AUTOMATIC PLUG MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE BODY

• US 20190329366A1
• Filed: 04/25/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: PARK, Sangkyu
• Granted Patent: US 11,027,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/002 orientating the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/02 for connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same B23P19/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/12 Alignment of parts for insertion into bores
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/50 Other automobile vehicle parts, i.e. manufactured in assembly lines
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/005 Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0033 with gripping surfaces having special shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0057 mounted on a turret
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/021 Optical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05

Abstract

An automatic plug mounting system for a vehicle body is disclosed to automatically mount plugs into exhaust holes in the vehicle body being transferred along a transfer line. The automatic plug mounting system includes: a handling robot which operates along a teaching path set to correspond to the exhaust holes; and a plug mounting tool which is installed at an arm of the handling robot and, when a cylinder is actuated, places the plugs into the correct positions at the exhaust holes while at least one of the plugs is restrained.

Claims

1. An automatic plug mounting system for a vehicle body, which is for automatically mounting a plurality of plugs into exhaust holes in a vehicle body being transferred along a transfer line, the system comprising:

a handling robot configured to operate along a teaching path set to correspond to the exhaust holes; and

a plug mounting tool installed at an arm of the handling robot and configured to respectively place the plurality of plugs into corresponding positions at the exhaust holes while at least one of the plurality of plugs is restrained,

wherein the handling robot operates by a set torque and mounts the plurality of plugs restrained by the plug mounting tool into the exhaust holes.

2. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 1, wherein the plug mounting tool comprises a socket module configured to move forward and backward through a punch rod which operates when a cylinder is actuated.

3. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 2, wherein

the socket module comprises a socket member which restrains a flange portion of a plug of the plurality of plugs by force-fitting.

4. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 3, wherein

the socket member comes in and out of contact with a circumference of the exhaust holes in the vehicle body by an action of the handling robot, and is configured to reciprocate elastically along an axis of the punch rod.

5. An automatic plug mounting system for a vehicle body, which is for automatically mounting a plurality of plugs into exhaust holes in a vehicle body being transferred along a transfer line in an upper section of a workplace, the system comprising:

a handling robot configured to operate along a teaching path set to correspond to the exhaust holes;

a base frame fixed to an front end of an arm of the handling robot;

a mount frame connected to the base frame through a plurality of supports, at a given distance from the base frame;

a driving motor fixed to the mount frame;

a rotational frame connected to a drive axis of the driving motor;

a plurality of punch rods configured to penetrate a circumference of the rotational frame and placed at given intervals along a rotational direction of the rotational frame;

a socket module installed at a first end of a corresponding punch rod of the plurality of punch rods configured to penetrate the rotational frame, the socket module configured to reciprocate elastically along an axis of the corresponding punch rod of the plurality of punch rods;

a balance spring portion fitted to the corresponding punch rod and placed between the rotational frame and a second end of the corresponding punch rod; and

a driving cylinder fixed to the base frame and configured to push the second end of the corresponding punch rod through an actuating rod.

6. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein

the handling robot is slidably installed on a guide rail in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body by a driving part on a floor of the workplace.

7. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein

rod guides are installed on the rotational frame and configured to receive the plurality of punch rods so as to guide strokes of the plurality of punch rods.

8. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein

the socket module comprises:

a socket member fitted into the first end of the corresponding punch rod of the plurality of punch rods and configured to move along the axis of the corresponding punch rod and restrain a flange portion of a plug of the plurality of plugs by force-fitting; and

a return spring installed at the first end of the corresponding punch rod and configured to exert an elastically repelling force to the socket member.

9. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 8, wherein

a snap ring is installed at the first end of the corresponding punch rod and configured to support the return spring.

10. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 8, wherein

a supporting member supporting the plug and the socket member is installed at the first end of the corresponding punch rod,

wherein the supporting member comprises:

a first portion supporting a center of the flange portion of the plug; and

a second portion placed at a different elevation from the first portion and configured to support an inside bottom surface of the socket member and a circumference of the flange portion.

11. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 10, wherein

the socket member is formed with a through-hole in the inside bottom surface through which the first end of the corresponding punch rod passes,

a first supporting ridge supporting the second portion and a second supporting member supporting a circumferential edge of the flange portion of the plug are formed on an inside wall surface of the socket member.

12. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein the balance spring portion comprises:

a first spring supporting the second end of the corresponding punch rod; and

a second spring having a higher elastic coefficient than the first spring and supporting the rotational frame.

13. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein

a pusher configured to push the second end of the corresponding punch rod is installed at a leading edge of the actuating rod.

14. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 5, wherein

a vision sensor is installed on the base frame through a mounting bracket.

15. An automatic plug mounting system for a vehicle body, which is for automatically mounting plugs into exhaust holes in a vehicle body being transferred along a transfer line, the system comprising:

a handling robot configured to operate along a teaching path set to correspond to the exhaust holes;

a plug mounting tool installed at an arm of the handling robot and, when a cylinder is actuated, and configured to place the plugs into proper positions at the exhaust holes when a cylinder is actuated, while at least one of the plugs is restrained, the plug mounting tool configured to mount the plugs to the exhaust holes by a torque set for the handling robot; and

a plug transfer unit configured to transfer the plugs with different specifications fed through at least a pair of feeders to the plug mounting tool.

16. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 15, wherein

the plug transfer unit comprises:

a transfer frame;

a plug pick-up cylinder which is installed on the transfer frame at a position corresponding to an end of each feeding line transferring the plugs fed from each feeder, the plug pick-up cylinder configured to pick up at least one of the plugs in an upward direction;

a swivel member including a pick-up socket configured to restrain a flange portion of the at least one plug picked up by the plug pick-up cylinder by force-fitting, the swivel member rotatably installed on the transfer frame by a first actuator;

a plug unloading cylinder installed on the swivel member and configured to unload the at least one plug restrained by the pick-up socket in a downward direction; and

a rotating plate including a plurality of attachment members configured to load the at least one plug unloaded by the plug unloading cylinder, the rotating plate rotatably installed on the transfer frame by a second actuator.

17. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 16, wherein

the plug pick-up cylinder comprises a pick-up punch installed at a leading edge of an actuating rod, the pick-up punch configured to pick up at least one of the plugs positioned below the feeding line in an upward direction.

18. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 16, wherein

the plug unloading cylinder comprises an unloading punch installed at a leading edge of an actuating rod penetrating the pick-up socket and configured to unload at least one of the plugs positioned above the plurality of attachment members.

19. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 16, wherein

the plurality of attachment members includes an attachment surface corresponding to a shape of an insert portion of the plugs.

20. The automatic plug mounting system of claim 16, wherein

the plug mounting tool comprises a socket member configured to restrain the flange portion of the at least one plug by force-fitting, and

the handling robot moves the plug mounting tool toward the rotating plate and transfers the plugs loaded on the plurality of attachment members to the socket members by a set torque.