An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

An assembling apparatus assembles a retainer by engaging a pair of cotter pieces with a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head configured to hold, in a separated state, the pair of cotter pieces in the separated state prepared by a preparation unit and engage the pair of cotter pieces with the upper end of the valve stem. The head includes a storage member including a storage chamber, and a holding unit capable of pressing the pair of cotter pieces stored in the storage chamber against the upper end of the valve stem. The storage member includes first and second abutting portions. The second abutting portion positions the valve stem in the axial direction, and the first abutting portion positions the pair of cotter pieces in the axial direction.

A retainer gripping device, configured to grip a retainer accommodating a set of cotters inside the retainer, includes a retainer gripping unit, a retainer supporting portion, and a cotter supporting portion. The retainer gripping unit is configured to grip the retainer. The retainer supporting portion is configured such that the retainer gripped by the retainer gripping unit is placed in a state in which the set of cotters are accommodated inside the retainer. The cotter supporting portion is configured to support lower end edge portions of the cotters accommodated inside the retainer in a state in which the lower end edge portions are lifted upward higher than a lower end edge portion of the retainer.

An assembling apparatus assembles a retainer by engaging a pair of cotter pieces with a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head configured to hold, in a separated state, the pair of cotter pieces in the separated state prepared by a preparation unit and engage the pair of cotter pieces with the upper end of the valve stem. The head includes a storage member including a storage chamber, and a holding unit capable of pressing the pair of cotter pieces stored in the storage chamber against the upper end of the valve stem. The storage member includes first and second abutting portions. The second abutting portion positions the valve stem in the axial direction, and the first abutting portion positions the pair of cotter pieces in the axial direction.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

A system is provided for the automated assembly of engine cylinder valves capable of registering a valve stem as a robot datum working location, placing a valve stem spring over the working location, compressing the valve stem spring onto the valve stem, inserting a valve keeper into a valve stem seating notch and locking the valve keeper with a cap by a computer controlled automated cylinder head assembly line. A spring feeding station registers the valve stem and said places the valve stem spring over the working location. A multi-axis mechanical robot grips the valve spring about its outer diameter with a gripping fixture from a spring feeding fixture forming an end effector incorporating a jaw gripper urged by a pneumatically actuator. A vision system locates a cylinder block on a transferred pallet to determine an X, Y, and Rz plane for placement of the valve, spring and spring keeper.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

An assembling apparatus places a retainer on a valve spring to surround an upper end of a valve stem. The apparatus includes an assembling head, and a moving unit configured to move the assembling head between the supply position of the retainer and an assembling position. The assembling head includes a holding unit configured to hold the retainer, and a push unit configured to push out the retainer. The push unit includes a push member supported to be able to advance/retreat along an elevating direction of the assembling head, and a biasing member configured to bias the push member in an advancing direction.

A method and apparatus for automated valve spring assembly includes a head assembly with a pair of elongated passageways that moveably support a pair of retainer keys for movement through the passageways. The head assembly including a moveable divider plate and a pair of jaws, a push member that closes off the passageways and that slides the retainer keys along opposite sides of the divider plate. The retainer keys contact surfaces of the jaws and rotate the jaws outwardly as the keys are moved by the pushrod. The retainer plate is then retracted, and the jaws shift inwardly and push or position the retainer keys on the valve stem where the retainer plate is configured to allow sequential engagement of the rings of the retainer keys to engage the valve stem.

An assembly method is provided by orienting a cylinder-head at a first orientation. A first plurality of spring caps and a first plurality of retainer keys are installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a first robot. A first plurality of valves is installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a second robot, into engagement with the first plurality of retainer keys. An end effector is provided with an actuator supported upon an adapter plate. A shaft extends from the actuator with a mating surface to engage a spring cap. Porting is provided through the shaft to convey pressurized air upon a plurality of retainer keys within the spring cap. A plurality of gripper fingers extend from the distal end of the shaft to grip a valve spring while retaining a spring cap between the valve spring and the mating surface of the shaft.