for a shock absorber front fork bracket includes:

[0044] The shock absorber positioning and clamping module 1 is used to position and fix the shock absorber A, and to set the mounting part A1 of the shock absorber A in the horizontal direction.

[0045] The fork bracket positioning and clamping module 2 is arranged opposite to the shock absorber positioning and clamping module 1. It is used to position and fix the fork bracket B, and to keep the shock absorber connecting part B1 on the fork bracket B with its two tightening walls B12 arranged in the vertical direction, and to make the opening direction of the connecting cavity B11 with the side opening B111 opposite to the mounting part A1.

[0046] The expansion module 3 includes an expansion actuator that can be inserted into the side opening B111. The expansion actuator is driven after insertion to temporarily enlarge the side opening B111 and the connecting cavity B11.

[0047] The relative drive mechanism 4 is used to drive at least one of the shock absorber positioning clamping module 1 and the fork bracket positioning clamping module 2 to move, so that when the side opening B111 is opened, the mounting part A1 can enter the connecting cavity B11.

[0048] Tightening module 5 is used to tighten the bolts C that pass through the two tightening walls B12 of the front fork bracket B.

[0049] In this specific embodiment, the tightening module 5 includes:

[0050] A multi-directionally movable tightening gun drive mechanism 50 and a tightening gun 51 mounted thereon; the tightening gun drive mechanism 50 can drive the tightening gun 51 to move linearly in at least the up and down, front and back, and left and right directions to accurately align the bolt C and perform the tightening operation.

[0051] The nut positioning element 52, located at the lower tightening wall B12, provides positioning support for the lower tightening wall B12 during assembly and positions and constrains the nut G (not shown in the figure) that mates with the bolt C during tightening. The nut positioning element 52 has a channel through which the shank of the bolt C passes. The tightening gun drive mechanism 50 has multi-directional linear movement capability, which can accurately align the bolt C and complete a highly consistent tightening operation. At the same time, the nut positioning element 52 located at the lower tightening wall B12 not only provides stable positioning support for the fork bracket B, but its built-in channel can also effectively constrain the nut G during tightening, preventing it from rotating. This, together with the tightening gun 51 above, forms a synergistic tightening force, ensuring the assembly quality and reliability of the entire bolt C connection pair.

[0052] In this specific embodiment, the tightening gun 51 preferably adopts a servo-electric tightening shaft, which has precise torque and angle control functions, mainly including:

[0053] Tighten the shaft body, the front end of which is provided with a sleeve 510 that matches the head of bolt C;

[0054] The tightening gun drive mechanism 50 is a multi-axis linear module, including:

[0055] The vertically mounted Z-axis module is used to drive the tightening gun 51 to move up and down;

[0056] The Y-axis module, mounted on the movable part of the Z-axis module, is used to drive the tightening gun 51 to move back and forth.

[0057] The X-axis module, mounted on the movable part of the Y-axis module, is used to drive the tightening gun 51 to move left and right.

[0058] The tightening gun 51 is installed on the movable part of the X-axis module.

[0059] In this specific embodiment, the nut positioning component 52 is a nut positioning sleeve with a stepped inner hole (not shown in the figure). The inner hole includes a coaxial upper section and a lower section. The upper section is used to accommodate and position the nut G, and the diameter of the lower section is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut G, forming a channel for the shank of the bolt C to pass through. This nut positioning sleeve adopts a stepped coaxial inner hole design, which is ingenious in structure and reliable in function. The upper section is used to accurately accommodate and position the nut G, effectively preventing the nut G from rotating during tightening; the diameter of the lower section is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut G, forming a dedicated guide channel for the shank of the bolt C. This design not only ensures the precise alignment of the bolt C and the nut G during the tightening process, avoiding thread damage, but also achieves reliable constraint on the nut G and smooth insertion of the bolt C through the stepped structure, providing a stable foundation for high-precision and high-efficiency automated tightening.

[0060] In this specific embodiment, the shock absorber positioning and clamping module 1, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module 2, the spreading module 3, and the nut positioning component 52 are integrated and mounted on a bearing platform 6 to form an assembly unit. The structure is highly compact, significantly reducing the equipment's footprint and the relative errors between components; the smooth coordination of each functional module simplifies the assembly process, improves the work cycle and overall assembly efficiency; simultaneously, the integrated platform structure enhances the equipment's rigidity and operational stability, facilitating overall installation, debugging, and maintenance, and contributing to stable and reliable mass automated production.

[0061] In this specific embodiment, the support platform 6 is equipped with multiple sets of assembly units. This achieves simultaneous maximization of space utilization and production efficiency, significantly increasing output per unit time and significantly shortening cycle time.

[0062] In this specific embodiment, the supporting platform 6 is a rotatable turntable, and multiple assembly units are arranged circumferentially along the turntable. By setting the supporting platform 6 as a rotatable turntable and evenly arranging multiple assembly units along its circumference, a rotary assembly workstation is formed. The advantage lies in achieving efficient and smooth assembly line operations: operators or loading / unloading robots can load and unload workpieces at fixed workstations, while the turntable drives each assembly unit through different process stations such as spreading, docking, and tightening, achieving continuous cyclic assembly. This effectively optimizes the production cycle, eliminates waiting time between processes, and while ensuring high-precision automated assembly, minimizes equipment footprint and maximizes production efficiency.

[0063] In this specific embodiment, the tightening gun 51 is mounted on the equipment frame D (only part shown) via the tightening gun drive mechanism 50 to form a tightening station. The turntable is rotatably mounted on the equipment frame D. When an assembly unit rotates to the tightening station with the turntable, the tightening gun drive mechanism 50 drives the tightening gun 51 to move, aligning it vertically with the nut positioning part 52 at the current station and performing a tightening operation on the bolt C. This achieves specialized division of labor and high efficiency in the assembly process. The turntable is responsible for cyclically conveying and positioning the workpiece, while the tightening gun 51 at the fixed station specializes in high-precision tightening operations. The two do not interfere with each other, and the process is continuous.

[0064] In this specific embodiment, the spreading actuator includes a first spreading insertion part 31 that can move up and down. After being inserted into the side opening B111, the first spreading insertion part 31 is driven to move upward and push against the tightening wall B12 located above, causing the tightening wall B12 located above to displace upward, thereby expanding the side opening B111. This single-point active spreading method that directly targets the critical part is simple and reliable in structure, requires little driving force, can effectively reduce the risk of component damage, and creates precise and stable spatial conditions for the smooth horizontal entry of the shock absorber A mounting part A1.

[0065] In this specific embodiment, the first opening insertion part 31 is connected to a linear drive mechanism, which can realize up and down movement.

[0066] In this specific embodiment, the first spreading insertion part 31 is provided with a corresponding avoidance groove 311 for avoiding the bolt C. This ensures that when the first spreading insertion part 31 inserts into the side opening B111 and performs the spreading action, it can perfectly avoid the pre-installed or pre-positioned bolt C, thus avoiding any interference, collision or scratches to the bolt C.

[0067] In this specific embodiment, the spreading actuator further includes a second spreading insertion part 32; the second spreading insertion part 32 and the first spreading insertion part 31 can be inserted together into the side opening B111; when the first spreading insertion part 31 is driven to move upward, the second spreading insertion part 32 remains fixed, used to constrain the lower tightening wall B12, causing the two tightening walls B12 to generate relative displacement. When the first spreading insertion part 31 actively pushes the upper tightening wall B12 upward, the second spreading insertion part 32, as a fixed reference, effectively constrains the displacement of the lower tightening wall B12. Under this synergistic effect of active pushing combined with passive constraint, the two tightening walls B12 can be precisely guided to generate controllable relative displacement, ensuring that the side opening B111 is expanded smoothly and symmetrically. This avoids the bracket tilting or excessive local stress that may be caused by single-point force, providing more reliable spatial conditions for the smooth and centered insertion of the shock absorber A mounting part A1, and further ensuring the assembly quality.

[0068] In this specific embodiment, the spreading module 3 is driven by a drive mechanism to enable the spreading actuator to insert or withdraw from the side opening B111; after the fork bracket B is positioned by the fork bracket positioning and clamping module 2, the drive mechanism is activated to move the spreading actuator and insert it into the side opening B111; and after the mounting part A1 of the shock absorber A is assembled into the connecting cavity B11, the drive mechanism is activated to make the spreading actuator withdraw from the side opening B111.

[0069] In this specific embodiment, the shock absorber positioning and clamping module 1 includes a positioning seat 11 for positioning the shock absorber A, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the shock absorber A onto the positioning seat 11.

[0070] In this specific embodiment, the upper surface of the positioning seat 11 is provided with a contoured positioning groove 111 that matches the lower outer contour of the shock absorber A, which is used to initially limit the radial and axial movement of the horizontally placed shock absorber A, ensuring that the axis of its mounting part A1 extends in a precise horizontal direction. The pressing mechanism is provided above the positioning seat 11, preferably a corner cylinder 12 and a first pressure plate 13 connected to the end of the piston rod of the corner cylinder 12, and a first pressure block 14 is fixed below the first pressure plate 13.

[0071] In this specific embodiment, the relative drive mechanism 4 is a linear drive assembly located below the positioning seat 11, which is used to drive the entire shock absorber positioning clamping module 1 to move linearly relative to the front fork bracket positioning clamping module 2, so as to realize the insertion of the mounting part A1 toward the connecting cavity B11. The linear drive assembly is a drive cylinder in conjunction with a linear guide pair.

[0072] In this specific embodiment, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module 2 includes:

[0073] The positioning part is used to accurately position the frame connection part B2 of the front fork bracket B;

[0074] The main clamping part is used to support and clamp the main body of the front fork bracket B;

[0075] An auxiliary clamping part 25 is provided corresponding to the positioning part and is used to clamp the vehicle body connecting part B2 after positioning;

[0076] The positioning unit includes a retractable positioning pin 21 and a linear actuator 22 for driving the retraction and extension of the positioning pin 21. The positioning pin 21 can extend to insert into the connection hole B21 of the vehicle body connection part B2 for precise positioning, and can retract after the overall assembly is completed to release the fork bracket B. By actively inserting the retractable positioning pin 21 into the connection hole B21 of the vehicle body connection part B2, fundamental and precise positioning of the angle and position of the fork bracket B is achieved, which is the basis for subsequent assembly accuracy. The main clamping part and the auxiliary clamping part 25 clamp the bracket body and the positioned vehicle body connection part B2 respectively, forming a clamping system with clear primary and secondary components and comprehensive coverage, effectively preventing any movement or vibration of the bracket during the assembly process. The retraction and extension of the positioning pin 21 is controlled by the linear actuator 22, and it can automatically retract after assembly, realizing the rapid and non-destructive release of the workpiece, perfectly matching the automated production cycle. The overall design takes into account high precision, high stability and high efficiency.

[0077] In this specific embodiment, the main clamping part includes a lower support assembly and an upper clamping assembly. The lower support assembly is located below the main body of the fork bracket B and includes at least one first power drive component 23 (preferably a hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder) and a support head 231 connected to the top of the piston rod of the first power drive component 23. The top of the support head 231 may have a contoured support surface adapted to the bottom contour of the workpiece. During positioning, the piston rod of the first power drive component 23 rises, driving the support head 231 upward until it firmly supports the main body of the fork bracket B, providing it with a precise and rigid vertical reference support surface. Using a hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder as the drive provides a stable and adjustable support force, and the support height can be controlled by a program according to different workpiece models, exhibiting good adaptability. The upper clamping assembly is positioned above the main body of the fork bracket B and corresponds vertically to the lower support assembly. It includes at least one second power drive component 24 (preferably a hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder) and a second pressure plate 241 connected to the end of the piston rod of the second power drive component 24. The pressing end of the second pressure plate 241 is provided with a second pressure block 242. After the fork bracket B is positioned and the lower support is completed, the second power drive component 24 drives the second pressure block 242 on the second pressure plate 241 to press down, firmly pressing the main body of the fork bracket B onto the lower support head 231.

[0078] The frame connection part B2 of the front fork bracket B is typically a double connecting arm structure. Each connecting arm has a through connecting hole B21. When using this type of horizontal assembly equipment, the two connecting arms are arranged vertically, forming an upper connecting arm B201 and a lower connecting arm B202. Correspondingly, two locating pins 21 are also arranged vertically. The two locating pins 21 are driven synchronously to extend or retract by the same linear actuator 22. The auxiliary clamping part 25 is pressed onto the upper connecting arm B201. This precisely matches the vertical layout of the double connecting arms of the frame connection part B2, achieving efficient and precise collaborative positioning and stable clamping.

[0079] In this specific embodiment, side support mechanisms 26 are also provided on opposite sides of the shock absorber connection part B1 of the front fork bracket B to ensure that the shock absorber connection part B1 of the front fork bracket B maintains absolute positional stability during the opening and assembly process, and to prevent lateral displacement due to unilateral force.

[0080] Taking a multi-station rotary table layout as an example, the assembly process of the entire equipment is as follows:

[0081] Phase 1: Preparation

[0082] (1) Pre-placed nut G: The operator or the automatic feeding system pre-places a nut G in the upper inner hole of the nut positioning sleeve of each assembly unit;

[0083] Phase Two: Material Loading, Positioning, Clamping, and Pre-Connection

[0084] (2) Shock absorber A loading and positioning: The operator or automatic loading device places the shock absorber A horizontally on the positioning seat 11 of the shock absorber positioning clamping module 1, with the mounting part A1 of the shock absorber A facing forward (i.e., the direction of the front fork bracket B); the lower part of the shock absorber A falls into the contour positioning groove 111 to achieve initial positioning. Subsequently, the corner cylinder 12 of the pressing mechanism is activated, driving the first pressure plate 13 to rotate to directly above the shock absorber A and press down, and firmly presses it onto the positioning seat 11 through the first pressure block 14.

[0085] (3) Loading and positioning of fork bracket B: Place fork bracket B in the preset position of fork bracket positioning and clamping module 2, and the equipment performs the following actions in sequence:

[0086] Main body support and clamping: The first power drive member 23 of the lower support assembly of the main body clamping part drives the support head 231 to rise and support the main body of the fork bracket B. Then, the second power drive member 24 of the upper clamping assembly drives the second pressure plate 241 to press down and clamp the main body onto the support head 231 through the second pressure block 242.

[0087] Precise positioning of the vehicle body connection part B2: The linear driver 22 of the positioning part (like a cylinder) drives the upper and lower positioning pins 21 to extend synchronously and precisely insert into the corresponding connection holes B21 of the upper and lower connecting arms of the vehicle body connection part B2.

[0088] Auxiliary clamping and lateral support: The clamping driver of the auxiliary clamping part 25 is activated, driving the pressure head to press down and lock the upper connecting arm; then, the two side drivers of the side support mechanism 26 are activated simultaneously to clamp the shock absorber connecting part B1 from both sides;

[0089] (4) Pre-threading bolt C and loosening: After the front fork bracket B is positioned and clamped, the operator or automatic device inserts bolt C from top to bottom into the holes of the two tightening walls B12 of the front fork bracket B. The lower end of bolt C is screwed into the nut G pre-placed in the lower nut positioning sleeve for several turns to achieve a loosening state.

[0090] Phase 3: Transfer to assembly station

[0091] (5) Rotating the turntable to the tightening station: The turntable rotates to rotate the assembly unit that has completed the above stages to the tightening station;

[0092] Fourth stage: Spreading, inserting, and final tightening

[0093] (6) Insertion and opening of the spreading actuator: The spreading module 3 is activated, driving the spreading actuator to be horizontally inserted into the side opening B111, and then the spreading action is performed to temporarily expand the connecting cavity B11;

[0094] (7) Shock absorber A is inserted: While maintaining the open state, the installation part A1 of the shock absorber A is driven to move linearly toward the connecting cavity B11 by the relative drive mechanism 4, so that the installation part A1 is inserted into the connected cavity B11 which has been expanded.

[0095] (8) Reset the actuator: After it is put into place, the actuator is released from the opening and exits the side opening B111;

[0096] (9) Final tightening: Next, the tightening gun drive mechanism 50 first drives the tightening gun 51 to move in the horizontal plane (through the X-axis and Y-axis modules). Using visual sensors, laser rangefinders or force sensors, the sleeve 510 at the front end of the tightening gun 51 is precisely aligned with the head of the bolt C in the horizontal direction. After the precise alignment is completed, the tightening gun drive mechanism 50 drives the tightening gun 51 to move downward along the Z-axis, so that the sleeve 510 descends vertically and smoothly and is completely fitted into the head of the bolt C. After the sleeve 510 is fully engaged with the head of the bolt C, the tightening gun 51 starts and executes the preset servo tightening program to finally tighten the bolt C to the specified torque.

[0097] (10) Tighten gun 51 to reset;

[0098] Phase 5: Material Preparation

[0099] (11) Turntable rotates to unloading station: The assembly that has been fully assembled rotates with the turntable to the unloading station;

[0100] (12) Release the workpiece and unload: All clamps on the fork bracket B and shock absorber A are released, and the operator or robot takes away the finished product, and one work cycle ends.

Claims

1. A horizontal assembly device for a shock absorber front fork bracket, characterized in that, include: The shock absorber positioning and clamping module is used to position and fix the shock absorber, and to set the mounting part of the shock absorber in a horizontal direction. The fork bracket positioning and clamping module is arranged opposite to the shock absorber positioning and clamping module. It is used to position and fix the fork bracket, and to keep the shock absorber connecting part on the fork bracket with its two tightening walls arranged in the vertical direction, and to make the opening direction of the connecting cavity with the side opening opposite to the mounting part. The expansion module includes an expansion actuator that can be inserted into a side opening, the expansion actuator being driven after insertion to temporarily enlarge the side opening and the connecting cavity; The relative drive mechanism is used to drive at least one of the shock absorber positioning clamping module and the fork bracket positioning clamping module to move, so that when the side opening is opened, the mounting part can enter the connecting cavity. The tightening module is used to tighten the bolts that pass through the two tightening walls of the fork bracket. The tightening module includes: A multi-directionally movable tightening gun drive mechanism and a tightening gun mounted thereon; the tightening gun drive mechanism can drive the tightening gun to move linearly in at least the up-down, front-back, and left-right directions to accurately align the bolt position and perform the tightening operation. A nut positioning element is provided at the tightening wall located below, for providing positioning support for the tightening wall located below during assembly, and for positioning and constraining the nut that mates with the bolt during tightening; the nut positioning element is provided with a channel for the shank of the bolt to pass through. The shock absorber positioning and clamping module, the fork bracket positioning and clamping module, the spreading module, and the nut positioning component are integrated on a bearing platform and form an assembly unit. The supporting platform is a rotatable turntable, and multiple sets of assembly units are provided on the supporting platform, which are arranged circumferentially along the turntable.

2. The horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The nut positioning component is a nut positioning sleeve, which has a stepped inner hole, including an upper inner hole and a lower inner hole that are coaxial. The upper inner hole is used to accommodate and position the nut, and the diameter of the lower inner hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the nut, forming a channel through which the shank of the bolt passes.

3. The horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The tightening gun is mounted on the equipment frame via the tightening gun drive mechanism to form a tightening station. The turntable is rotatably mounted on the equipment frame. When an assembly unit rotates to the tightening station with the turntable, the tightening gun drive mechanism drives the tightening gun to move, aligning it vertically with the nut positioning component at the current station and performing a tightening operation on the bolt.

4. The horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The aforementioned spreading actuator includes a first spreading insertion part that can move up and down. After being inserted into the side opening, the first spreading insertion part is driven to move upward and push against the tightening wall located above, causing the tightening wall located above to displace upward, thereby expanding the side opening.

5. The horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket as described in claim 4, characterized in that... The spreading actuator further includes a second spreading insertion part; the second spreading insertion part and the first spreading insertion part can be inserted into the side opening together; when the first spreading insertion part is driven to move upward, the second spreading insertion part remains fixed to constrain the tightening wall located below, so that the two tightening walls produce relative displacement.

6. The horizontal assembly equipment for a shock absorber front fork bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that... The fork bracket positioning and clamping module includes: The positioning part is used to accurately position the vehicle body connection part of the front fork bracket; The main clamping part is used to support and clamp the main body of the fork bracket. An auxiliary clamping part is provided corresponding to the positioning part and is used to clamp the vehicle body connecting part after positioning; The positioning part includes a retractable positioning pin and a linear actuator for driving the positioning pin to extend and retract; the positioning pin can extend to insert into the connecting hole of the vehicle body connection part to achieve precise positioning, and can retract to release the front fork bracket after the overall assembly is completed.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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