JPH0852528A - Method and device for press-forming tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce working time, production cost and equipment cost by continuously and automatically executing all processes from charging of material to discharging of product when forming a plastic metal tube to various products with multiple step press working. CONSTITUTION:Plural fixed dies 56 are placed at equal intervals on the peripheral part of upper face of a round rotary table 33, further the fixed dies 56 of this rotary table 33 are intermittently rotated so as to stop at the working stations of all processes during one revolution of the rotary table 33. In order to execute a prescribed work at each working station, supplying means, plural movable dies 35b-35e and taking out means are successively arranged from the upper side of respective working stations.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe press forming method and apparatus for forming an upper shaft or the like, which constitutes a steering shaft of an automobile, for example, using a plastic metal pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An upper shaft manufactured using a plastic metal pipe is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-11020. This upper shaft is for safety of the driver in the event of a collision, and on the steering wheel side, from the end, the screw part for installing the lock nut, the serrated shaft for locking the steering wheel, and the bearing lock nut are arranged. The installation screw and the upper bearing arrangement are integrally formed so that the steering wheel can be attached. An annular recess for absorbing impact energy is formed by filling the space between the cylinder and the resin.

However, in order to mold an ordinary round pipe into the above-mentioned upper shaft shape, it is necessary to change the mold and perform the press working stepwise. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned upper shaft, since the steering wheel side is made up of the above-mentioned multiple stages of shaft portions having different diameters, five types of molds are required, and five units with each mold are provided. Molding was performed using the press molding device of.

For this reason, many steps have to be sequentially performed to form one pipe into a steering shaft shape, which requires time, manufacturing costs and equipment costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention aims to shorten the processing time by enabling automatic continuous processing of all the steps required for press molding, including the input of materials and the discharge of molded products. At the same time, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe forming method and a pipe forming method capable of reducing manufacturing costs and equipment costs.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention enables continuous press working by using a rotary table having a fixed die fixed thereto and a required number of movable die.

That is, the structure is such that a fixed die for performing a predetermined press working is fixed on the circumference of the table surface around the center of rotation of the rotary table, and the rotary table is
During that one rotation, intermittent rotation is performed so as to stop at the necessary number of processing stations required for molding, including the injection of material pipes and the removal of molded products. In order, a supply means for supplying a pipe, a plurality of movable molds arranged in order from the upper side for performing press work, a take-out means for taking out a molded product are arranged, and the pipe is press-formed according to intermittent rotation of a rotary table. It is a press molding method of.

In order to improve the operating efficiency, the processing stations are set at equal intervals, and the same fixed die is fixed to the rotary table at a position corresponding to each processing station. The rotation may correspond to the pitch of each of the above processing stations.

Further, a rotary table rotatably supported on the bed, a fixed die for press working mounted and fixed on the circumference of the table surface around the center of rotation of the rotary table, and the rotary table. An intermittent rotation means for intermittently rotating the stationary mold so that the fixed mold is stopped at a necessary number of processing stations required for molding, including charging a pipe as a material and taking out a molded product during one rotation thereof. In order from the good side to the processing station, the supply means for supplying the material pipe, the movable molds arranged in the working order from the good side to press the pipe in cooperation with the fixed mold, and the molded product are fixed. It is characterized in that it is a pipe pressing device provided with a take-out means for taking out from a mold.

Also in this case, in order to improve the operating efficiency, the processing stations are set at equal intervals, and the same fixed die is fixed to the rotary table at a position corresponding to each processing station. The intermittent rotation may correspond to the pitch of each processing station.

[0011]

That is, according to the structure of claim 1, while rotating the rotary table intermittently, the supply means, the movable type, and the take-out means of each processing station are synchronized with the rotary table so that they act when the rotary table is stopped. Drive it. When a material pipe is supplied to the fixed mold of the rotary table, the movable mold performs predetermined press work as it moves to each processing station on the lower side to complete molding, and the molded product is further processed on the lower side. It is taken out by the take-out means at the station.

According to the configurations of claims 2 and 4,
For a plurality of fixed dies, supply, press work and take-out of pipes are successively and repeatedly performed on one rotary table.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the material pipe is supplied to the fixed mold on the rotary table by the supply means, the rotary table is intermittently rotated to move to the processing station on the lower side. Processing is performed, and then the molded product is taken out.

[0014]

As a result of the above, according to the pipe press forming method of the first aspect and the pipe press forming apparatus of the third aspect, desired processing can be performed at each stop position in the intermittent rotation of the rotary table, that is, at each processing station. Since it is carried out, it is possible to carry out a series of stepwise press working by one device, so that the working time can be shortened. Further, since the number of devices can be reduced as compared with the conventional one, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost and equipment cost.

According to the pipe press molding method of the second aspect and the pipe press molding apparatus of the fourth aspect, since a plurality of fixed molds are fixed to the table surface of the rotary table, the same press molding can be performed in all the fixed molds. This can be performed sequentially, the operating efficiency is improved, and the above-mentioned effects can be further improved.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a press molding apparatus 1, in which various molded products are molded using a plastic metal pipe. An example of the molded product is shown in FIG.
It is the upper shaft 2 that constitutes the steering shaft of the automobile as shown in FIG.

First, the upper shaft 2 will be described. The upper shaft 2 has, on the steering wheel side (left side in the drawing), predetermined shaft portions 3 having different diameters, which are necessary for mounting the steering wheel.
On the side opposite to the steering wheel (on the right side in the drawing), an oval portion 5 having a flat surface 4 for preventing rotation with the outer cylinder is formed, and the oval portion 5 has two annular recesses 6, 6 is formed by curling. The annular recesses 6 and 6 are formed by inserting the resin into the outer cylinder 7 and then filling the resin 9 from the through holes 8 formed in the outer cylinder 7 so that the steering wheel can be operated by the driver during a collision. This is because of the safety structure that tries to prevent the person's body from being banged.

The shaft bearing 3 is provided with an upper bearing disposing portion 10, a screw portion 11, a taper portion 12, a serrated shaft 13 and a screw portion 14 in this order from the one having the larger diameter through a taper. There is. Such an upper shaft 2
In the production of, a round tubular pipe 15 as shown in FIG. 3 is used as the material, and is formed into a predetermined shape by five-step pressing (see Japanese Patent Application No. 3-11020), After that, the above-mentioned screw parts 11 and 14 and the annular recesses 6 and 6
And form.

Next, the press molding apparatus 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the press-molding apparatus 1 is provided with a supply unit 22 on one side of the apparatus main body 21 for supplying the material pipes 15 ... One by one, and on the other side for taking out the molded products 15a. A robot hand 23 for use is provided, and these are controlled so as to be driven in synchronization with the apparatus main body 21. In the figure, 24 is a part of the operation panel, 25 is a control panel, 26 is a molded product tray, and 27 is a pressurization pressure gauge for five hydraulic cylinders described later.

The above-mentioned supply unit 22 has a hopper 28 for accommodating the pipes 15, ..., a carry-out belt 30 for taking out the pipes 15 ... It is configured by a supply robot hand 31 that grips the ... And supplies it to a predetermined position. A slide plate 28a is provided on one side of the hopper 28 so as to slide the supply pipes 15 ...

The above-mentioned take-out robot hand portion 23 is set so as to grasp the molded products 15a discharged at a predetermined position and convey them to the above-mentioned molded product tray 26.

Next, the device main body 21 will be described. The apparatus main body 21 described above is provided with a rotary table 33 (see FIG. 4) that intermittently rotates on the bed 32, and is disposed at a predetermined position above the rotary table 33.
5 movable dies 35a to 35e (FIG.
And air supply means (not shown) for cleaning the mold.
A confirmation sensor (not shown) mounted on the supply unit 22 side and the take-out robot hand 23 side to detect the postures of the pipes 15 ... And the molded product 15a, and a torque detection means (not shown) of the rotary table 33. ) And.

The above-mentioned rotary table 33 is circular and rotates intermittently around its center. Eight mold vases 36 ... Are mounted and fixed on the peripheral portion at equal intervals. And the rotation center 3 in the bed 32 that rotatably supports this
Eight positions on the outer circumference of the outer periphery 7 corresponding to the mold jars 36 when the rotary table 33 is stopped are set in the processing stations 38 to 45, and the liner 46 is fixed to the portion connecting these.

The above eight processing stations are, in order from the better side, a supply station 38, a first press station 39, a second press station 40, a third press station 41, a fourth press station 42, and a fifth press station.
A press station 43, a take-out station 44, and an idle station 45. Supply station 38
Is set at a position close to the supply unit 22 described above. That is, the center of the front side of the apparatus main body 21 becomes the idle station 45. Further, in the take-out station 44, a knock-out bar 47 as a take-out means is made to project upward from below the bed 32.

The knockout bar 47 is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 48. As shown in FIG. 5, the cylinder rod of the hydraulic cylinder 48 is mounted on the knockout bar 47.
However, since it is necessary to change the knockout stroke and the like according to the type and size of the molded product, it is preferable that the knockout bar 47 be provided separately from the hydraulic cylinder 48 and be replaceable. In FIG. 5, 49 is a table retainer.

The rotating means 50 for intermittently rotating the rotary table 33 may be constituted by an appropriate intermittent motion mechanism using a motor or a fluid cylinder, but as shown in FIG. 6, a cam follower having an output shaft 51. Turret 52 with
And a roller gear cam 53 for inputting a rotational force thereto, there is almost no vibration during rotation, which is preferable.
Briefly described, eight cam followers 54 ... Are pivotally supported at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the turret 52 with cam followers, and a groove 55 composed of a straight portion 55a and a curved portion 55b is formed in the roller gear cam 53. The cam followers 54, ... Run in the grooves 55, and rotate the turret 52 with cam followers. The output shaft 51 does not rotate when the cam followers 54 are traveling on the straight portion 55a, but rotate when traveling on the curved portion 55b.

The same fixed mold 56 for pressing the pipes 15 in cooperation with the movable molds 35a to 35e is housed in each of the mold jars 36.

This fixed mold 56 is, as shown in FIG.
The second fixed die 58, which is composed of a fixed die 57 and a second fixed die 58 and is located at a lower portion, is formed with an insertion hole 59 having a diameter through which the rod-shaped knockout bar 47 described above passes. A receiving member 60 that receives the lower end of the pipe 15 is housed movably in the lower part of the first fixed mold 57 for molding other than the part 3. Since the receiving member has a different shape from the above-described insertion hole 59 and the receiving member 60 has a larger diameter than the insertion hole 59, the receiving member 60 can support the pipe 15 without dropping. When the knockout bar 47 is pushed up, the receiving member 60 also moves upward,
The molded product 15a is extruded. In the figure, 36a is a positioning plate.

The fixed molds 56 are arranged so that all the fixed molds 56 face the same direction with respect to the rotation center, in other words, the virtual radiation extending from the rotation center is the center. No matter which fixed mold 56 is located in which processing station 38 to 45, the pipe 15 can be processed in the same direction.

The movable dies 35a to 35e are arranged in the order of processing corresponding to the order of the press stations 39 to 43, and are arranged so as to correspond to the fixed dies 56 located at the press stations 39 to 43. are doing. The movable dies 35a to 35e are lowered by separate hydraulic cylinders 34. The pressures of these hydraulic cylinders 34 ... Are displayed on the pressurizing pressure gauge 27 described above, and the pressure can be adjusted individually. is there. Each movable mold 35a-3
5e will be described in each step.

The five movable dies 35a to 35e may be moved down at the same time, but it is preferable to shift the timing even for one second, for example, because the rotary table 33 can be prevented from being overloaded.

Further, the above-mentioned supply unit 22, take-out robot hand 23, knockout bar 47, and each movable die 3
The hydraulic cylinders 34 ... Which descend 5a to 35e are controlled so as to be driven in synchronization with the intermittent rotation of the rotary table 33. That is, at the supply station 38, when a certain mold jar 36 is stopped, the pipe 15, which is the material, is fixed to the fixed mold 5.
6, the movable molds 35a to 35e descend when the mold jars 36 ... Stop at the press stations 39 to 43, and the knockout bar 47 drives when the mold jars 36 ... Stop at the take-out station 44. In addition, the taking-out robot hand 23 is set to take out the molded product 15a.

Further, the above-mentioned air supply means is set so as to act on the fixed mold 56 from which the molded product is taken out and the movable molds 35a to 35e, and when the above-mentioned confirmation sensor detects an abnormality such as loading. When the above-mentioned torque detection means detects overtorque, each part is stopped.

Next, the operation and effect of molding the above-mentioned molded product 15a using such a press molding apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 8 to 20.

The one pipe 15 grasped by the robot hand 31 of the supply unit 22 is connected to the supply station 3
It is put into the fixed mold 56 in the mold jar 36 located at 8 (see FIG. 8). At this time, if the confirmation sensor does not recognize any abnormality in the posture of the pipe 15, the rotary table 33 rotates,
This mold jar 36 goes to the next first press station 39,
Then, the second press station 40 and the third press station 41 are sequentially moved to perform a predetermined press working. The supply unit 22 described above repeatedly performs the same operation.

At each of the press stations 39 to 43, the movable dies 35a to 35e descend and the pipe 15 is covered with the oval-shaped portion 5.
And the shaft portion 3 are molded (see FIG. 9).

At the first press station 39, when the first movable die 35a descends (see FIGS. 9 and 10), the pipe 15 is pushed into the fixed die 56 to form the oval portion 5, and The first movable mold 35a molds the first intermediate shaft portion 3a (see FIG. 11). This first
The intermediate shaft portion 3a has a shape having two-stage shafts 61, 62 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the pipe 15, and these shafts 61, 6 are provided.
2 are connected via a taper. First movable mold 35
A concave portion 63 having a shape for molding this is formed in a.

At the second press station 40, the second movable die 35b descends (see FIG. 12), so that the second
The intermediate shaft portion 3b is formed (see FIG. 13). The second intermediate shaft portion 3b has a shape having three stages of shafts 64, 65, 66 having a diameter smaller than that of the pipe 15, and these shafts 6 are
4, 65 and 66 are connected via a taper. The second movable mold 35b is formed with a recess 67 having a shape for molding it.

At the third press station 41, the third movable die 35c descends (see FIG. 14), and
The intermediate shaft portion 3c is formed (see FIG. 15). In the third intermediate shaft portion 3c, the intermediate shaft portion 64 of the second intermediate shaft portion 3b is shortened to lengthen one taper, and the other one taper is formed into a curved surface 68. It consists of 70 and 71.
The third movable mold 35c is provided with a recess 72 shaped to mold it.
Is formed.

At the fourth press station 42, when the fourth movable die 35d descends (see FIG. 16),
The intermediate shaft portion 3d is formed (see FIG. 17). The fourth intermediate shaft portion 3d has a shape similar to the final shape having the shafts 73, 74, 75, 76 in four steps. The fourth movable mold 35d is provided with a recess 77 having a shape for molding the same.

At the fifth press station 43, the fifth movable die 35e descends (see FIG. 18) to form the final-shaped shaft portion 3e (see FIG. 19). The shaft portion 3e having the final shape has a shape in which, in order from the tip end side, a lock nut disposition portion 78, a steering wheel locking serrated shaft 79, a bearing lock nut disposition portion 80, and an upper bearing disposition portion 81. And the fifth movable type 3
A concave portion 82 having a shape for molding the same is formed in 5e. The serrated shaft 79 may be formed separately.

Next, in the take-out station 44, the hydraulic cylinder 48 is driven in synchronization with the stop of the rotary table 33, and the knockout bar 47 is pushed upward from below the rotary table 33 through the fixed die 56 (see FIG. 20). ). The molded product 15 a pushed upward together with the receiving member 60 is grasped by the take-out robot hand 23 waiting above the mold jar 36, and the molded product tray 26 is held.
Is discharged to.

The fixed mold 56 in the mold jar 36 that has moved to the idle station 45 is cleaned by the air supply means, then moves to the first supply station 38, and the same processing is repeated. The cleaning of the movable molds 35a to 35e is
It is appropriately performed by an air supply means.

In this way, when the material pipe 15 is supplied into the fixed die 56 on the rotary table 33, as it moves to the lower press stations 39 to 43, the predetermined press by the movable dies 35a to 35e is performed. The processing in which the processing is performed and the molding is completed, and the molded product 15a is taken out at the further lower take-out station 44 is successively and repeatedly performed on one rotary table 33.

Therefore, it is possible to perform a stepwise series of press working with one apparatus, and it is possible to shorten the working time. Moreover, since the processing can be performed by one device, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the equipment cost.

Further, since one device has eight mold jars 36, the same press molding can be successively repeated, the operation efficiency becomes good, and the above-mentioned effects are further improved. You can

Furthermore, since the fixed mold 56 is detachably housed in the mold jar 36, it is easy to change the molded product and the size. The strokes of the movable dies 35a to 35e and the knockout bar 47 may be adjusted while changing the dies 56, 35a to 35e.

Although the upper shaft 2 is taken as an example of the molded product, this is only an example, and other molded products can be obtained. For example, a change lever of an automobile.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-40905,
If this change lever is also formed by pressing a pipe, the number of parts can be reduced and the weight can be reduced, which is convenient.

In this case, the fixed mold 56 and the movable molds 35a to 35e as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 are used to mold the pipe 15 having a predetermined shape into the molded product 15a. In FIG. 22, the above-mentioned pipe has five types of movable molds 3.
5a to 35e show the process of being successively molded. In FIG. 21, reference numeral 36 is a mold jar that houses the fixed mold 56.

Also in the case of the above-mentioned upper shaft 2,
In the case of this change lever as well, the press working is performed in 5 steps, but if it can be formed in 3 steps or 7 steps, the number of processing stations and the number of mold vases may be adjusted to the number of steps. .

The corresponding relationship between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the embodiment is as follows.
2, the take-out means corresponds to the knockout bar 47 and the take-out robot hand 23.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a press molding apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an upper shaft that is an example of a molded product.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a material pipe.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotary table.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a rotating means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a first movable die and a fixed die in a released state.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in the supply station.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state in the first press station.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a first movable die.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a molding state of the first movable die.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a second movable die.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a molding state by a second movable die.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a third movable die.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a molding state by a third movable die.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a fourth movable die.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a molding state by a fourth movable die.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a fifth movable die.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing a molding state by a fifth movable die.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a state in the take-out station.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a mold and a material forming a change lever as another example of the molded product.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a molding sequence of a movable die and a change lever.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Press molding apparatus 15 ... Pipe 15a ... Molded article 21 ... Device body 22 ... Supplying part 23 ... Extracting robot hand 31 ... Supplying robot hand 32 ... Bed 33 ... Rotating table 35a-35e ... Movable mold 36 ... Mold pot 37 ... Center of rotation 38 ... Supply station 39 ... First press station 40 ... Second press station 41 ... Third press station 42 ... Fourth press station 43 ... Fifth press station 44 ... Take-out station 45 ... Idle station 47 ... Knockout bar 50 ... Rotating means 56 ... Fixed type

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 14, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, the press molding apparatus 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the press-molding apparatus 1 is provided with a supply unit 22 on one side of the apparatus main body 21 for supplying the material pipes 15 ... One by one, and on the other side for taking out the molded products 15a. A robot hand 23 for use is provided, and these are controlled so as to be driven in synchronization with the apparatus main body 21. In the figure, 24 and 25 are operation panels, 26 is a molded product tray,
Reference numeral 27 is a pressurization pressure gauge for five hydraulic cylinders described later.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, the device main body 21 will be described. The apparatus main body 21 described above is provided with a rotary table 33 (see FIG. 4) that intermittently rotates on the bed 32, and is disposed at a predetermined position above the rotary table 33.
Four movable dies 35a to 35e (see FIGS . 5 and 7 ) that descend by 4, ..., Air supply means (not shown) for cleaning the dies, the supply unit 22 side and the robot hand 2 for taking out.
A confirmation sensor (not shown) mounted on the third side to detect the postures of the pipe 15 and the molded product 15a, and a torque detection means (not shown) of the rotary table 33 are provided.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A fixed die for performing a predetermined press working is fixed on the circumference of a table surface centering on the center of rotation of a rotary table, and the rotary table is charged with a pipe as a material during one rotation thereof. And, the supply means for supplying pipes to the above processing stations in order from the ones on the right side to each of the above processing stations, including the take-out of molded products In order to perform the above, a plurality of movable molds arranged in the order of processing from the upper side, a take-out means for taking out molded products are arranged, and the pipe is press-formed according to the intermittent rotation of the rotary table. 2. The processing stations are set at equal intervals, and the same fixed die is fixed at a position corresponding to each processing station of the rotary table, and the intermittent rotation of the rotary table is adjusted by each of the processing stations. The press molding method for a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the method corresponds to the pitch. 3. A rotary table rotatably supported on a bed, and a fixed die for press working which is mounted and fixed on the circumference of a table surface around the center of rotation of the rotary table.
The rotary table is provided with intermittent rotation means for intermittently rotating the fixed mold in a necessary number of processing stations required for molding, including input of a pipe as a material and takeout of a molded product, during one rotation thereof. , A supply means for supplying a pipe as a material to each of the above processing stations in order from the good side, a plurality of movable dies arranged in order from the good side to press the pipes in cooperation with a fixed die, forming A press-molding device for pipes that is provided with a take-out means for taking out a product from a fixed mold. 4. The processing stations are set at equal intervals, and the same fixed die is fixed at a position corresponding to each processing station of the rotary table, and the intermittent rotation of the rotary table is fixed to each of the processing stations. The press molding apparatus for a pipe according to claim 3, which is adapted to a pitch.