RU2495738C1 - Flexible automated locating system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to appliances for locating-clamping of parts, particularly, to locators of complex-geometry flex parts at multiaxes machines and can be used in aerospace engineering and other fields. Locating system comprise table composed of four butt-jointed modular sections whereat rectangular grid of holes is made to carry extending supports with vacuum suction cups fitted therein. Said locating system comprises degassing system, compressed air feed system and flexible computer-aided locating system digital control system with vacuum section-cups. Note here that every extending support is equipped with a brake while compressed air feed system is used for releasing the brake in extension of said support with vacuum suction-cups to preset position.

EFFECT: lower production costs, possibility of locating whatever shape flex parts.

3 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The field of technology.

The invention relates to devices that are devices for fastening parts, and more particularly to methods and devices for high-precision basing of large-sized complex non-rigid parts on multi-axis machines, and can be used in technological processes in their production in aerospace and other industries.

The level of technology.

Currently, in the aerospace and other industries, automated flexible systems of universal devices for high-precision basing of large-sized complex non-rigid parts for the purpose of their further processing on multi-axis numerically controlled machines (CNC) are in demand.

This is due to the fact that the usual devices for basing and clamping such parts are complex metal-intensive structures that are larger in size than the parts they fix. They are made individually for each part, depending on its size and configuration. Working with them requires a lot of time to install the device itself, as well as the details. It is also necessary to have production facilities for storing a large number of devices.

These factors determine high production costs when using conventional devices for the production of large-sized complex non-rigid non-rigid parts such as panels, sheet sheathing.

Currently, there are two types of design solutions for automated flexible systems for basing and clamping non-rigid parts offered by manufacturers.

1. Systems with movable basing and clamping supports with vacuum suction cups moving along the X and Y coordinates of the machining center and sliding along the Z coordinate (Jobs Italy, Internet address: www.jobs.it).

Such a system is described in EP50703381, 02/01/1995. Supports are mounted transverse to the X coordinate of the beams. The beams move along the rolling guides along the X coordinate from synchronized gear rack drives. Each support has an individual ball screw drive moving along the rolling guides along the beam along the Y coordinate. Moving along the Z coordinate of the vacuum cups with suction cups mounted on the support beams is carried out from electric motors using precision ball screws and shafts in the sliding or rolling guides.

The system contains the following features common with the invention: retractable bearings with vacuum suction cups, a vacuum system, a compressed air supply system, a numerical control system for the entire automated flexible basing system with a control system for supports with vacuum suction cups.

The advantages of the arrangement with movable bearings of the base and clamp are:

- the ability to change the distance between the supports;

- the ability to create rectangular grids of vacuum cup-shaped supports of various configurations.

The disadvantage of such systems is the high cost due to the presence of:

- Drives for moving along the X, Y coordinates, except for drives along the Z coordinate of the extension of the vacuum cups with suction cups to a given position;

- movable cable-carrying chains for supplying pneumatic vacuum hoses and power cables;

- a large volume of electrical equipment and pneumatics.

2. Systems with fixed bearings of the base and clamp.

They are equipped with a table with a rectangular grid of holes for the rigid installation of extendable supports. These systems involve replacing a table using conventional CNC machining center fixtures,

on a table with a flexible system for basing large-sized complex non-rigid parts.

The leading company in the production of such systems of universal flexible devices is the company "Kostyrka", Germany (Internet address www.Kostyrka.com). The table is made sectional with the possibility of extension along the length.

In the layout solution of such an automated flexible universal system for high-precision basing, the main modular component is a cup-shaped extendable support with a vacuum suction cup with a drive of movement along the Z coordinate for its automatic installation according to the program to a predetermined position.

Drives provide positioning accuracy and repeatability within ± 0.01 mm when moving and installing supports in a given position.

The firm fixes and unlocks the shaft with the vacuum cup installed and the suction cup in the set position using a hydromechanical brake.

To fix the shaft in the brake, a split elastic clamping sleeve is used. Unlocking for moving the shaft with a cup-shaped support and a vacuum suction cup is carried out by applying oil pressure, releasing the clamping sleeve. The cup-shaped support with a vacuum suction cup is made in the form of a hemisphere with channels for suctioning air under vacuum. A check valve is built into the hemisphere, blocking the suction of air from the suction cup zone when the required vacuum level is reached between it and the part.

A vacuum safety valve is built into the spherical rotary cup-shaped support, which automatically closes when the part is separated from the suction cup.

The disadvantage of this system is the use of hydraulics in the design of the brake and, as a consequence, the possibility of critical oil leaks and contamination. The current trend in creating flexible automated systems by leading manufacturers of Forest line group France and others is the rejection of hydraulics in favor of pneumatics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to develop a flexible automated system for basing complex non-rigid parts for the purpose of their further processing on multi-axis CNC machines.

The problem is solved by creating a system equipped with:

- a table with a rectangular grid of cup-shaped supports with vacuum suction cups with built-in non-return valves that regulate the supply of vacuum, as well as having the ability to spherically rotate the cup-shaped supports around the X and Y coordinates and return to their original position using a spring;

- high-precision drives for moving supports along the Z coordinate;

- a vacuum system for fixing parts using vacuum suction cup-shaped supports;

- a compressed air supply system that unlocks the brake in the process of moving the supports with vacuum suction cups to a position set by the Z coordinate from the control system;

- a numerical system for the automatic control of the movements of supports with vacuum suction cups to a given position.

Such solutions of the invention will provide a synthesis of modern technology, manufacturing flexibility, productivity and reliability in the manufacture of complex non-rigid parts such as panels and sheathing and reduce the cost of manufacturing such parts in the aerospace and other industries, as well as increase their competitiveness in the market.

List of figures

The invention is illustrated by drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a General front view of a flexible automated basing system,

Figure 2 is a General top view of a flexible automated basing system,

Figure 3 shows the design of the sliding base supports with vacuum suction cups,

Figure 4 shows the construction of a cup-shaped base support with a vacuum suction cup.

Figure 5 shows the design of the latch retractable support base.

The implementation of the invention

A flexible automated system for basing complex non-rigid parts on multi-axis machines includes the following components.

Table 1 (Figure 1) with retractable supports with vacuum suction cups 6 (Figure 1), is installed on the machine instead of the traditional rigid table of the machine, using conventional tools in the processing of traditional hard parts.

The table consists of four identical modular sections 5 (Figure 2), exposed on the shoes 36 (Figure 2), mounted on the foundation 27 (Figure 1) and joined together by bolts 25 (Figure 2).

Each modular section has a rectangular grid of holes in which retractable base supports 6 (Figure 1) and (Figure 2) are installed.

Retractable supports with vacuum suction cups (Figure 3) include:

- a positioning drive, consisting of an electric motor 8, a bellows coupling 40, a ball bearing support of the screw 41, a ball screw pair 7, a hollow shaft 9 with a fixed vacuum cup A;

- latch 13 to hold the hollow shaft in a given position;

- slide guide bushings 10 for a hollow shaft;

- housing 43 retractable base support.

The drive positioning of the sliding base support with a vacuum cup A (Figure 3) is carried out from an electric motor 8 through a bellows coupling 40, a rotary screw 42 of a ball screw pair 7, which moves the hollow shaft 9 with a fixed vacuum cup.

The drive is placed in the housing 12, where the ball screw support is mounted and there is a fitting 33 (Figure 3) for supplying vacuum to the vacuum system.

The housing 12 is attached to the lower plane of the section of the modular 5 (Figure 2).

The hollow shaft 9 with a vacuum cup (A, FIG. 3) moves in the housing 43 in the slide guide bushings 10. The housing 43 is attached to the upper plane of the module 5 section.

The vacuum cup assembly (A, Fig. 4) is screwed into the housing 18 (Fig. 4) having a spherical bearing surface onto the end of the hollow shaft 9, which moves along the Z coordinate from the ball screw pair 7 (Fig. 3) and the electric motor 8.

A rotary vacuum cup 19 (Figure 4) is supported on a spherical surface of the housing 18 and is made in the form of a hemisphere, in the upper part of which a support washer 15 (Figure 4) is installed with a spherical recess, the center of which is the rotation center of the vacuum cup, and having channels for air suction when creating a vacuum. A check valve 16 (FIG. 4) is built into the vacuum rotary cup, closing the air suction from the area between the rubber suction cup 14 (FIG. 4) and the fixed part when the required vacuum level is reached between it and the fixed part.

The rotary vacuum cup has the ability to rotate along the spherical surface of the housing 18 (Figure 4) around the X, Y coordinates by an angle of ± 40 ° and self-installs when installing and basing the part on the support washer 15, the center of the spherical recess of which coincides with the rotation center of the vacuum cup.

After removing the finished part, the spring 17 (Figure 4), fixed between the flange 30 (Figure 4) connected to the housing 18 (Figure 4) and the cup, returns the rotary spherical cup 19 to its original position.

A vacuum safety valve 31 (Figure 4) is mounted on the flange 30 (Figure 4), having a pre-configured check valve that automatically closes when the part 32 (Figure 4) is disconnected from the rubber suction cup 14 (Figure 4) and thus protects the system evacuation from atmospheric air after removing the part.

To hold the support with the vacuum cup after it is moved to a predetermined position, there is a latch (B, Figure 3) and (Figure 5), which is mounted on the upper plane of the modular section 5 (Figure 2) with screws 38 (Figure 5).

The latch is a pneumomechanical cylinder, consisting of a housing 24 (Figure 5), closed on one side by a cover 22 (Figure 5), with another split conical four-leaf collet 21 (Figure 5).

Inside the housing 24 moves the piston 20 (Figure 5) having an inner conical surface mating with the outer conical surface of the four-leaf collet 21.

Between the piston 20 and the cover 22, springs 23 are installed (Fig. 5), which, due to the conical surface of the piston 20 moving downward when the supply of compressed air is blocked, compress the mating petals of the collet 21, fixing the hollow shaft 9 with the vacuum cup in a stationary state.

To fix, if necessary, move and install the support with the vacuum cup in another predetermined position along the Z coordinate, compressed air is supplied from the pneumatic network to the working cavity of the piston 20.

Compressed air from the pneumatic network (Figure 2) through the air preparation unit 26 (Figure 2) enters the amplifier 3 (Figure 2), the outlet pressure of which is 1.0 MPa, and then opens upon the command to release the support with the vacuum cup a pneumatic valve mounted on the lower plane of the modular section 5, and compressed air is supplied to the retainer (B, Figure 5).

When compressed air is supplied to the retainer (B, Fig. 5), into the cavity between the piston 20 and the housing 24, the piston 20 moves up to the stop, compressing the springs 23. In this case, the petals of the collet 21 are released from the conical surface of the piston and unclenched, the hollow shaft 9 with the vacuum cup is unlocked, allowing the movement and installation of the hollow shaft 9 with the vacuum cup in a predetermined position at the coordinate Z. After this, the pneumatic valve closes by command, blocking the supply of compressed air, and the hollow shaft 9 is fixed with the vacuum cup, as described above.

The vacuum system is created by a vacuum pumping station 2 (Figure 1) with a vacuum range of -0.07 ... -0.093 MPa.

From the vacuum pumping station 2 through a system of pipelines, the vacuum is supplied to each sliding base support with a vacuum cup through the nozzle 33 (Figure 3).

From the nozzle 33, the vacuum enters the gap between the ball screw pair 7 (Figure 3) and the housing 12 into the hollow shaft 9 (Figure 3) and (Figure 4) and through the vacuum safety valve 31 (Figure 4), the check valve 16 ( Figure 4) and the holes in the support washer 15 (Figure 4) falls into the space between the base part 32 (Figure 4) and the rubber suction cup 14 (Figure 4), attracting the part to the support washer 15 (Figure 4). Upon reaching the required vacuum between the part and the rubber suction cup 14, the check valve 16 (Figure 4) closes the intake of vacuum from the vacuum station. The vacuum safety valve 31 (Figure 4), having a pre-configured check valve, automatically closes the air from the atmosphere into the vacuum system after removing the base part from the rubber suction cups 14 and the supporting washer 15.

Numerical control system (CNC) 2 (Figure 2) of the entire automated flexible basing system with a support system for supports with vacuum suction cups carries out their extension, it is built on the basis of the principle of decentralized periphery.

The main peripheral element of the system is a sliding base support with a vacuum cup, the design of which is mounted intelligent positioning motor 8 (Figure 3).

Intelligent electric motor has software

positioning functions, as well as the ability to control two discrete outputs, one of which is connected to an electromagnetic pneumatic valve for expanding the latch.

Structurally, all the supports of a flexible base system are located on four identical modular sections. Elements of each module are combined into one subnet, which is connected to the central processor of the control system.

Two cables are connected to each module: cable 34 (FIG. 3) of power supply and information cable 35 (FIG. 3).

The protective and starting equipment serves the power source and the vacuum station and is controlled by a discrete input-output device.

Flexible automated basing system operates as follows.

The initial information for calculating the positions of the sliding supports is a 3D model of the complex surface profile of the workpiece. To determine the amount of displacement of each support, a step is set between them and the calculated size from the lower initial position of the support with the vacuum cup to the exit of the center of the hemisphere of the support washer 15 (Figure 4) at a given point on the basis of the surface. Before installing the part, all the retractable bearings are in the lower initial position. From the CNC device in automatic mode, the supports are positioned, forming a "bed" of vacuum cups with suction cups, corresponding to a given 3D model of the base surface of the part, and then fixed. A non-rigid, complex-shaped workpiece is installed on the bed formed by the retractable supports. The vacuum is turned on and with the help of vacuum spherical suction cups, self-aligning along the profile of the base surface, the part is pressed with the help of rubber suction cups 14 to the supporting washer 15 (Figure 4) of the vacuum cup with the base point in the center of its rotation.

At the same time, the fixed part acquires the rigidity necessary for subsequent machining.

Flexible automated systems for basing complex non-rigid parts have the following technical and economic advantages:

- combine modern technology with the flexibility to install and secure non-rigid parts;

- eliminate high production costs due to universality;

- create the possibility of basing and clamping parts of any configuration;

- reduce the installation time of the part;

- have a high permissible load on each support;

- provide rigidity and accuracy based parts after installation and fastening.

Claims (3)

1. A flexible automated system for basing complex non-rigid parts on multi-axis machines, comprising a table, on the working surface of which there is a rectangular grid of holes with retractable supports with vacuum suction cups installed in them, a vacuum system, a compressed air supply system and a numerical control system for a flexible automated base system, including a support system for supports with vacuum suction cups, with each of the sliding supports made with a brake, characterized the fact that it is equipped with a table consisting of four modular sections docked together, on the working surface of each of which a rectangular grid of holes is made with retractable supports with vacuum suction cups installed in them, and the compressed air supply system is used to release the brake during the movement of the sliding supports with suction cups in the set position. 2. The base system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a pneumatic cylinder, and the brake is made with a latch, to disconnect which when moving supports with vacuum suction cups from the control system to a predetermined position along the Z coordinate, a pneumatic cylinder is used. 3. The base system according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum suction cup is made in the form of a vacuum cup, in the support of which is used to suck air to create a vacuum in the vacuum suction cup, a check valve is built in to close the suction of air from the suction cup when it reaches between the suction cup and installed part of the required vacuum level.

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