Automatic plug mounting system for vehicle body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027376-B2
Application number	US-201916394206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 by actuating a cylinder of the plug mounting tool while at least one of the plurality of plugs is restrained,
wherein the handling robot is configured to apply a set torque to the plug mounting tool and the plug mounting tool is configured to mount the plurality of plugs restrained by the plug mounting tool into the exhaust holes by the torque applied by the handling robot.

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 the 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 a 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 configured to place the plugs into positions at the exhaust holes when a cylinder of the plug mounting tool 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 set torque applied to the plug mounting tool by the handling robot; and
a plug transfer unit configured to transfer 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 ends of feeding lines 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 leadin

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Park Sangkyu

Classifications

• B62D65/022 Primary

  Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems · CPC title

• B25J11/00

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25J5/02

  travelling along a guideway · CPC title

• B25J11/005

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title

• B23P19/02 Primary

  for connecting objects by press fit or for detaching same (B23P19/10 takes precedence) · CPC title