BAI Dongming, CHEN Yong, CHEN Zhenhua

(School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China)

 

Abstract: Aiming at the problem of the inefficient artificial feeding, the production cycle which cannot meet the requirements and the surface finish of the brass pin which cannot be ensured of the automotive valve tappets′ assembly line, an automatic brass pin fitting device was studied. Several automatic feeding schemes such as vibrating hopper, belt conveyor, cartridge and gantry robot were discussed. An automatic feeding scheme consisting of the cartridge, the gantry robot and the receiving and dropping mechanism was chosen. The repetitive positioning accuracy and anticollision between the pins were guaranteed by the cartridge; the pin grabbed and travelled rapidly were affected by gantry robot; the pin fitted in the right place was completed by the receiving and dropping mechanism which can turn over rightangle to make the pin drop in assembly station by means of its gravity. The results indicate that this device makes the assembly line run smoothly, improves productivity and ensures the surface finish of the brass pin.

Key words: valve tappet; brass pin; fitting device; gantry robot