Bolt phase alignment device

Abstract

To provide a hub wheel bolt phase alignment device with a simple configuration and sufficient strength. [Solution] The bolt phase alignment device 10 aligns the phase of the bolts M1 of the hub wheel M when assembling the hub wheel M to the disc rotor. The bolt phase alignment device 10 includes a holding means 11 for holding the hub wheel M, a rotating means 12 for rotating the hub wheel M, and a stopping means 14 for stopping the rotation of the hub wheel M when one of the multiple bolts M1 erected on the hub wheel M comes into contact with it in the rotational direction as the hub wheel M is rotated. The stopping means 14 includes a contact member 14A against which one of the bolts M1 comes into contact, and a plurality of support members 14B that support the contact member 14A.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bolt phase alignment device for aligning the phases of bolts of a hub wheel when assembling the hub wheel to a disk rotor.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, automation has been progressing in vehicle manufacturing. For example, in the process of assembling a hub wheel to a disk rotor, the hub wheel is gripped by a robot and assembled to the disk rotor. At that time, it is necessary to align the phases of a plurality of bolts erected on the hub wheel with the phases of the bolt through-holes of the disk rotor. However, since the hub wheel is received in a random state where the phases of the bolts do not match, there is a process of aligning the phases of the bolts before assembling them to the disk rotor.

[0003] As a method of aligning the phases of the bolts, for example, there is a method of detecting the phase from an image taken by a camera. However, since the hub wheel is assembled with the disk rotor placed on the lower side and the hub wheel placed on the upper side, the camera is installed on the lower side of the hub wheel in an upward state. Therefore, there is a problem that foreign matter is likely to adhere to the lens, and there is a risk of false detection due to the foreign matter. In addition, there is also a risk that the workpiece may fall onto the camera, and there is also a problem that the camera must be replaced if it is damaged.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a hub bolt phase determination device that supplies a tire to the front surface of a hub wheel of a vehicle and rotates the hub wheel of the vehicle to match the phase of the hub bolts erected on the hub wheel with the phase of the hub holes of the tire wheel. This device uses one hub bolt as a reference bolt, rotates and moves the reference bolt to a reference position by a first moving mechanism, and biases a pair of hub bolts located at an equal distance from the reference bolt from a direction perpendicular to the bolt axis and moves them on a reference line connecting two points at an equal distance from the reference position to perform phase determination.

[0005] However, there was a problem in that the bar of the first moving mechanism struck the reference bolt sideways, putting force on the support column and resulting in weak strength. Furthermore, while the device in Patent Document 1 is for phase alignment when mounting a tire to a hub wheel attached to a vehicle, the present application assembles the hub wheel to the disc rotor before it is attached to the vehicle. Therefore, even if we were to try to use the device in Patent Document 1 as is, the structure would become complex and difficult. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-45069 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] This invention was made in response to these problems and aims to provide a hub wheel bolt phase alignment device with a simple configuration and sufficient strength. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The bolt phase alignment device of the present invention aligns the phase of the bolts of a hub wheel when assembling the hub wheel to a disc rotor, and comprises a holding means for holding the hub wheel, a rotating means for rotating the hub wheel about the rotation axis of the hub wheel, and a stopping means for stopping the rotation of the hub wheel when the hub wheel is rotated by the rotating means, causing one of the multiple bolts erected on the hub wheel to come into contact in the direction of rotation, the stopping means having a contact member against which one of the bolts comes into contact, and a plurality of support members for supporting the contact member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the hub wheel is rotated by a rotating means, and one of the bolts is brought into contact with the stopping means to align the phase of the bolts. This allows for easy alignment of the bolt phases with a simple configuration. Furthermore, since the stopping means supports the contact member with multiple support members, it can be given sufficient strength against loads that strike the bolts laterally.

[0010] Furthermore, if the stopping means is biased toward the hub wheel by a biasing member, even if the bolt is in the position of the stopping means when the hub wheel is moved to the rotational position by the moving means, the stopping means will be pushed by the bolt and move in the direction of movement of the hub wheel, and when the hub wheel is rotated, the stopping means will be biased and returned to its original position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows the configuration of a bolt phase alignment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Another diagram illustrating the configuration of the bolt phase alignment device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is yet another diagram showing the configuration of the bolt phase alignment device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 1 illustrates the operation of the bolt phase alignment device. [Figure 5] Another diagram illustrating the operation of the bolt phase alignment device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is yet another diagram illustrating the operation of the bolt phase alignment device shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Figures 1 to 3 show the configuration of a bolt phase alignment device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figures 4 to 6 are for explaining the operation of the bolt alignment device 10. This bolt phase alignment device 10 aligns the phase of the bolts M1 of the hub wheel M when assembling the hub wheel M to the disc rotor. The hub wheel M is used to attach and fix the wheel, and is assembled to the disc rotor and attached to the vehicle body. Multiple bolts M1 are erected on the hub wheel M at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Figures 1 to 6 show the case where four bolts M1 are provided.

[0014] The bolt alignment device 10 includes a holding means 11 for holding the hub wheel M, a rotating means 12 for rotating the hub wheel M about its axis of rotation, a moving means 13 for moving the hub wheel M to the rotation position, and a stopping means 14 for stopping the rotation of the hub wheel M when one of the bolts M1 of the hub wheel M comes into contact with it in the rotational direction as the hub wheel M is rotated by the rotating means 12. Preferably, the bolt alignment device 10 also includes a detection means (not shown) for detecting, for example, when a bolt M1 of the hub wheel M comes into contact with the stopping means 14. Figures 4 to 6 show the positional relationship between the hub wheel M and the stopping means 14 as seen from the side of the stopping means 14.

[0015] The holding means 11, the rotating means 12, and the moving means 13 are preferably composed of an industrial robot, such as a multi-joint robot, and are preferably configured to function as the holding means 11, the rotating means 12, and the moving means 13 by controlling the industrial robot. A multi-joint robot is a robot that has a joint structure and can move its arm freely like a human arm. The holding means 11 and the rotating means 12 correspond to, for example, the end effector of a multi-joint robot, and the moving means 13 corresponds to, for example, the arm part of a multi-joint robot.

[0016] The holding means 11 is provided, for example, at the tip of an industrial robot, and is configured to hold the hub wheel M with the side where the bolt M1 stands upright facing the stopping means 14. The holding method of the holding means 11 may have any configuration as long as it can hold the hub wheel M. For example, it can be held by adsorbing or pressing the side opposite to the bolt M1 of the hub wheel M.

[0017] The rotating means 12 is configured, for example, to rotate the hub wheel M by rotating the holding means 11. The rotation angle of the rotating means 12 can be set according to the number of bolts M1, for example, so that when the hub wheel M is rotated, one of the bolts M1 abuts against the stopping means 14. For example, when there are 4 or more bolts M1, the bolt pitch is 90° or less. Therefore, if the rotation angle is, for example, 100°, one of the bolts M1 can be made to abut against the stopping means 14 by rotating the hub wheel M. Note that the rotation angle of the rotating means 12 is not limited to 100°, and it may be greater than or equal to the bolt pitch.

[0018] The rotating means 12 is also preferably configured to stop the rotation of the hub wheel M upon receiving a signal from the detection means when the detection means detects that the bolt M1 of the hub wheel M has abutted against the stopping means 14. This is because it can suppress the application of a strong force to the stopping means 14. The rotation direction of the rotating means 12 is not limited, and it may be clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0019] The moving means 13 is, for example, for moving the hub wheel M from the supply position where it is held by the holding means 11 to the rotation position where it is rotated by the rotating means 12. The rotation position is, for example, the position where the side portion of the bolt M1 abuts against the stopping means when the hub wheel M is rotated.

[0020] The stop means 14 has, for example, an abutting member 14A against which one of the bolts M1 abuts, and a plurality of support members 14B that support the abutting member 14A. By supporting the abutting member 14A with the plurality of support members 14B, sufficient strength can be provided against the load applied when the bolt M1 hits sideways. The abutting member 14A is preferably constituted by, for example, a plate-like member or a rod-like member, and has a length such that one bolt M1 abuts when the hub wheel M is rotated.

[0021] The stop means 14 is preferably configured such that, for example, the support member 14B is disposed so as to be movable in the direction facing the hub wheel M with respect to the disposing member 15, and thus is movable in the direction facing the hub wheel M. The stop means 14 is also preferably biased toward the hub wheel M by, for example, a biasing member 14C. Specifically, for example, it is preferable that a biasing member 14C such as a spring is disposed between the abutting member 14A and the disposing member 15 to bias the stop means 14 toward the hub wheel M.

[0022] Thereby, when the hub wheel M is moved to the rotational position by the moving means 13, even if the bolt M1 overlaps the position of the stop means 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, for example, the stop means 14 can be pushed by the bolt M1 and move to the side opposite to the hub wheel M. That is, the stop means 14 is movable between a reference position where it is not pressed by the bolt M1 and a pressed position where it is pressed by the bolt M1.

[0023] The detection means is preferably constituted by, for example, a force sensor. The force sensor decomposes the forces and torques applied from various directions into components in the XYZ directions respectively, and detects them by converting them into electrical signals, and is preferably provided at the tip of an industrial robot.

[0024] The bolt phase alignment device 10 operates, for example, as follows: First, for example, the moving means 13 moves the holding means 11 to the supply position of the hub wheel M, and the holding means 11 holds the hub wheel M. Next, for example, as shown in Figure 1, the moving means 13 moves the holding means 11 to the rotation position of the hub wheel M. At this time, for example, as shown in Figure 4, if the positions of the bolt M1 of the hub wheel M and the stopping means 14 do not overlap, the stopping means 14 is not pushed by the bolt M1 and is therefore in the reference position. Subsequently, for example, the rotating means 12 rotates the hub wheel M around the rotation axis of the hub wheel M. As a result, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, one of the bolts M1 of the hub wheel M comes into contact with the stopping means 14, and the phase of the bolt M1 is aligned.

[0025] Furthermore, when one of the bolts M1 comes into contact with the stopping means 14, it is preferable that, for example, the detection means detects that contact has occurred, a signal is transmitted to the rotating means 12, and the rotating means 12 stops rotating.

[0026] Furthermore, when the holding means 11 is moved by the moving means 13 to the rotational position of the hub wheel M, if, for example, the positions of the bolt M1 and the stopping means 14 overlap, as shown in Figure 6, then, for example, as shown in Figure 3, the stopping means 14 is pushed by the bolt M1 and moves to the pressing position opposite to the hub wheel M. Next, for example, when the hub wheel M is rotated by the rotating means 12 around the rotation axis of the hub wheel M, the bolt M1 disengages from the stopping means 14 and is biased toward the hub wheel M by the biasing member 14C, and the stopping means 14 returns to its reference position. Subsequently, when the hub wheel M is rotated further by the rotating means 12, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, one of the bolts M1 of the hub wheel M comes into contact with the stopping means 14, and the phases of the bolts M1 are aligned.

[0027] As described above, according to this embodiment, the hub wheel M is rotated by the rotating means 12, and one of the bolts M1 is brought into contact with the stopping means 14 to align the phase of the bolts M1. Thus, the phase of the bolts M1 can be easily aligned with a simple configuration. Furthermore, since the stopping means 14 is supported by a plurality of support members 14B through the contact member 14A, it can be given sufficient strength against loads that strike the bolts M1 laterally.

[0028] Furthermore, if the stopping means 14 is biased toward the hub wheel M by the biasing member 14C, then when the moving means 13 moves the hub wheel M to the rotational position, even if the bolt M1 is overlapping the position of the stopping means 14, the stopping means 14 will be pushed by the bolt M1 and move in the direction of movement of the hub wheel M, and when the hub wheel M is rotated, the stopping means 14 will be biased and returned to its original position.

[0029] The present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways. For example, although each component was described in detail in the above embodiments, the specific structure and shape of each component may differ, and the present invention does not have to include all of the above-mentioned components, but may include other components as well. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 10...Bolt phase alignment device, 11...Holding means, 12...Rotation means, 13...Moving means, 14...Stopping means, 14A...Contact member, 14B...Support member, 14C...Biasing member, 15...Installation member, M...Hub wheel, M1...Bolt

Claims

1. A bolt phase alignment device for aligning the phase of the bolts on a hub wheel when assembling the hub wheel to a disc rotor, A retaining means for holding the hub wheel, A means for rotating the hub wheel around the axis of rotation of the hub wheel, A means of moving the hub wheel to the rotational position, The hub wheel is rotated by the aforementioned rotating means, causing one of the multiple bolts erected on the hub wheel to come into contact with it in the direction of rotation, thereby providing a stopping means for stopping the rotation of the hub wheel. The stopping means includes a contact member against which one of the bolts abuts, and a plurality of support members that support the contact member. A bolt phase alignment device characterized by the following features.

2. The bolt phase alignment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stopping means is movable in a direction opposite to the hub wheel and is biased toward the hub wheel by a biasing member.

Images