DE102013001004B3 - Device useful for e.g. clamping, stamping, welding of components used in the car body of motor vehicle industry, comprises elongated adjusting part, sensor device with electrical or inductive sensors or micro-switches and control device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device comprises: an elongated adjusting part driven straight by a drive in opposite directions, which has a device part pivotable in a housing (1) arranged in a toggle lever e.g. a clamping hook, a welding electrode, an engraved stamp or swing arm drives; a sensor device with electrical or inductive sensors or micro-switches which detect the position of elongated adjusting part and transmit the values via signal lines to a display device; and control device. The sensor device is configured cartridge-shaped or prismatic sensor, which is insertable or screwed in a lateral recess of housing. Device comprises: an elongated adjusting part driven straight by a drive in opposite directions, which has a device part pivotable in a housing (1) arranged in a toggle lever e.g. a clamping hook, a welding electrode, an engraved stamp or swing arm drives; a sensor device with electrical or inductive sensors or micro-switches which detect the position of the elongated adjusting part and transmit the values via signal lines to a display device; and control device. The sensor device is configured cartridge-shaped or prismatic sensor, which is insertable or screwed in a lateral recess of the housing and has damped sensors on its end pointing into the interior of the housing portion. A rod is arranged against the restoring force of a spring element in the interior of the housing with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate adjusting part, where the rod has a switching element at its end portion which is in the form of a compression spring opposite to spring element, and attenuates one of the two sensors.

Description

The invention relates to a device for clamping, embossing, welding, clinching or pivoting of components, in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry, with a rectilinearly driven by a drive in opposite directions elongate adjustment part, which is arranged over a housing arranged in a toggle joint pivotable device part, z. B. a clamping hook or a welding electrode or a punch or a pivot arm drives, with a sensor device with electrical or inductive sensors or micro-switches, which detect the position of the elongate adjustment and forward the values via signal lines to a display device, control device or the like.

State of the art

Devices of the type presupposed genusäßbek known by a variety of constructions. For example, such devices are designed as toggle clamping devices that are used for clamping sheet-metal parts in the bodywork of the automotive industry. Such sheet-like parts are then permanently connected to each other by spot welding, clinching or gluing. Embossing devices are used, for example, for embossing components, in particular sheets, primarily also in the automotive industry as well as welding electrodes, for example, be used via a swivel arm with involvement of a toggle joint in devices of this type. So-called pivoting devices are used for pivoting heavy components.

All the above. Devices are driven by a motor arranged in a housing electric motor or via a piston-cylinder unit which is driven alternately by pressure medium pressure, in particular by compressed air, driven by a motor. In this case, the elongate adjustment is usually z. As a ball screw or a piston rod or the like, through which the toggle lever joint is driven by an electric motor or a piston-cylinder unit in opposite directions.

In order to detect either the angular position of a clamping arm, for example in a toggle lever device or a pivoting device or the supply and delivery at a clamping hook of a underbody tensioner, one uses sensors that are usually associated with a kind of cassette, which in turn is associated with the housing and Sensor parts associated with the elongate adjusting part, for example switching lugs, can act together, which attenuate by inductive means or the like sensors of the sensor unit assigned to the housing. For this purpose microswitches are usually used, formerly limit switches. In this way you can, for example, the position of a clamping arm of a toggle lever device or the position of a pivoting part of a pivoting device on a remote display device, such as a control panel, identify. In a toggle lever tensioning device, these are usually the up and deliveries of a tensioning arm, which are displayed digitally and / or optically. Such devices can be used in a production line, in particular in the bodywork of the automotive industry, so that usually a variety of such devices, such as toggle clamps or underbody tensioners, pivoting and welding devices, in such production lines are used, which controls the drive power to drive be supplied to the elongate adjustment. The production line is usually associated with at least one control unit, while the drive of the elongate adjusting part is often accomplished by compressed air, which is available everywhere, especially in the automotive industry. Recently, however, increasingly put through drives that are electric and drive the elongated adjustment translationally in opposite directions. For this purpose encapsulated motors and linear drives are on the market, which drive the elongated adjustment part in different ways.

Furthermore, state of the art devices of the type described, in which the elongate adjusting member via screw thread or otherwise variable in length, thereby changing, for example, the pivot angle of a clamping arm of a toggle lever device. In this way one has, for example, in hand, such devices for different model shapes in the body shop or the like to use to take into account interference edges or different sheet thicknesses or different component dimensions, EP 1 088 623 A2 ,

It is also known that different models for motor vehicles, for example cars, are produced on one and the same production line, so that the so-called disturbing edges which such devices, for example toggle-type clamping devices or underbody tensioners, have to accomplish can be bypassed.

Devices of the type described are sometimes mounted in the bodywork of the automotive industry to a plurality of devices on grating devices that are moved by robots in the production line.

In particular, in toggle clamping devices, it is known to arrange sensors in a so-called cassette, which are arranged by an elongated slot on the back of the housing designed as a clamping head. The cassettes are easily interchangeable, so you can remove the cassettes in a simple manner and replace it with another cassette in case of failures or when switching to different types. Moreover, it is known to adjust and lock the sensors in the longitudinal axis direction of the elongate adjusting part in order thereby to detect different clamping positions of a clamping arm or swivel arm, DE 102 56 385 B3 ,

In the arrangement of sensor devices in cassette form in an elongate slot which is sealed by the cassette itself, it is within the scope of the invention to provide the housings of such devices with threaded holes on all four sides so that the devices, e.g. Assemble, for example, toggle clamps on all four sides, depending on the existing conditions in an assembly line on brackets, grids or the like. Devices of this type thus require that the housing be provided with a relatively large, elongate opening or slot in which the cassette is to be arranged with the sensors. It has also been suggested in this connection to shorten the slot and insert the cassette with a portion of its length through an approximately T-shaped slot at the end of the housing, wherein a portion of the cassette then seals the slot in the longitudinal axis from the outside.

The housing parts are formed in toggle lever clamping devices usually as housing halves, which are sandwiched on each other and encapsulate the toggle joint assembly to the outside, so that the axes and joints are largely protected against dust, spatter or the like.

From the DE 20 2012 011 156 U1 is a underfloor tensioner for centering and / or clamping of workpieces, in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry, previously known, with a housing, a centering mandrel for centering and exciting workpieces, a power-driven drive unit via a toggle joint arrangement laterally from a Spacing of the centering pin protruding chip hook drives in opposite directions, wherein at least one tab-shaped lever element of the toggle joint assembly is designed as a spring element, wherein the spring element via a pivot axis with a part of the toggle joint assembly and with another pivot axis with a piston rod - possibly indirectly - the drive unit coupled pivotally is, wherein in the region of the passage openings for the pivot axes, one of which is connected to the piston rod - possibly indirectly - and the other with an angle lever, an arcuate Materialabschni Tt, which integrally connects material accumulations in the area of the pivot axes materially. This device comprises an interrogator having interrogator elements in the form of microswitches, limit switches, inductive switches or the like, which cooperate with a switching lug associated with the piston rod which dampens the interrogator elements. The corresponding values can be forwarded via a plug housing and a cable, not shown, to a central switching or command cell. The interrogation device is arranged in the corner region of the housing of the device and arranged flush with a flange-like part on the outside of the housing.

From the DE 197 02 204 C1 is a pneumatic Endstellungsabfrageeinrichtung for a provided with a donor, linearly movable actuator, in particular the actuator of a tensioning device, previously known, consisting of two juxtaposed on a support and in the adjustment of the encoder, switchable by the encoder, connected to pneumatic lines pneumatic switches, wherein the carrier between the two pneumatic switches and the encoder is a lock slider with an upper driver and a lower, adjustable positionable on the cam follower driver is arranged and that the switch side of the adjusting slide side by side, but offset in height, respectively aligned to the associated switch, two switching tongues are arranged, wherein the effective switching distance of the two Shifters corresponds to the smallest adjustable assignment distance of the two drivers.

task

The invention has for its object to form a device of the presupposed genus such that the sensor device as a cartridge-like or cube-shaped component easier to handle and assemble, designed a sensor damping switching element in a structurally simple way and to the different tasks, in particular body construction of Automotive industry, adapt.

solution

The object is solved by the reproduced in claim 1 features.

Some advantages

In the invention, the sensor device is designed as a plug-like set, which is arranged in a transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate adjustment part recess of the housing, for example, a clamping head of a toggle lever device, an underbody tensioner, a clinching device, a pivoting device, an embossing device or a welding device. This set can be designed as a small component, for example in the form of a cartridge or cubic, which is inserted into a passage opening at the end of the housing, for example a clamping head of a toggle lever clamping device, and seals it to the outside. At its projecting into the interior of the respective housing end portion to be damped sensors are arranged, which are attenuated by the elongated adjusting member associated switching elements and thereby detect the position of the clamping arm, a pivoting part, a welding electrode, a clamping arm or the like. The respective measured values can be electrically forwarded to a display device via a signal line, which is detachably and interchangeably connected to the set. The sensors associated with the set are typically inductive or electronic sensors which are designed as inductive switches, microswitches or the like or electronic elements. The rod is arranged against the restoring force of a spring in the housing with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate adjusting part and has on its the compression spring element opposite end portion a switching element which damps the sensors of the sensor set in opposite switching positions.

Further inventive embodiments

Further inventive embodiments are described in the claims 2 to 9.

Claim 2 describes a sensor set, which is inserted in a bore of the housing transversely to the adjustment of the elongated member. The sensor set can be screwed into the bore by means of a thread or can be applied to the housing with a flange from the outside and fastened here interchangeably with at least one screw.

But it is also possible to make the sensor set according to claim 3 on its outer lateral surface polygonal, preferably square, to fit it against rotation in the recess of the housing and thereby fix in a functional position.

At the sensor set according to claim 4 at least two sensors for different switching positions, for example, for "on" and "to" the clamping arm of a toggle lever device or the clamping hook of a underbody tensioner arranged, which are damped by a by the elongate adjusting element to be damped switching device.

According to claim 5, the sensor set is arranged sealed in the recess of the otherwise closed housing at least by a sealing element against dirt and moisture.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching element assigned to the elongate adjusting part, which dampens the sensors of the sensor set, is associated with a rod which is arranged in the housing.

In the embodiment according to claim 7, the rod is arranged longitudinally displaceable in bores of the housing by a limited amount against the restoring force of the spring element, wherein the elongate adjusting part associated with two switching elements, one of which cooperates with a rod associated part, against which the Pressure spring element supported on one side under bias.

According to claim 8, the compression spring element is designed as a spiral compression spring, which is supported at one end against an approach of the housing and with the other end to a thickening, collar or stop of the rod under bias.

According to claim 9, the sensor set is formed as a cube or cartridge whose measured in each direction transverse dimension, for example, diameter or longitudinal side, is considerably smaller than the transverse dimension of the housing, so that it comfortably in a recess of the housing, for example, a bore or square recess can accommodate.

In the drawing, the invention - partly schematically - illustrated in one embodiment. Show it:

1 a toggle lever device, shown partly broken off, with the clamping arm pivoted in the open position in view of the toggle joint (housing, clamping head) open;

2 a section along the line II-II of 1 ;

3 from 1 apparent toggle lever clamping device in clamping position, also shown broken off, and

4 a section along the line IV-IV of 3 ,

With the reference number 1 is referred to as a clamping head formed housing, to which axially a drive device 2 followed. The housing 1 consists in the illustrated embodiment of two housing parts or housing halves 3 . 4 which are sandwiched and flat on each other and are releasably connected to each other by screws (not shown). The housing parts 3 and 4 encapsulate the housing interior 5 largely or completely dust and moisture-proof.

With the reference number 6 is a clamping arm referred to in the direction A and B to a housing-fixed pivot axis 7 is arranged pivotably. The housing-fixed pivot axis 7 occurs in the illustrated embodiment of the housing 1 on opposite sides with stub axles, each with a square neck 8th respectively. 9 are provided. On these square approaches 8th . 9 is the swivel arm 6 interchangeable arranged. The swivel arm 6 can also only one-sided with one of the square approaches 8th or 9 be made detachable and replaceable.

In the housing parts 3 and 4 are guide grooves 10 respectively. 11 arranged with their longitudinal axes at the same height in the housing 1 are arranged and have the same dimensions. The longitudinal axes of these guide grooves 10 and 11 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 12 an elongated adjustment 13 , Which is presently designed as a piston rod and that with a not shown, in a cylinder, also not shown longitudinally displaceable and sealingly guided piston of the drive device 2 is connected and in opposite directions X and Y is translationally driven. The drive device 2 However, it can also be an electric motor or a linear drive, that the elongate adjusting member 13 in the direction of X or Y drives and also locked in the desired position.

The elongated adjustment part 13 is via a coupling part 14 , For example, a fork or a kind of crosshead, with a toggle joint arrangement 15 connected, which is the housing-fixed pivot axis 7 and thus the tension arm 6 in the opposite direction A and B, for example, by a pivoting angle of 0 ° to 135 ° to 180 °, drives. In the event that the elongated adjustment part 13 over the toggle joint arrangement 15 drives a pivoting device or a welding electrode or a clamping hook, there are other tilting angles or adjustment paths. For example, in a underfloor tensioner, a tension hook can tension sheet-shaped parts on a base or in a swivel device, tension heavy components in directions A or B, or in a welding apparatus, a welding electrode reciprocate to join sheet-shaped parts together by spot welding under high pressure.

From the drawing is the abutment, on the sheet-metal parts by the clamping arm 6 be tense, for reasons of simplification not shown. Such an abutment is referred to in jargon as pine and is with the housing 1 connected, against which the tension arm 6 cooperates with replaceable contour pieces. Such contour pieces can also be assigned to the jaw replaceable in order to adapt to different component shapes or thicknesses can.

The toggle joint arrangement 15 is about roles 16 respectively. 17 in the guide grooves 10 and 11 low-friction. The roles 16 and 17 can also be mounted on the relevant bolt via rolling bearings, in particular nail bearings, friction.

Parallel to the longitudinal axis 12 of the elongated adjustment part 13 is with its longitudinal axis and at a distance to the elongate adjustment part 13 a pole 19 arranged. When the term "rod" is used, this is understood to mean either a solid wall part or a pipe. The pole 19 is at one end in a blind hole 20 and at the other end to a hole 21 mounted to a certain extent liftable in the X or Y direction. The pole 19 has at its the blind hole 20 facing end portion of a covenant 22 on, either functionally or materially integral with the rod 19 trained and optionally in Längsachsrichtung the rod 19 also arranged adjustable and lockable, for example via thread. Thereby, the biasing force of a at one end to a projection 23 of the housing 1 supporting compression spring element 24 to be changed, which coincides with the other end section against the covenant 22 under preload supported and thereby the rod 19 strained towards Y and tried to move.

At the other, the covenant 22 Averted end portion is the rod 19 a switching element 25 assigned to the functional or integral with the rod 19 is formed, preferably also in Längsachsrichtung the rod 19 adjustable, in particular einjustierbar and in the particular desired position is also locked, for example via thread, by a stud, grub screw or the like.

The switching element 25 dampens sensors 26 respectively. 27 a sensor set 28 in a through hole 29 the housing parts 3 and 4 is arranged. The passage opening 29 can be symmetrical on the two housing parts 3 and 4 distribute and thereby uniform to the vertical axis 30 of the housing 1 or the housing halves 3 and 4 be arranged. The sensors 26 . 27 may be microswitches or inductively operating sensors, that of the switching element 25 or a switching element 31 be damped, depending on the position of the elongate adjustment 13 ,

With the elongated adjustment part 13 or the coupling part 14 Is another switching element 32 functionally and materially integrally connected, in the closed position with the collar 22 the pole 19 cooperates, and over this the compression spring element 24 compressed in the direction of X and thereby the rod 19 takes along, so that the switching element 25 the corresponding sensor 26 damped and triggers a corresponding signal. In the opposite direction is the switching element 32 the covenant 22 free, so in the full open position of the clamping arm 16 or the like, the switching element 31 the sensor 27 damped and triggers a corresponding signal. This allows the energy to the drive device 2 , For example, electrical energy for an electric motor or the compressed air supply to one or the other side of a piston of the drive device 2 be controlled, which can be done by a sequential control in a production line, for example in the bodywork of the automotive industry.

The sensor set 28 has a connector housing 33 on, with a signal line, not shown, is connected, which leads to a display device, monitor, or the like, not shown. With 34 are LED, which also visually the different switching positions of the clamping arm 6 Show. In the illustrated embodiment, the tensioning arm 6 between 0 ° and 135 ° around the housing-fixed axis 7 pivotable.

The sensor set 28 is designed in a cartridge shape and has a flange 35 on, with which the sensor set 28 tired on the housing side surface of the housing 7 rests.

In addition, a seal, not shown, may be arranged here to the set 28 also dust and moisture-proof against the housing interior 5 seal.

The cartridge-shaped or cube-shaped housing set 28 can be cylindrical or square on its outer circumferential surface. In the latter embodiment, a centering and anti-rotation would be achieved. Of course, it is possible to make the housing set also polygonal, in different angular positions in the through hole 29 to arrange. The flange 35 Can by one screw or more screws with the housing 1 be detachably connected. As can be seen, the transverse dimensions of the cartridge-shaped housing set 28 is considerably less than the overall length of the housing, is about only 1/8 to 1/20, preferably 1/9 to 1/12 of the total length of the housing, and can be handled accordingly with one hand or with a few fingers. The housing of the sensor set 28 protrudes with a small length in the interior 5 of the housing 1 into it and has on its front side the sensors 26 and 27 on, inductively through the switching elements 25 and 31 be damped.

It is particularly advantageous in this case that the housing 1 can be formed closed on all sides, so that no dust and moisture in the interior 5 enters. The housing is thus on all four sides by means not shown threaded blind holes on device parts, for example, to be moved by a robot to be moved grids or brackets. The storage of the housing set is facilitated because it has only a low weight and low construction dimensions. Also the pole 9 can in her hole 21 be executed sealed, as it is also possible, the bore 21 To close by a threaded plug to the outside, so that also here no dust and moisture can escape to the outside (not shown).

The features described in the claims and in the description and apparent from the drawing features, both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention may be essential.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

casing

2

Drive device, electric motor, piston-cylinder unit, linear motor

3

Housing part, housing half

4

Housing part, housing half

5

Housing interior, interior

6

Clamping arm, device part, swiveling

7

swivel axis

8th

Square neck

9

Square neck

10

guide

11

guide

12

longitudinal axis

13

Adjustment part, oblong, piston rod

14

coupling part

15

Toggle lever arrangement

16

role

17

role

18

bolt

19

pole

20

blind hole

21

drilling

22

Federation

23

head Start

24

Compression spring element

25

switching element

26

Sensor, sensor set, prismatic, cartridge-shaped

27

Sensor, sensor set, prismatic, cartridge-shaped

28

Sensor set, sensor device, prismatic, cartridge-shaped

29

Through opening

30

vertical axis

31

switching element

32

switching element

33

plug housing

34

LED

35

flange

A

pan direction

B

pan direction

X

Displacement direction, stroke

Y

Displacement direction, stroke

Claims (9)

Device for clamping, embossing, welding, clinching or pivoting of components, in particular for use in the bodywork of the motor vehicle industry, with a longitudinally driven by a drive in opposite directions rectilinear adjustment ( 13 ), which via a arranged in a housing toggle joint a pivotable device part, for. As a clamping hook or a welding electrode or a die or a swing arm driving, having a sensor device with electrical or inductive sensors or micro switches that detect the position of the elongated adjusting member and the values via signal lines to a display device, control device, or the like pass, characterized characterized in that the sensor device as a in a lateral recess of the housing ( 1 ), in particular plug-in or screw-in, cartridge-shaped or prismatic sensor set ( 28 ) formed at its in the interior ( 5 ) of the housing ( 1 ) pointing end section to be damped sensors ( 26 . 27 ), wherein a rod ( 19 ) against the restoring force of a spring element ( 24 ) in the interior ( 5 ) of the housing ( 1 ) with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 12 ) of the elongate adjusting part ( 13 ) is arranged, wherein the rod ( 19 ) on its spring element designed as a compression spring ( 24 ) opposite end portion of a switching element ( 25 ), one of the two sensors ( 26 . 27 ) damped. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor set ( 28 ) in a passage opening ( 29 ) of the housing ( 1 ) transversely to the stroke direction (X or Y) of the elongate adjusting part ( 13 ) is arranged. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor set as a uniform, on its outer circumferential surface polygonal, preferably square, set is formed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors to be damped ( 26 . 27 ) at the housing interior ( 5 ) facing front side of the sensor set ( 28 ) are arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor set ( 28 ) in the passage opening ( 29 ) is arranged interchangeably against dust and moisture, in particular by at least one sealing element. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongate adjustment part ( 13 ) a switching element ( 25 ), which in the interior ( 5 ) of the housing ( 1 ), the at least one of the sensors ( 26 or 27 ) damped. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod ( 19 ) in holes ( 20 respectively. 21 ) of the housing ( 1 ) by a limited amount against the restoring force of the spring element ( 24 ) is longitudinally displaceable, wherein the elongate adjustment part ( 13 ) two switching elements ( 31 . 32 ), of which the one ( 32 ) with the federal government ( 22 ) of the rod ( 19 ) and another switching element ( 32 ), on the pole ( 19 ) arranged switching element ( 25 ), depending on the pivot position, for example, a clamping arm ( 6 ), one or the other sensor ( 26 respectively. 27 ) damped. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element as a compression spring element, in particular as a spiral compression spring ( 24 ) is formed, which at one end against an insert or projection ( 23 ) of the housing ( 1 ) and with the other end against the Bund ( 22 ) of the rod ( 19 ) is supported under prestress. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor set ( 28 ) is designed as a prismatic body whose transverse dimension measured in each direction is considerably thinner than the transverse dimensions of the housing ( 1 ), in particular only small transverse dimensions in the stroke direction (X or Y) according to the length dimensions of the housing ( 1 ), z. B. only 1/10 of these length dimensions of the housing ( 1 ), having.

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