Modularized composite tool for anodizing process
By designing modular composite tooling, the problem of poor compatibility of anodizing tooling with sheet metal parts of different shapes and sizes was solved, achieving stable clamping, uniform film layer and efficient production, and reducing production costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HARBIN
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing anodizing fixtures have poor adaptability to sheet metal parts of different shapes and special sizes. The clamping process is prone to damaging the surface of the parts. The operation is complicated and lacks versatility, which affects the anodizing effect and production efficiency.
Modular composite tooling is adopted, including a main frame and various types of modular fixtures, such as through-shaft spring fixtures, box fixtures and vertical spring fixtures. By combining them, the stability and uniformity of clamping can be improved to adapt to sheet metal parts with different structures and sizes.
It improves the adaptability and ease of operation of tooling, reduces damage to the surface of parts, increases film coverage and production efficiency, and reduces production costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN121874879A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to, but is not limited to, the field of surface treatment technology, and particularly to a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes. Background Technology
[0002] In the anodizing process, the structure of the tooling has a crucial impact on the anodizing effect. In recent years, similar anodizing tooling technologies have continued to develop, but many problems still exist.
[0003] From the perspective of tooling construction, existing tooling structures are simple and rigid. For example, some traditional anodizing tooling consists of a single metal frame with fixed clamps on it. While this rigid structure provides a certain degree of stability, it lacks flexibility and is difficult to adapt to sheet metal parts of different shapes or sizes. In addition, existing tooling has poor versatility; different types of sheet metal parts require different tooling, increasing production costs and the difficulty of equipment maintenance.
[0004] Regarding the relationship between the various components of the tooling, the existing tooling fixtures have a large contact area with the workpiece, which can easily cause significant damage to the surface of the part during clamping and affect the coverage of the anodized film, thus impacting product quality. Moreover, since the position and angle of the fixtures are mostly fixed, they cannot be adapted to different types of parts.
[0005] In terms of the process, existing tooling requires frequent adjustments to the position and angle of the parts during anodizing to ensure that the current is applied evenly to the part surface. This not only increases the complexity of the operation and prolongs the processing time, but also easily leads to damage to the parts during the adjustment process.
[0006] In summary, existing anode chemical equipment has problems in terms of structure, component relationships, and process, which makes it unable to meet diverse production needs in practical applications and urgently needs improvement. Summary of the Invention
[0007] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. This invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes and its usage method to solve the problems of poor adaptability of existing anodizing tooling to sheet metal parts of different shapes and special sizes, easy damage to the surface of parts during clamping, complex operation, and poor versatility, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of anodizing treatment and reducing production costs.
[0008] The technical solution of the present invention: The present invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes, comprising: a main frame 01, and various forms of modular fixtures; the modular fixtures include at least through-shaft spring fixtures and box-type fixtures; The main frame 01 is the core load-bearing structure of the entire tooling, providing the installation foundation for other components; it is made of high-strength aluminum alloy or titanium alloy and can withstand various external forces during the use of the tooling. The main frame 01 includes a hook and a main rod 101, which are integrally formed. The hook is used to hang the modular composite tooling and the workpiece clamped thereon on the crane copper bar and also serves as a conductive hook. The main rod is provided with at least one set of through-shaft spring clamps, or at least one set of box clamps, or a combination of through-shaft spring clamps and box clamps. The through-shaft spring clamp is fixedly installed on the main rod body through a through slot. The hollow cross bar 102 of each set of through-shaft spring clamps is nested and fixed in a through slot of the main rod body. Multiple elongated holes are spaced apart on the hollow cross bar 102. A set of through-shaft spring clamp assembly 103 is nested through each elongated hole so that the workpiece can be clamped by the through-shaft cross spring 103-02 in each set of through-shaft spring clamp assembly 103. Each set of box-type fixtures is fixedly mounted on the main rod body via its carrier box 201. In each set of box-type fixtures, multiple sets of shaft-type clamping assemblies are arranged parallel to each other through the carrier box 201. The workpiece is clamped by the adjacent clamping clamps 204 sleeved on the shaft body in each set of shaft-type clamping assemblies.
[0009] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, the main rod body is provided with multiple through slots at intervals according to the size of the workpiece to be clamped and the batch production quantity, for assembling a set of through-shaft spring clamps through each through slot; each set of through-shaft spring clamps includes: a hollow crossbar 102, a through-shaft spring clamp assembly 103, a coarse bolt 104, and a coarse-hole nut 105; Wherein, after the hollow crossbar 102 passes through the through groove of the main rod body, the hollow crossbar 102 is screwed to the main rod body with a coarse bolt 104, and is fastened with a coarse-hole nut 105; the length of the hollow crossbar 102 is determined based on the width of the tank of the anodizing production line; The through-shaft spring clip assembly 103, which is nested in the elongated holes at intervals in the hollow crossbar 102, includes: a shaft 103-01, a through-shaft cross spring 103-02, a washer 103-03, and a knob 103-04; the shaft 103-01 passes through one of the elongated holes in the hollow crossbar 102 and can move within the elongated hole to adjust the spacing between adjacent through-shaft spring clip assemblies 103 based on the product size; The shaft 103-01 is fitted with gaskets 103-03 located on both sides of the hollow crossbar 102. Two through-shaft transverse springs 103-02 are respectively fitted onto the shaft 103-01 from both ends and located on both sides of the hollow crossbar 102. The two ends of the shaft 103-01 are tightened with knobs 103-04, which press the through-shaft transverse springs 103-02.
[0010] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, the carrier box 201 in the box fixture is fixed to the main rod body by welding, and each set of shaft clamping components in the box fixture includes: a long fixed shaft 202, a handle nut 203, and a clamping hoop 204. The end of the long fixed shaft 202 is provided with a screw handle. Multiple clamping hoops 204 are nested on the shaft body that passes through the bearing box 201 and is located inside the bearing box 201. The end that extends out of the bearing box 201 has an external thread and is threadedly connected to the handle nut 03 to fix the long fixed shaft 202 and the bearing box 201. The workpiece is clamped by the adjacent clamping hoops 204 nested on the long fixed shaft 202.
[0011] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, Each of the carrier boxes 201 has a long support plate 201-03 and two short support plates 201-04 welded together at the bottom to support the relatively thin carrier box 201. The short side walls on both sides of the carrier box 201 are provided with multiple small round holes to facilitate the rapid flow of the tank liquid. The long side walls on both sides are provided with two symmetrical long holes for the long fixed shaft 02 to pass through the two symmetrically arranged long holes, so that the long fixed shaft 202 can move laterally along the direction of the long hole. Thus, by controlling the distance between the two long fixed shafts 202, the clamping of plate parts of different sizes can be achieved. The lower edge of the elongated hole on the carrier box 201 is set with a wavy groove to prevent the long fixed shaft 02 from moving laterally, which facilitates the clamping of plate-shaped parts.
[0012] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, The long fixed shaft 202 includes: a long shaft 202-01 with a stepped shaft diameter and an end handle 202-02 welded to one end of the long shaft 202-01; The long shaft 202-01 includes: a main shaft with the smallest shaft diameter, a middle short shaft, and a handle shaft with the largest shaft diameter; wherein, the main shaft is used to pass through the elongated holes on both sides of the bearing box 201 and to connect multiple clamping hoops 204 in series, and the end of the main shaft has external threads for screwing with the handle nut 203; one end of the middle short shaft is welded to the main shaft, and its diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the clamping hoops 204 and smaller than the diameter of the elongated holes on the side walls of the bearing box 201; the other end of the middle short shaft is welded to the handle shaft.
[0013] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, each set of shaft clamping assemblies further includes: hexagonal nut 202-03; The middle section of the long shaft 202-01 has external threads. A hexagonal nut 202-03 is screwed onto the middle section of the short shaft and then screwed onto the side wall of the bearing box 201 for fixation.
[0014] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, each set of shaft clamping assemblies further includes: a gasket 205; A gasket 205 is provided between a clamping hoop 204, which is fitted on the long fixed shaft 202 and is closest to the handle nut 203, and the long side wall of the carrier box 201.
[0015] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, the modular fixture further includes: a vertical spring clamp; The vertical spring clamp is located at the lower part of the main rod and is used to clamp large sheet metal parts.
[0016] Optionally, in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process described above, the vertical spring clamp includes: a vertical spring 106, a stop block 107, a fine bolt 108, a fine-hole nut 109, and a fixing pin 110. The vertical spring 106 and the stop block 107 are sequentially inserted from the bottom of the main rod and located at the lower part of the main rod. The stop block 107 and the main rod are locked and fixed by a fine bolt 108 and a fine-hole nut 109 to prevent the vertical spring 106 from falling off. The fixing pin 110 is inserted into the upper end of the vertical spring 106 and passes through the main rod body to press the vertical spring 106.
[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention: This invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes, comprising a main frame 01 and various types of modular clamps; the modular clamps include through-shaft spring clamps, box clamps, and vertical spring clamps; by setting clamps of different structures on the main frame 01, parts of different structures and sizes can be clamped and anodized. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects: First, improve the adaptability of modular composite tooling. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention allows for the combined use of through-shaft spring clamps, box clamps, and vertical spring clamps. Its modular design with hollow crossbars enables it to adapt to sheet metal parts of different sizes and shapes. Whether for small or large sheet metal parts, it achieves stable clamping and excellent anodizing results. Compared to traditional tooling, it significantly improves adaptability and reduces the need for custom-made tooling due to the unique shape and size of parts.
[0018] Second, improve the film formation effect on the surface of parts. In the modular composite tooling provided by this invention, during the clamping process, the through-shaft transverse spring in the through-shaft spring fixture and the shaft clamping component in the box fixture have a small contact surface with the part, which can produce a small clamping mark, improve the appearance quality and film coverage of the sheet metal parts, and make the parts present a more uniform film effect. In addition, the vertical spring in the vertical spring fixture can be used to clamp large-sized sheet metal parts. Using a set of modular composite tooling can simultaneously realize the anodizing operation of parts with different structural sizes.
[0019] Third, it is easy to operate and has strong versatility. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention is simple to operate; operators only need to select the appropriate modular fixture based on the dimensions of the sheet metal parts for clamping. Furthermore, the rational layout of the horizontal hollow bars maximizes three-dimensional utilization, meaning one set of tooling can clamp more sheet metal parts, resulting in a larger batch throughput, reduced anodizing tank runs, and significantly lower energy consumption. Moreover, the efficient use of space makes it more suitable for anodizing production lines with smaller tanks, greatly reducing construction costs.
[0020] Fourth, by selecting appropriate modular fixtures to clamp parts of different shapes and sizes and then performing anodizing, smaller plate-shaped parts can produce smaller fixture marks, allowing for more coverage of the anodized film on the part surface, which is beneficial to improving the corrosion resistance of the parts; and larger parts can achieve an effective and stable clamping effect. Attached Figure Description
[0021] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this application to explain the technical solutions of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A side view of the modular composite tooling provided in the illustrated embodiment; Figure 1 Figures a and b are side views from different angles; Figure 3 for Figure 1 The embodiment shown provides a structural schematic diagram of the main frame in a modular composite tooling; Figure 3 Figures a, b, and c in the diagram represent views from different angles. Figure 4 for Figure 1 The embodiment shown provides a structural schematic diagram of the hollow crossbar in a modular composite tooling; Figure 5 for Figure 1 The embodiment shown provides a structural schematic diagram of a through-shaft transverse spring in a modular composite tooling; Figure 6 To adopt Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment provides a schematic diagram of a modular composite tooling for clamping parts; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another modular composite tooling for anodizing process provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 Figure a in the diagram is an overall view of the modular composite tooling, and figure b is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the carrier box. Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagrams from different perspectives of the modular composite tooling for anodizing processes provided in the illustrated embodiments; Figure 8 Figures a and b in the figure are overall views of the modular composite tooling from different perspectives, and figure c is a bottom view of the carrier box. Figure 9 for Figure 7 The illustrated embodiment provides a schematic diagram of the structure of the carrier box in the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process; Figure 9 Figures a through d in the diagram are schematic diagrams from different perspectives; Figure 10 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the long fixed shaft in the modular composite tooling for anodizing process provided in the embodiment shown; Figure 11 To adopt Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a modular composite tooling mounting plate-type part for anodizing process provided in the embodiment shown; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the anodizing process in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.
[0024] To address the problems of poor adaptability of existing anodizing fixtures to sheet metal parts of different shapes and special sizes, easy damage to part surfaces during clamping, complex operation, and poor versatility, this invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes. Employing a modular combination approach, it can adapt to the production of various complex and diverse sheet metal parts. Furthermore, the modular composite structure provided by this invention allows for modular assembly, enabling free selection of modules according to on-site usage requirements, making it suitable for various scenarios.
[0025] The present invention provides the following specific embodiments, which can be combined with each other. For the same or similar concepts or processes, they may not be described again in some embodiments.
[0026] This invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes, comprising: a main frame 01, and various types of modular clamps; the modular clamps include at least through-shaft spring clamps and box clamps; and may also include: vertical spring clamps.
[0027] The modular composite tooling provided by this invention is designed to combine various types of fixtures to meet the clamping requirements of parts with different structures and sizes, thereby enabling the anodizing process of multiple types of parts to be performed at once.
[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the main frame 01 is the core load-bearing structure of the entire tooling, providing the installation foundation for other components. It should be made of high-strength aluminum alloy or titanium alloy to withstand various external forces during use. The main frame 01 includes a hook and a main rod 101, both integrally formed. The hook is used to hang the modular composite tooling and its clamped workpiece on the crane's copper rod and also serves as a conductor. Based on the modular fixture design concept, the main rod of this invention is equipped with at least one set of through-shaft spring clamps, or at least one set of box clamps, or a combination of through-shaft spring clamps and box clamps. Furthermore, based on actual usage requirements, vertical spring clamps can also be provided on the main rod. The structural forms of the above-mentioned modular fixtures are described below through several embodiments.
[0029] Modular fixture 1: Through-shaft spring fixture; The through-shaft spring clamp is fixedly installed on the main rod body through a through slot. The hollow crossbar 102 of each set of through-shaft spring clamps is nested and fixed in a through slot of the main rod body. Multiple elongated holes are spaced apart on the hollow crossbar 102. A set of through-shaft spring clamping assemblies 103 is nested through each elongated hole so that the workpiece can be clamped by the through-shaft cross spring 103-02 in each set of through-shaft spring clamping assemblies 103.
[0030] In one possible implementation, such as Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the main body has multiple through slots spaced apart according to the size of the workpiece to be clamped and the batch production quantity, for example, 2-3 through slots, for assembling a set of through-shaft spring clamps through each through slot; each set of through-shaft spring clamps includes: hollow crossbar 102, through-shaft spring clamp assembly 103, coarse bolt 104 and coarse hole nut 105.
[0031] In this implementation, after the hollow crossbar 102 passes through the through groove of the main rod body, the position of the hollow crossbar 102 is adjusted, and then the hollow crossbar 102 is screwed to the main rod body with a coarse bolt 104, and then fastened with a coarse-hole nut 105; the length of the hollow crossbar 102 is determined based on the width of the tank of the anodizing production line.
[0032] It should be noted that the cross-sectional area and shape of the hollow crossbar 102 are similar to the slot shape, allowing it to pass precisely through the main rod body; the main rod body and the hollow crossbar 102 are pre-drilled with the same drill diameter, enabling the coarse bolts 104 to pass through simultaneously. Furthermore, the production line trough is typically a long trough, capable of holding multiple sets of tooling, which determines the loading capacity of the tooling.
[0033] It should also be noted that the length of the through-shaft spring clip assembly 103 is also determined according to the production volume of parts, but it should not be too long, so as to avoid bending and deformation due to bearing too many parts, reducing its service life. At the same time, if the length of the through-shaft spring clip assembly 103 is too long, it will make the hanging process difficult and even increase the probability of parts being bumped and damaged.
[0034] As the assembly basis for other components, the hollow crossbar 102 in this embodiment of the invention also needs to be made of high-strength aluminum alloy or titanium alloy. The through-shaft spring clip assembly 103 nested in the elongated holes at intervals in the hollow crossbar 102 includes: a shaft 103-01, a through-shaft cross spring 103-02, a washer 103-03, and a knob 103-04; the shaft 103-01 passes through one of the elongated holes on the hollow crossbar 102 and can move within the elongated hole to adjust the spacing between adjacent through-shaft spring clip assemblies 103 based on the product size. In addition, the shaft body 103-01 is fitted with gaskets 103-03 located on both sides of the hollow crossbar 102 to disperse the pressure between the through-shaft cross spring 103-02 and the shaft body 103-01, thereby extending the service life of the tooling. The two through-shaft cross springs 103-02 are respectively fitted onto the shaft body 103-01 from both ends and located on both sides of the hollow crossbar 102. The two ends of the shaft body 103-01 are tightened with knobs 103-04 to press the through-shaft cross springs 103-02.
[0035] In practice, the diameter of the shaft 103-01 is slightly smaller than that of the hollow crossbar 102 by 1-2 mm to ensure smooth installation. However, the gap should not be too large, otherwise it will become stuck and may fall off during anodizing due to lack of clamping. Optionally, the inner diameter of the through-shaft spring 103-02 should be 2-5 mm larger than the diameter of the shaft 103-01 to clamp the parts without creating large clamping marks, thereby increasing the coverage area of the anodized film on the parts. It can be used at both ends. Optionally, depending on the tooling used, the connection area between the hollow crossbar 102 and the main rod body can be sealed with a sealant that does not chemically react with the bath solution, or welded, to prevent solution seepage during anodizing.
[0036] Modular fixture 2: Box fixture; like Figures 7 to 12 As shown, the carrier box 201 in the box clamp is fixed to the main rod body by welding. Each set of shaft clamping components in the box clamp includes: a long fixed shaft 202, a handle nut 203, a clamping clamp 204, and a washer 205.
[0037] The end of the long fixed shaft 202 is provided with a screw handle. Multiple clamping hoops 204 are nested on the shaft body that passes through the bearing box 201 and is located inside the bearing box 201. The end that extends out of the bearing box 201 has an external thread and is threadedly connected to the handle nut 03 to fix the long fixed shaft 202 and the bearing box 201. The workpiece is clamped by the adjacent clamping hoops 204 nested on the long fixed shaft 202.
[0038] In one embodiment, the clamping hoops 204 on the long fixed shaft 202 are configured as hollow cylindrical structures. Multiple clamping hoops 204 can be fitted onto the shaft of the long fixed shaft 202 that passes through the bearing box 201 to clamp plate-shaped parts or plate-shaped test pieces through the gaps between the clamping hoops 204.
[0039] In one approach, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the main rod 101 is fixedly connected to three bearing boxes 201, and the connection between the main rod 101 and the bearing boxes 201 is fixedly connected by welding.
[0040] In one embodiment, the bottom of each carrier box 201 is supported by a long support plate 201-03 and two short support plates 201-04 welded together to support the relatively thin carrier box 201. The short side walls on both sides of the carrier box 201 are provided with multiple small round holes to facilitate the rapid outflow of the tank liquid. The long side walls on both sides are provided with two symmetrical long holes for the long fixed shaft 02 to pass through the two symmetrically arranged long holes, so that the long fixed shaft 202 can move laterally along the direction of the long hole. Thus, by controlling the distance between the two long fixed shafts 202, the clamping of plate parts of different sizes can be achieved.
[0041] In specific implementation, the lower edge of the elongated hole on the carrier box 201 is set as a wavy groove to prevent the long fixed shaft 02 from moving laterally, which facilitates the clamping of plate-shaped parts.
[0042] In one embodiment, the long fixed shaft 202 includes: a long shaft 202-01 having a stepped shaft diameter and an end handle 202-02 welded to one end of the long shaft 202-01.
[0043] In this implementation, the long shaft 202-01 can be divided into three sections according to its diameter: the main shaft with the smallest diameter (specifically, a small-diameter cylinder), the middle short shaft, and the handle shaft with the largest diameter. The main shaft is used to pass through the elongated holes on both sides of the bearing box 201 and to connect multiple clamping hoops 204 in series. The end of the main shaft has an external thread that is screwed into the handle nut 203 to control the extension and retraction length of the long fixed shaft 202 and to fix the long fixed shaft 202 onto the bearing box 201. One end of the middle short shaft is welded to the main shaft, and its diameter is slightly larger, specifically larger than the inner diameter of the clamping hoop 204 and smaller than the diameter of the elongated hole on the side wall of the bearing box 201. The other end of the middle short shaft is connected to the handle shaft (specifically, a large-diameter cylinder) with the handle 202-02 welded to it, which serves to tighten and fix it.
[0044] Furthermore, each set of shaft clamping components may also include: a hexagonal nut 202-03; in specific implementations, the middle section of the short shaft of the long shaft 202-01 has external threads. The hexagonal nut 202-03 is screwed onto the middle section of the short shaft, and the hexagonal nut 202-03 is screwed outwards, pressing against the side wall of the carrier box 201 for fixation. The hexagonal nut 202-03 prevents the end of the long fixed shaft 202 from shaking due to air agitation in the bath liquid, thereby avoiding localized ablation caused by friction with the side wall hole of the carrier box 201. The hexagonal nut, fitted onto the middle section of the short shaft and screwed outwards, presses against the carrier box, thus preventing the long fixed shaft 202 from shaking due to its shaft diameter being smaller than the hole.
[0045] In practical applications, the handle nut 203 includes: a sleeve with a through-threaded internal thread, and two short handles symmetrically welded to both sides of the sleeve.
[0046] Furthermore, each shaft-type clamping assembly may also include: a washer 205; a washer 205 is provided between a clamping clamp 204, which is fitted on the long fixed shaft 202 closest to the handle nut 203, and the long side wall of the carrier box 201. The diameter of the washer 205 is larger than that of the clamping clamp 204. It should be noted that, since the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process provided in this embodiment of the invention needs to be repeatedly immersed in electrolyte and anodized together with the parts, the threaded parts are all made of titanium alloy to prevent the threads from deforming due to long-term use, which could cause screw obstruction or derailment. Other parts are made of aluminum alloy.
[0047] Modular fixture 3: Vertical spring fixture; Reference Figures 1 to 6In the illustrated embodiment, the main body rod is equipped with three sets of through-shaft spring clamps, and also with a vertical spring clamp. The main body half is fitted with the vertical spring clamp, which can clamp larger sheet metal parts. The vertical spring clamp includes: a vertical spring 106, a stop block 107, a fine bolt 108, a fine-hole nut 109, and a fixing pin 110.
[0048] The vertical spring 106 and the stop block 107 are sequentially inserted from the bottom of the main rod and located at the lower part of the main rod. The stop block 107 and the main rod are locked and fixed by the thin bolt 108 and the thin-hole nut 109 to prevent the vertical spring 106 from falling off. The fixing pin 110 is inserted into the upper end of the vertical spring 106 and passes through the main rod body to press the vertical spring 106.
[0049] It should be noted that the vertical spring 106 should have a large elastic deformation capacity, capable of adaptively adjusting to the shape and size of large sheet metal parts. When a large sheet metal part is placed on the vertical spring 106, the diameter of the aluminum wire used in the vertical spring 106 should be 3-5mm. This ensures a long service life and prevents operators from experiencing difficulty in stretching the spring. The spring will tightly wrap around the sheet metal part through its own elastic deformation, creating a stable clamping effect.
[0050] In practice, holes need to be drilled at the corresponding positions on the main rod to ensure that the fixing pin 110 can pass through smoothly. The number and spacing of the holes can be determined according to the on-site usage.
[0051] This invention provides a modular composite tooling for anodizing processes. Its structure includes a main frame 01 and various types of modular clamps. The modular clamps include through-shaft spring clamps, box clamps, and vertical spring clamps. By setting clamps of different structures on the main frame 01, parts of different structures and sizes can be clamped and anodized. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects: First, improve the adaptability of modular composite tooling. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention allows for the combined use of through-shaft spring clamps, box clamps, and vertical spring clamps. Its modular design with hollow crossbars enables it to adapt to sheet metal parts of different sizes and shapes. Whether for small or large sheet metal parts, it achieves stable clamping and excellent anodizing results. Compared to traditional tooling, it significantly improves adaptability and reduces the need for custom-made tooling due to the unique shape and size of parts.
[0052] Second, improve the film formation effect on the surface of parts. In the modular composite tooling provided by this invention, during the clamping process, the through-shaft transverse spring in the through-shaft spring fixture and the shaft clamping component in the box fixture have a small contact surface with the part, which can produce a small clamping mark, improve the appearance quality and film coverage of the sheet metal parts, and make the parts present a more uniform film effect. In addition, the vertical spring in the vertical spring fixture can be used to clamp large-sized sheet metal parts. Using a set of modular composite tooling can simultaneously realize the anodizing operation of parts with different structural sizes.
[0053] Third, it is easy to operate and has strong versatility. The modular composite tooling provided by this invention is simple to operate; operators only need to select the appropriate modular fixture based on the dimensions of the sheet metal parts for clamping. Furthermore, the rational layout of the horizontal hollow bars maximizes three-dimensional utilization, meaning one set of tooling can clamp more sheet metal parts, resulting in a larger batch throughput, reduced anodizing tank runs, and significantly lower energy consumption. Moreover, the efficient use of space makes it more suitable for anodizing production lines with smaller tanks, greatly reducing construction costs.
[0054] Fourth, by selecting appropriate modular fixtures to clamp parts of different shapes and sizes and then performing anodizing, smaller plate-shaped parts can produce smaller fixture marks, allowing for more coverage of the anodized film on the part surface, which is beneficial to improving the corrosion resistance of the parts; and larger parts can achieve an effective and stable clamping effect.
[0055] The following is Figures 1 to 6 The modular combination shown illustrates the method of using the modular composite tooling for the anodizing process provided in the embodiments of the invention.
[0056] like Figure 6 As shown, first, after the hollow crossbar 102 passes through the main rod body, it is fixed by screwing in with a coarse bolt 104 and a coarse-hole nut 105. Then, the gap between the main rod body and the hollow crossbar 102 is sealed with a sealant that does not react with the bath liquid. The shaft 103-01 is passed through the hollow part of the hollow crossbar 102, and the washer 103-03 is placed on the shaft 103-01. Then, the through-shaft spring 103-02 is inserted into the shaft 103-01. When clamping sheet metal parts, one operator supports the clamped parts to prevent them from falling off during clamping, while another operator completes the clamping of all parts. After clamping all parts in the through-shaft spring clamp assembly 103, the knob 103-04 is inserted into the shaft 103-01 and tightened to ensure that the clamped parts are fixed and do not loosen. Repeat the same operation until all parts in the through-shaft spring clip assembly 103 are clamped. The number of through-shaft spring clip assemblies 103 can be increased or decreased depending on the number and size of the parts, which reflects the flexibility of modularity.
[0057] For larger sheet metal parts, they are clamped onto the vertical spring 106 in the lower half of the main rod. First, the vertical spring 106 is inserted into the lower half of the main rod from bottom to top. Then, the stop block 107 is placed on the surface of the drilled hole in the main rod, and it is locked in place using a fine bolt 108 and a fine-hole nut 109. The diameter of the fine bolt 108 and the fine-hole nut 109 is 2-3mm smaller than that of the coarse bolt 104 and the coarse-hole nut 105. Since most of the load of the tooling is on the through-shaft transverse spring 103, the hollow transverse bar 102 connected and fixed to it bears a large weight. The weight that the fine bolt 108 and the fine-hole nut 109 need to bear comes from the vertical spring and the mounted sheet metal parts, and the load is relatively small, so the diameter does not need to be too large. If standardization is considered, the length of the fine bolt 108 and the coarse bolt 104 are different due to the different connecting parts, so standardization is not possible. The large sheet metal part is embedded into the vertical spring 106 from bottom to top, and finally the fixing pin 110 is inserted into the vertical spring 106 and passed through the main rod body for fixation. Before clamping the parts, the modular composite anodizing equipment is mounted on the flyback. After the sheet metal parts are clamped, a crane is used to transport them to the anodizing production line, according to... Figure 12 The anodizing process shown is performed sequentially.
[0058] It is worth noting that since modular composite anodizing equipment is mostly connected by screws, each cleaning step in the anodizing process must be fully soaked or sprayed to ensure that no small amount of bath liquid is stored at the screw connection points, which could contaminate the subsequent bath liquid or corrode the tooling and shorten its lifespan.
[0059] It should be noted that the through-shaft transverse spring 103 is the component that directly contacts the part and is a core element determining the processing quality. The selection of materials, structural dimensions, and surface condition of this component directly affect the quality of the anodized sheet metal parts, including the appearance, thickness, and integrity of the film layer. Therefore, a systematic design is required from the following dimensions: I. The Importance of Material Selection 1. Conductivity: Highly conductive materials (such as titanium alloy TA2) must be selected to ensure that the impedance is less than 0.03Ω / cm when current flows through. 2 This is to avoid localized overheating caused by contact resistance.
[0060] 2. Corrosion resistance: It needs to withstand acidic electrolytic solution environment with pH value of 1-3. Titanium alloy is preferred. The annual corrosion rate should be controlled within 0.01mm.
[0061] 3. Structural strength: When subjected to clamping pressure of 0.5-1.2MPa, the yield strength must be ≥450MPa, while maintaining a surface hardness of HV300 or higher.
[0062] II. Precision of Dimensional Control 1. Contact area: The size of the clamping spring should minimize the contact area with the sheet metal part to ensure a high coverage of the anodized film. At the same time, excessively thin springs should not be used to avoid spike discharge or deformation, which could damage the surface of the part.
[0063] 2. Gap control: The spring spacing is kept at a safe distance of 0.8-1.2mm to prevent secondary corrosion caused by electrolyte residue.
[0064] 3. The dimensions of the shaft 103-01 of the through-shaft transverse spring 103 should be at least 20cm smaller than the width of the tank to ensure that the sheet metal parts do not collide with the tank when they are placed in the tank, and to avoid collisions with some of the heating equipment in the tank liquid, which could damage the parts.
[0065] While the embodiments disclosed in this invention are as described above, the content is merely for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make any modifications and changes to the form and details of the implementation without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein; however, the scope of patent protection of this invention shall still be determined by the scope defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A modular composite tooling for anodizing processes, characterized in that, include: The main frame (01) and various types of modular clamps; the modular clamps include at least through-shaft spring clamps and box clamps; The main frame (01) includes a hook and a main rod (101) that are integrally formed. The hook is used to hang the modular composite tooling and the workpiece it clamps on the crane copper bar and to conduct electricity. The main rod is provided with at least one set of through-shaft spring clamps, or at least one set of box clamps, or through-shaft spring clamps and box clamps. The through-shaft spring clamp is fixedly installed on the main rod body through a through slot. The hollow cross bar (102) of each set of through-shaft spring clamps is nested and fixed in a through slot of the main rod body. Multiple elongated holes are spaced apart on the hollow cross bar (102). A set of through-shaft spring clamp assembly (103) is nested through each elongated hole to clamp the workpiece through the through-shaft cross spring (103-02) in each set of through-shaft spring clamp assembly (103). Each set of box-type fixtures is fixedly mounted on the main rod body through its carrier box (201). In each set of box-type fixtures, multiple sets of shaft-type clamping assemblies are arranged parallel to each other through the carrier box (201). The workpiece is clamped by the adjacent clamping hoops (204) sleeved on the shaft body in each set of shaft-type clamping assemblies.
2. The modular composite tooling for anodizing process according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main rod body is provided with multiple through slots at intervals according to the size of the workpiece to be clamped and the batch production quantity, for assembling a set of through-shaft spring clamps through each through slot; each set of through-shaft spring clamps includes: a hollow crossbar (102), a through-shaft spring clamp assembly (103), a coarse bolt (104), and a coarse hole nut (105). Wherein, after the hollow crossbar (102) passes through the through groove of the main rod body, the hollow crossbar (102) is screwed to the main rod body with a coarse bolt (104) and fastened with a coarse hole nut (105); the length of the hollow crossbar (102) is determined based on the width of the tank of the anodizing production line; The through-shaft spring clip assembly (103) nested in the elongated holes at intervals in the hollow crossbar (102) includes: a shaft (103-01), a through-shaft spring (103-02), a washer (103-03), and a knob (103-04); the shaft (103-01) passes through an elongated hole on the hollow crossbar (102) and can move within the elongated hole to adjust the spacing between adjacent through-shaft spring clip assemblies (103) based on the product size; The shaft (103-01) is fitted with gaskets (103-03) on both sides of the hollow crossbar (102). Two through-shaft transverse springs (103-02) are respectively fitted on the shaft (103-01) from both ends and located on both sides of the hollow crossbar (102). The two ends of the shaft (103-01) are tightened with knobs (103-04) to press the through-shaft transverse springs (103-02).
3. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The carrier box (201) in the box-type clamp is fixed to the main rod body by welding. Each set of shaft clamping components in the box-type clamp includes: a long fixed shaft (202), a handle nut (203), and a clamping hoop (204). The end of the long fixed shaft (202) is provided with a screw handle. The shaft passes through the bearing box (201) and multiple clamping hoops (204) are nested on the shaft inside the bearing box (201). The end extending out of the bearing box (201) has an external thread and is threadedly connected to the handle nut (03) to fix the long fixed shaft (202) and the bearing box (201). The workpiece is clamped by the adjacent clamping hoops (204) nested on the long fixed shaft (202).
4. The modular composite tooling for anodizing process according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the carrier boxes (201) is supported at the bottom by a long support plate (201-03) and two short support plates (201-04) that are cross-welded together. The carrier box (201) is relatively thin. Multiple small round holes are provided on the short side walls of the two sides of the carrier box (201) to facilitate the rapid flow of the tank liquid. Two symmetrical long holes are provided on the long side walls of the two sides. After the long fixed shaft (02) passes through the two symmetrically arranged long holes, the long fixed shaft (202) moves laterally along the direction of the long hole. Thus, by controlling the distance between the two long fixed shafts (202), the clamping of plate parts of different sizes can be achieved. The lower edge of the long hole on the carrier box (201) is set with a wavy groove to prevent the long fixed shaft (02) from moving laterally, so as to facilitate the clamping of plate-shaped parts.
5. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to claim 3, characterized in that, The long fixed shaft (202) includes: a long shaft (202-01) with a stepped shaft diameter and an end handle (202-02) welded to one end of the long shaft (202-01). The long shaft (202-01) includes: a main shaft with the smallest shaft diameter, a middle short shaft, and a handle shaft with the largest shaft diameter; wherein, the main shaft is used to pass through the elongated holes on both sides of the bearing box (201) and to connect multiple clamping hoops (204) in series, and the end of the main shaft has an external thread for screwing with the handle nut (203); one end of the middle short shaft is welded to the main shaft, and its diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the clamping hoop (204) and smaller than the diameter of the elongated hole on the side wall of the bearing box (201); the other end of the middle short shaft is welded to the handle shaft.
6. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each set of shaft clamping components also includes: a hexagonal nut (202-03); The middle section of the long shaft (202-01) has external threads. A hexagonal nut (202-03) is screwed onto the middle section of the short shaft and then screwed onto the side wall of the bearing box (201) for fixation.
7. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each set of shaft-type clamping components also includes: a shim (205); A gasket (205) is provided between a clamping clamp (204) fitted on the long fixed shaft (202) closest to the handle nut (203) and the long side wall of the carrier box (201).
8. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The modular clamp also includes: a vertical spring clamp; The vertical spring clamp is located at the lower part of the main rod and is used to clamp large sheet metal parts.
9. The modular composite tooling for anodizing processes according to claim 8, characterized in that, The vertical spring clamp includes: a vertical spring (106), a stop block (107), a thin bolt (108), a thin-hole nut (109), and a fixing pin (110). The vertical spring (106) and the stop block (107) are sequentially inserted from the bottom of the main rod body and located at the lower part of the main rod body. The stop block (107) and the main rod body are locked and fixed by a thin bolt (108) and a thin-hole nut (109) to prevent the vertical spring (106) from falling off. The fixing pin (110) is inserted into the upper end of the vertical spring (106) and passes through the main rod body to press the vertical spring (106).