JPH09295227A - Press-fitting device for metal parts - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A metal part press-fitting device capable of detecting a movement amount of a press-fitting tool with respect to a chuck unit. According to the present invention, a nut stored in a storage portion 5 is sequentially supplied and held to a chuck unit 4 by a separating and supplying means 6, and is extruded by a press-fitting tool 3 which reciprocates by an operation of a cylinder 9 to make a thermoplastic resin. It is configured to press fit into the material. An electric heating element 7a that generates heat when an electric current is passed through is embedded in the storage section 5, and the nut can be heated in advance to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin material melts. Further, the chuck unit 4 and the press-fitting tool 3 are integrally movable and relatively movable, and a detected body 18a which is movable integrally with the chuck unit 4 and a proximity sensor which is movable integrally with the press-fitting tool 3 are provided. It is configured so that the amount of movement of the press-fitting tool 3 with respect to the chuck unit 4 can be detected by the detection means 18 including 18b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a metal part press-fitting device for press-fitting metal parts such as nuts and bolts into a thermoplastic resin material and fixing them together.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermoplastic resin material (hereinafter referred to as a resin material) has been widely used by being molded into a cover material for various machines and devices, and is used for improving the aesthetics of various machines and devices.
It contributes to weight reduction. When parts made of such resin material are attached to various machines and devices, they may be fixed directly by using metal tapping screws, etc. A means for fixing a metal part such as a nut by press-fitting and screwing a male screw part to the metal part is fixed. In order to integrally fix a metal part such as a nut to the resin material in this way, generally, a nut supplied on the resin material is brought into pressure contact with a press-fitting tool that is moved up and down by the drive of a reciprocating drive source. A press-fitting device is used that presses the metal part into the resin material by heat-generating the metal part by friction with the resin material by vibrating the press-fitting tool at high speed with ultrasonic waves. Has been done.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional press-fitting device, the press-fitting amount of the nut, that is, the descending amount of the press-fitting tool is determined by measuring the heat generation time of the nut, which has been investigated in advance, with a timer. Even if the same nut is used during actual press-fitting, the heat generation time may differ due to the effects of temperature, humidity, etc. or the characteristics of each nut, or the height of the press-fitting position of the resin material may change. Then, the amount of press-fitting varies among the nuts, causing a problem that the number of press-fitting defects is extremely large. Also, if the shape of the resin material is changed and the height of the press-fitting position is changed, it is necessary to make adjustments such as changing the measurement start position of the timer. There are also problems such as not being able to respond to changes in the height of the press-fitting position.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the metal parts stored in the storage part are sequentially supplied and held by the chuck unit by the separating and supplying means, and the metal parts are extruded by the press-fitting tool which is reciprocally moved by the operation of the cylinder so as to be thermoplastic. It is configured to be pressed into a resin material. The storage unit is provided with a heating unit, and the storage unit is heated by the heating unit to preheat the metal parts stored therein to a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin material melts. Has been done. Further, the chuck unit and the press-fitting tool are configured so that they can be moved integrally and can also be moved relative to each other, and the object to be detected that can move integrally with the chuck unit and the proximity sensor that can move integrally with the press-fitting tool can be used. The moving amount of the press-fitting tool with respect to the chuck unit can be detected by the detecting means. Furthermore, at the tip of the chuck unit, there is provided a chuck claw formed with a sandwiching groove penetrating on the moving path of the press-fitting tool, which is configured to sandwich the metal part and from the state where the metal part is sandwiched. The metal parts can be extruded without expanding.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a press-fitting device for press-fitting metal parts such as nuts and bolts into a thermoplastic resin material (hereinafter, simply referred to as a resin material), and a press-fitting tool 3 provided in front of the machine base 2; A chuck unit 4 for holding a metal component on the moving path of the press-fitting tool 3,
A storage portion 5 that stores a plurality of metal components behind the chuck unit 4, a separation supply unit 6 that separately supplies the metal components stored in the storage portion 5 to the chuck unit 4, and the storage portion 5. It is provided with a first heating means 7 for heating the metal parts stored in and a second heating means 15 for heating the chuck unit to a predetermined temperature in advance. In the embodiment of the present invention, a nut 30 for press-fitting a resin material shown in FIG. 11 will be described as an example of a metal component. Unlike the generally known hexagonal nut, this nut 30 has a cylindrical outer shape, and its circumferential surface 30a has a groove 30b for obtaining a bite with the resin material. A plurality is formed.

The press-fitting tool 3 is attached to an elevating table 8 which is vertically slidable along a shaft material 2a fixed to the machine base 2, and the elevating table 8 slides along the shaft material 2a. It is configured to integrally reciprocate. The press-fitting tool 3 is formed of a shaft-shaped member having a diameter similar to or smaller than the diameter of the nut 30, and a tip end portion thereof can enter a hollow portion where a female screw of the nut is formed. , The diameter is smaller than the others. The lifting platform 8 is connected to a cylinder 9 which is an example of a reciprocating drive source arranged on the machine base 2, and is configured to reciprocate by the operation of the cylinder 9.

Two guide shafts 8a are vertically slidably guided on the elevating table 8, and a chuck unit 4 is attached to the lower end side thereof so as to move integrally. A spring 10 is fitted around the guide shaft 8a so as to constantly urge the chuck unit 4 downward. The chuck unit 4 is configured to include a chuck body 4a into which the press-fitting tool 3 can be inserted, and a pair of chuck claws 4b provided at the tip of the chuck body 4a so as to be able to open. The chuck claw 4b
A holding groove 4c having a substantially circular cross section and penetrating on the moving path of the press-fitting tool 3 and a guide path 4d communicating with the holding groove 4c and extending to the storage portion 5 side described later are formed on the side. The guide path 4d is cut into a tapered shape that spreads toward the storage portion 5 side so that a predetermined gap is provided even when the chuck claw 4b is closed.
The nut 30 is pushed and opened by pressing the nut 30 into the nut so as to sandwich the nut 30.

The storage section 5 is made of a metal storage pipe 11 extending vertically from the machine base 2 and a metal storage block 12 fixed to the lower portion of the machine base 2.
And the lower end of the storage pipe 11 is connected to the storage block 12. In the storage part 5, the storage pipe 11 has a cylindrical shape that can guide the nut 30 in a vertical direction in a posture in which the nut 30 is perpendicular to the axial line, and an upper part of the storage pipe 11 has an external component supply device (not shown) via a connecting tool 13. The feed hose 14 extending from (No.) is connected. Further, in the storage block 12, a vertical hole 12a that communicates with the storage pipe 11 and can guide the nut 30 in a vertical direction in a posture perpendicular to the axis, and a nut 30 orthogonal to the vertical hole 12a in a posture perpendicular to the axis. A horizontal hole 12b that can be guided in the horizontal direction is formed. These vertical holes 12
The a and the horizontal hole 12b have the same bottom surface and are provided so as to communicate with each other. The guide path 4d of the chuck claw 4b faces the exit of the horizontal hole 12b.

The first heating means 7 has an electric heating element 7a that generates heat by passing an electric current, a temperature sensor 7b that detects the temperature of an object to be detected, and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7b that is set in advance. Compared with temperature, electric heating element 7
It is composed of a control device (not shown) for controlling energization of a. The electric heating element 7a and the temperature sensor 7b of the first heating means 7 are provided in the horizontal hole 12 of the storage block 12.
The storage block 12 is provided so as to be embedded in parallel with the storage block 12 in between.
The horizontal hole 12b is heated to the highest temperature and maintained at a predetermined temperature. The electric heating element 7a in the heating means 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape,
It is configured so that heat can be efficiently transferred to the storage block 12.

The second heating means 15 comprises the same electric heating element 15a as the first heating means 7, a temperature sensor 15b and a control device (not shown), and the electric heating element 15a and the temperature sensor are provided. 15b is embedded vertically downward from the upper surface side of the chuck body 4a.
The electric heating element 15a and the temperature sensor 15b are arranged so as to sandwich the press-fitting tool 3, and the electric heating element 15a
When a heats up, the press-fitting tool 3 together with the chuck body 4a
Is also adapted to be heated accordingly.

The separating / supplying means 6 has the storage block 12
It is equipped with a separating rod 16 which is always inserted into the horizontal hole 12b of the cylinder and a cylinder 17 which is arranged at the rear part of the machine base 2. The separating rod 16 is connected to the cylinder 17 and the cylinder 1
By the operation of 7, the separating rod 16 is configured to reciprocate along the horizontal hole 12b. The tip end portion of the separating rod 16 of the separating and supplying means 6 is formed in a stepped shape, and the vertical wall surface 16a at the step portion is cut in an arc shape so as to match the circumferential surface 30a of the nut 30. ing. Further, the separating rod 16 is arranged such that the tip end thereof is always located below the vertical hole 12a of the storage block 12, and the leading one of the nuts 30 stacked from the vertical hole 12a to the storage pipe 11 is placed and supported. Is configured.

Further, the press-fitting device is provided with a detecting means 18 for detecting that the press-fitting tool 3 has moved a predetermined amount with respect to the chuck unit 4. This detecting means 18
Is composed of a detected body 18a which is provided so as to project vertically upward from the upper surface of the chuck body 4a of the chuck unit 4, and a proximity sensor 18b which is integrally attached to the lifting table 8 so as to face the detected body 18a. When the lift table 8 is lowered by a predetermined amount with respect to the chuck unit 4, the proximity sensor 18b detects the object 18a to be detected and is turned on, and the operation of the cylinder 9 is stopped. The proximity sensor 18b is a detection object when the upper surface of the nut 30 press-fitted into the resin material 20 by the press-fitting tool 3 reaches the same surface as the surface of the resin material 20, that is, when the press-fitting tool 3 descends to that position. 18a is detected and turned on. Further, a hexagon bolt is used for the detected object 18a, and the distance between the hexagon bolt and the proximity sensor 18b can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the hexagon bolt.

In the press-fitting device 1 having the above structure, the nut 3
A predetermined amount of 0 is supplied from a component supply device (not shown) through the feeding hose 14, and is stacked and stored from the vertical hole 12a of the storage block 12 to the vicinity of the upper end of the storage pipe 11. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the nut 30 at the top is placed on the vertical wall surface 16a at the tip of the separation rod 16 with a part of the circumferential surface 30a aligned.

When electric power is supplied to each of the heating elements 7a, 15a from a control device (not shown) in the state where the nut 30 is stored in the storage portion 5 as described above, the heating elements 7a, 1a are heated.
The storage block 12 and the chuck body 4a are each heated by the heat generated by the heat source 5a. At this time, the temperatures of the storage block 12 and the chuck body 4a are measured by the temperature sensor 7.
b, 15b, and sequentially fed back to the controller for comparison with the set temperature. Then, when the detected temperature of the temperature sensors 7b, 15b reaches the set temperature, the energization of the heating elements 7a, 15a is once stopped, and thereafter the energization of the heating elements 7a, 15a is stopped and the energization thereof is repeated. 12. The temperature of the chuck body 4a is maintained at the set temperature. The set temperature is set to a temperature higher than its melting point depending on the resin material to be the work, and normally a general resin material will surely melt 25
It is set within the range of 0 ° C to 300 ° C.

As described above, when the storage block 12 rises to a predetermined temperature, its heat is also transferred to the storage pipe 11, so that the entire storage portion 5 is heated and stored in the storage portion 5 at the same time. The nut 30 is also heated accordingly. As shown in FIG. 8, in the head of the nut 30 heated in this way, the separating rod 16 of the separating and supplying means 6 is a cylinder 17
By advancing by the operation of, the nut 30 is separated from the subsequent nut 30 and advances in the horizontal hole 12b of the storage block 12, and is supplied to the chuck claw 4b of the chuck unit 4. At this time, the nut 30 is supplied by pushing the chuck claw 4b open by cutting into the guide path 4d, reaches the clamping groove 4c, and is clamped by the closing force of the chuck claw 4b. At this time, since the chuck claws 4b have already been heated by the heat transfer from the chuck body 4a, the sandwiched nut 30 can be kept warm. In addition, the chuck claws 4b are the heating elements 15
Since it is located away from a, it does not rise to the temperature at which the resin material 20 is melted.

As described above, the nut 30 is attached to the chuck claw 4b.
, The separating rod 16 retracts into the storage block 12, supports the next nut 30, and stands by. By sequentially supplying the nuts 30 at the head, the stored nuts 30 are moved downward by one and gradually heated, and when reaching the head, the nuts 30 are heated to a temperature close to the set temperature.

When the nut 30 is supplied to the chuck claw 4b, the cylinder 9 operates to lower the elevating table 8, and in response to this, the chuck unit 4 and the press-fitting tool 3 also integrally descend. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the tip of the chuck claw 4b comes into contact with the surface of the resin material, so that the lowering of the chuck unit 4 is stopped, but the elevating table 8 compresses the spring 10 and descends. Chuck body 4 as shown
The press-fitting tool 3 descends in a and engages with the nut 30 held by the chuck claws 4b to push it out.
Press into 0. At this time, since the holding groove 4c is provided so as to penetrate the chuck claw 4b, the chuck claw 4b is further cut off.
It is possible to extrude the nut 30 without expanding the blade, and therefore, the tip of the chuck claw 4b is made of the resin material 20.
Even if the nut 30 is in contact with the surface, the nut 30 can be pushed out and press-fitted into the resin material 20. Further, since the chuck unit 4 is stopped by grounding the tip of the chuck claw 4b on the surface of the resin material 20, even if the shape of the resin material 20 is changed and the height of the position where the nut 30 is press-fitted is changed. The nut 30 can always be pressed into the correct depth (the depth at which the upper surface of the nut 30 and the surface of the resin material 20 are flush with each other).

After that, when the upper surface of the nut 30 reaches the same surface as the surface of the resin material, the proximity sensor 18b causes the object 1 to be detected.
8a is detected and turned on, whereby the operation of the cylinder 9 is stopped and the lift 8 is stopped. At this time, the nut 30 is press-fitted by melting the resin material 20, but since the heat is taken away when the resin material 20 is melted,
Cooling is performed very quickly, and the solidification of the resin material 20 is also accelerated accordingly. Therefore, once the nut 30 is press-fitted, even if the cylinder 9 is moved back and the press-fitting tool 3 is lifted and returned, the tension at that time or the resin material 20 melted
The resin material 20 is not lifted up from the press-fitted position due to the influence of buoyancy, and the resin material 20 is fixedly held at a predetermined position in a correct posture.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the lowering of the chuck unit 4 is stopped when the tip of the chuck claw 4b comes into contact with the surface of the resin material 20.
For example, a stopper member that is movable integrally with the chuck unit 4 is provided, and this stopper member is configured to come into contact with the surface of the resin material 20 before the lower end of the chuck claw 4b as the chuck unit 4 descends. As a reference, the object to be detected 18a is arranged so as to make the descending amount of the press-fitting tool 3 constant.
The same effect can be obtained by setting the distance between the proximity sensor 18b and the proximity sensor 18b. This configuration is particularly suitable when using a chuck unit in which the held metal component cannot be taken out unless the chuck claw is expanded.
As the metal parts to be press-fitted into the resin material 20, in addition to the nuts 30 described above, a headed or unheaded male screw part such as a hexagon bolt or a stud bolt, or a connection of parts mainly used for a rotating portion. Although a pin material or the like that is press-fitted into the portion is conceivable, it goes without saying that the present press-fitting device 1 can also cope with these press-fitting, and the effect obtained at that time is similar to that of the nut 30. .

[0020]

As described above, in the press-fitting apparatus of the present invention, the chuck unit and the press-fitting tool are provided so as to be movable relative to each other, the chuck unit is provided with the object to be detected, and the lift table is provided with the object to be detected. Attach a proximity sensor that has a detection surface facing the body so that the proximity sensor detects the detected object when the upper surface of the metal part that is press-fitted into the thermoplastic resin material by the press-fit tool reaches the same surface as the resin material surface. Is configured. Therefore, by stopping the press-fitting tool at a predetermined position by the signal from the proximity sensor, the amount of movement of the press-fitting tool with respect to the chuck unit can always be kept constant, and the press-fitting amount of the nut can be adjusted based on the stop position of the chuck unit. Can be kept constant at all times. Moreover, it is possible to determine whether or not the metal component is properly press-fitted with the proximity sensor ON or OFF, and it is possible to easily determine whether or not the press-fitted state is possible by measuring a predetermined time with a timer. There are also advantages. In addition, by sandwiching the metal part between the chuck claws of the chuck unit, the sandwiched metal part can be pushed out even if the chuck claw does not expand further. Can be stopped, and even if the height of the press-fitting position is changed by changing the shape of the resin material, the metal parts can always be press-fitted in the correct position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view in which a part of a metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention is cut away.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a press-fitting device for a metal component according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cutaway sectional view of an essential part of a metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention, in which a part near a storage part is cut away.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cutaway sectional view of a main part of a press-fitting device for a metal component according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of the metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the press-fitting device for metal parts according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the metal part press-fitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view of a resin press-fitting nut that is an example of a metal component.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Press-fitting device 3 Press-fitting tool 4 Chuck unit 4a Chuck body 4b Chuck claw 4c Clamping groove 4d Guide path 5 Reservoir 6 Separation supply means 7 First heating means 7a Electric heating element 7b Temperature sensor 9 Cylinder 15 Second heating means 15a Electrothermal Element 15b Temperature sensor 18 Detecting means 18a Detected object 18b Proximity sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A press-fitting tool which is reciprocally movable in response to the operation of a reciprocating drive source, a chuck unit for holding a metal part on a moving path of the press-fitting tool, a storage part for storing the metal part, and A press-fitting device provided with a separating and supplying means for separately supplying the stored metal parts to the chuck unit one by one, and a heating means for heating the metal parts stored in the storage part to a predetermined temperature in advance. A press-fitting device for a metal component, wherein the press-fitting tool and the press-fitting tool are provided so as to be movable together and capable of relative movement, and a detection means for detecting that the press-fitting tool has moved a predetermined amount with respect to the chuck unit. 2. The detecting means comprises a proximity sensor movable integrally with the press-fitting tool, and an object to be detected which is provided in the chuck unit facing the proximity sensor, and the proximity sensor is made of a thermoplastic resin material by the press-fitting tool. The press-fitting device for a metal part according to claim 1, wherein the press-fitting device for the metal part is configured to detect the detection target when the upper surface of the metal part press-fitted into the surface reaches the same surface as the surface of the thermoplastic resin material. 3. A chuck unit has a chuck claw capable of expanding at a tip thereof, and a chucking groove penetrating on a moving path of a press-fitting tool is formed in the chuck claw so that a metal part can be clamped. The press-fitting device for a metal component according to claim 1 or 2.