Automatic notching press for bearing retainer

Abstract

The invention discloses a bearing retainer automatic notching press which comprises a workbench and a lifting pressing head capable of moving in the Z direction, a feeding mechanism, a retainer notching die and a discharging mechanism are sequentially arranged on the workbench in the X direction, and the retainer notching die faces a retainer indexing mechanism; the retainer notching die comprises a knockout pin seat, a knockout pin and a stamping die seat connected with the lifting pressure head, a stamping groove is formed in one end of the knockout pin, and a stamping knife matched with the stamping groove is fixed on the stamping die seat; the retainer indexing mechanism comprises a Y-direction sliding seat, an indexing shaft rotationally connected to the Y-direction sliding seat, a rotating disc fixed to one end of the indexing shaft and a servo motor driving the indexing shaft to rotate, and the Y-direction sliding seat is driven by a first Y-direction telescopic cylinder to move in the Y direction. Through cooperation of the feeding mechanism, the notching die, the discharging mechanism and the indexing mechanism, the whole process of feeding, positioning, notching, indexing and discharging of the retainer is automatically completed, and the automatic notching machine has the advantages of being high in automation degree, accurate in indexing precision and high in production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bearing processing technology, and in particular to an automatic slotting machine for bearing cages. Background Technology

[0002] The bearing cage is an important component of a bearing. Its function is to evenly separate the rolling elements (such as needle rollers and steel balls), prevent them from rubbing against each other and getting stuck, and guide them to move along the correct track. For needle roller bearings, the cage needs to be machined with multiple needle roller grooves evenly distributed along the circumference to accommodate and retain the needle rollers.

[0003] Currently, for punching such evenly distributed circumferential slots, existing technology often employs a method of punching one slot at a time, combined with mechanical indexing. That is, a workpiece with a cage is first installed and positioned, one slot is punched, then the workpiece is rotated by a fixed angle using an indexing mechanism before the next punching, and this cycle is repeated until all slots are processed. However, this type of traditional grooving equipment generally suffers from the following drawbacks: First, the level of automation is low, resulting in low production efficiency: the loading and unloading of workpieces is often the bottleneck restricting production efficiency. Many machines still rely on manual loading and unloading of workpieces, requiring operators to frequently load workpieces into molds and remove finished workpieces. This manual operation method is not only labor-intensive but also extremely inefficient, making it difficult to meet the needs of large-scale mass production. Although some machines have attempted to use robotic arms for loading and unloading, robotic arms are usually complex in structure, expensive, and difficult to coordinate with the main equipment. Their operating cycle time is sometimes difficult to match with high-speed stamping, resulting in limited improvement in the overall level of automation.

[0004] Secondly, insufficient indexing accuracy affects product quality: Traditional indexing mechanisms mostly use mechanical indexing methods, such as ratchet mechanisms, Geneva wheel mechanisms, or simple locating pin indexing plates. After long-term use, these mechanisms experience mechanical wear, leading to a decrease in indexing accuracy and cumulative errors. For cages, the angular consistency between the various needle roller grooves is a crucial quality indicator. Excessive indexing error results in uneven distribution of the needle roller grooves, which in turn affects the smoothness of needle roller operation, bearing load-bearing capacity, and service life; in severe cases, it can even cause the cage to jam or break. Furthermore, some simple indexing methods may cause relative sliding between the workpiece and the locating elements during the stamping process, further exacerbating indexing errors.

[0005] Third, waste disposal is inconvenient: the stamping process generates a large amount of small, flaky metal scrap. If this scrap is not cleaned up in time, it will accumulate around the mold, affecting not only the normal operation of the mold but also potentially posing a safety hazard to operators. Traditional cleaning methods mostly involve manual periodic sweeping, which is inefficient and difficult to clean thoroughly. Scrap flying can also scratch the surface of the workpiece. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an automatic grooving machine for bearing cages, which can automatically complete a series of processes such as cage feeding, positioning, grooving, indexing, discharge, and automatic waste collection. It features high automation, accurate indexing, and high production efficiency.

[0007] The above-mentioned technical objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution: An automatic grooving machine for bearing cages includes a worktable of a stamping machine and a lifting pressure head that can move in the Z direction. A feeding mechanism, a cage grooving die, and a discharging mechanism are arranged sequentially along the X direction on the worktable. The cage grooving die faces the cage indexing mechanism, and the cage indexing mechanism is fixed on the worktable. The cage punching die includes a punching rod seat fixed on the worktable, a punching rod fixedly connected to the punching rod seat, and a punching die seat connected to the lifting pressure head; a punching groove is formed at the end of the punching rod near the cage indexing mechanism; a punch cutter that cooperates with the punching groove is fixed on the punching die seat; The cage indexing mechanism includes a Y-axis sliding seat slidably connected to the worktable, an indexing shaft rotatably connected to the Y-axis sliding seat, a rotary disk fixed to one end of the indexing shaft facing the striking rod, and a servo motor connected to the other end of the indexing shaft to drive its rotation; the servo motor is fixed to the Y-axis sliding seat, the Y-axis sliding seat is fixed to the telescopic rod of the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder, and the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder is fixedly connected to the worktable; the controller controls the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder, the servo motor, the feeding mechanism, the discharging mechanism, and the lifting pressure head.

[0008] The feeding mechanism automatically feeds the cage workpiece requiring punching onto the punching rod. Then, the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder drives the Y-axis sliding seat to move towards the punching rod. The Y-axis sliding seat drives the indexing shaft and the rotary disk to move. The rotary disk presses against the cage workpiece, thereby positioning and securing the cage. Then, the lifting pressure head drives the punching die seat to move down. The punching die seat drives the punch to move down and, through its cooperation with the punching groove, punches a needle roller groove on the cage workpiece. After the needle roller groove is punched, the punch moves up to reset. The servo motor drives the indexing shaft to rotate through a certain angle. The indexing shaft drives the rotary disk to rotate. The rotary disk drives the cage workpiece to rotate through a certain angle. Then, the punch moves down again to punch the second needle roller groove, and so on. After all the needle roller grooves are punched, the Y-axis sliding seat moves in the opposite direction, causing the rotary disk to disengage from the cage workpiece. Then, the unloading mechanism removes the cage workpiece from the punching rod and outputs it. By coordinating the feeding mechanism, cage grooving die, discharge mechanism, and cage indexing mechanism, the feeding, grooving, and discharge of the cage can be completed automatically, which can effectively improve the grooving efficiency of the cage workpiece; at the same time, the indexing by the servo motor can effectively ensure the accuracy of the angle between the needle roller grooves of the cage workpiece.

[0009] The present invention is further configured such that: the feeding mechanism includes an inclined feeding channel, the lower end of the feeding channel is provided with a stop block and a discharge port, the width of the discharge port is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cage workpiece, a pair of symmetrically arranged first clamping blocks are connected below the discharge port, the two first clamping blocks are respectively fixed on the two jaws of the first finger cylinder; the two first clamping blocks form a U-shaped support groove; the first finger cylinder can move along the X, Y and Z directions.

[0010] The first finger cylinder is fixed on the first bracket, the first bracket is fixed on the telescopic rod of the first X-axis telescopic cylinder, the first X-axis telescopic cylinder is fixed on the telescopic rod of the first Z-axis telescopic cylinder, the first Z-axis telescopic cylinder is fixed on the first Y-axis slider, and the first Y-axis slider is slidably connected to the worktable; the first Y-axis slider is fixed to the end of the telescopic rod of the second Y-axis telescopic cylinder, and the second Y-axis telescopic cylinder is fixedly connected to the worktable; the controller controls the first finger cylinder, the first X-axis telescopic cylinder, the first Z-axis telescopic cylinder, and the second Y-axis telescopic cylinder.

[0011] The second Y-axis telescopic cylinder can drive the first Y-axis slider to move in the Y direction. The first Y-axis slider drives the first Z-axis telescopic cylinder to move in the Y direction. The first Z-axis telescopic cylinder can drive the first X-axis telescopic cylinder to move in the Z direction. The first X-axis telescopic cylinder drives the first finger cylinder to move in the X direction through the first bracket, thereby realizing that the first finger cylinder can move in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0012] During feeding, the cage workpiece to be processed enters the feeding channel via a vibratory feeder and automatically slides down along the lower part of the feeding channel. A stop block prevents the lowest cage workpiece from reaching the bottom. The lowest cage workpiece falls through the discharge port into a U-shaped slot formed by two first clamping blocks. After the previous cage workpiece is processed, the first finger cylinder drives the two first clamping blocks to move closer together, clamping the corresponding cage workpiece. Then, the first finger cylinder moves along the X-axis to the front end of the striking rod. Next, the first finger cylinder moves along the Y-axis to allow the cage workpiece to fit onto the striking rod. The first finger cylinder then drives the two first clamping blocks to move away from each other, and the cage workpiece is hooked onto the striking rod. The first finger cylinder moves downwards along the Z-axis to disengage the first clamping blocks from the cage workpiece. Then, the first finger cylinder moves in the reverse X-axis and Y-axis directions to reset, after which the two first clamping blocks return to below the discharge port, thus automatically completing the feeding process.

[0013] The present invention is further configured such that a support baffle is fixed on the first clamping block away from the striking rod, and is flush with its upper end.

[0014] As the first finger cylinder moves X-axis closer to the striking rod, it also moves the support baffle. The support baffle supports the retainer workpiece at the lowest end of the feed channel, preventing it from falling automatically. When feeding is complete, the first finger cylinder drives the two first clamping blocks to reset, and the support baffle has disengaged from the retainer workpiece at the feed port. The retainer workpiece can then automatically fall between the two first clamping blocks, ready for the feeding of the next workpiece.

[0015] The present invention is further configured such that: the discharge mechanism includes an inclined discharge channel and a second finger cylinder that can move along the X, Y and Z directions, and a second clamping block is fixed on each of the two grippers of the second finger cylinder; The high end of the discharge channel has a discharge port formed on the side facing the second clamping block; the discharge port is set facing the push rod, and the push rod is fixed on the Y-axis sliding seat.

[0016] The second finger cylinder is fixed to the second bracket, which in turn is fixed to the telescopic rod of the second X-axis telescopic cylinder. The second X-axis telescopic cylinder is fixed to the telescopic rod of the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder, which is also fixed to the second Y-axis slider, which is slidably connected to the worktable. The second Y-axis slider is fixed to the end of the telescopic rod of the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder, which is fixedly connected to the worktable. The controller controls the second finger cylinder, the second X-axis telescopic cylinder, the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder, and the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder. The third Y-axis telescopic cylinder can drive the second Y-axis slider to move in the Y direction, which in turn drives the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder to move in the Y direction. The second Z-axis telescopic cylinder can drive the second X-axis telescopic cylinder to move in the Z direction. The second X-axis telescopic cylinder, through the second bracket, drives the second finger cylinder to move in the X direction, thus enabling the second finger cylinder to move along the X, Y, and Z directions. The aforementioned telescopic cylinders are servo electric cylinders or cylinders with switch-like functions, facilitating control of the movement range and stopping position of the corresponding components.

[0017] After the retainer workpiece is slotted and the rotary table detaches from the workpiece, the second finger cylinder drives the second clamping block to move along the X-axis. The two second clamping blocks are inserted into the slotted retainer workpiece. Then, the second finger cylinder drives the two second clamping blocks to move closer together to clamp the retainer workpiece. Then, the second finger cylinder moves along the Y-axis to drive the second clamping block, which removes the retainer workpiece from the ejector. Then, the second finger cylinder moves in the opposite direction along the X and Y axes to reset. Then, the second finger cylinder moves upward along the Z-axis to move the workpiece on the second clamping block to the height of the discharge port and drives the second clamping block to release the workpiece. After the feeding mechanism finishes feeding the next retainer workpiece, the Y-axis sliding seat drives the indexing shaft and push rod to move synchronously. The push rod pushes the workpiece between the two second clamping blocks into the discharge port, and then the workpiece automatically slides down the discharge channel to be discharged.

[0018] The present invention is further configured such that: a rotating support sleeve is sleeved on one end of the striking rod facing the rotating disk, a thrust bearing is clamped between the rotating support sleeve and the punch holder, and the thrust bearing is inserted outside the rotating support sleeve.

[0019] During the grooving process, the cage workpiece is held between the rotating support sleeve and the rotating disk. When a needle roller groove is cut and the workpiece needs to be rotated, the resistance to the rotation of the cage workpiece can be reduced by setting the rotating support sleeve and the thrust bearing. This ensures that the angle at which the rotating disk drives the cage workpiece to rotate will not be affected by slippage between the rotating disk and the workpiece, thus ensuring the accuracy of the rotation angle.

[0020] The present invention is further configured such that a ring of evenly distributed conical sharp teeth is formed on the rotating disk.

[0021] After the cage workpiece is fed, when the rotary table needs to clamp the workpiece, the taper of the conical teeth drives the centerline of the cage workpiece to gradually approach the centerline of the rotary table, enabling center positioning of the cage workpiece and thus improving machining accuracy. Simultaneously, the tips of the conical teeth partially embed into the cage workpiece, preventing relative slippage when the rotary table drives the cage workpiece to rotate and index, thereby improving rotational accuracy and further enhancing grooving accuracy. The grooves formed on the cage workpiece by the conical teeth can be removed during subsequent machining stages.

[0022] The present invention is further configured such that the groove is a blind groove; The middle part of the punching rod is formed with a discharge hole that communicates with the punching groove; the end of the discharge hole away from the indexing mechanism of the retainer is connected to a suction tube, and the other end of the suction tube is connected to a vacuum cleaner.

[0023] When the vacuum cleaner is working, it creates a vacuum in the discharge port through the suction tube. The waste material cut off from the workpiece by the punch falls into the discharge port. Under the action of the vacuum cleaner, the waste material is sucked into the suction tube and eventually enters the vacuum cleaner, thus completing the automatic waste collection work without causing problems such as waste accumulation or blockage.

[0024] The present invention is further configured such that: the vacuum cleaner is a pneumatic vacuum cleaner; such as the gas vacuum cleaner described in CN203436279U.

[0025] The air inlet of the vacuum cleaner is connected to a high-pressure air source via an air pipe. An electromagnetic valve is installed on the air pipe and is electrically connected to the controller.

[0026] As the punch cuts through the waste material, the controller opens the solenoid valve, allowing high-pressure gas from the high-pressure air source to enter the vacuum cleaner through the air pipe. The vacuum cleaner creates a vacuum zone through the Venturi effect, resulting in a certain degree of vacuum in the collector. The collector then uses the suction pipe to generate suction force to suck up the waste material. During the punch's upward movement, workpiece rotation, and material feeding / unloading processes, the solenoid valve closes, and the vacuum cleaner stops working. Unlike electrically driven vacuum cleaners, it does not require continuous, long-term operation, thus significantly reducing energy efficiency.

[0027] The present invention is further configured such that the discharge hole is an axial through hole; The discharge hole has a large-diameter hole formed at the end away from the punch groove; the inner diameter of the suction tube is not less than the diameter of the large-diameter hole.

[0028] By setting the axial diameter of the discharge hole, air enters from one end where the flushing groove is located when suctioning waste material, and flows out from the other end where the suction pipe is located after passing through the discharge hole. This ensures a straight flow of gas, thereby ensuring that the waste material can enter the suction pipe smoothly, conveniently, and quickly. At the same time, the diameter of the suction pipe is larger than the diameter of the discharge hole, so that a larger air velocity is generated in the discharge hole when suctioning material, thereby further ensuring the collection of waste material.

[0029] The present invention is further configured such that the striking rod seat and the striking rod are fixedly connected by a collet; The striker base is formed with a clamping hole that matches the outer diameter of the collet, a transverse through-slot that radially penetrates one side of the clamping hole, and a bolt hole that vertically penetrates the transverse through-slot. The collet is inserted into the clamping hole, and the inner diameter of the collet matches the outer diameter of the striking rod; the collet is formed with opposing radial slots and radial blind slots.

[0030] Bolts are fitted into the bolt holes, and tightening the bolts compresses the collet, which in turn compresses the striking rod, thus fixing the striking rod and ensuring the smooth completion of the punching operation. The collet between the striking rod seat and the striking rod facilitates the centering of the striking rod. Furthermore, if different sizes of retainers need to be punched, only the striking rod needs to be replaced, resulting in minimal changes. During clamping, the radial slots and blind slots facilitate the deformation of the collet, thus facilitating the clamping of the striking rod. The slots also increase the friction between the collet and the striking rod, further ensuring the stability of the striking rod's fastening.

[0031] The outstanding effects of this invention are: Compared with existing technologies, by setting up the feeding mechanism, discharging mechanism and cage indexing mechanism to work together, the entire process of automatic feeding, automatic positioning and clamping, automatic grooving and indexing and automatic unloading of cage workpieces is realized, which greatly reduces manual intervention, significantly improves grooving efficiency and meets the needs of automated production lines.

[0032] Precise indexing is achieved by using a servo motor to drive the indexing shaft and rotary table, replacing the traditional mechanical indexing method. This results in high indexing accuracy and no cumulative error, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the angles between the needle roller grooves on the cage, thereby improving the overall quality of the bearing. The tapered tooth design on the rotary table not only automatically centers the workpiece but also prevents slippage during stamping and indexing, further ensuring machining accuracy.

[0033] By incorporating a discharge hole inside the punch rod that communicates with the punch groove and connecting it to a vacuum cleaner, the waste material cut off after each punching operation can be immediately sucked away, achieving automatic waste cleaning and collection. This not only prevents waste accumulation from affecting production but also improves the working environment and eliminates safety hazards. The use of a pneumatic vacuum cleaner in conjunction with a solenoid valve, operating only during the instant of punching, results in significant energy savings.

[0034] The strike bar is fixed to the strike bar seat by a collet. When changing the retainer of different specifications, only the corresponding strike bar needs to be replaced, without the need for extensive disassembly and assembly of the entire mold. The replacement is convenient and quick, the centering is accurate, and the mold change time and cost are reduced. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the worktable, feeding mechanism, cage punching die, discharge mechanism, and cage indexing mechanism of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cage slotting die of the present invention; Figure 5 Book Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the structure; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cage indexing mechanism of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding mechanism of the present invention; Figure 8 , Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the material discharge mechanism of the present invention; Figure 10 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a specific area (A); Figure 11 A schematic diagram of another side of the cage punching die of the present invention.

[0036] Reference numerals: 11. Workbench; 12. Lifting pressure head; 2. Feeding mechanism; 21. Feeding channel; 22. Stop block; 23. First clamping block; 24. First finger cylinder; 25. Support baffle; 26. First bracket; 27. First X-axis telescopic cylinder; 28. First Z-axis telescopic cylinder; 29. ​​First Y-axis slider; 210. Second Y-axis telescopic cylinder; 3. Cage punching die; 31. Stamping rod seat; 311. Clamping hole; 312. Transverse through slot; 313. Bolt hole; 32. Stamping rod; 321. Punch slot; 322. Discharge hole; 323. Large diameter hole; 33. Punch die seat; 34. Punch cutter; 35. Rotating support sleeve; 36. Thrust bearing; 37. Collet; 371. Radial slot; 372. Radial blind slot; 4. Discharge mechanism; 41. Discharge channel; 42. Second finger cylinder; 43. Second clamping block; 44. Discharge port; 45. Push rod; 46. Second bracket; 47. Second X-axis telescopic cylinder; 48. Second Z-axis telescopic cylinder; 49. Second Y-axis slider; 410. Third Y-axis telescopic cylinder; 5. Cage indexing mechanism; 51. Y-axis sliding seat; 52. Indexing shaft; 53. Rotary disk; 531. Conical tooth; 54. Servo motor; 55. First Y-axis telescopic cylinder; 61. Suction tube; 62. Vacuum cleaner; 63. Air pipe; 64. Solenoid valve. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0038] The following is for reference Figures 1 to 11 The present invention will be described as follows: like Figures 1-3 As shown, an automatic bearing cage punching machine includes a punching machine with a worktable 11 and a lifting pressure head 12 movable along the Z-axis (vertical direction). The main improvement of this invention lies in the fact that a feeding mechanism 2, a cage punching die 3, and a discharging mechanism 4 are sequentially arranged along the X-axis (horizontal longitudinal direction) on the worktable 11. The cage punching die 3 faces the cage indexing mechanism 5, which is fixed to the worktable 11. The entire system is uniformly controlled by a controller (not shown in the figure), coordinating the actions of each mechanism.

[0039] like Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the cage punching die 3 includes a striking rod seat 31 fixed on the worktable 11, a striking rod 32 fixedly connected to the striking rod seat 31, and a punching die seat 33 fixedly connected to the lifting pressure head 12. The striking rod 32 is cylindrical with one end overhanging for mounting the cage workpiece to be processed. A punching groove 321 is formed at the end of the striking rod 32 near the cage indexing mechanism 5. A punch 34 is fixed on the punching die seat 33. The punch 34 cooperates with the punching groove 321. When the lifting pressure head 12 moves the punching die seat 33 downward, the punch 34 can accurately cut into the punching groove 321.

[0040] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the cage indexing mechanism 5 includes a Y-axis sliding seat 51 that is slidably connected to the worktable 11 along the Y-axis (horizontal transverse direction). An indexing shaft 52 is rotatably connected to the Y-axis sliding seat 51 via bearings. A rotary disk 53 is fixed to one end of the indexing shaft 52 facing the striking rod 32, and a servo motor 54 is connected to the other end, driving it to rotate precisely. The servo motor 54 is fixed to the Y-axis sliding seat 51 and moves with it. The Y-axis sliding seat 51 is also fixedly connected to the telescopic rod of a first Y-axis telescopic cylinder 55, the cylinder body of which is fixedly connected to the worktable 11. Through the extension and retraction of the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder 55, the Y-axis sliding seat 51, along with its indexing shaft 52 and rotary disk 53, can be driven to move closer to or further away from the striking rod 32 along the Y-axis.

[0041] The core workflow of this invention is as follows: First, the feeding mechanism 2 automatically feeds a cage workpiece to be grooved and places it onto the punching rod 32. Next, the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder 55 extends, driving the Y-axis sliding seat 51 to move towards the punching rod 32, causing the rotating disk 53 to press tightly against the end face of the cage workpiece, thereby positioning and securing the cage workpiece. Then, the lifting pressure head 12 drives the punching die seat 33 downwards, and the punch 34 descends accordingly, cooperating with the punching groove 321 on the punching rod 32 to punch the first needle roller groove on the cage workpiece. After grooving is completed, the lifting pressure head 12 drives the punch 34 upwards to reset. At this time, the servo motor 54 starts according to a preset program, driving the indexing shaft 52 to rotate precisely through an angle, and the rotating disk 53 drives the cage workpiece to rotate synchronously by the same angle. Subsequently, the punch 34 moves downwards again to punch the second needle roller groove. This cycle continues until all needle roller grooves are processed. Finally, the first Y-axis telescopic cylinder 55 retracts, causing the rotating disk 53 to disengage from the cage workpiece, releasing the positioning. The unloading mechanism 4 removes the finished cage workpiece from the striking rod 32 and outputs it. The entire process is automated and highly efficient.

[0042] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the feeding mechanism 2 includes an inclined feeding channel 21, the upper end of which is connected to a vibratory feeder (not shown). The lower end of the feeding channel 21 has a stop block 22 and a discharge port located in front of the stop block 22. The width of the discharge port is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the workpiece in the retainer. A pair of symmetrically arranged first clamping blocks 23 are connected directly below the discharge port. The two first clamping blocks 23 are respectively fixed to the two grippers of the first finger cylinder 24. When they are closed, they form a U-shaped support groove to receive the workpiece falling from the discharge port. To achieve the feeding action, the first finger cylinder 24 is configured to move along the X, Y, and Z directions. Specifically, the first finger cylinder 24 is fixed to the first bracket 26, and the first bracket 26 is fixed to the telescopic rod of the first X-direction telescopic cylinder 27. The first X-direction telescopic cylinder 27 is fixed to the telescopic rod of the first Z-direction telescopic cylinder 28. The first Z-direction telescopic cylinder 28 is fixed to the first Y-direction slider 29. The first Y-axis slider 29 is slidably connected to the worktable 11 and is driven to move along the Y-axis by the second Y-axis telescopic cylinder 210. The controller controls the actions of the first finger cylinder 24, the first X-axis telescopic cylinder 27, the first Z-axis telescopic cylinder 28, and the second Y-axis telescopic cylinder 210. In this way, by combining multiple telescopic cylinders, the first finger cylinder 24 can move flexibly in three-dimensional space.

[0043] To ensure uninterrupted supply of upstream workpieces during feeding, a support baffle 25, flush with the upper end of the first clamping block 23 located away from the striking rod 32, is fixed to it. When the first finger cylinder 24 clamps a workpiece and moves it towards the striking rod 32, the support baffle 25 moves accordingly, positioning itself directly below the discharge port to temporarily block the next workpiece from falling. Once feeding is complete and the first finger cylinder 24 resets, the support baffle 25 moves away, allowing the next workpiece to fall smoothly into the tray, ready for the next feeding cycle. This design ensures continuous feeding and stable cycle time.

[0044] Preferably, such as Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 As shown, the discharge mechanism 4 includes an inclined discharge channel 41 and a second finger cylinder 42 that can also move along the X, Y, and Z directions. A second clamping block 43 is fixed to each of the two grippers of the second finger cylinder 42. A discharge port 44 is opened on the high end of the discharge channel 41 facing the second clamping block 43. A push rod 45 is provided directly opposite the discharge port 44, and this push rod 45 is fixed to the Y-direction sliding seat 51. The second finger cylinder 42 is fixedly mounted on a second bracket 46; the second bracket 46 is fixedly connected to the telescopic rod of the second X-direction telescopic cylinder 47, and is driven by the second X-direction telescopic cylinder 47 to reciprocate along the X direction. The cylinder body of the second X-direction telescopic cylinder 47 is fixedly mounted on the telescopic rod of the second Z-direction telescopic cylinder 48, and is driven by the second Z-direction telescopic cylinder 48 to reciprocate along the Z direction. The cylinder body of the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder 48 is fixedly mounted on the second Y-axis slider 49. The second Y-axis slider 49 is slidably connected to the worktable 11 and fixedly connected to the end of the telescopic rod of the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder 410, which drives it to reciprocate along the Y direction. The cylinder body of the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder 410 is fixedly connected to the worktable 11. Through the three-stage series structure driven sequentially by the second X-axis telescopic cylinder 47, the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder 48, and the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder 410, and the guiding effect of the second Y-axis slider 49, the independent movement and precise positioning of the second finger cylinder 42 in the X, Y, and Z directions are achieved. The second finger cylinder 42, the second X-axis telescopic cylinder 47, the second Z-axis telescopic cylinder 48, and the third Y-axis telescopic cylinder 410 are all uniformly controlled by a controller to ensure precise coordination with processes such as stamping, indexing, and feeding.

[0045] The working process is as follows: After the workpiece is processed and the rotary disk 53 retracts, the second finger cylinder 42 drives the second clamping block 43 to move to the striking rod 32, clamps the workpiece, and pulls it off the striking rod 32. Subsequently, the second finger cylinder 42 moves the workpiece to the height position of the discharge port 44 and releases the workpiece, allowing it to rest temporarily on the two open second clamping blocks 43. After the feeding mechanism 2 completes the feeding of the next workpiece, the Y-axis sliding seat 51 moves forward again for positioning, and the push rod 45 fixed on the Y-axis sliding seat 51 also moves forward, pushing the finished workpiece resting on the second clamping block 43 into the discharge port 44. The workpiece then automatically slides out along the discharge channel 41, completing the discharge.

[0046] To reduce rotational resistance during indexing and improve accuracy, such as Figure 10 As shown, a rotating support sleeve 35 is fitted onto the end of the striking rod 32 facing the rotating disk 53. A thrust bearing 36 is held between the rotating support sleeve 35 and the die holder 33, and the thrust bearing 36 is fitted onto the outside of the rotating support sleeve 35. When the rotating disk 53 presses the workpiece, one end of the workpiece is pressed by the rotating disk 53, while the other end abuts against the end face of the rotating support sleeve 35. When indexing rotation is required, due to the presence of the thrust bearing 36, the workpiece and the rotating support sleeve 35 can rotate easily together, greatly reducing rotational friction and making the drive of the servo motor 54 smoother and the rotation angle more precise.

[0047] Furthermore, the rotary disk 53 is formed with a ring of evenly distributed conical teeth 531. When the rotary disk 53 presses against the workpiece, the conical surfaces of the conical teeth 531 can automatically center the workpiece, ensuring that the centerline of the workpiece coincides with the centerline of the rotary disk 53. At the same time, the tips of the teeth will slightly embed into the end face of the workpiece, forming a reliable frictional connection, thereby effectively preventing slippage and ensuring indexing accuracy when the rotary disk 53 drives the workpiece to rotate. The tooth marks left on the end face of the workpiece can be removed in subsequent turning processes.

[0048] To automatically collect stamping waste, such as Figure 2 , Figure 5As shown, the punch groove 321 on the punching rod 32 is designed as a blind groove. An axial discharge hole 322 communicating with the bottom of the punch groove 321 is provided inside the punching rod 32. The end of the discharge hole 322 away from the indexing mechanism 5 is connected to a vacuum cleaner 62 via a suction pipe 61. Preferably, the vacuum cleaner 62 is a pneumatic vacuum cleaner (e.g., using the Venturi principle), whose air inlet is connected to a high-pressure air source via an air pipe 63, which is equipped with a solenoid valve 64 controlled by a controller. At the moment the punch 34 punches down and returns, the controller opens the solenoid valve 64, allowing high-pressure gas to enter the vacuum cleaner 62 and generate a strong vacuum suction. Through the suction pipe 61 and the discharge hole 322, the waste material falling into the bottom of the punch groove 321 is quickly sucked into the collector of the vacuum cleaner 62. During other non-punching periods, the solenoid valve 64 closes, and the vacuum cleaner 62 stops working. This method significantly reduces energy efficiency compared to traditional continuously operating electric vacuum cleaners. To further optimize the material suction effect, this solution adopts a "fine-to-coarse" structure in the fluid channel design: the discharge hole 322 is a long through hole with a small diameter, while the inner diameter of the suction tube 61 connected to it is much larger than the diameter of the discharge hole 322. This design is based on the principle of fluid mechanics—when the airflow suddenly enters the larger suction tube 61 from the smaller discharge hole 322, the airflow velocity will decrease accordingly due to the sharp increase in cross-sectional area, while a higher flow velocity can be maintained inside the discharge hole 322, ensuring that the waste material can be effectively carried and smoothly discharged by the high-speed airflow within the discharge hole 322. At the same time, to ensure the airtightness and unobstructed flow at the connection, a large-diameter hole 323 can be machined at the end of the discharge hole 322 to facilitate a tight connection with the suction tube 61.

[0049] To facilitate cue changes and precise aiming, such as Figure 11 As shown, the striking rod seat 31 and the striking rod 32 are fixedly connected by a collet 37. The striking rod seat 31 has a clamping hole 311 that matches the outer diameter of the collet 37, and a transverse through groove 312 that radially penetrates one side of the clamping hole 311. Vertical bolt holes 313 are also provided above and below the transverse through groove 312. The collet 37 itself is a tapered elastic sleeve, with its inner diameter precisely matching the outer diameter of the striking rod 32. The collet 37 also has opposing radial slots 371 and radial blind slots 372. During installation, the collet 37 is first placed into the clamping hole 311, then the striking rod 32 is passed through the collet 37 and its position is adjusted. Finally, the bolt in the bolt hole 313 is tightened. The pressure of the bolt causes the clamping hole 311 of the striking rod seat 31 to contract, thereby pressing the collet 37, which then evenly grips the striking rod 32. This structure offers high centering accuracy and strong clamping force. The radial slots 371 and 372 allow the collet to undergo appropriate elastic deformation during clamping, better adapting to and clamping the strike rod while also increasing friction. When changing to strike rods of different diameters, simply replace the corresponding collet; the operation is extremely convenient.

[0050] In summary, through the close cooperation of the above-mentioned mechanisms, the present invention realizes the fully automated production of bearing cage slots, which not only greatly improves production efficiency, but also ensures processing accuracy and product quality, and has good market application prospects.

[0051] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications assumed above should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic grooving machine for bearing cages, comprising a worktable (11) of a stamping machine and a lifting pressure head (12) movable in the Z-direction, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism (2), the cage punching die (3) and the discharge mechanism (4) are arranged sequentially along the X direction on the workbench (11), with the cage punching die (3) facing the cage indexing mechanism (5). The cage punching die (3) includes a punching rod seat (31) fixed on the worktable (11), a punching rod (32) fixedly connected to the punching rod seat (31), and a punching die seat (33) connected to the lifting pressure head (12); the punching rod (32) has a punching groove (321) formed at one end near the cage indexing mechanism (5); a punch (34) that cooperates with the punching groove (321) is fixed on the punching die seat (33). The cage indexing mechanism (5) includes a Y-axis slide seat (51) slidably connected to the worktable (11), an indexing shaft (52) rotatably connected to the Y-axis slide seat (51), a rotary disk (53) fixed to one end of the indexing shaft (52) facing the stick (32), and a servo motor (54) connected to the other end of the indexing shaft (52) to drive it to rotate.

2. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding mechanism (2) includes an inclined feeding channel (21). The lower end of the feeding channel (21) is provided with a stop (22) and a discharge port. A pair of symmetrically arranged first clamping blocks (23) are connected below the discharge port. The two first clamping blocks (23) are respectively fixed on the two grippers of the first finger cylinder (24). The two first clamping blocks (23) form a U-shaped support groove. The first finger cylinder (24) can move along the X, Y and Z directions.

3. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 2, characterized in that: A support baffle (25) is fixed on the first clamp (23) that is far away from the striking bar (32) and is flush with its upper end.

4. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discharge mechanism (4) includes an inclined discharge channel (41) and a second finger cylinder (42) that can move along the X, Y and Z directions. Each of the two grippers of the second finger cylinder (42) has a second gripping block (43) fixed on it. The discharge channel (41) has a discharge port (44) formed on the side facing the second clamping block (43) at its high end; the discharge port (44) is set facing the push rod (45), which is fixed on the Y-axis sliding seat (51).

5. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the striking rod (32) facing the rotating disk (53) is fitted with a rotating support sleeve (35), and a thrust bearing (36) is held between the rotating support sleeve (35) and the punch holder (33), with the thrust bearing (36) inserted outside the rotating support sleeve (35).

6. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rotating disk (53) has a ring of evenly distributed conical teeth (531) on its circumference.

7. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The groove (321) is a blind groove; The middle part of the punching rod (32) is formed with a discharge hole (322) that communicates with the punching groove (321); the end of the discharge hole (322) away from the indexing mechanism (5) is connected to a suction tube (61), and the other end of the suction tube (61) is connected to a vacuum cleaner (62).

8. The automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 7, characterized in that: The vacuum cleaner (62) is a pneumatic vacuum cleaner; The air inlet of the vacuum cleaner (62) is connected to a high-pressure air source through an air pipe (63), and an electromagnetic valve (64) is provided on the air pipe (63).

9. An automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The discharge hole (322) is an axial through hole; The discharge hole (322) has a large-diameter hole (323) formed at the end away from the punch groove (321); the inner diameter of the suction tube (61) is not less than the diameter of the large-diameter hole (323).

10. An automatic grooving machine for bearing cages according to claim 1, characterized in that: The striking rod seat (31) and the striking rod (32) are fixedly connected by a collet (37); The rod holder (31) is formed with a clamping hole (311) that matches the outer diameter of the collet (37), a transverse through groove (312) that radially penetrates one side of the clamping hole (31), and a bolt hole (313) that vertically penetrates the transverse through groove (312). The collet (37) is inserted into the clamping hole (311), and the inner diameter of the collet (37) matches the outer diameter of the striking rod (32); the collet (37) is formed with opposing radial slots (371) and radial blind slots (372).

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