Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J15/00—Riveting
  • B21J15/10—Riveting machines
  • B21J15/30—Particular elements, e.g. supports; Suspension equipment specially adapted for portable riveters
  • B21J15/32—Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J15/00—Riveting
  • B21J15/10—Riveting machines
  • B21J15/105—Portable riveters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
  • B21J15/00—Riveting
  • B21J15/10—Riveting machines
  • B21J15/30—Particular elements, e.g. supports; Suspension equipment specially adapted for portable riveters
  • B21J15/32—Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
  • B21J15/323—Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements using a carrier strip
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
  • B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
  • B23P19/001—Article feeders for assembling machines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to affixing small parts present in bulk into a workpiece aperture.
• small parts illustratively may be rivets, fasteners, cable feedthroughs, grommets, bushes, muffs, sleeves or the like to be inserted into a workpiece aperture.
• Said small parts are present in-bulk, that is, they are contained in a pouch or a cardboard box. They are not linked to one another nor are they arrayed in order/ sequence by means of special packaging or other steps.
• Such small parts typically are affixed manually. They may be either directly seized manually and inserted into the particular workpiece aperture, or a special affixation tool may be used to seize the small part or receiving it.
• a special affixation tool typically is manually guided to the workpiece aperture and illustratively adjusts the workpiece to a snap-in pressure.
• a known example is a blind riveting implement receiving a manually inserted rivet.
• small parts available in prefinished form.
• a plurality of plastic small parts may be made by injection molding, small links remaining between said small parts.
• Illustratively magazine strips may be made that way.
• the small parts may be held in place in special arrays within special packages.
• Such manufacturing steps facilitate automated small-parts affixation.
• small parts combined into magazine-strips are unsuitable for manual affixation. Contrary to the case of in-bulk small parts, such magazine-strips do not allow easily manually seizing an individual small part.
• the affixation tool of the present invention for in-bulk small parts to be affixed into a workpiece aperture comprises
• the small parts are in-bulk, that is they are loose, not linked to each other, or arrayed in a special way. In particular they may be easily seized manually. In particular these small parts may be made of plastic and be made integrally.
• the affixation tool's magazine may receive a plurality of small parts configured in a predetermined order.
• the small parts may be manually inserted into the magazine.
• Said magazine acts as an appropriate receptacle matched in such a way to the small parts to be received that they may be filled as a predetermined array into the magazine.
• the magazine may be sealed and enclose the small parts on all sides. Said magazine also may be open and hold in place or enclose said small parts only partially.
• Each affixation step moves one small part into the affixation position.
• Affixation proper is carried out by inserting the particular small part that is in the affixation position into the workpiece's aperture using an insertion device. Following insertion, a new feeding step takes place in the course of which another small part arrives at the affixation position.
• the feeder only moves one small part at a time and carries it in a single moving step from the magazine to the affixation position.
• a larger number of small parts also may be moved simultaneously by the feeder. In the latter case, one small part is moved from the magazine into the feeder and another small part from the feeder into the affixation position.
• the said magazine may be constituted by a portion of the feeder.
• the affixation tool of the present invention allows quickly affixing sequentially a predetermined number of small parts determined by the size of said magazine.
• the small parts need not be handled manually between the individual affixation procedures.
• this feature offers a considerable saving in time.
• the magazine can be inserted into or attached to the affixation tool.
• the magazine need not be separate from the affixation tool.
• the magazine may be in the form of a receiving space integrated into the affixation tool.
• the affixation tool can't be used for affixation while the magazine is being filled.
• two affixation tools shall be used, one of which being filled while the other is available for affixation.
• an insertable or attachable magazine allows speedily exchanging an emptied one with a full one. Accordingly the affixation procedure may continue following a merely short interruption. While the previously empty magazine is being replenished, the affixation tool is wholly available.
• a magazine's inside space matches the geometry of the small parts in a manner that said small parts may be received in single file in the magazine.
• a single file array of said small parts easily allows both removing them individually to be fed into the affixation position and filling them individually into the magazine.
• Matching the magazine inside pace to the geometry of the small parts assures that these small parts remain in the predetermined array within the magazine.
• the single file array may be such that these small parts shall touch one another. In this manner each small part may directly push the small part immediately ahead of it in the direction to the affixation position.
• the feeder is fitted with a guide and a drive spring.
• the feeder may comprise a rectilinear or nearly rectilinear guide rail. Moving the small parts along this rail is implemented by a drive spring, for instance a compression spring. In this manner the present invention offers a very simple feeder.
• the guidance matches the geometry of the small parts in a way that said parts can be moved in single file in their longitudinal direction in which they shall be inserted into the workpiece. In this manner they already move in the same direction while being moved toward the affixation position in which subsequently they shall be inserted into the workpiece's aperture. This configuration simplifies moving the small parts in their appropriate attitude into the affixation position.
• the feeder is fitted with a moving belt having defined receiving positions for said small parts.
• the moving belt in particular may be an endless feed belt.
• Each moved small part passes from the magazine into one of the defined receiving positions and from there is moved to the affixation position. Consequently the small parts are moved in simple and monitored manner.
• each retention position is associated with a seat for a pin and/or a clamp to immobilize one small part in said retention position.
• the seat geometry matches in particular the geometry of the small parts to be processed.
• the embodiment variation including a pin is especially appropriate for small parts comprising a corresponding cavity to be engaged by the pin.
• the variation comprising the clamp is especially advantageous for small parts that are well suited to be clamped from the outside, for instance in the zone of a flange.
• the said seat is designed in a way that the small parts are arrayed in single file on the feed belt and transversely to their longitudinal direction in which they must be inserted into the workpiece aperture. This configuration enhances engaging/disengaging a small part along a curve of the path it is following, for instance at a roller supporting said belt.
• the insertion device is fitted with a dis- placeable bar or bolt which inserts one small part at a time from the affixation position into the workpiece aperture.
• the bar/bolt applies the force on the small part required to insert it into the aperture.
• the driving force is pneumatic or pneumatic/hydraulic, said bar may be a piston /plunger rod.
• An electro-mechanical drive also is appropriate. It is understood that the bar/bolt drive may be manually triggered by means of a pushbutton or another triggering element, in which case an electronic control unit might be integrated into the affixation tool and drive the insertion device.
• the affixation tool is a manually operated unit fitted with a grip. In other words, it is operated manually. This feature offers maximally possible flexibility when operating said element.
• the affixation tool may comprise an attachment jig to attach the affixation tool to a robot arm.
• the operation of the affixation tool also may be automated. This design is especially advantageous in that the robot is spared the difficult handling of the individual small parts. Automation by robot is easily implemented using the affixation tool.
• the system of the present invention comprises:
• the small parts are moved from the individuation device to the ordering device and from there to the filling station.
• the system of the present invention allows extensively automating the affixation procedure because individuation and ordering inclusive filling the affixation tool's magazine may be carried out in fully automated manner. Manually dealing with the in- bulk small parts no longer is required.
• a support is mounted to the filling station and keeps the magazine respectively the affixation tool in the filling position.
• the magazine respectively the affixation tool with the magazine also might be attached manually to the filling station and be kept in a filling position.
• this procedure is simplified using a special support.
• the filling means is fitted with a slider moving one small part a time from the ordering device into the magazine.
• a slider is a simple practical solution to the problem of transferring the previously scattered small parts in a controlled/monitored way into the magazine.
• the individuation device is a stepping conveyor or a vibrating conveyor.
• a vibratory bowl feeder (Vibrationswitzlf ⁇ rderer) is also suitable. The said feed means individuate the in-bulk small parts.
• the ordering device is an ordering rail.
• This ordering rail may contain one or more ordering elements that move the small parts into a predetermined position.
• One design of the present invention configures a verifying system in the zone of the ordering element to check the small parts' appropriate position and/or nature.
• Such verification in particular may relate to the kind and size of the small parts and their complete and defect- free finish.
• the verification system detects a defect or deviation, the particular small part may be eliminated automatically. This system assures that only small parts of full quality shall be used both to fill the magazine and in further processing.
• Said method comprises the following stages:
• the magazine may be filled manually.
• the magazine is inserted into the affixation tool or attached to it. This procedure allows using the affixation tool independently of magazine filling.
• the small parts are moved step-wise out of the magazine into an affixation position of the affixation tool.
• Such a feed assures always that one small part shall be in the affixation position.
• the small parts being moved into the affixation position shall be arrayed in single file in their longitudinal direction in which they shall be inserted into the workpiece's aperture, or transversely to said longitudinal direction. In this process these small parts may touch one another or be spaced apart.
• each small part being moved into the affixation position is engaged by a pin or a clamp.
• One implementing mode of the method of the present invention prescribes that the automated filling of the magazine includes the following features:
• each small part is pushed by a filling station slider into the magazine.
• FIG. 1 shows an affixation tool of the invention comprising a feed system that includes a drive spring
• FIG. 2 shows another affixation tool of the invention wherein the feed system is fitted with an endless feed belt
• FIG. 3 shows a filling station of the invention fitted with a step feeder
• FIG. 4 shows another filling station of the invention fitted with a vibrating bowl feeder.
• the affixation tool of Fig. 1 comprises a magazine 10 holding a number of small parts 12 arrayed in single file.
• the small parts 12 shall be inserted into apertures of automobile bodies and are made entirely of plastic and commercially available in-bulk, that is loose, not linked to one another, nor in any special array.
• the small parts 12 are arrayed single-file in their longitudinal direction along which they should be inserted into the apertures. Within the magazine 10, these small parts are directly bounding and touching each other.
• An especially simple embodiment of a feeder 14 is a compression spring exerting a force on the back side of the rearmost small part 12 within the magazine.
• the affixation tool's affixation position is denoted by 16. After the particular small part 12 previously at the affixation position 16 has been inserted, the feeder 14 moves forward, in steps, all the small parts 12 within the magazine 10, whereupon a further small part 12, situated at the very front end of the magazine 10 reaches the affixation position 16.
• the small part at the affixation position 16 is inserted by means of a pin 18 or the like into an aperture of a workpiece.
• the pin 18 is guided within a cylinder 20 and driven by compressed air.
• the compressed air is fed from a compressed air hookup 22 to the affixation tool and is fed through a compressed air conduit 24 to the cylinder 20.
• a manually operable trigger 26 is situated ergonometrically at the front side of the grip 28.
• the affixation tool further contains a control 30 driving and/or monitoring the insertion and respectively the feed process.
• the feeder's compression spring 14 is configured within the magazine 10 and runs from the rear end of a small part 12 to a locking element 32 which can be locked in the rear end of the affixation tool.
• the locking element 32 may be opened and the compression spring 14 can be removed from the magazine 10 in order to fill it.
• the affixation tool shown in a second embodiment mode in Fig. 2 differs from the first embodiment mode by the geometry of both the magazine and the feeder.
• the feeder is an endless belt 34 driven by a roller 36.
• the feeder belt 34 is fitted with a plurality of equidistant receiving elements in the form of pins, not shown in any detail, that keep each small part 12 in place relative to said belt.
• the segment of the feeder belt 34 shown at the top of Fig. 2 comprises a plurality of equidistant small parts 12 and constitutes the affixation tool's magazine. This magazine is open at the top, as a result of which the small parts 12 project upward from it and allow visually checking the small parts' fill-level at any time.
• FIG. 3 shows an illustrative embodiment of a filling station comprising a step feeder to individuate in-bulk small parts 12.
• the step feeder 40 moves the small parts out of an omitted receptacle zone that previously received the in-bulk small parts 12.
• the individuated small parts 12 reach an arraying/ordering rail 42 wherein each small part assumes its own accurately defined position.
• a verifying system 44 is configured in the region of the ordering rail 42 to check the proper position and nature of the small parts 12.
• this verifying system 44 is optical.
• An affixation tool's magazine is denoted in dashed lines by the reference 46 and alone or in conjunction with the said tool shall be kept by a support 48 against the filling station.
• a slider 50 moves a small part 12 at each of its sliding steps out of the ordering rail 42 into the magazine 46 of the affixation tool.
• the slider 50 is driven pneumatically or electromagnetically and is controlled by a mechanical knob or an optical system.
• the slider 50 shall be activated until the magazine 46 has attained a given fill level. Then the magazine 46 respectively the affixation tool linked to it can be separated from the support 48 and the affixation of the small parts 12 by the affixation tool may begin.
• Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment mode of a filling station which instead of a step feeder comprises a vibratory bowl feeder 52.
• This feeder 52 moves the small parts 12 from a central receiving zone collecting the in-bulk small parts 12 into an ordering rail 42. In said ordering rail, said small parts are moved by an ordering element 54 into a defined position.
• the embodiment of Fig. 4 is similar to that of Fig. 3.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Automatic Assembly (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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Citations (1)

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• 2008
  • 2008-11-06 DE DE102008056246A patent/DE102008056246A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2009
  • 2009-10-22 EP EP09760304A patent/EP2352606A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-10-22 WO PCT/IB2009/054683 patent/WO2010052602A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (1)

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