Patent GB-837870-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for automatically selecting and assembling co-operating inner, outer and intermediate parts of e.g. bearings
IPC: F16C43/04
Filed: 1957-12-04
Abstract: 837,870. Assembling bearings. SHEFFIELD CORPORATION. Dec. 4,1957 [Dec. 14, 1956], No. 37759/57. Class 83 (2). [Also in Group XXXIV] A machine, for automatically selecting and assembling the inner and outer races and the balls of a ball-bearing, comprises gauging means for comparing the outer and inner dimensions respectively of the inner and outer races and controlling metering means which measures out, in accordance with the dimensional comparison, a predetermined number of ballbearings, the measured-out ball-bearings being assembled with the gauged inner and outer races by means of assembly means co-operating with the metering means. Variously sized inner and outer races are supplied to the machine 10 respectively through shoots 30, 31 and are positioned for gauging by escapement plungers such as those at 36, 38, 41 for the shoot 30, Fig. 8. The plungers 36, 38, 41 are actuated by air cylinders 37, 40, 42 respectively. An upper body 54, supported from and urged toward a horizontal slide 47 respectively by links 55 and springs 60 carries an upper arm 65 having a button 66 which, when the slide 47 is moved by a cylinder 48 toward the shoots 30, 31, engages a stop surface 67 to rock the body 54 upwardly. Gauging contacts 70, 71 are provided respectively for the inner and outer races, the lower and upper pairs of contacts 70, 71 respectively being supported on the body 54 by a beam 75. The remaining contacts 70, 71 are carried respectively on a pair of gauging arms 76, 77 coaxially pivoted on the body 54. When the slide 47 is moved forwardly the contact sets 70, 71 are carried through holes in the respective shoots 30, 31 and the button 66, striking the stop surface 67, elevates the body 54 so that the contacts 70, 71 engage the races as shown in Fig. 5. A gauging cartridge 80 on the arm 76 provides a signal proportional to the sizes of the bearing races. If the races are of such dimensions as to preclude assembly they are rejected and segregated by gates 98, 99, Fig. 10, for feeding back into the machine. When the races are acceptable a stop member 90, located in the shoot 30, is actuated by a solenoid 91 to locate the inner ring race opposite an opening 101 communicating with the shoot 31. A solenoid operated plunger 94, with an inclined surface 95 in the shoot 31, directs the outer race along an incline 104 to a locating plunger 105, Fig. 10, in a position in coaxial alignment with the inner race. A plunger 100 and the plunger 105 are moved forward against a spring 107, Fig. 11, the plunger 100 moving the inner race, through the opening 101, to a position within the outer race. Simultaneously a release slot 110 in the plunger 105 allows both of the races to move together downwardly into a shoot 115 to a transfer mechanism which moves them to a position just beneath, and slightly eccentric to, the outlet of a dish-shaped receiver 17. The latter carries a number of supply units 21, Fig. 14, each having a metering unit 131 and a supply of ball-bearings of a certain size. The metering unit 131 below the appropriate unit 21 is actuated by its associated solenoid 132, in response to the gauging signals, to release a predetermined number of balls of the required size into the receiver 17. A plug 155, mounted at one end of a pivoted arm 164 rotatable by an air cylinder 170, is projected upwardly by a cylinder 156 to engage the inner race and the arm 164 is rotated so that the inner race takes up an eccentric position within the outer race. An arm 180 is then rocked, by a cylinder 195 and toggle mechanism 192, to force a surface 182 on the arm 180 into engagement with the outer race and distort it into an oval shape to facilitate the loading of the ball-bearings. A loading plunger 206, vertically movable in a groove 202 by a cylinder 208 and forming part of a loading mechanism associated with the receiver 17, is lifted so that the ball-bearings are directed into the space between the inner and outer races, the plunger 206 then being lowered to force the balls into position. The components of the loading mechanism are carried by a pivoted plate 217 so that, should jamming of the ball-bearings occur, e.g. when two balls are in alignment with one another, to prevent the plunger from completing its full downward stroke the loading mechanism can be shifted and the plunger 206 lowered, as necessary, to clear the jamming. If, after a predetermined number of shifts, the plunger 206 still cannot be fully extended the machine is automatically stopped. After the ball-bearings have been loaded the force applying arm 180 and the plug 155 are withdrawn and the assembled components are transferred to subsequent stations for checking the balls, the end play of the assembled bearing, and the fitting and crimping of the cages.