FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic transfer taper roller bearing (TRB)
press machine for closing operation of small and medium size bearings. More
particularly, the invention relates to an automatic transfer press machine for
hands free automatic operation and having safety interlock incorporated to take
care of any human intervention during machine in operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The old machine for Taper Roller Bearing (TRB) - closing operation
is a manually operated Press machine. One dedicated operator is required to
place the loose TRB on the Die just below the RAM of press cylinder and push
the switches to actuate the hydraulic press cylinder. Once the bearing closing
operation is done and press cylinder returns back to home position, the operator
takes out the assembled Bearing from the Die and keeps aside in delivery chute.
This is one complete cycle of machine operation.
The main component of the machine is a 10 ton capacity Hydraulic
press cylinder which is installed on the C type mounting frame, Hydraulic circuit
mechanism and Electrical control system. But problems are encountered with the
old machine such as (i) dedicated operator is required to nun the machine (ii)
material handling is required for input feeding to machine (iii) proper placement
of Bearing on die is to be made (iv) scope of bad closing/rejection of bearings (v)

unavailability of maintenance spares (vi) possibility of finger injury during
machine operation exists, (vii) high cycle time as it is a manual operation.
Hence, there exists a need to invent a press machine for closing
operation of taper roller bearing which shall be automatic without any manual
interference during machining.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to propose an automatic transfer taper
roller bearing (TRB) press machine for closing operation of small and medium
size bearings, which is capable of eliminating the disadvantages of prior art.
Another object of the invention is to propose an automatic transfer taper roller
bearing (TRB) press machine for closing operation of small and medium size
bearings, which is capable of pushing and transferring the job for pressing sand
then as output automatically.
A further object of the invention is to propose an automatic transfer taper roller
bearing (TRB) press machine for closing operation of small and medium size
bearings, which provides safety interlock to take care of any human intervention
during machine in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Fig.l - shows a line diagram of the press machine according to the
invention.
Fig.2 - shows a flow chart of arrangement in the machine, according to
the intervention.
Fig.3 - a photograph of the old machine.
Fig.4 - a photograph of the invented machine
Fig.5 - shows a transfer system subassembly including gripper units.
Fig.6 - shows a flow chart of arrangement in the old machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
The invented machine (M) has pneumatic systems, Hydro-
pneumatic system, Conveyor feeding system and PLC based electrical control
system along with safety device that has been integrated together. Design of
Transfer system for input feeding, placement and output delivery is unique in
this machine. All these techniques lead to elimination of problems encountered
with old machine. This is a low cost automatic machine suitable for closing
operation of Taper Roller Bearing having OD in the range of 34 to 46 mm. The
machine operation is fast and placement is accurate. Cycle time is less than 10

seconds. The overall configuration (Architecture) and flow chart of the machine
arrangement is shown in Fig.2.
The overview of the machine is shown in fig.l and fig.4. The
machine has a fabricated base structure (7), transfer cylinders (8) for operating
the transfer system, pusher cylinders (9) for pushing the materials, hydra-
pneumatic press cylinder (10) for pressing, a safety curtain sensor (11) for
incorporation of safety during machine operation and a control panel (12) for
machine control system. As shown in fig.l and fig.4. The machine has the
following systems to execute an automatic operation of the press machine.
1. Feeding System: For the input material (Loose TRBs) feeding to the
machine, one motorized PVC Belt conveyor has been provided. A 3 ph.
0.11 KW Gear motor mounted on the roller shaft has been used at the
feed end of the conveyor. The conveyor auto start/stop control depends
on the input material availability at the delivery end of the conveyor (2) or
feeding point to the machine.
2. Pushing system: Three numbers of Air cylinders have been used to
push the material from delivery end of the conveyor to Transfer IN point
(4). While two cylinders push the Bearings to the Transfer point, third one
just hold the Bearing during pushing from position (3) to position (4).
3. Transfer System: Transfer system design of the machine is unique.
Transfer system subassembly is the combinations of three air cylinders
and two air Grippers mounted above one another. Three air cylinders

movement take place in three different directions (Axis X, Axis Y & Axis
Z). Transfer system subassembly including gripper units as shown in
Fig.5.
4. Press system and Press station: Loose TRB closing operation takes
place at this position (5) as shown in Fig.l. Bearing is placed over the
specified Die fixed at this station and closing is done by 4 Ton capacity,
Hydro-pneumatic press cylinder vertically installed over it. This cylinder
has total stroke length of 100 mm. First 90 mm stroke is covered in
pneumatic operated rapid travel while balance 10 mm stroke is covered in
hydraulic operated slow travel. Press cylinder travel control is based on its
piston-position feedback and preset time of closing operation. After
completion of closing operation, assembled TRB is transferred out (6) in
Fig.l to delivery chute by 2nd air gripper unit.
5. Control system: The machine control system consists of PLC based
electrical control panel, Valve station and Safety barriers. Control panel
houses the PLC system hardware, Control gears, 24 VDC power supply
unit, Push button switches, LEDs for status indication and other
accessories. Valve station consists of 10 valves Manifold along with Air
filter, Regulator and input air isolation valve. For safety against any
human intervention, Safety Cutain (Transmitter - Receiver set), an optical
sensor has been used.

Technical Specification:-
OD range of TRBs: 34 to 46 mm
Cycle time: 10 sec.
Bearing closing pressure: 2 to 4 Ton
Pneumatic input pressure: 4.0 Kg/sq.Cm
Overall power consumption: 0.150 KW
Power supply requirement: 3 ph, 50 Hz, 415 VAC, 2 Amp.
Overall size: 1700(L) x 780(W) x 1850(H) mm
Overall weight (Approx): 600 Kg
Operation Safety:-
The machine has the following to take care of operational safety,
i) Curtain sensor gets activated due to any external intervention in
hazardous zone during auto operation of machine,
ii) Emergency switch (Mushroom head push button) on the operator
control panel to stop the machine immediately.
Functional Operation:-
The automatic transfer taper roller bearing (TRB) press machine can be
operated both in Auto as well as Manual mode. Individual Control switch has
been provided on the operator control panel for each function. These Control
switches can be used during functional testing as well as machine operation in
Manual mode. In Auto mode, machine can be started by pressing the "Cycle
start" illuminated push button, if all the systems/devices are at home position

which is confirmed by "Origin" LED on indication. Once machine started in Auto
mode, it continues to run till input feeding continues and safety curtain sensor is
not activated by any external intervention. The running machine can be stopped
by pressing "Stop" push button or "Emergency" push button (in case of
emergency).
Advantages and Benefits:-
> Finger injury during machine operation has been eliminated
> No dedicated operator required to run the machine
> No material handling required for input feeding to machine
> Proper pick-up and accurate placement of Bearings on Die
> Bad closing / rejection of Bearings has been reduced to a great extent
> Easy maintenance and troubleshooting
> Safety barrier (Curtain) for any external intervention
Maintenance and troubleshooting:-
Although the machine is designed for maintenance free operation, however some
routine maintenance/basic checks are required to carry out before it is put under
operation.
Routine maintenance:
> Machine cleaning
> Retightening of all nut bolts
> Looseness of Air pipe connections
> Looseness of cable/wire connections

WE CLAIM
1. An automatic transfer taper roller bearing (TRB) press machine for closing
operation of small and medium size bearings comprising and characterized
in that,
a feeding system comprising one motorized belt conveyor (1), a
gear motor mounted on the roller shaft at the feed end of the conveyor
(1), the conveyor (1) auto start/stop control depending on the availability
of the input material at the delivery end of the conveyor (2);
a pushing system comprising a plurality of air cylinders (9) for
pushing the material from delivery end of the conveyor to transfer point
(4);
a plurality of said air cylinders disposed for pushing the bearings to
the transfer point, another air cylinder disposed for just holding the
bearing during pushing from position (3) to position (4);
a transfer system comprising a plurality of air cylinders (8) and
plurality of air grippers mounted one above the other, the cylinders having
movement in three different axis x, y and z for;
a control system comprising PLC based electrical control panel (12),
valve station and safety barriers, the said control panel housing the PLC
system hardware, control gears, VDC power supply unit, push button
switches, LEDS for status indication;

a safety curtain sensor (11) disposed in the machine (M) for safety
against any human intervention; wherein
a press station (5) is disposed in the machine (M) for closing
operation of bearings placed on a specified die fixed at this station when a
hydro-pneumatic press cylinder (10) is vertically installed over the die for
the closing operation of taper roller bearings.
2. The automatic press machine as claimed in claim , wherein the hydro-
pneumatic press cylinder (10) is of 4 ton capacity having 90 mm rapid
travel and 10 mm slow travel stroke length.
3. The automatic press machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein two numbers
of Air cylinder are disposed for pushing the material from delivery end of
the conveyor (1) to transfer in point (4) and one cylinder is disposed for
holding the bearing during pushing from position 3 to position 4.
4. The automatic press machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein three air
cylinders (8) and two air grippers (13) are disposed in the transfer
system.

ABSTRACT

An automatic transfer taper roller being press machine for closing operation of
small and medium size bearings comprising a feeding system for input of the
material by belt conveyor, a pushing system having three air cylinders for
pushing the material and holding the same during pushing from delivery end (3)
to transfer in point (4), a transfer system having three air cylinders and two air
grippers mounted one above the other where the air cylinder movement take
place in three different directions (axis x, y & z), a control system having a PLC
based electrical control panel (12), value station and safety barriers when a
press station (5) is disposed in the machine (M) for closing operation of bearings
placed on a specified die fixed at this station when a hydro-pneumatic press
cylinder is vertically installed over the die for closing operation of taper roller
bearings.