Presser bar lift and translation synchronization cam mechanism

Abstract

The application discloses a presser plate lifting and translating synchronous guiding cam mechanism and belongs to the technical field of machine tool machining. The presser plate lifting and translating synchronous guiding cam mechanism comprises a base, a driving device arranged on the base, a presser plate assembly driven by the driving device to perform lifting movement, and a guiding assembly for guiding the movement of the presser plate assembly. The guiding assembly comprises a fixedly arranged guiding plate, and a guiding groove is formed in the guiding plate. A cam follower is arranged on a presser plate frame body of the presser plate assembly, the cam follower extends into the guiding groove and can roll along the track of the guiding groove. The track groove on the guiding plate is combined with the cam follower on the presser plate assembly, and only one linear driving device is needed to forcibly drive the presser plate assembly to synchronously complete the compound movement of two degrees of freedom of lifting and translation. The mechanism is fundamentally simplified, the installation space is greatly saved, the cost and energy consumption are reduced, the mechanical forced guiding eliminates the delay or error possibly caused by electrical control coordination, and the movement track is accurate and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of machine tool processing, and in particular to a synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating pressure plates. Background Technology

[0002] In machine tool processing and automated assembly lines, it is often necessary to perform compound movements of lifting and translating components such as pressure plates, fixtures, or actuators to complete actions such as rapid workpiece clamping, multi-station switching, or obstacle avoidance. Traditional technical solutions for achieving such compound movements mainly fall into two categories: One uses two independent drive sources, such as a lifting cylinder and a translating slide, to control movement in two directions respectively. While this approach offers controllable motion, it suffers from inherent drawbacks such as bulky mechanisms, large space requirements, high manufacturing costs, difficulty in ensuring electrical synchronization accuracy between the two movements, and high energy consumption. The second approach employs mechanical structures such as linkages, cams, or inclined planes / sliders, attempting to achieve compound movements through a single drive source. However, these mechanical solutions often face new problems: for example, inclined plane or slider mechanisms relying on sliding friction are prone to severe wear under frequent operation, leading to rapid loss of motion accuracy, jamming, frequent maintenance and adjustments, and poor long-term operational stability; furthermore, most existing mechanisms are complex in design, difficult to debug, and generally lack real-time sensing of workpiece status and safety interlocking functions, easily causing equipment or product damage when workpieces are placed abnormally.

[0003] Therefore, in the field of machine tools and automated equipment, especially in application scenarios where space is limited and the requirements for motion accuracy and reliability are high, there is an urgent need for a single-power drive lifting and translation synchronous mechanism that is compact, has accurate and reliable motion, is durable, and has safety protection functions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating pressure plates, which aims to solve the technical problems of bulky, space-consuming, and costly mechanisms for compound motion on machine tool processing and automated assembly lines, as well as the serious wear and tear caused by inclined or slider mechanisms that rely on sliding friction under frequent operation, resulting in rapid loss of motion accuracy and jamming.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the first aspect of the present invention proposes a pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism, including a base, a driving device disposed on the base, a pressure plate assembly driven by the driving device to perform lifting and lowering movements, and a guide assembly for guiding the movement of the pressure plate assembly. The guide assembly includes a fixedly disposed guide plate, and a guide groove is provided on the guide plate. The pressure plate assembly includes a pressure plate frame body equipped with a cam follower, which extends into the guide groove and can roll along its trajectory. The guide groove has a specific trajectory shape, such that when the driving device drives the pressure plate assembly to move along the first direction, the cooperation between the cam follower and the guide groove forces the pressure plate assembly to simultaneously generate a translational motion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0006] Optionally, the first direction is a vertical direction, and the second direction is a horizontal direction; The guide groove includes a first groove segment and a second groove segment that are connected to each other. The first groove segment extends in a vertical direction, and the second groove segment extends at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

[0007] Optionally, the driving device is a linear driving device, and the driving end of the driving device is connected to the pressure plate assembly to drive the pressure plate assembly to move up and down in the vertical direction.

[0008] Optionally, the cam follower includes a shaft mounted on the pressure plate assembly and a bearing rotatably sleeved outside the shaft, the outer ring of the bearing contacting the wall of the guide groove.

[0009] Optionally, the shaft is fixedly connected to the pressure plate frame body.

[0010] Optionally, the pressure plate assembly includes a connecting part connected to the driving device, and a lower pressure plate with lifting and moving function is installed at the other end of the connecting part. A plurality of guide columns that slide through the base are fixedly connected to the bottom of the lower pressure plate. A linear guide rail is also installed at the bottom of the lower pressure plate, and the pressure plate frame body is mounted on the linear guide rail for sliding.

[0011] Optionally, it also includes a detection sensor configured to detect the positional state of the product to be processed relative to the pressure plate assembly.

[0012] Optionally, the detection sensor includes a first sensor for detecting whether the product is placed in place and / or a second sensor for detecting whether the product position changes during the pressing process.

[0013] Optionally, the pressure plate assembly, driving device, and guiding assembly are configured as two sets and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the product to be processed.

[0014] Optionally, the wall surface of the guide groove forms a wear-resistant working surface; The wear-resistant working surface is also provided with a friction-reducing coating, which is a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a molybdenum disulfide coating.

[0015] Beneficial effects: 1. The pressure plate lifting and translation synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention combines the trajectory groove on the guide plate with the cam follower on the pressure plate assembly. Only one linear drive device is needed to force the pressure plate assembly to synchronously complete the composite motion of lifting and translation. This fundamentally simplifies the mechanism, significantly saves installation space, and reduces cost and energy consumption. The mechanical forced guidance ensures a strict synchronous relationship between the two directions of motion, eliminating delays or errors that may be caused by electrical control coordination. The motion trajectory is accurate and reliable, significantly improving the consistency of action and process stability.

[0016] 2. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention optimizes the movement path of the pressure plate by designing the guide groove as a structure in which the vertical section and the inclined section are connected, realizing a controllable sequence such as avoidance before translation, thus avoiding interference. A bearing-type cam follower is used in conjunction with the guide groove to convert sliding friction into rolling friction, and the combination of guide column and linear guide rail achieves decoupling and independent guidance of motion, ensuring the smoothness and high precision of movement in all directions. Hardening and anti-friction coating treatment on the working surface of the guide groove further reduces wear, ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of long-term operation of the mechanism and extending its service life.

[0017] 3. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention, by integrating a first sensor for detecting whether the workpiece is in position and a second sensor for monitoring state changes during the pressing process, achieves real-time monitoring and safety interlocking of the processing process, effectively preventing product or mold damage caused by misoperation, and improving the intelligence level of the equipment and production safety. By symmetrically arranging the two mechanisms, synchronous and balanced force can be applied to both sides of the workpiece, preventing workpiece deformation or displacement, and is particularly suitable for processing applications with high balance requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the pressure plate lifting and translation synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure plate assembly and detection sensor structure of the pressure plate lifting and translation synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the guide assembly structure of the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure plate assembly of the pressure plate lifting and translation synchronous guide cam mechanism of the present invention from another perspective. Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the guide component of the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention from another perspective. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the guide plate and the main body structure of the pressure plate frame of the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention; Figure 9 This is an exploded structural diagram of the guide plate and the main body of the pressure plate frame in the synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating the pressure plate of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Base; 2. Drive unit; 21. Drive end; 3. Pressure plate assembly; 31. Cam follower; 311. Shaft; 312. Bearing; 32. Pressure plate frame body; 33. Connecting part; 34. Guide column; 35. Linear guide rail; 36. Lower pressure plate; 4. Guide assembly; 41. Guide plate; 411. Guide groove; 4111. First groove segment; 4112. Second groove segment; 51. First sensor; 52. Second sensor.

[0020] 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

[0021] 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.

[0022] Those skilled in the art will understand that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” and “the” used herein may also include the plural forms. It should be further understood that the term “comprising” as used in this specification means the presence of features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, components, and / or groups thereof. It should be understood that when we say an element is “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein can include wireless connections or wireless coupling. The term “and / or” as used herein includes all or any modules and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0023] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the same meaning as in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless specifically defined as herein.

[0024] Reference Figures 1-9 An embodiment of the present invention provides a synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating a pressure plate, comprising a base 1, a drive device 2 disposed on the base 1, a pressure plate assembly 3 driven by the drive device 2 to perform lifting and lowering motion, and a guide assembly 4 for guiding the movement of the pressure plate assembly 3. The guide assembly 4 includes a fixedly disposed guide plate 41, on which a guide groove 411 is provided; a cam follower 31 is disposed on the pressure plate frame body 32 included in the pressure plate assembly 3, the cam follower 31 extending into the guide groove 411 and being able to roll along its trajectory; the guide groove 411 has a specific trajectory shape, such that when the drive device 2 drives the pressure plate assembly 3 to move in a first direction, the cooperation between the cam follower 31 and the guide groove 411 forces the pressure plate assembly 3 to simultaneously produce a translational motion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0025] Understandably, this invention provides a synchronous guide cam mechanism for lifting and translating a pressure plate. This mechanism mainly includes a base 1, a drive device 2, a pressure plate assembly 3, and a guide assembly 4. Through the drive device 2, and with the cooperation of the guide groove 411 with its trajectory and the cam follower 31, the pressure plate assembly 3 is forced to synchronously complete two compound actions—lifting and translating—under the drive of a single power source. This integrated design significantly saves lateral installation space, simplifies the mechanism, and improves motion synchronization and stability.

[0026] The fixed guide plate 41 and its guide groove 411 form the track for movement. The cam follower 31 mounted on the pressure plate frame body 32 acts as the wheel on the track. When the drive device 2 drives the pressure plate assembly 3 to move in the first direction (e.g., vertical descent), the cam follower 31 is forced to roll along a predetermined trajectory within the guide groove 411. Since the trajectory of the guide groove 411 is not simply along the first direction, but includes a design that forces the cam follower 31 to produce lateral displacement, this constraint will react on the pressure plate assembly 3, causing it to necessarily produce a translation in the second direction (e.g., horizontal direction) while moving in the first direction. Only one linear drive is needed to reliably achieve precise linkage of movements in two directions, fundamentally reducing the number of power components, reducing the complexity and cost of the mechanism, while avoiding the synchronization errors that may occur when using two independent drives, thus improving the consistency and coordination of the movements.

[0027] In a preferred and common embodiment, the first direction is set to vertical (lifting) and the second direction is set to horizontal (translation), which meets the needs of most assembly and pressing processes. The guide groove 411 is formed by connecting the first groove segment 4111 and the second groove segment 4112. In the initial stage, the cam follower 31 is located in the first groove segment 4111, which extends vertically. Therefore, when the drive device 2 is started, the pressure plate assembly 3 first performs a pure vertical descent motion, which can be used to avoid or approach the workpiece. When the cam follower 31 enters the second groove segment 4112, since this segment is inclined relative to the vertical direction, while continuing the vertical motion, the cam follower 31 is pushed by the groove wall to generate a horizontal displacement, thereby driving the entire pressure plate assembly 3 to perform a horizontal translation. This realizes a controllable compound motion sequence such as descent followed by translation or translation followed by rise, allowing the pressure plate to approach or leave the workpiece with a more optimized path, avoiding interference, and is especially suitable for operation in space-constrained workstations.

[0028] In some embodiments, the drive device 2 preferably employs a linear drive device such as a cylinder, electric actuator, or hydraulic cylinder. Its drive end 21 is directly hinged or fixed to the connecting part 33 of the pressure plate assembly 3. The direct drive method has a simple structure, fast response speed, and convenient control. It should be noted that when selecting a cylinder, the air source pressure should be stable, and a speed regulating valve should be configured in the air circuit to adjust the lifting speed and prevent impact. If extremely high positioning accuracy is required, a servo electric cylinder can be used as the drive device 2, with precise control of the lifting stroke and speed through a program.

[0029] In some embodiments, the cam follower 31 specifically comprises a shaft 311 and a bearing 312. The shaft 311 is preferably securely mounted on the pressure plate frame body 32 via a threaded connection, tight fit, or key connection, ensuring that it will not loosen or deflect under load. The bearing 312 is preferably a deep groove ball bearing or a needle roller bearing, with its inner ring fitted onto the shaft 311 and able to rotate freely, while its outer ring contacts and rolls against the wall of the guide groove 411. Using the bearing 312 to convert sliding friction into rolling friction greatly reduces motion resistance, wear, and heat generation, ensuring the smooth operation and precision retention of the mechanism over the long term. During assembly, it is necessary to ensure that the axis of the cam follower 31 is substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the guide groove 411 to reduce uneven wear.

[0030] In some embodiments, the pressure plate assembly 3 includes a connecting part 33 connected to the driving device 2. The other end of the connecting part 33 is equipped with a lower pressure plate 36 that has a lifting and moving function. The bottom of the lower pressure plate 36 is fixedly connected with a plurality of guide columns 34 that slide through the base 1. The bottom of the lower pressure plate 36 is also equipped with a linear guide rail 35, and the pressure plate frame body 32 is mounted on the linear guide rail 35 and slides on it.

[0031] The specific structure of the pressure plate assembly 3 further ensures the smoothness of the movement. The connecting part 33 transmits the power of the drive device 2 to the lower pressure plate 36. Multiple guide posts 34 pass through the bushing on the base 1, providing precise vertical guidance for the pure lifting and lowering movement of the lower pressure plate 36, preventing it from twisting or jamming. Crucially, the pressure plate frame body 32 is not directly fixed to the lower pressure plate 36, but is connected to it via a linear guide rail 35. This allows the pressure plate frame body 32 (along with the cam follower 31 and the lower pressure head) to slide smoothly relative to the lower pressure plate 36 in the horizontal direction (second direction). The drive device 2 drives the lower pressure plate 36 and the entire pressure plate assembly 3 to move vertically up and down via the connecting part 33; while the horizontal translational movement is achieved independently by the cooperation of the cam follower 31 and the guide groove 411 through the sliding pair of the linear guide rail 35. This ensures clear force distribution in each direction, non-interference of movements, and extremely high stability.

[0032] In some embodiments, detection sensors are specifically provided to enhance the safety and intelligence of the mechanism. A first sensor 51 (such as a photoelectric sensor or proximity switch) is used to detect whether the product to be processed has been accurately placed at the predetermined position before the pressure plate moves. If the product is not in place, the control system can prevent the drive device 2 from starting, preventing accidental pressure that could damage the product or mold. A second sensor 52 (such as a displacement sensor or pressure sensor) is used to monitor whether the product position has moved unexpectedly or whether there is any incomplete pressing during the pressing process or after the product has reached its final position. During debugging, it is important to note that the detection point of the first sensor 51 should be slightly higher than the final product placement surface to ensure early detection; the threshold value of the second sensor 52 needs to be precisely set according to the allowable small displacement of the product or a preset pressure value.

[0033] For large or elongated workpieces that require simultaneous pressing or shaping from both sides, this mechanism (including the pressure plate assembly 3, drive device 2, and guide assembly 4) can be configured into two sets, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the workpiece. The two sets of mechanisms can be driven by the same drive device 2 via a linkage mechanism (such as a synchronizing rod or rack and pinion), or they can be driven separately by two independently controlled synchronous drive devices 2. The advantage of the symmetrical layout is that it can balance the forces applied to the workpiece, preventing displacement or deformation due to unilateral force, making it particularly suitable for high-precision assembly or straightening processes.

[0034] To further improve durability and maintain long-term motion accuracy, the wall surface of the guide groove 411 (i.e., the working surface in contact with the cam follower 31) needs to be hardened, such as surface hardening, nitriding, or inlaying wear-resistant steel strips. In addition, a friction-reducing coating, such as a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a molybdenum disulfide coating, can be applied to this wear-resistant working surface. The function of the friction-reducing coating is to further reduce the coefficient of friction and wear in situations where the lubricating oil film may be insufficient or where low-oil / oil-free lubrication is desired, and it also provides some corrosion protection.

[0035] In summary, the linear drive device 2, in addition to cylinders and electric push rods, can also be replaced by linear motors, cam-driven followers, or linear motion mechanisms composed of rotary motors and lead screw and nut pairs, to adapt to different load, speed, and accuracy requirements.

[0036] The bearing 312 in the cam follower 31 is the preferred option. In low-speed, light-load applications, it can also be replaced with an engineering plastic slider (such as POM material) with self-lubricating properties that slides in the guide groove 411. Although the coefficient of friction is slightly higher, the cost is lower. The linear guide 35 can also be replaced with a sleeve-type sliding pair consisting of two parallel optical axes and linear bearings.

[0037] The trajectory of the guide groove 411 is not limited to a combination of straight and inclined segments. Depending on the needs, its trajectory can be a smooth curve (such as a logarithmic curve or a parabola) to achieve composite motions with varying velocity or acceleration. It can even be a three-dimensional spatial curve to achieve more complex spatial composite motions, but in this case, the guide plate 41 may need to be designed as a three-dimensional curved surface.

[0038] In practical applications, during assembly, the base 1 should first be leveled and fixed. When installing the guide plate 41, its verticality and parallelism with the expected horizontal movement direction must be ensured. After installing the cam follower 31, manually push the pressure plate assembly 3 to check whether the cam follower 31 rolls smoothly throughout the entire stroke of the guide groove 411 without jamming or interference. After connecting the drive device 2, perform a low-speed no-load run first to observe whether the entire movement process is smooth and synchronized. Common debugging problems and solutions: If abnormal noise or jamming is found during the movement, first check whether the bearing of the cam follower 31 is damaged, and whether there are foreign objects or burrs in the guide groove 411. If the horizontal translation cannot be completed, check whether the tilt angle of the second groove section 4112 of the guide groove 411 meets the design, or whether the linear guide rail 35 is too tight or has too large a gap. Sensor debugging should be carried out in conjunction with the actual product to ensure that the signal triggering is reliable and accurate.

[0039] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pressure plate lifting and translation synchronous guide cam mechanism, comprising a base (1), a drive device (2) disposed on the base (1), a pressure plate assembly (3) driven by the drive device (2) to perform lifting and lowering movements, and a guide assembly (4) for guiding the movement of the pressure plate assembly (3), characterized in that: The guide assembly (4) includes a fixedly disposed guide plate (41), and a guide groove (411) is provided on the guide plate (41). The pressure plate assembly (3) includes a pressure plate frame body (32) on which a cam follower (31) is provided. The cam follower (31) extends into the guide groove (411) and can roll along its trajectory. The guide groove (411) has a specific trajectory shape, such that when the driving device (2) drives the pressure plate assembly (3) to move along the first direction, the cam follower (31) and the guide groove (411) cooperate to force the pressure plate assembly (3) to simultaneously generate a translational motion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first direction is the vertical direction, and the second direction is the horizontal direction; The guide groove (411) includes a first groove segment (4111) and a second groove segment (4112) that are connected to each other. The first groove segment (4111) extends in the vertical direction, and the second groove segment (4112) extends at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

3. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving device (2) is a linear driving device. The driving end (21) of the driving device (2) is connected to the pressure plate assembly (3) and is used to drive the pressure plate assembly (3) to rise and fall in the vertical direction.

4. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cam follower (31) includes a shaft (311) mounted on the pressure plate assembly (3) and a bearing (312) rotatably sleeved outside the shaft (311), the outer ring of the bearing (312) contacting the wall of the guide groove (411).

5. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shaft (311) is fixedly connected to the pressure plate frame body (32).

6. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure plate assembly (3) includes a connecting part (33) connected to the driving device (2). The other end of the connecting part (33) is equipped with a lower pressure plate (36) that can move up and down. The bottom of the lower pressure plate (36) is fixedly connected with a plurality of guide columns (34) that slide through the base (1). The bottom of the lower pressure plate (36) is also equipped with a linear guide rail (35), and the pressure plate frame body (32) slides on the linear guide rail (35).

7. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a detection sensor configured to detect the positional state of the product to be processed relative to the pressure plate assembly (3).

8. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection sensors include a first sensor (51) for detecting whether the product is placed in place and / or a second sensor (52) for detecting whether the product position changes during the pressing process.

9. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure plate assembly (3), the driving device (2) and the guide assembly (4) are set into two groups and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the product to be processed.

10. The pressure plate lifting and translating synchronous guide cam mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wall of the guide groove (411) forms a wear-resistant working surface; The wear-resistant working surface is also provided with a friction-reducing coating, which is a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or a molybdenum disulfide coating.

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