A rotary fine positioning tool and a method for operating the same

Abstract

This invention proposes a rotary precision positioning fixture and its operation method, relating to the field of automotive parts inspection, and solves the problems of poor compatibility, low inspection efficiency, and insufficient rotary positioning accuracy of traditional control arm inspection fixtures. This invention adopts a dual-pallet 180° intermittent rotary layout, driven by a cam divider, combined with a conical precision positioning and lifting and shock absorption structure. A single pallet is compatible with three types of control arms. With the addition of light shielding and electronic control linkage, it achieves parallel operation of loading and inspection, completing automated high-precision visual inspection. This invention significantly improves inspection efficiency through parallel operation of the dual pallets, and a single pallet is compatible with three types of automotive control arms. Conical precision positioning and lifting and shock absorption ensure inspection accuracy, and electronic control collaboration achieves full-process automation, stable and safe operation, and is suitable for large-volume online inspection of multiple control arm models.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive parts testing technology, and in particular to a rotary precision positioning fixture and its operating method. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of the automotive industry, control arms (such as front control arms, upper rear control arms, and lower rear control arms) are key safety components in the automotive suspension system, and their machining accuracy directly affects the handling and safety of the entire vehicle. Currently, the inspection of the contour dimensions, bore position accuracy, and surface defects of control arms is mostly carried out by manual sampling or simple measuring tools, which has the problems of low efficiency and easy omission.

[0003] Although some visual inspection devices have appeared on the market, they still have the following shortcomings in practical applications: First, traditional testing fixtures are usually designed specifically for a single model. When switching between different models of control arms (such as front control arm and rear control arm) on the production line, a lot of time is spent changing the fixtures, causing equipment downtime and seriously affecting testing efficiency.

[0004] Secondly, most of the existing testing equipment is "single-station operation type", that is, the feeding, testing and unloading processes must be carried out in sequence. When the vision camera takes pictures, it is necessary to wait for the workpiece to be completely still and for the person to leave. The equipment utilization rate is low and cannot meet the requirements of mass production cycle.

[0005] Third, in the rotary inspection scheme, the tray's positioning accuracy is insufficient, which can easily lead to blurred images or positional deviations when the vision camera captures the image, affecting the accuracy of the inspection results. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention proposes a rotary precision positioning fixture and its operation method. By using a cam divider to drive intermittent rotation, integrating multiple sets of positioning pins on a single pallet to accommodate three types of control arms, setting a conical precision positioning structure, and realizing parallel operation of loading and inspection at two stations, it solves the problems of poor compatibility, low inspection efficiency, and insufficient rotary positioning accuracy of traditional control arm inspection fixtures.

[0007] A rotary precision positioning fixture includes a workpiece transfer table, profile protection, external protection for vision inspection equipment, alarm lights, an electrical cabinet, a manual start button box, a rotary assembly, and a barcode scanner. The workpiece transfer platform, profile protection, and visual inspection equipment external protection are all fixed components and are fixedly connected to the ground. The workpiece transfer platform is used for workpiece loading and transfer, and the profile protection and visual inspection equipment external protection are used together for external safety protection of the equipment. The rotating body assembly is the moving part, which is fixedly connected to the ground and located inside the outer protection of the vision inspection equipment. It is used to support the workpiece and realize rotary precision positioning and inspection operations. The alarm light is fixedly installed on the top of the outer protective structure of the visual inspection equipment and is used to indicate the working status of the equipment and to trigger an alarm for abnormalities. The electrical cabinet is located on the side of the outer protective layer of the vision inspection equipment and is used to provide power supply and overall control for the tooling. The manual start button box is located on the profile protection and is used to trigger the tooling to start operation; The barcode scanner is located on the side of the rotating body assembly and is used for scanning, identifying, and binding workpiece information.

[0008] Furthermore, the rotating assembly includes a support platform, a workpiece compatible tray, a rotating light shield, a power unit, and a lifting mechanism. The support platform is fixedly connected to the ground, and both the power unit and the lifting mechanism are fixedly connected to the support platform. The workpiece compatible tray is connected to the output end of the power unit via a transmission connection, and the rotating light shield is fixedly connected to the workpiece compatible tray and rotates synchronously with it. The workpiece compatible tray is used to compatiblely carry workpieces and realize the precise positioning and quick clamping of workpieces. The workpiece includes a front control arm, a rear upper control arm, and a rear lower control arm. The power unit is used to drive the workpiece-compatible pallet to perform intermittent rotary motion; The lifting mechanism is located below the workpiece-compatible tray and is used to lift the tray to isolate the test vibration. Rotary light shields are used to block stray light at the inspection station and ensure the stability of lighting for visual inspection.

[0009] Furthermore, the power assembly includes a servo motor, a reducer, a coupling, a cam divider, chemical bolts, and a mechanical dead stop. The output end of the servo motor is connected to the reducer, and the reducer is connected to the input end of the cam divider via the coupling. Both the cam divider and the reducer are fixedly mounted on the support platform with chemical bolts, and the mechanical dead stop is located on the side of the cam divider. Servo motors are used to provide rotational drive power; Speed ​​reducers are used to reduce speed and increase output torque; Couplings are used to achieve smooth power transmission; A cam divider is used to convert continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotary motion and drive the horizontal rotation of a workpiece-compatible pallet. Mechanical dead stop is used for mechanical limit and positioning protection after the cam divider has rotated to the correct position.

[0010] Furthermore, two workpiece compatible trays are provided, arranged symmetrically at 180°, with a rotating light-shielding plate positioned between the two workpiece compatible trays. The cam divider drives two workpiece compatible trays to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching, so that the two workpiece compatible trays alternately occupy the external loading station and the internal inspection station, realizing parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and visual inspection.

[0011] Furthermore, the workpiece compatible pallet includes a pallet base plate, a front control arm positioning pin A, a rear lower control arm positioning pin A, a rear upper control arm positioning pin A, an attitude detection component, a front control arm support, rear upper and front control arm positioning pins B, and a rear lower control arm positioning pin B. The front control arm positioning pin A, rear lower control arm positioning pin A, rear upper control arm positioning pin A, front control arm support, rear upper / front control arm positioning pins B, rear lower control arm positioning pins B, and attitude detection component are all fixedly mounted on the pallet base plate. The tray base plate has a hollow structure, with multiple sets of positioning pins corresponding to the outlines and positioning hole arrangements of the front control arm, the upper rear control arm, and the lower rear control arm, respectively. The attitude detection component is used to detect whether the workpiece is placed in the correct orientation.

[0012] Furthermore, a conical precision positioning pin or a conical positioning bushing is provided between the tray base plate and the output end of the cam divider. The conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing is used to eliminate the backlash of the rotational motion and ensure the absolute positional accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray at the inspection station.

[0013] Furthermore, the visual inspection equipment has a visual inspection unit inside its outer protective cover. The visual inspection unit is arranged in accordance with the internal inspection station and is used to perform image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatibility tray. The rotating body assembly is divided into an external loading station and an internal inspection station. The external loading station is used for loading and unloading workpieces, while the internal inspection station is used for the vision inspection unit to perform inspections, enabling parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection. The two workpiece compatible pallets are controlled by the power unit and alternately correspond to the external loading station and the internal inspection station.

[0014] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism is linked with the vision inspection unit. When the workpiece compatible tray carrying the workpiece rotates to the internal inspection station and completes the fine positioning, the lifting mechanism lifts the tray base plate upward to isolate external vibrations, allowing the vision inspection unit to complete the inspection. After the inspection is completed, the lifting mechanism resets downward, and the cam divider drives the workpiece compatible tray to perform the next rotation switch.

[0015] Furthermore, the control system inside the electrical cabinet is connected to the manual start button box, barcode scanner, vision inspection unit, alarm light, and power components and lifting mechanism in the slewing assembly via signals. Among them, the manual start button box, barcode scanner, vision inspection unit, power component, lifting mechanism and electrical cabinet are connected by bidirectional signals. The electrical cabinet receives the start signal from the manual start button box, the workpiece information signal from the barcode scanner, the detection data signal from the vision inspection unit, the operating status signal from the power component and the lifting status signal from the lifting mechanism, and sends control signals to each component. The electrical cabinet and the alarm light are connected by a one-way signal to control the cabinet to perform working status indication or abnormal alarm actions. The alarm light does not send a feedback signal to the electrical cabinet. The control system of the electrical cabinet is used to control the power components to drive the workpiece compatible pallet to rotate, control the lifting mechanism to rise and fall, control the start and stop of the vision inspection unit, and at the same time coordinate the movement of the posture detection component to complete the workpiece positioning, clamping and inspection.

[0016] A method for operating a rotary precision positioning fixture, applied to the aforementioned rotary precision positioning fixture, includes the following steps: S1. Power is supplied to the entire rotary precision positioning fixture through the electrical cabinet. The control system in the electrical cabinet starts and completes self-test. The control alarm light is in standby mode. The servo motor, reducer, and cam divider in the power component are reset to their initial positions. The mechanical dead stop completes the initial limit. The lifting mechanism is reset to the lowest position. The two workpiece compatible trays are located at the initial positions of the external loading station and the internal inspection station, respectively. The rotary light shield is in the initial state along with the workpiece compatible tray. The vision inspection unit, barcode scanner, and manual start button box are all started and ready. The workpiece transfer table is prepared with the front control arm, rear upper control arm, or rear lower control arm workpiece to be inspected. S2. At the external loading station next to the profile protection, the workpiece is picked up from the workpiece transfer table and placed on the workpiece compatible tray located at the external loading station. The workpiece is precisely matched with the front control arm positioning pin A, the rear lower control arm positioning pin A, the rear upper control arm positioning pin A, the rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B, the rear lower control arm positioning pin B and the front control arm support on the tray base plate. The posture detection device detects the workpiece placement posture. After confirming that it is in place, the quick switching mechanism starts to lock the workpiece. The precision positioning reference is aligned with the workpiece positioning hole / positioning surface to complete the precise positioning. The operator scans the workpiece information with a barcode scanner. The barcode scanner transmits the workpiece information to the control system of the electrical cabinet to complete the workpiece information binding. Then, the operator presses the manual start button box set on the profile protection to transmit the start control signal to the electrical cabinet. S3. After receiving the start signal, the electrical cabinet controls the power component to start. The servo motor outputs drive power, which is reduced and increased in torque by the reducer. The power is then smoothly transmitted to the cam divider through the coupling. The cam divider converts the continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotational motion, driving two workpiece compatible trays arranged 180° symmetrically to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching. The rotation light shield rotates synchronously with the two workpiece compatible trays. After the cam divider rotates to its position, the mechanical dead stop mechanically limits it. At the same time, the conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing between the tray base plate and the output end of the cam divider engages to eliminate the rotational motion gap and ensure the absolute position accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray at the corresponding station. At this time, the workpiece compatible tray from the original external loading station is transferred to the internal inspection station inside the outer protection of the vision inspection equipment, and the workpiece compatible tray from the original internal inspection station is transferred out to the external loading station. S4. After the workpiece compatible pallet arrives at the internal inspection station and completes precise positioning, the electrical cabinet controls the lifting mechanism to lift the pallet base plate upward to isolate external vibrations. At the same time, the visual inspection unit corresponding to the internal inspection station is activated inside the external protection of the visual inspection equipment. The rotating light shield blocks stray light for the inspection station to ensure the stability of the visual inspection lighting. The visual inspection unit performs image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatible pallet, and transmits the inspection data bidirectionally to the control system of the electrical cabinet. S5. While the vision inspection unit is performing inspection, the operator operates the inspected workpiece at the external loading station, controls the rapid switching mechanism to release the workpiece, and completes the unloading. Then, the operation of S2 is repeated to complete the loading, positioning and barcode binding of the new workpiece, so as to realize the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection. After receiving the inspection data transmitted by the vision inspection unit, the control system of the electrical cabinet judges whether the workpiece is qualified. If it is not qualified, the electrical cabinet controls the alarm light to issue an abnormal alarm signal through a one-way electrical connection. If it is qualified, the alarm light maintains the normal working status indication. S6. After the inspection is completed, the control cabinet controls the lifting mechanism to reset downwards, and then controls the power component to start again. The cam divider drives the two workpiece compatible trays to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching again, repeating S3-S5 to achieve continuous automated operation of the tooling.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention achieves significant beneficial effects through the above technical solution: 1. Significantly improved detection efficiency (rotary parallel operation): This invention physically isolates the inspection area from the manual loading area by using a cam divider to rotate the pallet. While workers load and unload workpieces at the external loading station, visual inspection is performed inside the equipment, achieving an overlap between "inspection time" and "loading / unloading time." This eliminates equipment waiting time, significantly shortens the inspection cycle, and is ideally suited for the online inspection needs of high-volume production lines.

[0018] 2. Excellent multi-product compatibility (pallet integrated design): By integrating multiple positioning modules corresponding to the front control arm, upper rear control arm, and lower rear control arm onto a single pallet base plate, a single tooling setup can be compatible with three different control arm models without any replacements. When production plans change, operators only need to place the corresponding workpiece model onto the corresponding positioning module, greatly reducing changeover time and improving the equipment's flexible production capabilities.

[0019] 3. High-precision positioning guarantee (precise positioning structure): The pallet assembly is equipped with a precision positioning reference, which, together with the high-precision cam divider of the rotary table, ensures the repeatability of the workpiece's positioning accuracy at the inspection station. In particular, by setting a conical precision positioning pin structure, the cumulative error and gap caused by the rotational motion are effectively eliminated, ensuring the consistency of the workpiece's position within the camera's field of view. This provides a stable and clear image source for the vision inspection system, significantly improving the reliability and accuracy of the inspection results.

[0020] 4. Compact structure and stable operation: The rotary layout makes full use of three-dimensional space, reducing the equipment's footprint. The cam divider features high speed, smooth operation, and impact resistance, ensuring stability throughout the entire inspection process (especially during camera exposure) and preventing image blurring caused by vibration. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a rotary precision positioning fixture according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating body assembly. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the power assembly structure; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a workpiece compatible tray; Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the support for the front control arm assembly; Figure 6 This is a diagram showing the support for the rear upper control arm assembly; Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the support for the rear lower control arm assembly.

[0022] Among them, 1 is the workpiece transfer table, 2 is the profile protection, 3 is the external protection for the vision inspection equipment, 4 is the alarm light, 5 is the electrical cabinet, 6 is the manual start button box, 7 is the rotating body assembly, 71 is the support platform, 72 is the workpiece compatible pallet, 721 is the front control arm positioning pin A, 722 is the rear lower control arm positioning pin A, 723 is the rear upper control arm positioning pin A, 724 is the posture detection component, 725 is the front control arm support, 726 is the rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B, 727 is the rear lower control arm positioning pin B, 728 is the pallet base plate, 73 is the rotating light shield, 74 is the power assembly, 741 is the servo motor, 742 is the reducer, 743 is the coupling, 744 is the cam divider, 745 is the chemical bolt, 746 is the mechanical dead stop, 75 is the lifting mechanism, and 8 is the barcode scanner. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Reference Figures 1-7 A rotary precision positioning fixture includes a workpiece transfer table 1, a profile guard 2, an outer guard for the vision inspection equipment 3, an alarm light 4, an electrical cabinet 5, a manual start button box 6, a rotary body assembly 7, and a barcode scanner 8. The workpiece transfer platform 1, the profile protection 2, and the visual inspection equipment outer protection 3 are fixed components, all of which are fixedly connected to the ground. The workpiece transfer platform 1 is used for workpiece loading and transfer. The profile protection 2 and the visual inspection equipment outer protection 3 are used together for external safety protection of the equipment. The rotating body assembly 7 is a moving part, fixedly connected to the ground, and located inside the outer protection 3 of the vision inspection equipment. It is used to carry the workpiece and realize rotary precision positioning and inspection operations. The alarm light 4 is fixedly installed on the top of the outer protective cover 3 of the visual inspection equipment and is used to indicate the working status of the equipment and to alarm abnormalities. The electrical cabinet 5 is located on the side of the outer protective cover 3 of the vision inspection equipment, and is used to provide power supply and overall control for the tooling; The manual start button box 6 is installed on the profile protection 2 and is used to trigger the tooling to start running; The barcode scanner 8 is located on the side of the rotating body assembly 7 and is used for scanning, identifying and binding workpiece information.

[0025] Specifically, this invention integrates a workpiece transfer platform 1, profile protection 2, visual inspection equipment outer protection 3, alarm light 4, electrical cabinet 5, manual start button box 6, rotary assembly 7, and barcode scanner 8 to construct a well-organized and fully functional rotary precision positioning fixture. The workpiece transfer platform 1 can smoothly realize the workpiece loading and transfer. The profile protection 2 and the visual inspection equipment outer protection 3 work together to form a comprehensive external safety protection structure for the equipment. The rotary assembly 7 is stably arranged inside the visual inspection equipment outer protection 3, which can reliably carry the workpiece and complete the rotary precision positioning and inspection. The system features a multi-functional control unit, including an alarm light 4 that indicates the equipment's working status in real time and issues an alarm signal for any abnormalities; an electrical cabinet 5 that provides a stable power supply and centralized overall control for the entire tooling system; a manual start button box 6 that allows operators to easily trigger the tooling's start-up; and a barcode scanner 8 that can accurately scan and identify and bind workpiece information. Each component performs its own function and works in concert, providing a safe, stable, and convenient hardware foundation for the automotive control arm inspection operation. This effectively ensures the reliability of the tooling's basic operation and the standardization of the work process, while also optimizing the overall equipment layout and improving the safety and convenience of using the tooling.

[0026] Furthermore, the rotating assembly 7 includes a support platform 71, a workpiece compatible tray 72, a rotating light shield 73, a power unit 74, and a lifting mechanism 75. The support platform 71 is fixedly connected to the ground. The power unit 74 and the lifting mechanism 75 are both fixedly connected to the support platform 71. The workpiece compatible tray 72 is drivenly connected to the output end of the power unit 74. The rotating light shield 73 is fixedly connected to the workpiece compatible tray 72 and rotates synchronously with it. The workpiece compatible tray 72 is used to compatiblely carry workpieces and realize the precise positioning and quick clamping of workpieces. The workpiece includes a front control arm, a rear upper control arm and a rear lower control arm. The power unit 74 is used to drive the workpiece compatible pallet 72 to perform intermittent rotary motion; The lifting mechanism 75 is located below the workpiece compatible tray 72 and is used to lift the tray to isolate the detection vibration. The rotating light shield 73 is used to block stray light at the inspection station and ensure the stability of the visual inspection lighting.

[0027] Specifically, this invention integrates a support platform 71, a workpiece compatible tray 72, a rotating light shield 73, a power assembly 74, and a lifting mechanism 75 into the rotary assembly 7. The support platform 71 provides stable support and installation for the entire rotary assembly 7. The workpiece compatible tray 72 can accommodate three types of workpieces: the front control arm, the upper rear control arm, and the lower rear control arm, enabling precise workpiece positioning and rapid clamping. This significantly improves the tooling's adaptability to various workpiece models and clamping efficiency. The power assembly 74 smoothly drives the workpiece compatible tray 72 in intermittent rotational motion, ensuring smooth and stable workpiece station switching. The lifting mechanism 75 lifts the tray to isolate detection vibrations, effectively preventing external vibrations from affecting detection accuracy. The rotating light shield 73 blocks ambient light from the detection station, ensuring stable illumination for visual inspection. The coordinated operation of these components enhances the structural stability and operational reliability of the rotary assembly 7 and optimizes the tooling's performance in terms of workpiece compatibility, station operation, and inspection protection, providing a stable core execution structure for high-precision inspection.

[0028] Furthermore, the power assembly 74 includes a servo motor 741, a reducer 742, a coupling 743, a cam divider 744, a chemical bolt 745, and a mechanical dead stop 746. The output end of the servo motor 741 is connected to the reducer 742, and the reducer 742 is connected to the input end of the cam divider 744 through the coupling 743. Both the cam divider 744 and the reducer 742 are fixedly mounted on the support platform 71 by the chemical bolt 745. The mechanical dead stop 746 is located on the side of the cam divider 744. Servo motor 741 is used to provide rotary drive power; The speed reducer 742 is used to reduce speed and increase output torque; Coupling 743 is used to achieve smooth power transmission; Cam divider 744 is used to convert continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotary motion and drive the workpiece compatible pallet 72 to rotate horizontally; The mechanical dead stop 746 is used for mechanical limit and positioning protection after the cam divider 744 has rotated to the correct position.

[0029] Specifically, this invention configures the power assembly 74 with a servo motor 741, a reducer 742, a coupling 743, a cam divider 744, a chemical bolt 745, and a mechanical dead stop 746. The servo motor 741 provides stable rotary drive power to the tooling. The reducer 742 effectively reduces the speed and increases the output torque. The coupling 743 works together to achieve smooth power transmission. The cam divider 744 accurately converts continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotary motion, reliably driving the workpiece compatible pallet 72 to complete the rotation. The chemical bolt 745 securely mounts the cam divider 744 and the reducer 742 on the support platform 71, ensuring the installation firmness of the power transmission structure. The mechanical dead stop 746 provides mechanical limit and positioning protection after the cam divider 744 rotates into position. The entire power transmission structure is smooth, precise in positioning, and reliable in operation, ensuring the precise controllability of the rotation of the workpiece compatible pallet 72 and improving the overall stability and safety of the power assembly 74.

[0030] Furthermore, two workpiece compatible trays 72 are provided, arranged symmetrically at 180°, and a rotating light-shielding plate 73 is disposed between the two workpiece compatible trays 72. The cam divider 744 drives the two workpiece compatible trays 72 to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching, so that the two workpiece compatible trays 72 alternately occupy the external loading station and the internal inspection station, realizing the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and visual inspection.

[0031] Specifically, this invention employs two workpiece compatible trays 72 arranged symmetrically at 180°, with a rotating light-shielding plate 73 positioned between the two workpiece compatible trays 72. A cam divider 744 drives the two workpiece compatible trays 72 to perform intermittent 180° rotation switching, allowing the two workpiece compatible trays 72 to alternately occupy the external loading station and the internal inspection station. This enables parallel operation of workpiece loading / unloading and visual inspection, optimizing the structural layout of the rotating assembly 7 while effectively improving the tooling's operating efficiency. It ensures that the loading and inspection processes do not interfere with each other. Combined with the synchronous operation of the rotating light-shielding plate 73, it continuously guarantees the light-shielding effect of the inspection station, providing reliable support for stable visual inspection operations.

[0032] Furthermore, the workpiece compatible tray 72 includes a tray base plate 728, a front control arm positioning pin A721, a rear lower control arm positioning pin A722, a rear upper control arm positioning pin A723, an attitude detection component 724, a front control arm support 725, rear upper and front control arm positioning pins B726 and rear lower control arm positioning pins B727. The front control arm positioning pins A721, A722, A723, 725, B726, B727, and 724 are all fixedly mounted on the tray base plate 728. The tray base plate 728 has a hollow structure, with multiple sets of positioning pins corresponding to the outlines and positioning hole arrangements of the front control arm, the upper rear control arm, and the lower rear control arm, respectively. The attitude detection component 724 is used to detect whether the workpiece is placed in the correct attitude.

[0033] Specifically, this invention integrates a front control arm positioning pin A721, a rear lower control arm positioning pin A722, a rear upper control arm positioning pin A723, an attitude detection component 724, a front control arm support 725, a rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B726, a rear lower control arm positioning pin B727, a precision positioning reference, and a quick switching mechanism on the pallet base plate 728 of the workpiece compatible pallet 72. The pallet base plate 728 is designed with a hollow structure, so that multiple sets of positioning pins can respectively correspond to the contours and positioning hole arrangements of the front control arm, the rear upper control arm, and the rear lower control arm. This system enables a single tooling unit to be compatible with multiple models of control arms. The attitude detection component 724 accurately detects whether the workpiece is in the correct position. The attitude detection component 724 can be implemented using a proximity switch. The positioning pin and the workpiece positioning hole / positioning surface work together to effectively ensure the repeatability of the workpiece positioning. The front control arm support 725 provides stable support for the workpiece. The overall structure is reasonable and the positioning is accurate and reliable. It not only improves the efficiency and stability of workpiece clamping, but also greatly enhances the flexibility and adaptability of the tooling, meeting the inspection needs of various types of automotive control arms.

[0034] Furthermore, a conical precision positioning pin or a conical positioning bushing is provided between the tray base plate 728 and the output end of the cam divider 744. The conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing is used to eliminate the backlash of the rotational motion and ensure the absolute positional accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray 72 at the inspection station.

[0035] Specifically, the present invention provides a conical precision positioning pin or a conical positioning bushing between the tray base plate 728 and the output end of the cam divider 744. This structure effectively eliminates the gap generated by the workpiece compatible tray 72 during the rotational movement, accurately ensuring the absolute positional accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray 72 at the inspection station. It avoids the detection error problem caused by rotational positioning deviation from the core positioning structure, and provides a stable and accurate workpiece positioning guarantee for visual inspection operations.

[0036] Furthermore, the outer protective cover 3 of the vision inspection equipment is equipped with a vision inspection unit, which is arranged in accordance with the internal inspection station and is used to perform image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray 72. The rotating body assembly 7 is divided into an external loading station and an internal inspection station. The external loading station is used for loading and unloading workpieces, and the internal inspection station is used for the vision inspection unit to perform inspection, so as to realize the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection. The two workpiece compatible pallets 72 are controlled by the power unit 74 and take turns corresponding to the external loading station and the internal inspection station.

[0037] Specifically, the present invention sets up a vision inspection unit corresponding to the internal inspection station inside the outer protection 3 of the vision inspection equipment, which can accurately perform image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray 72. At the same time, the rotating body assembly 7 is divided into an external loading station and an internal inspection station, so that the two workpiece compatible trays 72 alternately correspond to the two stations under the control of the power component 74, realizing the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection, effectively shortening the overall operation cycle, and ensuring that the loading and unloading operation and the internal inspection process do not interfere with each other, further optimizing the tooling operation process, and greatly improving inspection efficiency and equipment utilization.

[0038] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism 75 is linked with the vision inspection unit for control. When the workpiece compatible tray 72 carrying the workpiece rotates to the internal inspection station and completes the fine positioning, the lifting mechanism 75 lifts the tray base plate 728 upward to isolate external vibrations so that the vision inspection unit can complete the inspection. After the inspection is completed, the lifting mechanism 75 resets downward, and the cam divider 744 drives the workpiece compatible tray 72 to perform the next rotation switch.

[0039] Specifically, this invention employs a linkage control method between the lifting mechanism 75 and the vision inspection unit. When the workpiece-compatible tray 72 carrying the workpiece rotates to the internal inspection station and completes precise positioning, the lifting mechanism 75 lifts the tray base plate 728 upward to isolate external vibrations, providing the vision inspection unit with stable and interference-free inspection conditions, effectively ensuring the accuracy of the inspection results. After the inspection is completed, the lifting mechanism 75 resets downward, and then the cam divider 744 drives the workpiece-compatible tray 72 to perform the next rotation switch, allowing the lifting action, vision inspection, and station rotation to be connected in an orderly manner, improving the coordination and stability of the tooling operation, and continuously ensuring the smooth operation of high-precision inspection work.

[0040] Furthermore, the control system inside the electrical cabinet 5 is connected to the manual start button box 6, the barcode scanner 8, the vision inspection unit, the alarm light 4, and the power component 74 and lifting mechanism 75 inside the rotating body assembly 7. Among them, the manual start button box 6, barcode scanner 8, vision inspection unit, power component 74, lifting mechanism 75 and electrical cabinet 5 are bidirectional signal connected. The electrical cabinet 5 receives the start signal from the manual start button box, the workpiece information signal from the barcode scanner, the detection data signal from the vision inspection unit, the running status signal from the power component and the lifting status signal from the lifting mechanism, and sends control signals to each component. The electrical cabinet 5 and the alarm light 4 are connected by a one-way signal to control the cabinet to perform working status indication or abnormal alarm action. The alarm light 4 does not send a feedback signal to the electrical cabinet 5. The control system of the electrical cabinet 5 is used to control the power component 74 to drive the workpiece compatible pallet 72 to rotate, control the lifting mechanism 75 to lift and lower, control the start and stop of the vision inspection unit, and at the same time coordinate the movement of the posture detection component 724 to complete the workpiece positioning, clamping and inspection.

[0041] Specifically, this invention establishes standardized signal connections between the control system within the electrical cabinet 5 and the manual start button box 6, barcode scanner 8, vision inspection unit, alarm light 4, and the power component 74 and lifting mechanism 75 within the rotating body assembly 7. The manual start button box 6, barcode scanner 8, vision inspection unit, power component 74, lifting mechanism 75, and electrical cabinet 5 are configured as bidirectional signal connections, enabling stable transmission and precise issuance of start signals, workpiece information signals, inspection data signals, operating status signals, and lifting status signals. The connection between the electrical cabinet 5 and the alarm light 4 is configured as a unidirectional connection. The signal connection allows the alarm light 4 to be independently controlled by the electrical cabinet 5 to indicate the working status and perform abnormal alarm actions. At the same time, the control system of the electrical cabinet 5 coordinates the power component 74 to drive the workpiece compatible pallet 72 to rotate, the lifting mechanism 75 to lift, and the vision inspection unit to start and stop. It can also coordinate the control of the posture detection component 724 and the quick switching mechanism to complete the entire process of workpiece positioning, clamping and inspection. This realizes centralized and intelligent collaborative control of various functional components of the tooling, effectively improving the automation level and control accuracy of the tooling operation, and ensuring that the entire inspection operation process is executed in an orderly, stable and efficient manner.

[0042] A method for operating a rotary precision positioning fixture, applied to the aforementioned rotary precision positioning fixture, includes the following steps: S1. Power is supplied to the entire rotary precision positioning fixture through the electrical cabinet 5. The control system in the electrical cabinet 5 starts and completes self-test. The control alarm light 4 is in standby mode. The servo motor 741, reducer 742, and cam divider 744 in the power assembly 74 are reset to their initial positions. The mechanical dead stop 746 completes the initial limit. The lifting mechanism 75 is reset to the lowest position. The two workpiece compatible trays 72 are respectively located at the initial positions of the external loading station and the internal inspection station. The rotary light shield 73 is in the initial state along with the workpiece compatible tray 72. The vision inspection unit, barcode scanner 8, and manual start button box 6 are all started and ready. The workpiece transfer table 1 is prepared with the front control arm, rear upper control arm, or rear lower control arm workpiece to be inspected. S2. At the external loading station next to the profile protection 2, the workpiece is picked up from the workpiece transfer table 1 and placed on the workpiece compatible tray 72 located at the external loading station. The workpiece is precisely matched with the front control arm positioning pin A721, rear lower control arm positioning pin A722, rear upper control arm positioning pin A723, rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B726, rear lower control arm positioning pin B727 and front control arm support 725 on the tray base plate 728. The posture detection component 724 detects the workpiece placement posture. After confirming that it is in place, the quick switching mechanism is started to lock the workpiece. The precision positioning reference is aligned with the workpiece positioning hole / positioning surface to complete the precise positioning. The operator scans the workpiece information through the barcode scanner 8. The barcode scanner 8 transmits the workpiece information to the control system of the electrical cabinet 5 to complete the workpiece information binding. Then, the manual start button box 6 set on the profile protection 2 is pressed to transmit the start control signal to the electrical cabinet 5. After receiving the start signal, S3 and the electrical cabinet 5 control the power component 74 to start. The servo motor 741 outputs driving power, which is reduced and increased in torque by the reducer 742. The power is then smoothly transmitted to the cam divider 744 through the coupling 743. The cam divider 744 converts the continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotational motion, driving two workpiece compatible trays 72 arranged symmetrically at 180° to perform 180° intermittent rotational switching. The rotating light shield 73 rotates synchronously with the two workpiece compatible trays 72. After the cam divider 744 rotates to the position, the mechanical dead stop 746 mechanically limits it. At the same time, the conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing between the tray base plate 728 and the output end of the cam divider 744 engages to eliminate the rotational motion gap and ensure the absolute position accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray 72 at the corresponding station. At this time, the workpiece compatible tray 72 from the original external loading station is transferred to the internal inspection station inside the outer protection 3 of the vision inspection equipment, and the workpiece compatible tray 72 from the original internal inspection station is transferred out to the external loading station. S4. After the workpiece compatible tray 72 arrives at the internal inspection station and completes precise positioning, the electrical cabinet 5 controls the lifting mechanism 75 to lift the tray base plate 728 upward to isolate external vibration. At the same time, the visual inspection unit corresponding to the internal inspection station is activated inside the external protection 3 of the visual inspection equipment. The rotating light shield 73 blocks stray light for the inspection station to ensure the stability of the visual inspection lighting. The visual inspection unit performs image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray 72, and transmits the inspection data bidirectionally to the control system of the electrical cabinet 5. S5. While the vision inspection unit is performing inspection, the operator operates the inspected workpiece at the external loading station, controls the rapid switching mechanism to release the workpiece, and completes the unloading. Then, the operation of S2 is repeated to complete the loading, positioning and barcode binding of the new workpiece, so as to realize the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection. After receiving the inspection data transmitted by the vision inspection unit, the control system of the electrical cabinet 5 determines whether the workpiece is qualified. If it is not qualified, the electrical cabinet 5 controls the alarm light 4 to issue an abnormal alarm signal through a one-way electrical connection. If it is qualified, the alarm light 4 maintains the normal working status indication. S6. After the inspection is completed, the electrical cabinet 5 controls the lifting mechanism 75 to reset downwards, and then controls the power component 74 to start again. The cam divider 744 drives the two workpiece compatible pallets 72 to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching again, repeating S3-S5 to achieve continuous automated operation of the tooling.

[0043] Specifically, this invention powers the tooling and initializes the system via electrical cabinet 5. It then sequentially executes steps such as workpiece loading and positioning with information binding, 180° intermittent rotation switching, lifting and vibration damping linked visual inspection, parallel loading / unloading and inspection operations, and cyclical automated operation. The entire process relies on the coordinated operation of the workpiece transfer table 1, rotating body assembly 7, power component 74, lifting mechanism 75, visual inspection unit, barcode scanner 8, manual start button box 6, and alarm light 4. The control system within electrical cabinet 5 coordinates the posture detection component 724, rapid switching mechanism, conical precision positioning structure, and mechanical dead stop 746 to achieve precise positioning and action connection. This enables fully automated and standardized operation of the inspection process for the front control arm, upper rear control arm, and lower rear control arm of an automobile, allowing workpiece loading / unloading and visual inspection to be carried out simultaneously without waiting time. Simultaneously, precise positioning, vibration isolation, and light shielding continuously improve inspection accuracy. Signal closed-loop and status alarms ensure safe and stable operation, ultimately significantly improving the tooling's operating efficiency, inspection accuracy, and continuous operation capability, adapting to the online inspection needs of large-volume, multi-model automobile control arms.

[0044] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A precision positioning fixture of the rotary type, characterized in that, It includes a workpiece transfer table (1), profile protection (2), external protection for visual inspection equipment (3), alarm light (4), electrical cabinet (5), manual start button box (6), rotating body assembly (7), and barcode scanner (8). The workpiece transfer platform (1), profile protection (2), and visual inspection equipment external protection (3) are fixed components, all of which are fixedly connected to the ground. The workpiece transfer platform (1) is used for workpiece loading and transfer. The profile protection (2) and the visual inspection equipment external protection (3) are used together for external safety protection of the equipment. The rotating body assembly (7) is a moving part, fixedly connected to the ground, located inside the outer protection (3) of the vision inspection equipment, used to carry the workpiece and realize rotary precision positioning and inspection operations; The alarm light (4) is fixedly installed on the top of the outer protective cover (3) of the visual inspection equipment and is used to indicate the working status of the equipment and to alarm abnormalities. The electrical cabinet (5) is located on the side of the outer protection (3) of the visual inspection equipment and is used to provide power supply and overall control for the tooling; The manual start button box (6) is installed on the profile protection (2) and is used to trigger the tooling to start running; The barcode scanner (8) is located on the side of the rotating body assembly (7) and is used for scanning and binding workpiece information.

2. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating assembly (7) includes a support platform (71), a workpiece compatible tray (72), a rotating light shield (73), a power unit (74), and a lifting mechanism (75). The support platform (71) is fixedly connected to the ground. The power unit (74) and the lifting mechanism (75) are both fixedly connected to the support platform (71). The workpiece compatible tray (72) is driven by the output end of the power unit (74). The rotating light shield (73) is fixedly connected to the workpiece compatible tray (72) and rotates synchronously with it. The workpiece compatible tray (72) is used to compatiblely carry workpieces and realize the precise positioning and quick clamping of workpieces. The workpiece includes a front control arm, a rear upper control arm and a rear lower control arm. The power unit (74) is used to drive the workpiece-compatible pallet (72) to perform intermittent rotary motion; The lifting mechanism (75) is located below the workpiece compatible tray (72) and is used to lift the tray to isolate the detection vibration. The rotating light shield (73) is used to block stray light at the inspection station and ensure the stability of the visual inspection lighting.

3. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The power assembly (74) includes a servo motor (741), a reducer (742), a coupling (743), a cam divider (744), a chemical bolt (745), and a mechanical dead stop (746). The output end of the servo motor (741) is connected to the reducer (742) via a drive. The reducer (742) is connected to the input end of the cam divider (744) via a coupling (743). The cam divider (744) and the reducer (742) are both fixedly mounted on the support platform (71) via chemical bolts (745). The mechanical dead stop (746) is located on the side of the cam divider (744). The servo motor (741) is used to provide rotary drive power; The speed reducer (742) is used to reduce the speed and increase the output torque; The coupling (743) is used to achieve smooth power transmission; A cam divider (744) is used to convert continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotary motion and drive the workpiece-compatible pallet (72) to rotate horizontally; The mechanical dead stop (746) is used for mechanical limit and positioning protection after the cam divider (744) has rotated to the correct position.

4. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 3, characterized in that, Two workpiece compatible trays (72) are provided, arranged symmetrically at 180°, and a rotating light shield (73) is provided between the two workpiece compatible trays (72). The cam divider (744) drives two workpiece compatible trays (72) to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching, so that the two workpiece compatible trays (72) are alternately located at the external loading station and the internal inspection station, realizing parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and visual inspection.

5. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that, The workpiece compatible pallet (72) includes a pallet base plate (728), a front control arm positioning pin A (721), a rear lower control arm positioning pin A (722), a rear upper control arm positioning pin A (723), an attitude detection component (724), a front control arm support (725), a rear upper and front control arm positioning pin B (726), and a rear lower control arm positioning pin B (727). The front control arm positioning pin A (721), the rear lower control arm positioning pin A (722), the rear upper control arm positioning pin A (723), the front control arm support (725), the rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B (726), the rear lower control arm positioning pin B (727), and the attitude detection component (724) are all fixedly mounted on the pallet base plate (728). The tray base plate (728) has a hollow structure, and multiple sets of positioning pins correspond to the outlines and positioning hole arrangements of the front control arm, the upper rear control arm, and the lower rear control arm, respectively. The posture detection component (724) is used to detect whether the workpiece is placed in the correct posture.

6. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 5, characterized in that, A conical precision positioning pin or a conical positioning bushing is provided between the tray base plate (728) and the output end of the cam divider (744). The conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing is used to eliminate the rotational motion clearance and ensure the absolute position accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray (72) at the inspection station.

7. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that, The visual inspection equipment is equipped with a visual inspection unit inside the outer protective (3). The visual inspection unit is arranged in accordance with the internal inspection station and is used to collect images, detect contour dimensions and defects of the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray (72). The rotating body assembly (7) is divided into an external loading station and an internal inspection station. The external loading station is used for loading and unloading workpieces, and the internal inspection station is used for the vision inspection unit to perform inspection, so as to realize the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and vision inspection. The two workpiece compatible pallets (72) are controlled by the power component (74) and take turns corresponding to the external loading station and the internal inspection station.

8. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 7, characterized in that, The lifting mechanism (75) is linked with the vision inspection unit. When the workpiece compatible tray (72) carrying the workpiece rotates to the internal inspection station and completes the fine positioning, the lifting mechanism (75) lifts the tray base plate (728) upward to isolate external vibrations so that the vision inspection unit can complete the inspection. After the inspection is completed, the lifting mechanism (75) resets downward, and the cam divider (744) drives the workpiece compatible tray (72) to perform the next rotation switch.

9. The rotary precision positioning fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control system in the electrical cabinet (5) is connected to the manual start button box (6), barcode scanner (8), visual inspection unit, alarm light (4), and power components (74) and lifting mechanism (75) in the rotary body assembly (7) via signals; Among them, the manual start button box (6), barcode scanner (8), vision inspection unit, power component (74), lifting mechanism (75) and electrical cabinet (5) are connected by bidirectional signals. The electrical cabinet (5) receives the start signal from the manual start button box, the workpiece information signal from the barcode scanner, the detection data signal from the vision inspection unit, the running status signal from the power component and the lifting status signal from the lifting mechanism, and sends control signals to each component. The electrical cabinet (5) and the alarm light (4) are connected by a one-way signal to control the execution of working status indication or abnormal alarm action. The alarm light (4) does not send a feedback signal to the electrical cabinet (5). The control system of the electrical cabinet (5) is used to control the power component (74) to drive the workpiece compatible pallet (72) to rotate, control the lifting mechanism (75) to lift and lower, control the start and stop of the vision inspection unit, and at the same time coordinate the movement of the posture detection component (724) to complete the workpiece positioning, clamping and inspection.

10. A method for operating a rotary precision positioning fixture, applied to the rotary precision positioning fixture according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The operation method includes the following steps: S1. Power the entire rotary precision positioning fixture through the electrical cabinet (5). The control system in the electrical cabinet (5) starts and completes self-test. The control alarm light (4) is in standby mode. The servo motor (741), reducer (742), and cam divider (744) in the power assembly (74) are reset to their initial positions. The mechanical dead stop (746) completes the initial limit. The lifting mechanism (75) is reset to the lowest position. The two workpiece compatible trays (72) are located at the initial positions of the external loading station and the internal inspection station, respectively. The rotary light shield (73) is in the initial state along with the workpiece compatible tray (72). The vision inspection unit, barcode scanner (8), and manual start button box (6) are all started and ready. The workpiece transfer table (1) is prepared with the front control arm, rear upper control arm, or rear lower control arm workpiece to be inspected. S2. At the external loading station next to the profile protection (2), take the workpiece from the workpiece transfer table (1) and place the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray (72) located at the external loading station. Make the workpiece and the front control arm positioning pin A (721), the rear lower control arm positioning pin A (722), the rear upper control arm positioning pin A (723), the rear upper / front control arm positioning pin B (726), the rear lower control arm positioning pin B (727) and the front control arm support (725) on the tray base plate (728) cooperate precisely. The posture detection component (724) detects the workpiece placement posture. After confirming that it is in place, the quick switching mechanism starts and locks the workpiece. The precision positioning reference is in contact with the workpiece positioning hole / positioning surface to complete the precise positioning. The operator scans the workpiece information through the barcode scanner (8). The barcode scanner (8) transmits the workpiece information to the control system of the electrical cabinet (5) to complete the workpiece information binding. Then, press the manual start button box (6) set on the profile protection (2) to transmit the start control signal to the electrical cabinet (5). S3, after receiving the start signal, the electrical cabinet (5) controls the power assembly (74) to start. The servo motor (741) outputs driving power, which is reduced and increased in torque by the reducer (742) and then smoothly transmitted to the cam divider (744) through the coupling (743). The cam divider (744) converts the continuous power into intermittent horizontal rotation motion, driving two workpiece compatible trays (72) arranged symmetrically at 180° to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching. The rotating light shield (73) rotates synchronously with the two workpiece compatible trays (72). 744) After the rotation is in place, the mechanical dead stop (746) mechanically limits it. At the same time, the conical precision positioning pin or conical positioning bushing between the tray base plate (728) and the output end of the cam divider (744) engages to eliminate the rotational movement clearance and ensure the absolute position accuracy and repeatability of the workpiece compatible tray (72) at the corresponding station. At this time, the workpiece compatible tray (72) of the original external loading station is transferred to the internal inspection station inside the outer protection (3) of the vision inspection equipment, and the workpiece compatible tray (72) of the original internal inspection station is transferred out to the external loading station. S4. After the workpiece compatible tray (72) arrives at the internal inspection station and completes the precise positioning, the electrical cabinet (5) controls the lifting mechanism (75) to lift the tray base plate (728) upward to isolate external vibration. At the same time, the visual inspection unit corresponding to the internal inspection station is activated inside the external protection (3) of the visual inspection equipment. The rotating light shield (73) blocks stray light for the inspection station to ensure the stability of visual inspection lighting. The visual inspection unit performs image acquisition, contour size and defect detection on the workpiece on the workpiece compatible tray (72) and transmits the detection data bidirectionally to the control system of the electrical cabinet (5). S5. While the visual inspection unit is performing inspection, the operator operates the inspected workpiece at the external loading station, controls the fast switching mechanism to release the workpiece, and completes the unloading. Then repeat the operation of S2 to complete the loading, positioning and barcode binding of the new workpiece, so as to realize the parallel operation of workpiece loading and unloading and visual inspection. After the control system of the electrical cabinet (5) receives the inspection data transmitted by the visual inspection unit, it judges whether the workpiece is qualified. If it is not qualified, the electrical cabinet (5) controls the alarm light (4) to issue an abnormal alarm signal through a one-way electrical connection. If it is qualified, the alarm light (4) maintains the normal working status indication. S6. After the test is completed, the electrical cabinet (5) controls the lifting mechanism (75) to reset downwards, and then controls the power component (74) to start again. The cam divider (744) drives the two workpiece compatible trays (72) to perform 180° intermittent rotation switching again, repeating S3-S5, to realize the continuous automated operation of the tooling.

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