Interference pad apparatus

Abstract

The application discloses an interference pad pressing equipment, which comprises a rack, a linear transmission mechanism, an upper feeding and pressing station arranged along a transmission direction of the rack, a tray assembly, an upper feeding mechanism, a pressing mechanism and a main control system. The tray assembly carries workpieces to flow along the transmission mechanism, and the upper feeding mechanism completes the ordered delivery and sleeving of the gaskets through a vibrating disc and a mechanical arm. The pressing station is provided with a jacking assembly and a positioning mechanism. The jacking assembly makes the workpieces separate from the transmission mechanism, and the positioning mechanism clamps the workpieces to prevent deviation. The pressing mechanism is axially fixed through a locking assembly and a piston rod threaded shaft, and a pressing assembly applies pressure to realize the interference pressing of the gaskets. The main control system coordinates the timing actions of the mechanisms. The application replaces the traditional clamping with thread locking, avoids the piston rod movement, and guarantees the pressing precision. The full-process automation design reduces manual intervention, and improves the production efficiency and the assembly quality consistency of batch products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of assembly equipment technology, and in particular to an interference fit pad device. Background Technology

[0002] In the manufacturing of automotive shock absorbers, the interference fit of the annular gasket at the piston rod end is a crucial process for ensuring the shock absorber's sealing performance and damping stability. The gasket needs to be precisely press-fitted to the piston rod end to achieve reliable fixation while avoiding problems such as sealing failure and abnormal vibration and noise caused by assembly deviations, which directly affect the service life of the shock absorber and the overall vehicle driving safety.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream equipment in the industry for this process mostly adopts a clamping structure to fix the piston rod, and then applies axial pressure through a hydraulic press or a pneumatic-hydraulic booster to complete the liner pressing.

[0004] The core fixing logic of this type of equipment is to apply radial clamping force from the side of the piston rod through the clamping plate to limit its displacement during the pressing process. However, in actual mass production, since the piston rod of the shock absorber is mostly a slender shaft structure and needs to withstand a large axial pressure during pressing, the contact area of ​​the clamping type is limited, and the clamping force is easily unevenly distributed. This causes the piston rod to move up and down relative to the piston cylinder at the moment of pressing. This movement will cause inconsistent pressing depth of the gasket and excessive coaxiality, which will greatly reduce the interference fit between the gasket and the piston rod. In subsequent use, the gasket is prone to loosening and sealing failure, which will lead to oil leakage or reduction of shock absorber performance. On the other hand, the instantaneous stress generated by the movement can easily cause damage to the piston rod surface or deformation of the gasket, significantly increasing the scrap rate of parts and increasing production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide an interference fit pad device that integrates a threaded axial locking structure with an automated process to achieve precise, stable, and efficient automated pressing of the piston rod end pad of a shock absorber.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an interference fit pad device, comprising a frame and a linear conveying mechanism disposed on the frame, wherein a feeding station and a pressing station are sequentially arranged on the frame along the conveying direction of the linear conveying mechanism; and further comprising: A tray assembly is slidably mounted on the linear transmission mechanism to carry the workpiece and move it from the loading station to the pressing station. The workpiece includes a piston cylinder and a piston rod that can slide axially relative to the piston cylinder. The end of the piston rod away from the piston cylinder is provided with a threaded structure, and an annular gasket is pressed into the end of the piston rod. The feeding mechanism is fixedly mounted on the frame and corresponds to the feeding station. It includes a feeding component and a feeding robot arm. The feeding robot arm is located between the feeding component and the linear transmission mechanism and is used to grab the pad conveyed by the feeding component and put it on the end of the piston rod. The pressing mechanism is located at the pressing station of the frame and directly above the linear transmission mechanism. It includes a first mounting frame and a locking assembly and a pressing assembly slidably mounted on the first mounting frame. The locking assembly is threadedly connected to the piston rod through a threaded structure at the end of the piston rod to axially fix the piston rod. The pressing assembly is used to apply axial pressure to the pad at the end of the piston rod to press the pad to a preset position. The main control system is electrically connected to the feeding mechanism, pressing mechanism and linear transmission mechanism respectively, and is used to coordinate the actions of each mechanism according to a preset timing sequence to achieve automated pressing.

[0007] In one possible implementation, a lifting assembly is also included, which is mounted on the frame and located at the pressing station. The pallet assembly abuts against the linear transmission mechanism, and an installation space is formed between the pallet assembly and the frame through the linear transmission mechanism. The lifting assembly is located within the installation space and below the pallet assembly, and is used to drive the pallet assembly to rise and disengage from the linear transmission mechanism.

[0008] In one possible implementation, a positioning mechanism is also included on the frame. The positioning mechanism includes at least two first positioning components arranged at the press-fitting station. The first positioning components are used to clamp the upper and lower parts of the workpiece respectively to ensure that its circumferential position is fixed.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the positioning mechanism further includes a second positioning component arranged at the loading station, the second positioning component being used to clamp the upper part of the workpiece.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the pressing assembly is mounted on a first mounting frame via a guide rail slider structure. It includes a mounting plate slidably mounted on the first mounting frame, with a mounting hole extending through its center. A pressure head sleeve is detachably connected to the mounting hole, and the pressure head sleeve has a through hole through which the end of a piston rod passes. The inner diameter of the through hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the gasket. The assembly also includes a first lifting drive component mounted on the first mounting frame. The output end of the first lifting drive component is connected to the mounting plate, and it is used to drive the mounting plate to slide axially relative to the tray assembly.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the mounting plate is provided with a second mounting bracket, and a connecting bracket is slidably connected to the second mounting bracket via a guide rail slider structure; the locking assembly is fixedly mounted on the connecting bracket, and includes a rotary drive component and a locking pressure head, the locking pressure head being rotatably mounted on the connecting bracket and being drively connected to the rotary drive component; the locking pressure head is provided with a locking sleeve that can be threadedly connected to the end of the piston rod, and the locking sleeve is detachably connected to the locking pressure head; it also includes a second lifting drive component mounted on the second mounting bracket, the output end of the second lifting drive component being fixed to the connecting bracket, and being used to drive the connecting bracket to move the locking assembly axially relative to the tray assembly.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the mounting plate and the first mounting bracket are respectively equipped with a first sensor and a second sensor connected to the main control system; the first sensor is used to detect the position of the piston rod end. After the piston rod reaches the pressing position, the first sensor will drive the main control system to control the first lifting drive component to start, driving the pressing assembly and locking assembly to approach the piston rod; the second sensor is used to drive the main control system to control the second lifting drive component and the rotation drive component to start after the mounting plate descends to the point where the piston rod end passes through the pressing head sleeve.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the feeding assembly includes a vibratory feeder, a feeding track, and a transfer component. The vibratory feeder and the transfer component are connected via the feeding track. The transfer component includes a support, on which a storage block is connected via a guide rail sliding structure. The storage block has a storage groove matching the size of the pad. The support also includes a horizontal drive component connecting the storage component and a third sensor group. The third sensor group is electrically connected to the main control system and is used to drive the horizontal drive component to move the storage block away from or towards the feeding track when the pad reaches or leaves the storage block. It also includes a baffle strip on the storage block, which blocks the outlet of the feeding track when the storage block moves away from the feeding track. Furthermore, it includes a top-feeding component, which includes a top-feeding rod on the support. The top-feeding rod is connected to a top-feeding cylinder, and the storage block has a top-feeding hole through which the top-feeding rod passes. The inner diameter of the top-feeding hole and the outer diameter of the top-feeding rod are larger than the inner diameter of the hole on the pad.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the linear transmission mechanism is a belt transmission mechanism, including a pair of guide rails and pulleys disposed at both ends of the guide rails, a transmission belt is disposed between the pair of pulleys, and one of the pulleys is connected to a drive motor; the lifting assembly is disposed between the pair of guide rails. The lifting assembly includes a lifting drive component, a lifting plate, and guide columns. The lifting drive component is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the frame, and its output end is fixedly connected to the lifting plate. The lifting plate is used to support the pallet assembly and the workpiece. At least two guide columns are provided, evenly distributed along the circumference of the lifting plate. The lower end of the guide column is fixed to the frame, and the upper end slides through the through hole in the lifting plate to provide guidance and limit for the lifting plate's movement. It also includes a support block slidably mounted on the frame and located on one side of the lifting assembly. The support block is connected to a horizontal drive cylinder. After the lifting drive component drives the lifting plate to rise, the horizontal drive cylinder can drive the support block to insert between the lifting plate and the frame to support the lifting plate.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the pallet assembly includes a pallet plate, on which a vertical support column is provided, and on which a limiting part for fixing the lower end of the piston cylinder and a positioning clamp for positioning the periphery of the piston cylinder are provided; a limiting groove is provided below the pallet plate, and a limiting post is provided on the lifting plate that engages with the limiting groove.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: 1. The axial fixing method using locking components and piston rod end thread structure replaces the traditional clamping radial clamping, effectively preventing axial movement of the slender piston rod during the pressing process, ensuring consistent gasket pressing depth and coaxiality, and guaranteeing the interference fit effect between the gasket and the piston rod.

[0017] 2. The integrated linear transmission, automated feeding, precise pressing and main control system are designed to achieve automated connection of workpiece transfer, liner installation and pressing operations, reduce manual intervention and improve production efficiency; at the same time, the standardized automated operation process ensures the consistency of product assembly quality in mass production. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the workpiece; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the device of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the robotic arm in Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the transfer component of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a partial exploded view of the transfer component of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the positioning mechanism of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the material handling robotic arm of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a partial structural diagram of the material handling robotic arm of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a perspective view of the positioning component of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the linear transmission mechanism in this invention; Figure 13 This is a structural diagram of the linear transmission mechanism and pallet lifting assembly of the present invention; Figure 14 for Figure 13 Enlarged view of the tray assembly at point B; Figure 15 This is a bottom structural diagram of the tray assembly of the present invention; Figure 16 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the lifting component of the present invention; Figure 17 This is a cross-sectional view of the lifting assembly; Figure 18 This is a structural diagram of the pressing mechanism of the present invention; Figure 19 This is a cross-sectional view of the pressing assembly of the present invention; Figure 20 This is a structural diagram of the locking component of the present invention.

[0020] Explanation of icon numbers: 001. Piston cylinder; 002. Piston rod; 003. Threaded structure; 004. Gasket; 005. Connector; 1. Frame; 2. Linear transmission mechanism; 20. Guide rail frame; 21. Transmission belt; 22. Drive motor; 3. Pallet assembly; 30. Pallet; 31. Vertical support column; 32. Limiting part; 33. Positioning clamp; 34. Limiting groove; 35. Limiting post; 4. Feeding mechanism; 40. Feeding assembly; 40 0. Vibratory feeder; 401. Feeding track; 402. Transfer component; 403. Support; 404. Storage block; 405. Storage trough; 406. Third sensor; 407. Horizontal drive component; 408. Stop bar; 409. Push rod; 410. Push cylinder; 411. Push hole; 41. Feeding and unloading robotic arm; 412. Rotary cylinder; 413. First telescopic cylinder; 414. First pneumatic gripper; 415. 416. Lifting guide rail; 417. Slider; 418. Servo motor; 419. Fixing frame; 5. Pressing mechanism; 50. First mounting frame; 51. Locking assembly; 510. Rotary drive component; 511. Locking pressure head; 512. Locking sleeve; 513. Second lifting drive component; 52. Pressing assembly; 520. Mounting plate; 521. Pressure head sleeve; 522. Through hole; 523. First lifting drive component; 53. Second mounting frame; 54. Connecting frame; 6. Lifting assembly; 60. Lifting drive component; 61. Lifting plate; 62. Guide column; 63. Horizontal drive cylinder; 64. Support block; 7. Positioning mechanism; 70. First positioning assembly; 71. Second positioning assembly; 72. Lifting seat; 73. Second telescopic cylinder; 74. Second pneumatic gripper; 8. First sensor; 9. Second sensor; 10. Vision inspection assembly; 11. Intelligent robotic arm.

[0021] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 20 This embodiment provides an interference fit device for pressing an annular gasket 004 onto a piston rod 002, wherein, as Figure 1-2As shown, the workpiece includes a piston cylinder 001 and a piston rod 002 slidably disposed within the piston cylinder 001. The end of the piston rod 002 is provided with a threaded structure 003. The gasket 004 passes through the threaded structure 003 and is interference-fitted with the end of the piston rod 002. A cylindrical connector 005 is also provided at the bottom of the piston cylinder 001. The cylindrical connector 005 is used to connect with an external structure and is arranged horizontally.

[0025] The interference compression press equipment includes a frame 1, such as Figure 3-4 As shown, a linear conveying mechanism 2, arranged in a straight line, is installed on the top surface of the frame 1. This mechanism serves as the conveying carrier for the pallet assembly 3 and the workpiece. Figure 12-13 As shown, the linear transmission mechanism 2 adopts a belt transmission structure, consisting of a pair of parallel guide rail frames 20, two pulleys, and a transmission belt 21. The two pulleys are rotatably mounted at both ends of the guide rail frames 20, and the transmission belt 21 is wound around the outside of the two pulleys, forming a closed-loop transmission structure. One of the pulleys extends axially away from the guide rail frames 20, and its extended end is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 22. The drive motor 22 is bolted to the side wall of the frame 1. When energized, it drives the pulley to rotate, thereby driving the transmission belt 21 to circulate along the length of the guide rail frames 20, realizing the linear transport of the pallet assembly 3.

[0026] The tray assembly 3 is slidably mounted on the linear transmission mechanism 2, such as Figure 12-15 As shown, the pallet assembly 3 includes a pallet plate 30. The bottom of the pallet plate 30 has a limiting groove 34 that matches the shape of the drive belt 21. The drive belt 21 is embedded in the limiting groove 34 and abuts against the groove wall. This structural design ensures the straightness of the pallet assembly 3 as it moves with the drive belt 21, effectively avoiding deviation or jamming during transport, while allowing the pallet plate 30 to be separated from the drive belt 21 at any time.

[0027] A vertical support column 31 is vertically fixed on the top surface of the support plate 30. A horizontally arranged columnar limiting part 32 is integrally formed at the bottom of the vertical support column 31. The cylindrical connecting piece 005 at the bottom of the piston cylinder 001 can be coaxially sleeved on the outside of the limiting part 32 to achieve the initial positioning of the bottom of the piston cylinder 001.

[0028] The vertical support column 31 is also equipped with a positioning clamp 33. The positioning clamp 33 has a U-shaped structure with one side open. It closely abuts against the outer wall of the piston cylinder 001 in the direction close to the piston cylinder 001, and works with the limiting part 32 to achieve double stable clamping of the workpiece on the support plate 30.

[0029] Furthermore, along the conveying direction of the linear transmission mechanism 2, the frame 1 has a feeding station and a pressing station arranged sequentially from the feeding end to the discharging end. The pallet assembly 3 can carry the workpiece through the two stations in sequence to complete the two core processes of feeding the pad 004 and pressing it with interference fit.

[0030] A feeding mechanism 4 is installed on the frame 1 at the corresponding position of the feeding station. This mechanism is located on one side of the linear transmission mechanism 2 and mainly consists of two parts: a feeding component 40 and a feeding robot arm 41. The feeding robot arm 41 is set up between the feeding component 40 and the linear transmission mechanism 2 and is responsible for grabbing the pad 004 output by the feeding component 40 and transferring it to the end of the piston rod 002 at the feeding station.

[0031] like Figure 6-7 As shown, the feeding assembly 40 consists of a vibratory feeder 400, a feeding track 401, and a transfer component 402. The discharge port of the vibratory feeder 400 is connected to the inlet end of the feeding track 401, and the discharge end of the feeding track 401 extends above the transfer component 402. The three components form a continuous feeding path. After the vibratory feeder 400 is powered on, it can use vibration to organize the messy pads 004 inside into a uniform shape and transport them along the feeding track 401 to the transfer component 402.

[0032] The transfer component 402 includes a bracket 403. A storage block 404 is slidably connected to the top surface of the bracket 403 via a guide rail slider 416 structure. The guide rail of the guide rail slider 416 structure is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding track 401, and the storage block 404 can slide along the guide rail direction. The top surface of the storage block 404 has a storage groove 405 that matches the outer dimensions of the pad 004, and a single pad 004 can be precisely embedded in the storage groove 405 to achieve accurate positioning.

[0033] The bracket 403 is also equipped with a horizontal drive component 407 and a third sensor group 406. The output end of the horizontal drive component 407 is fixedly connected to the storage block 404. Both the horizontal drive component 407 and the third sensor group 406 are electrically connected to the main control system. The horizontal drive component 407 is a telescopic cylinder, and the third sensor group 406 can be a diffuse reflection photoelectric sensor. This sensor can detect whether the pad 004 has entered into the storage tank 405 or has detached from the storage tank 405. After the detection signal is fed back to the main control system, the main control system can drive the horizontal drive component 407 to move the storage block 404 closer to or away from the feeding track 401.

[0034] A baffle strip 408 is fixed on one side of the storage block 404 near the feeding track 401. When the storage block 404, carrying the pad 004, slides away from the feeding track 401, the baffle strip 408 can move synchronously to the outlet of the feeding track 401 to block the outlet and prevent the pad 004 from falling off.

[0035] The transfer unit 402 is also equipped with a top-feeding component, which consists of a top-feeding cylinder 410 and a top-feeding rod 409. The top-feeding cylinder 410 is fixed to the bracket 403 by bolts. One end of the top-feeding rod 409 is coaxially fixed with the output end of the top-feeding cylinder 410, and the other end extends toward the storage block 404. The storage block 404 has a top-feeding hole 411 that penetrates the upper and lower surfaces. The top-feeding rod 409 can pass through the top-feeding hole 411 and contact the gasket 004 in the storage trough 405.

[0036] The inner diameter of the ejector hole 411 and the outer diameter of the ejector rod 409 are both larger than the inner diameter of the center hole of the liner 004, ensuring that the ejector rod 409 can smoothly pass through the center hole of the liner 004 and lift the liner 004. When the storage block 404 moves to the preset picking position, the ejector cylinder 410 drives the ejector rod 409 to move upward, lifting the liner 004 in the storage trough 405 to the preset height, making it convenient for the picking and feeding robot arm 41 to grab it.

[0037] The feeding assembly 40 also integrates a vision inspection assembly 10. The core component of this assembly is a camera, which is mounted on the bracket 403 with its lens facing the feeding track 401. The feeding track 401 has a hole penetrating the track thickness corresponding to the camera's position. The camera can capture images of the pad 004 being fed on the feeding track 401 through this hole, detecting the orientation of the pad 004. The detection data is fed back to the main control system in real time, providing data support for the subsequent adjustment of the pad 004's posture by the robotic arm 41, ensuring that the pad 004 is correctly positioned on the end of the piston rod 002.

[0038] like Figure 9-10 As shown, the feeding robot arm 41 consists of a rotary cylinder 412, a first telescopic cylinder 413, a first pneumatic gripper 414, and a lifting drive structure. The lifting drive structure includes a lifting guide rail 415, a slider 416, and a servo motor 417. The lifting guide rail 415 is vertically fixed to the frame 1, and the slider 416 is slidably mounted on the lifting guide rail 415. The slider 416 has a threaded hole machined inside, and a screw is threaded into the hole. The top of the screw is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the servo motor 417. When the servo motor 417 is energized, it drives the screw to rotate, which in turn drives the slider 416 to slide up and down along the lifting guide rail 415, thus realizing the lifting action of the feeding robot arm 41.

[0039] A mounting bracket 418 is fixed to the side of the slider 416 near the linear transmission mechanism 2. A first rotary cylinder 412 is fixedly mounted on the mounting bracket 418. The output end of the first rotary cylinder 412 extends toward the feeding assembly 40, and the extended end is fixedly connected to the cylinder body of the first telescopic cylinder 413. A second rotary cylinder 412 is fixedly mounted to the output end of the first telescopic cylinder 413, and the output end of the second rotary cylinder 412 is fixedly connected to the first pneumatic gripper 414.

[0040] The first rotary cylinder 412 can drive the first telescopic cylinder 413, the second rotary cylinder 412, and the first pneumatic gripper 414 to rotate as a whole, adjusting the orientation of the first pneumatic gripper 414 to facilitate its gripping of the raised pad 004 and rotation to achieve coaxial alignment above the piston rod 002. The first telescopic cylinder 413 can drive the second rotary cylinder 412 and the first pneumatic gripper 414 to perform telescopic movements, controlling the first pneumatic gripper 414 to move closer to or away from the piston rod 002. The second rotary cylinder 412 can drive the first pneumatic gripper 414 to rotate, and combined with the detection data from the vision detection component 10, adjust the gripped pad 004 to a frontal horizontal state to avoid posture errors when the pad 004 engages with the piston rod 002.

[0041] Furthermore, at the location corresponding to the pressing station on the frame 1, a pressing mechanism 5 is installed above it, along with a positioning mechanism 7 and a lifting component 6. The three work together to complete the precise pressing of the liner 004.

[0042] Specifically, such as Figure 8 , 11 As shown in Figures 13, 16-20, the lifting mechanism lifts the pallet assembly 3 upwards to separate it from the guide rail frame 20, thereby preventing the force applied to the workpiece during the pressing process from being borne by the guide rail frame 20 and causing damage to the guide rail frame 20.

[0043] The positioning mechanism 7 is used to clamp the upper and lower sections of the workpiece that is transported to the pressing station by the pallet assembly 3 after the pallet assembly 3 is lifted, thereby fixing the workpiece in position and preventing the workpiece from shifting or bending due to its long length during the pressing process.

[0044] The pressing mechanism 5 fixes and locks the end of the piston rod 002, and then applies downward pressure to the gasket 004 so that the gasket 004 can be interference-fitted with the piston rod 002.

[0045] Specifically, the positioning mechanism 7 is divided into a first positioning component 70 and a second positioning component 71. The first positioning component 70 and the second positioning component 71 have the same structure, both including a lifting seat 72 and a second telescopic cylinder 73 slidably mounted on the lifting seat 72 via a slider 416. The output end of the second telescopic cylinder 73 is connected to a second pneumatic gripper 74. The lifting seat 72 can drive the second telescopic cylinder 73 and the second pneumatic gripper 74 to move up and down to adapt to piston rods 002 of different specifications and lengths. In this embodiment, the first positioning component 70 is installed at the pressing station, and there are at least two of them, respectively corresponding to the upper and lower parts of the workpiece. The second positioning component 71 is installed at the loading station and is used to clamp the upper part of the workpiece in the loading process to ensure the coaxiality of the pad 004 when it is fitted, thereby improving the loading accuracy.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 16-17 As shown, the lifting assembly 6 is installed between the two guide rails 20 of the linear transmission mechanism 2. The pallet assembly 3 and the frame 1 are connected by the guide rails 20 to form an installation space. The lifting assembly 6 is placed entirely within this installation space and is located directly below the pallet assembly 3.

[0047] The lifting assembly 6 consists of a lifting drive component 60, a lifting plate 61, a guide column 62, a support block 64, and a horizontal drive cylinder 63. The lifting drive component 60 is a lifting cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder, the cylinder body of which is fixed to the bottom of the frame 1, and the output end extends vertically upward and is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the lifting plate 61.

[0048] The lifting plate 61 is a horizontally arranged flat structure that can support the pallet assembly 3 and the workpiece. At least two guide columns 62 are provided and are evenly distributed along the circumference of the lifting plate 61. The lower end of the guide column 62 is fixedly connected to the frame 1, and the upper end slides through the through hole 522 opened on the lifting plate 61 to provide guidance and limit for the lifting movement of the lifting plate 61 and prevent the lifting plate 61 from tilting during the lifting process.

[0049] The support block 64 is slidably mounted on the frame 1 and located on one side of the lifting plate 61. The support block 64 is fixedly connected to the output end of the horizontal drive cylinder 63. When the lifting drive component 60 drives the lifting plate 61 to rise to the preset height, and the pallet assembly 3 disengages from the transmission belt 21, the horizontal drive cylinder 63 drives the support block 64 to move horizontally and insert it into the gap between the lifting plate 61 and the frame 1 to support the lifting plate 61, improve the stability of the lifting plate 61 under load, and at the same time transfer the pressure on the workpiece during pressing to the frame 1, thereby preventing the lifting plate 61 and the lifting cylinder from being damaged by pressure.

[0050] Furthermore, the top surface of the lifting plate 61 is also fixed with several limiting posts 35, and the bottom of the pallet 30 is provided with limiting grooves 34 corresponding to the positions of the limiting posts 35. When the lifting plate 61 lifts the pallet assembly 3, the limiting posts 35 can be inserted into the limiting grooves 34 to achieve precise positioning of the pallet assembly 3.

[0051] As for the pressing mechanism 5, it is installed above the frame 1 of the pressing station, such as... Figure 18-20 As shown, it includes a first mounting bracket 50, a locking assembly 51, and a pressing assembly 52. ​​The first mounting bracket 50 is a portal frame structure, spanning above the linear transmission mechanism 2, with both ends fixedly connected to the frame 1, providing a mounting base for the locking assembly 51 and the pressing assembly 52.

[0052] The pressing assembly 52 is slidably mounted on the inner wall of the first mounting bracket 50 via a guide rail slider 416 structure. The guide rails of the guide rail slider 416 structure are arranged in a vertical direction. The pressing assembly 52 includes a mounting plate 520, which is fixedly connected to the slider 416 of the guide rail slider 416 structure and can slide up and down along the guide rail direction. The mounting plate 520 has a mounting hole in the middle that penetrates the upper and lower surfaces. A pressing head sleeve 521 is detachably connected to the mounting hole. The pressing head sleeve 521 has a hollow structure and a through hole 522 for the end of the piston rod 002 to pass through. The inner diameter of the through hole 522 is smaller than the outer diameter of the gasket 004, ensuring that the pressing head sleeve 521 can adhere to the top surface of the gasket 004 and apply axial pressure when it descends. Meanwhile, a first lifting drive component 523 is fixedly installed on the first mounting bracket 50. The output end of the first lifting drive component 523 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 520, which can drive the mounting plate 520 to move the pressure head sleeve 521 closer to or away from the pad 004.

[0053] A second mounting bracket 53 is fixedly installed on the top surface of the mounting plate 520. A connecting bracket 54 is slidably connected to the inner side wall of the second mounting bracket 53 through a guide rail slider 416 structure. The guide rail of the guide rail slider 416 structure is arranged in the vertical direction.

[0054] The locking assembly 51 is fixedly mounted on the connecting frame 54 and consists of a rotary drive 510, a locking pressure head 511, and a locking sleeve 512. The locking pressure head 511 is rotatably mounted on the connecting frame 54 via bearings. The output end of the rotary drive 510 is connected to the input end of the locking pressure head 511, driving the locking pressure head 511 to rotate. In this embodiment, a transmission wheel is fitted onto the locking pressure head 511. The rotary drive 510 is a rotary motor, and its output end is connected to the transmission wheel of the locking pressure head 511 via belt drive, thereby driving the locking pressure head 511.

[0055] The output end of the locking head 511 is detachably connected to a locking sleeve 512. The locking sleeve 512 has an internal thread that matches the thread at the end of the piston rod 002, allowing it to be threadedly connected to the end of the piston rod 002. A second lifting drive component 513 is fixedly mounted on the second mounting bracket 53. The output end of the second lifting drive component 513 is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket 54, which can drive the connecting bracket 54 to move the locking assembly 51 up and down along the guide rail, thereby enabling the locking sleeve 512 to engage or disengage from the end of the piston rod 002.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first lifting drive component 523 and the second lifting drive component 513 have the same structure, both using a motor and a screw thread structure 003. The output shaft of the motor is connected to one end of the screw, and the screw is threadedly connected to the first mounting bracket 50 and the second mounting bracket 53. One end of the screw is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket 54 or the mounting plate 520, so that the mounting plate 520 or the connecting bracket 54 can be lifted and lowered by the drive of the motor.

[0057] In addition, a first sensor 8 is mounted on the mounting plate 520, and a second sensor 9 is mounted on the first mounting bracket 50 at the position corresponding to the first sensor 8. Both the first sensor 8 and the second sensor 9 are electrically connected to the main control system. Both the first sensor 8 and the second sensor 9 can be photoelectric sensors to detect the workpiece position.

[0058] The first sensor 8 can detect the position of the end of the piston rod 002. When the piston rod 002 arrives at the pressing station with the tray assembly 3, the first sensor 8 will feed back the detection signal to the main control system. The main control system will then control the first lifting drive component 523 to start, driving the mounting plate 520 to descend, so that the pressing assembly 52 and the locking assembly 51 will approach the piston rod 002 synchronously.

[0059] The second sensor 9 is used to detect the descent position of the mounting plate 520. When the mounting plate 520 descends to the preset position where the end of the piston rod 002 passes through the pressure head sleeve 521, the second sensor 9 triggers a signal and feeds it back to the main control system. The main control system then controls the second lifting drive 513 and the rotating drive 510 to start and perform the locking action. After locking is completed, the pressure head sleeve 521 continues to press down to achieve interference fit of the gasket 004.

[0060] Work process During operation, the workpiece is first clamped onto the pallet assembly 3. In this process, the workpiece can be operated manually or by the intelligent robot arm 11. The robot arm 11 will put the bottom connecting part 005 of the piston cylinder 001 onto the limiting part 32 of the vertical support 31, and form a double stable clamping with the U-shaped positioning fixture 33. The main control system starts the linear transmission mechanism 2 to drive the motor 22, which drives the pallet assembly 3 to move precisely along the guide rail frame 20 through belt transmission, and transports the workpiece to the loading station.

[0061] During the feeding stage, the vibratory feeder 400 vibrates and arranges the pad 004 and sends it to the transfer component 402 via the feeding track 401. At this time, the vision detection component 10 simultaneously identifies the front and back of the pad 004. After the diffuse reflection photoelectric sensor detects that the pad 004 has fallen into the storage trough 405, the main control system drives the telescopic cylinder to move the storage block 404 away from the track. The baffle bar 408 blocks the outlet to prevent material accumulation. Then, the top cylinder 410 drives the top rod 409 to lift the pad 004.

[0062] Then, the feeding robot arm 41 adjusts its height through the screw structure of the servo motor 417, and grabs the pad 004 with the cooperation of the rotary cylinder 412 and the telescopic cylinder. When the pad 004 is in the reverse state, the second rotary cylinder 412 adjusts its posture and then accurately fits it onto the end of the piston rod 002 fixed by the second positioning component 71. After the feeding is completed, the workpiece is sent to the pressing station.

[0063] After the workpiece arrives at the pressing station, the lifting assembly 6 is activated. The lifting cylinder or hydraulic cylinder pushes the lifting plate 61 to lift the pallet assembly 3 and disengage it from the transmission belt 21 and the guide rail frame 20. The guide column 62 ensures the levelness of the lifting. The support block 64 is inserted between the lifting plate 61 and the frame 1 to bear the load and distribute the pressure. The limit column 35 cooperates with the limit groove 34 of the pallet 30 to achieve precise positioning.

[0064] Subsequently, at least two first positioning components 70 clamp the upper and lower sections of the workpiece respectively to prevent bending or displacement under pressure. The main control system starts the pressing mechanism 5. After the first photoelectric sensor detects the piston rod 002, it controls the first lifting drive component 523 to drive the mounting plate 520 down, so that the pressing component 52 and the locking component 51 are close to the piston rod 002. After the second photoelectric sensor is triggered, the second lifting drive component 513 drives the locking component 51 to descend and align with the piston rod 002. The rotary motor drives the locking sleeve 512 to rotate through belt drive, and it is axially fixed by threaded connection with the end of the piston rod 002.

[0065] After locking is completed, the first lifting drive component 523 continues to drive the mounting plate 520 to move down. Because the inner diameter of the through hole 522 is smaller than the outer diameter of the liner 004, the pressure head sleeve 521 applies uniform axial pressure to the liner 004, so that it forms an interference fit with the end of the piston rod 002 and is pressed into the preset position.

[0066] After pressing is completed, each mechanism resets sequentially. The rotary motor rotates in the opposite direction, disengaging the locking sleeve 512. The lifting drive drives the pressing and locking assembly 51 to reset, the positioning assembly releases the workpiece, the support block 64 is pulled out, and the lifting plate 61 falls back. The pallet assembly 3 resets to the transmission belt 21. Finally, the linear conveyor 2 delivers the finished workpiece to the unloading area, and the pallet assembly 3 returns to the feeding end to await the next round of clamping. The entire process is achieved through closed-loop control of the main control system and various sensors and drive components, realizing efficient, precise, and automated operation while protecting equipment components from damage.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] Based on Example 1, at the material loading station, the equipment is adjusted to achieve automated production of the entire process.

[0069] like Figure 3 , Figure 5As shown, an intelligent robotic arm 11 is installed at the loading station of the equipment. This intelligent robotic arm 11 is existing technology. It is connected to the main control system and can be used to clamp the piston rod 002 in the external material box and deliver it to the pallet assembly 3 for fixation, thereby realizing automated loading of workpieces without manual loading. At the same time, a vision system is also installed in conjunction with the intelligent robotic arm 11 to detect the position and status of the workpiece in real time, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of workpiece loading.

[0070] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0071] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An interference fit pad device, characterized in that, The system includes a frame (1) and a linear transmission mechanism (2) mounted on the frame (1). The frame (1) is provided with a loading station and a pressing station sequentially along the conveying direction of the linear transmission mechanism (2). The system also includes: The pallet assembly (3) is slidably disposed on the linear transmission mechanism (2) for carrying the workpiece and moving the workpiece from the loading station to the pressing station. The workpiece includes a piston cylinder (001) and a piston rod (002) that can slide axially relative to the piston cylinder (001). The end of the piston rod (002) away from the piston cylinder (001) is provided with a threaded structure (003), and an annular gasket (004) is pressed into the end of the piston rod (002). The feeding mechanism (4) is fixed on the frame (1) and corresponds to the feeding station. It includes a feeding assembly (40) and a feeding robot arm (41). The feeding robot arm (41) is located between the feeding assembly (40) and the linear transmission mechanism (2) and is used to grab the pad (004) conveyed by the feeding assembly (40) and put it on the end of the piston rod (002). The pressing mechanism (5) is located at the pressing station of the frame (1) and directly above the linear transmission mechanism (2). It includes a first mounting frame (50) and a locking assembly (51) and a pressing assembly (52) slidably mounted on the first mounting frame (50). The locking assembly (51) is threaded to the piston rod (002) through the threaded structure (003) at the end of the piston rod (002) to fix the piston rod (002) axially. The pressing assembly (52) is used to apply axial pressure to the pad (004) at the end of the piston rod (002) to press the pad (004) to a preset position. The main control system is electrically connected to the feeding mechanism (4), pressing mechanism (5) and linear transmission mechanism (2) respectively, and is used to coordinate the actions of each mechanism according to the preset timing sequence to realize automated pressing.

2. The interference fit pad device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a lifting assembly (6) set on the frame (1) and located at the pressing station. The pallet assembly (3) abuts against the linear transmission mechanism (2), and an installation space is formed between it and the frame (1) through the linear transmission mechanism (2). The lifting assembly (6) is set in the installation space and located below the pallet assembly (3), and is used to drive the pallet assembly (3) to rise to disengage from the linear transmission mechanism (2).

3. The interference fit pad device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a positioning mechanism (7) set on the frame (1), the positioning mechanism (7) including at least two first positioning components (70) arranged at the press-fitting station, and a plurality of the first positioning components (70) are used to clamp the upper part and the lower part of the workpiece respectively to ensure that its circumferential position is fixed.

4. The interference fit pad device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The positioning mechanism (7) further includes a second positioning component (71) arranged at the loading station, which is used to clamp the upper part of the workpiece.

5. The interference fit pad device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing assembly (52) is mounted on the first mounting frame (50) via a guide rail slider (416) structure. It includes a mounting plate (520) slidably mounted on the first mounting frame (50). The mounting plate (520) has a mounting hole through the middle. A pressure head sleeve (521) is detachably connected in the mounting hole. The pressure head sleeve (521) has a through hole (522) through which the end of the piston rod (002) passes. The inner diameter of the through hole (522) is smaller than the outer diameter of the liner (004). It also includes a first lifting drive (523) mounted on the first mounting frame (50). The output end of the first lifting drive (523) is connected to the mounting plate (520) and is used to drive the mounting plate (520) to slide axially relative to the tray assembly (3).

6. The interference fit pad device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The mounting plate (520) is provided with a second mounting bracket (53), and a connecting bracket (54) is slidably connected to the second mounting bracket (53) via a guide rail slider (416) structure; the locking assembly (51) is fixedly mounted on the connecting bracket (54), and includes a rotary drive (510) and a locking head (511). The locking head (511) is rotatably mounted on the connecting bracket (54) and is connected to the rotary drive (510) in a transmission manner; the locking head (511) is provided with a locking sleeve (512) that can be threadedly connected to the end of the piston rod (002), and the locking sleeve (512) is detachably connected to the locking head (511); it also includes a second lifting drive (513) mounted on the second mounting bracket (53), the output end of the second lifting drive (513) is fixed to the connecting bracket (54), and it is used to drive the connecting bracket (54) to drive the locking assembly (51) to move axially relative to the tray assembly (3).

7. The interference fit pad device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The mounting plate (520) and the first mounting bracket (50) are respectively equipped with a first sensor (8) and a second sensor (9) connected to the main control system. The first sensor (8) is used to detect the position of the end of the piston rod (002). After the piston rod (002) reaches the pressing station, the first sensor (8) will drive the main control system to control the first lifting drive (523) to start, and drive the pressing assembly (52) and the locking assembly (51) to approach the piston rod (002). The second sensor (9) is used to drive the main control system to control the second lifting drive (513) and the rotation drive (510) to start after the mounting plate (520) descends to the point where the end of the piston rod (002) passes through the press head sleeve (521).

8. The interference fit pad device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding assembly (40) includes a vibratory feeder (400), a feeding track (401), and a transfer component (402). The vibratory feeder (400) and the transfer component (402) are connected via the feeding track (401). The transfer component (402) includes a support (403). A storage block (404) is connected to the support (403) via a guide rail sliding structure. The storage block (404) is provided with a storage groove (405) that matches the size of the pad (004). The support (403) is also provided with a horizontal drive component (407) connecting the storage component and a third sensor (406) group. The third sensor (406) group is electrically connected to the main control system and is used to detect when the pad (004) reaches the storage block (404). When the material block (404) is disengaged or detached from the storage block (404), the driving horizontal drive (407) drives the storage block (404) away from or closer to the feeding track (401); it also includes a baffle strip (408) set on the storage block (404), the baffle strip (408) is used to block the outlet of the feeding track (401) when the storage block (404) is away from the feeding track (401); it also includes a top material component, the top material component includes a top material rod (409) set on the bracket (403), the top material rod (409) is connected to the top material cylinder (410), the storage block (404) is provided with a top material hole (411) through which the top material rod (409) passes; the inner diameter of the top material hole (411) and the outer diameter of the top material rod (409) are larger than the inner diameter of the hole on the liner (004).

9. The interference fit pad device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The linear transmission mechanism (2) adopts a belt transmission mechanism, including a pair of guide rail frames (20) and pulleys at both ends of the guide rail frames (20). A transmission belt (21) is provided between the pair of pulleys, and one of the pulleys is connected to a drive motor (22); the lifting component (6) is located between the pair of guide rail frames (20); The lifting assembly (6) includes a lifting drive (60), a lifting plate (61), and guide columns (62). The lifting drive (60) is fixed to the bottom of the frame (1), and its output end is fixedly connected to the lifting plate (61). The lifting plate (61) is used to lift the pallet assembly (3) and the workpiece. There are at least two guide columns (62), which are evenly distributed around the lifting plate (61). The lower end of the guide column (62) is fixed to the frame (1), and the upper end slides through the lifting plate (61). The through hole (522) on the ) provides a guide limit for the lifting plate (61) to rise and fall; it also includes a support block (64) that is slidably disposed on the frame (1) and located on one side of the lifting assembly (6). The support block (64) is connected to a horizontal drive cylinder (63). After the lifting drive component (60) drives the lifting plate (61) to rise, the horizontal drive cylinder (63) drives the support block (64) to be inserted between the lifting plate (61) and the frame (1) to support the lifting plate (61).

10. The interference fit pad device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The pallet assembly (3) includes a pallet (30), on which a vertical support column (31) is provided. The vertical support column (31) is provided with a limiting part (32) for fixing the lower end of the piston cylinder (001) and a positioning clamp (33) for positioning the periphery of the piston cylinder (001). A limiting groove (34) is provided below the pallet (30), and a limiting post (35) is provided on the lifting plate (61) for inserting and cooperating with the limiting groove (34).

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