This disclosure relates to an expanding locating pin with controlled clamping force.
A manufacturing system typically operates on parts, subassemblies, and/or assemblies that must be accurately located and securely clamped in place for manufacturing and assembly operations. For example, a sheet metal part, subassembly, or assembly may need to be accurately located and securely clamped in place to conduct assembly, welding, and inspection operations in the body shop of a vehicle assembly plant.
Part locating fixtures are normally used for this purpose. Part locating fixtures typically include a plurality of fixed pins that are configured to fit into a plurality of locating holes in the part and one or more clamps that are configured to clamp the part in place. Part locating fixtures are generally useable for only one particular part size and/or shape and usually need to be modified or rebuilt to locate and clamp a differently sized and/or shaped part. Multiple part locating fixtures are typically required for the wide variety of parts and the wide variety of assembly and manufacturing operations in a manufacturing plant.
An expanding locating and clamping pin assembly and a flexible manufacturing system are provided herein. The expanding locating and clamping pin assembly is configured to locate a part with locating holes of various sizes and to clamp the part with a controlled clamping force. The expanding locating and clamping pin assembly includes a housing, a locating pin, an actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The locating pin has a plurality of jaws, each connected to and radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides, extending from the part rest face, and configured with a part clamping feature. The actuating mechanism is connected to the housing and the jaws and is configured to synchronously move the jaws to a radial position and to apply the clamping force. The controller is connected to the actuating mechanism and is configured to control the radial position of the jaws and the clamping force. The part rest face and the jaws of the locating pin are configured to receive the part in a located position. The part rest face and the part clamping features of the jaws of the locating pin are configured to clamp the part in the located position via the clamping force. The housing may be configured with three jaw guides, and the locating pin may have three jaws.
The flexible manufacturing system is for manufacturing one or more of a part, a subassembly, and an assembly each having various configurations and locating holes of various sizes. The flexible manufacturing system includes an expanding locating and clamping pin assembly configured to locate and clamp one of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly in a located position. The expanding locating and clamping pin assembly includes a housing, a locating pin, and actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The locating pin has a plurality of jaws, each connected to and radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides, extending from the part rest face, and configured with a part clamping feature. The actuating mechanism is connected to the housing and the jaws and is configured to synchronously move the jaws to a radial position and to apply the clamping force. The controller is connected to the actuating mechanism and is configured to control the radial position of the jaws and the clamping force. The part rest face and the jaws of the locating pin are configured to receive the one of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly in the located position. The part rest face and the part clamping features of the jaws of the locating pin are configured to clamp the one of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly in the located position via the clamping force. The housing may be configured with three jaw guides, and the locating pin may have three jaws.
The expanding locating and clamping pin assembly and the flexible manufacturing system enable parts, subassemblies, and/or assemblies having various configurations and locating holes of various sizes to be located and clamped in place for manufacturing and assembly operations. This disclosure applies to any machine or manufacture that locates and clamps any item, including but not limited to parts, subassemblies, assemblies, for any purpose. This disclosure applies to any manufacturing system, including but not limited to manufacturing systems for vehicles and other transportation products, industrial products, construction products, consumer products, and government products.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the views,
Referring now to
The expanding locating and clamping pin assembly 10 may be connected to an immovable structure (not shown), or to a moveable device (not shown), including but not limited to a robot, a conveyor, and a guided vehicle. There may be multiple expanding locating and clamping pin assemblies 10 included in the flexible manufacturing system and/or in a particular manufacturing or assembly operation in the flexible manufacturing system.
Referring again to
The locating pin 22 has a plurality of jaws 32. Each jaw 32 is connected to and radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides 28 and extends out of the housing 20 past the rest face 30. The locating pin 22 has a locating pin axis (axis LP) at its center of symmetry. Each of the jaws 32 has a part clamping feature 33. The part clamping feature 33 of the jaws 32 may be a surface that angles outward from the locating pin axis (axis LP) as the distance from the part rest face 30 increases, as shown. The part clamping feature 33 of the jaws 32 may be a segment of a frusto conical surface that angles outward from the locating pin axis (axis LP) as the distance from the part rest face 30 increases, as shown. The part clamping feature 33 of the jaws 32 may be any other suitable feature for applying the clamping force (arrow CF) perpendicular to the outer surface 17 of the part 12 at or near the edge 18 of the locating hole 14, as best seen in
Referring again to
The actuating mechanism 24 is connected to the housing 20 and the jaws 32. The actuating mechanism 24 is configured to synchronously move the jaws 32 to a radial position 34 defining a locating pin diameter 35 and to apply the clamping force (arrow CF) normal to the edge 18 of the locating hole 14 of the part 12. Radial is defined herein as the direction perpendicular to the locating pin axis (axis LP). The actuating mechanism includes an actuator 25. The actuator 25 may be an electric servo motor 50, as shown. Alternatively, the actuator 25 may be one of a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or any other suitable actuator.
The controller 26 is connected to the actuating mechanism 24 and is configured to control the motion and the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and to control the clamping force (arrow CF). The magnitude of the clamping force (arrow CF) may be controlled as appropriate depending on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the material type, the material thickness, the size, and the shape of the part 12.
Referring now specifically to
Referring again to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the best modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims.
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