An automated assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies

Abstract

This utility model discloses an automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies. The upper surface of the frame is equipped with first and second rotating mechanisms at intervals. A storage rack is located on one side of the first rotating mechanism to store mirror housings. A first gripping mechanism grips the mirror housings from the storage rack and transfers them to a conveying mechanism. A mirror frame is manually placed on the first positioning platform of the first rotating mechanism. The second gripping mechanism grips the mirror housings from the conveying mechanism and assembles them with the mirror frames on the first positioning platform. The second rotating mechanism has a second positioning platform. A third gripping mechanism grips the assembly from the first positioning platform to the second positioning platform. A pressing mechanism on one side of the second rotating mechanism presses the assembly, and a fourth gripping mechanism on the other side grips and transports the pressed assembly. This application automates multiple stages of lens assembly in a series, reducing manual waiting time and operational errors, avoiding repetitive labor, significantly shortening the assembly cycle of individual products, and significantly improving overall production efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automobile manufacturing and related parts production, specifically to an automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] In the automotive manufacturing and related parts production sector, exterior mirror lens assemblies are one of the most important safety components of automobiles, and their assembly quality and efficiency directly affect the overall performance and production efficiency of vehicles. With the rapid development of the automotive industry, market demands for both production volume and quality are constantly increasing, leading to more stringent standards for the assembly process of exterior mirror lens assemblies.

[0003] The traditional assembly method for exterior mirror lens components mainly relies on manual operation. During the assembly process, workers need to manually take the lens shell out of the storage area and then assemble it with the pre-prepared frame. After the initial assembly is completed, the assembly needs to be transported to the pressing station for pressing, and finally the pressed finished product is taken out. This manual assembly method has many drawbacks.

[0004] First, manual operation is inefficient. Since each assembly step requires manual completion by workers, and the process is affected by factors such as worker skill level and physical strength, the assembly speed is slow and cannot meet the demands of large-scale production. During peak production periods, the limitations of manual assembly become even more pronounced, easily becoming a bottleneck restricting the entire production process.

[0005] Secondly, the quality of manual assembly is difficult to guarantee. Different workers have different operating techniques and skill levels, which may lead to problems such as loose assembly of the lens shell and frame or positional deviation during the assembly process. This will affect the quality and performance of the external mirror lens assembly. Moreover, manual operation is prone to fatigue and negligence, which further increases the risk of unstable assembly quality.

[0006] Furthermore, manual assembly is costly. With rising labor costs, companies need to pay significant labor expenses to maintain production. Additionally, to ensure assembly quality, companies need to provide regular training for workers, which further increases operating costs. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, thereby providing an automatic assembly equipment for external viewing mirror lens assemblies;

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0009] This invention provides an automatic assembly device for exterior mirror lens assemblies.

[0010] The system includes a frame, a first rotating mechanism, a second rotating mechanism, a storage rack, a first gripping mechanism, a second gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and a third gripping mechanism. The first and second rotating mechanisms are both located on the upper surface of the frame and are spaced apart. The storage rack is located on one side of the first rotating mechanism and is used to store mirror housings. The first gripping mechanism grips the mirror housings from the storage rack and transfers them to the conveying mechanism. A first positioning platform is provided on the first rotating mechanism, on which a mirror frame to be assembled with the mirror housing is manually placed. The second gripping mechanism grips and transports the mirror housings from the conveying mechanism to the first positioning platform and assembles them with the mirror frame. A second positioning platform is provided on the second rotating mechanism. The third gripping mechanism grips the assembly from the first positioning platform and transfers it to the second positioning platform. A pressing mechanism is provided on one side of the second positioning platform to press the assembly on the second positioning platform. A fourth gripping mechanism is provided on one side of the second rotating mechanism to grip and transport the pressed assembly.

[0011] Optionally, the storage rack includes a base frame and limiting rods. The limiting rods are configured in several groups, and the groups of limiting rods are set on the base frame. Each group of limiting rods consists of four rods, which are arranged in a circumferential distribution to form a clamping space. The mirror housing is stacked vertically within the clamping space. The clamping space is configured in multiple groups, which are arranged in a circumferential distribution.

[0012] Optionally, the surfaces of the first positioning platform and the second positioning platform are provided with limit blocks. The limit blocks are set in three groups, and the three groups of limit blocks are distributed on the three edge sidewalls of the first positioning platform and the second positioning platform to form a clamping area. The clamping area is used to limit the position of the mirror frame and the assembly.

[0013] Optionally, the first rotating mechanism includes a first rotary motor and a first turntable. The first rotary motor is disposed inside the frame and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame. The first turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the first rotary motor. The first positioning platform is disposed on the upper surface of the first turntable. The second rotating mechanism includes a second rotary motor and a second turntable. The second rotary motor is disposed inside the frame and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame. The second turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the second rotary motor. The second positioning platform is disposed on the upper surface of the second turntable.

[0014] Optionally, the first positioning platform is configured as several groups, with the several groups of the first positioning platform evenly distributed on the surface of the first turntable, and the second positioning platform is configured as several groups, with the several groups of the second positioning platform evenly distributed on the surface of the second turntable.

[0015] Optionally, the conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt, a drive motor, and guide plates. The conveyor belt is mounted on the frame, and the drive motor is connected to the conveyor belt for driving the conveyor belt to rotate. The guide plates are configured in two sets, which are respectively mounted on the two sides of the conveyor belt to guide the mirror housing on the conveyor belt and keep the mirror housing in the correct posture during the conveying process.

[0016] In summary, this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] This application automates multiple stages of the assembly of exterior mirror lens components, such as mirror housing storage, gripping, conveying, mirror housing and frame assembly, pressing, and finished product gripping and transportation. Compared with traditional manual assembly, it reduces the waiting time between different processes and the repetitive work caused by operational errors, greatly shortens the assembly cycle of a single product, and significantly improves the overall production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is an axial view of the structure of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a top view of the structure of this utility model.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-frame, 2-first rotating mechanism, 3-second rotating mechanism, 4-material storage rack, 5-first gripping mechanism, 6-second gripping mechanism, 7-conveying mechanism, 8-third gripping mechanism, 9-first positioning platform, 10-second positioning platform, 11-pressing mechanism, 12-fourth gripping mechanism, 13-base frame, 14-limiting rod, 15-limiting block. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0022] Example:

[0023] like Figures 1-2 As shown, this utility model provides an automatic assembly device for exterior mirror lens assemblies.

[0024] The system includes a frame 1, a first rotating mechanism 2, a second rotating mechanism 3, a storage rack 4, a first gripping mechanism 5, a second gripping mechanism 6, a conveying mechanism 7, and a third gripping mechanism 8. The first rotating mechanism 2 and the second rotating mechanism 3 are both located on the upper surface of the frame 1 and are spaced apart. The storage rack 4 is located on one side of the first rotating mechanism 2 and is used to store mirror housings. The first gripping mechanism 5 is used to grip the mirror housings on the storage rack 4 and transfer them to the conveying mechanism 7. The first rotating mechanism 2 is equipped with a first positioning platform 9, on which a mirror frame, which is assembled with the mirror housing, is manually placed. The second gripping mechanism 6 is used to grip and transport the mirror housing on the conveying mechanism 7 to the first positioning platform 9 and assemble it with the mirror frame. The second rotating mechanism 3 is provided with a second positioning platform 10. The third gripping mechanism 8 is used to grip the assembly on the first positioning platform 9 to the second positioning platform 10. A pressing mechanism 11 is provided on one side of the second positioning platform. The pressing mechanism 11 is used to press the assembly on the second positioning platform 10. A fourth gripping mechanism 12 is provided on one side of the second rotating mechanism 3. The fourth gripping mechanism 12 is used to grip and transport the pressed assembly.

[0025] Through the above setup, the entire equipment automates multiple stages of the exterior mirror lens assembly process, such as mirror housing storage, gripping, conveying, mirror housing and frame assembly, pressing, and finished product gripping and transportation. Compared with traditional manual assembly, it reduces the waiting time between different processes and the repetitive labor caused by operational errors, greatly shortens the assembly cycle of a single product, and significantly improves overall production efficiency. For example, on a traditional manual assembly line, it may take several minutes to complete the assembly of an exterior mirror lens assembly, while using this automated assembly equipment, the assembly time can be shortened to tens of seconds.

[0026] Automated operation reduces human interference and avoids differences in assembly quality caused by varying worker skill levels and fatigue. Each assembly step is carried out according to preset procedures and parameters, ensuring consistency in key indicators such as assembly accuracy and pressing force between the lens housing and frame. This improves the overall quality stability of the exterior mirror lens assembly and reduces the defect rate.

[0027] By reducing labor costs, improving production efficiency and product quality, and lowering the costs of rework and scrap, the overall production cost has been effectively reduced. At the same time, automated equipment can operate continuously, reducing production interruptions caused by factors such as employee rest or leave, and further improving production efficiency.

[0028] The first rotating mechanism 2 and the second rotating mechanism 3 are spaced apart on the upper surface of the frame 1. This arrangement fully considers the operating space and movement trajectory between the mechanisms, avoids interference and collision between the mechanisms, and ensures the stability and safety of the equipment operation. At the same time, the reasonable spatial layout is also conducive to the maintenance and repair of the equipment, and makes it convenient for operators to inspect, debug and replace parts of each mechanism.

[0029] The storage rack 4 stores mirror shells, providing a stable material source for the first gripping mechanism 5. The first gripping mechanism 5 can quickly and accurately grip the mirror shells on the storage rack 4 and transfer them to the conveying mechanism 7, realizing the automated transition of mirror shells from storage to conveying, improving the timeliness and accuracy of material supply, and reducing production stoppages caused by material shortages or untimely supply.

[0030] The first positioning platform 9 on the first rotating mechanism 2 provides a placement position for the mirror frame, and the second positioning platform 10 on the second rotating mechanism 3 provides a position for subsequent processing of the assembly. By rotating the rotating mechanism, the positioning platform can be switched between different workstations, so that the assembly process can be carried out in an orderly manner according to the predetermined process. At the same time, the setting of the positioning platform ensures the stability of the mirror frame and the assembly during the assembly process and improves the assembly accuracy.

[0031] The second gripping mechanism 6 grips and transports the mirror housing from the conveying mechanism 7 to the first positioning platform 9 for assembly with the mirror frame. The third gripping mechanism 8 grips the assembly from the first positioning platform 9 to the second positioning platform 10. The fourth gripping mechanism 12 grips and transports the pressed assembly. The gripping mechanisms act as a bridge between different mechanisms, realizing the automatic transfer of materials between different workstations and ensuring the continuity and efficiency of the assembly process.

[0032] It should be noted that the first gripping mechanism 5 adopts a combination of a robotic arm and a vacuum suction cup, a common gripping technology in the field of industrial automation. Currently, there are many mature robotic arm products on the market, such as industrial robotic arms from brands like ABB, FANUC, and KUKA. These robotic arms have multi-degree-of-freedom joint structures, enabling them to move flexibly in three-dimensional space and accurately reach the position of the mirror shell on the storage rack 4. Their motion control precision is high, and through advanced servo motors and encoders, they can achieve millimeter-level or even higher precision positioning, ensuring accurate gripping of the mirror shell. The vacuum suction cup is a common tool that uses the principle of vacuum to adsorb objects. It is usually made of flexible materials such as rubber and can fit tightly against the surface of the mirror shell to form a sealed space. The vacuum generator generates negative pressure, which makes the suction cup firmly adsorb the mirror shell. The suction cup causes little damage to the surface of the mirror shell, and is especially suitable for gripping mirror shells with relatively fragile or smooth surfaces. Moreover, the adsorption force of the vacuum suction cup can be adjusted according to the weight and material of the mirror shell to ensure gripping stability.

[0033] The second gripping mechanism 6 uses an electric gripper with a vision recognition system. Vision recognition technology is one of the key technologies in industrial automation. Utilizing industrial cameras and image processing algorithms, the vision recognition system can quickly and accurately identify the position, orientation, and features of the mirror housing on the conveying mechanism 7. For example, through open-source image processing libraries such as OpenCV, the images captured by the camera can be analyzed to determine the center coordinates and angle of the mirror housing, providing precise positioning information for the gripper's grasping. The vision recognition system features high precision, high speed, and high reliability, and can adapt to mirror housings of different shapes and sizes. The electric gripper is driven by a motor to open and close, realizing the gripping and release of the mirror housing. Compared with traditional pneumatic grippers, electric grippers have advantages such as high control precision, fast response speed, and adjustable gripping force. For example, some electric grippers can use encoders to provide real-time feedback on the opening and closing position and gripping force of the gripper, ensuring that the mirror housing is not damaged when gripping it. At the same time, the electric gripper has a compact structure and is easy to install on robotic arms or other motion mechanisms to achieve flexible gripping operations.

[0034] The third gripping mechanism 8 employs a magnetic adsorption gripping device, suitable for situations where there are metal parts in the frame or assembly that can be magnetically adsorbed. The magnetic adsorption gripping device uses the magnetic force generated by an electromagnet or permanent magnet to adsorb the metal parts. The electromagnet can adjust the magnetic force by controlling the magnitude and direction of the current, achieving flexible gripping and release operations. Permanent magnets have advantages such as simple structure and no need for power supply, but the magnetic force is relatively fixed. In practical applications, a suitable magnetic adsorption method can be selected according to the specific situation of the assembly. To ensure the stability and reliability of gripping, the magnetic adsorption gripping device is designed with a structure that matches the shape of the metal parts in the assembly. For example, if the metal parts of the assembly are flat, the gripping device can be designed as a flat structure with multiple magnetic poles to increase the adsorption area and improve the adsorption force. Simultaneously, the gripping device can also be equipped with position sensors and pressure sensors to monitor the adsorption status and clamping force in real time, ensuring the safety of the gripping process.

[0035] The fourth gripping mechanism 12 uses a combination of parallel pneumatic grippers and vacuum suction cups. Parallel pneumatic grippers are a common pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to drive two grippers to open and close in parallel, thereby gripping objects. Parallel pneumatic grippers have advantages such as simple structure, low cost, and large gripping force. They are suitable for gripping assemblies with large weight or regular shape. For example, in some automotive parts assembly lines, parallel pneumatic grippers are often used to grip parts such as metal shells. Adding a vacuum suction cup to the parallel pneumatic gripper can further improve the stability and reliability of gripping. The vacuum suction cup can adhere to the surface of the assembly and work together with the gripping force of the parallel pneumatic gripper to prevent the assembly from sliding or falling during gripping and transportation. The auxiliary role of the vacuum suction cup is particularly important when gripping assemblies with relatively smooth or uneven surfaces.

[0036] The pressing mechanism 11 adopts hydraulic pressing equipment, a pressing technology commonly used in industrial production. The hydraulic system uses a hydraulic pump to press hydraulic oil into the hydraulic cylinder, which drives the piston to move, thereby generating huge pressure. The hydraulic system has the advantages of high pressure, large output force, and smooth movement, which can meet the pressure requirements during the pressing of the external sight mirror lens assembly. For example, the pressure of some hydraulic pressing equipment can reach several tons or even tens of tons, which can ensure a tight connection between the mirror shell and the mirror frame.

[0037] Hydraulic pressing equipment is typically equipped with advanced pressure and displacement sensors, which can monitor pressure and displacement changes in real time during the pressing process. Through a closed-loop control system, it can precisely control the pressing force and pressing stroke according to preset pressing process parameters, ensuring the consistency and stability of pressing quality. At the same time, hydraulic pressing equipment can also be equipped with safety protection devices, such as overload protection and limit protection, to prevent accidents during the pressing process.

[0038] The storage rack 4 includes a base frame 13 and limiting rods 14. The limiting rods 14 are configured in several groups and are arranged on the base frame 13. Each group of limiting rods 14 consists of four rods, which are arranged in a circular pattern to form a clamping space. The mirror housing is stacked vertically within the clamping space. The clamping space is configured in multiple groups and is arranged in a circular pattern.

[0039] The circumferentially distributed clamping spaces allow the mirror shells to be neatly stacked and stored. Each clamping space corresponds to multiple mirror shells, which facilitates the gripping mechanism to quickly and accurately locate and grip the mirror shells. The orderly storage method reduces the time and effort spent by the gripping mechanism in the process of searching for mirror shells and improves gripping efficiency. For example, in the traditional disordered storage method, the gripping mechanism may need to spend a long time to find a suitable mirror shell, but with the use of this storage rack 4 structure, the gripping time can be greatly shortened.

[0040] The clamping space formed by the limiting rod 14 can play a certain protective role for the mirror shell, preventing damage such as collision and scratch during storage. The mirror shell is usually quite fragile, and even slight collisions or scratches may affect its appearance and performance. Through the constraint of the limiting rod 14, the mirror shell maintains a relatively stable position in the clamping space, reducing contact and friction with surrounding objects and ensuring the quality of the mirror shell.

[0041] The circumferential distribution of multiple clamping spaces makes full use of the space of the storage rack 4, allowing more mirror shells to be stored in a limited space. This not only reduces the floor space occupied by the storage rack 4 and improves the utilization rate of the production site, but also increases the flexibility of production.

[0042] Optionally, the surfaces of the first positioning platform 9 and the second positioning platform 10 are provided with limiting blocks 15. The limiting blocks 15 are configured in three groups, and the three groups of limiting blocks 15 are distributed on the three edge sidewalls of the first positioning platform 9 and the second positioning platform 10 to form a clamping area. The clamping area is used to limit the position of the mirror frame and the assembly.

[0043] The clamping area formed by the three sets of limiting blocks 15 can precisely limit the positioning of the lens frame and the assembly, ensuring that the lens frame and the assembly are in the correct position on the positioning platform. Precise positioning allows the lens housing and the lens frame to accurately align during assembly, improving the accuracy and consistency of the assembly. For example, if the position of the lens frame deviates during assembly, it may cause uneven gaps between the lens housing and the lens frame, affecting the performance of the exterior mirror. The positioning function of the limiting blocks 15 can effectively prevent this from happening.

[0044] A stable positioning platform and precise limiting function ensure the stability of the frame and assembly during assembly, reducing assembly quality problems caused by shaking or displacement. At the same time, the precise assembly position is also beneficial to the subsequent pressing process, ensuring uniform pressing force, improving the overall strength and stability of the exterior mirror lens assembly, and extending the product's service life.

[0045] Optionally, the first rotating mechanism 2 includes a first rotary motor and a first turntable. The first rotary motor is disposed inside the frame 1 and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame 1. The first turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the first rotary motor. The first positioning platform 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the first turntable. The second rotating mechanism 3 includes a second rotary motor and a second turntable. The second rotary motor is disposed inside the frame 1 and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame 1. The second turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the second rotary motor. The second positioning platform 10 is disposed on the upper surface of the second turntable.

[0046] The first and second rotary motors provide stable power for the rotation of the first and second turntables. The motors have high speed accuracy and torque output stability, which can ensure that the rotating mechanism rotates at a predetermined speed and angle. The stable power drive ensures that the positioning platform switches accurately between different workstations, providing a reliable guarantee for subsequent gripping and assembly operations.

[0047] Optionally, the first positioning platform 9 is configured as several groups, and the several groups of the first positioning platform 9 are evenly distributed on the surface of the first turntable; the second positioning platform 10 is configured as several groups, and the several groups of the second positioning platform 10 are evenly distributed on the surface of the second turntable.

[0048] Optionally, the conveying mechanism 7 includes a conveyor belt, a drive motor, and guide plates. The conveyor belt is mounted on the frame 1. The drive motor is connected to the conveyor belt for driving the conveyor belt to rotate. The guide plates are configured in two sets, which are respectively mounted on the two sides of the conveyor belt to guide the mirror housing on the conveyor belt and keep the mirror housing in the correct posture during the conveying process.

[0049] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model 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 utility model.

Claims

1. An automatic assembly device for exterior mirror lens assemblies, characterized in that, The system includes a frame, a first rotating mechanism, a second rotating mechanism, a storage rack, a first gripping mechanism, a second gripping mechanism, a conveying mechanism, and a third gripping mechanism. The first and second rotating mechanisms are both located on the upper surface of the frame and are spaced apart. The storage rack is located on one side of the first rotating mechanism and is used to store mirror housings. The first gripping mechanism grips the mirror housings from the storage rack and transfers them to the conveying mechanism. A first positioning platform is provided on the first rotating mechanism, on which a mirror frame to be assembled with the mirror housing is manually placed. The second gripping mechanism grips and transports the mirror housings from the conveying mechanism to the first positioning platform and assembles them with the mirror frame. A second positioning platform is provided on the second rotating mechanism. The third gripping mechanism grips the assembly from the first positioning platform and transfers it to the second positioning platform. A pressing mechanism is provided on one side of the second positioning platform to press the assembly on the second positioning platform. A fourth gripping mechanism is provided on one side of the second rotating mechanism to grip and transport the pressed assembly.

2. The automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage rack includes a base frame and limiting rods. The limiting rods are configured in several groups and are set on the base frame. Each group of limiting rods consists of four rods, which are arranged in a circular pattern to form a clamping space. The mirror housing is stacked vertically within the clamping space. The clamping space is configured in multiple groups and is arranged in a circular pattern.

3. The automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first positioning platform and the second positioning platform are provided with limiting blocks on their surfaces. The limiting blocks are set in three groups, and the three groups of limiting blocks are distributed on the three edge sidewalls of the first positioning platform and the second positioning platform to form a clamping area. The clamping area is used to limit the position of the mirror frame and the assembly.

4. The automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first rotating mechanism includes a first rotary motor and a first turntable. The first rotary motor is disposed inside the frame and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame. The first turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the first rotary motor. The first positioning platform is disposed on the upper surface of the first turntable. The second rotating mechanism includes a second rotary motor and a second turntable. The second rotary motor is disposed inside the frame and its output shaft passes through the upper surface of the frame. The second turntable is fixedly mounted on the output shaft of the second rotary motor. The second positioning platform is disposed on the upper surface of the second turntable.

5. An automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first positioning platform is configured as several groups, and the several groups of the first positioning platform are evenly distributed on the surface of the first turntable. The second positioning platform is configured as several groups, and the several groups of the second positioning platform are evenly distributed on the surface of the second turntable.

6. The automatic assembly equipment for exterior mirror lens assemblies according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt, a drive motor, and guide plates. The conveyor belt is mounted on the frame, and the drive motor is connected to the conveyor belt for driving the conveyor belt to rotate. The guide plates are configured in two sets, which are respectively located on both sides of the conveyor belt to guide the mirror housing on the conveyor belt and keep the mirror housing in the correct posture during the conveying process.

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