JP2005067890A - Method and device for carrying cap nuts - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems with a cap nut having a nut body, a flange, and a hollow bag part formed on the opposite side of the flange wherein since the shape thereof is formed to be hard to perform air conveyance, the cap nut is brought into an abnormal attitude during conveyance and caught by the inner surface of a conveyance route, whereby obstructing the smooth conveyance of the cap nut. <P>SOLUTION: The conveyance route of the cap nut 1 comprises a main conveyance route 31 for passing the nut body 3 and the flange 4 and an auxiliary conveyance route 32 formed on the lower side of the main conveyance route 31 and allowing the bag part 5 to pass therethrough. The width of the auxiliary conveyance route 32 is set narrower than the width of the main conveyance route 31, the cap nut 1 in the conveyance route is disposed so that its nut body 3 is positioned on the upper side and its lower side is positioned on the lower side, and a conveyance air pressure is allowed to act on the lower surface 8 of the flange 4 to convey the cap nut in the state of acting a buoyancy on the cap nut 1. Thus, the frictional force of the cap nut 1 on the inner surface of the conveyance route can be reduced or eliminated and the cap nut can be smoothly conveyed in a correct attitude. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cap nut transport method and transport device, and smoothly transports a cap nut having a special shape.

A cap nut consisting of a nut main body, a flange provided on one side of the nut, and a container-shaped bag portion provided in the nut main body on the opposite side of the flange and having a hollow inside, includes a flange, a nut main body, and a bag portion. Since it is an integrated shape, the shape itself is difficult to carry by air. Moreover, the conveyance path of the said cap nut needs to be set so that the smooth conveyance suitable for the shape can be performed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-90893

  As described above, a cap nut comprising a nut main body, a flange provided on one side thereof, and a vessel-shaped bag portion provided in a nut main body on the opposite side of the flange and having a hollow inside, includes a flange, a nut Since the main body and the bag portion are integrated, the shape itself is in a state where it is difficult to carry air. In particular, the mass is biased toward the nut body and the flange which are solid except for the screw holes, and the mass of the hollow bag portion is small. For this reason, the center of gravity of the complicatedly shaped cap nut with integrated flange, nut body, and bag portion is biased toward the nut body side, and the cap nut becomes in an abnormal posture during transport, and the inner surface of the transport path There is a problem that it interferes with smooth conveyance by being caught on the surface.

  In the case of a cap nut having the above-mentioned shape, the pressure receiving area of the portion with a large mass is significantly less than the pressure receiving area of the bag portion with a small mass. A phenomenon of tilting, that is, a rotational moment is applied to the cap nut, which causes an abnormal posture in the conveyance path.

  The invention of the present application is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the method of transporting a cap nut according to claim 1 is characterized in that a flange-like bag is provided on one side of the nut body and the inside is hollow on the other side. In the type of moving the conveying path by blowing conveying air to the cap nut provided with the section, the conveying path is a main conveying path through which the nut body and the flange pass, and a bag provided below the main conveying path. And the width of the sub-transport path is set to be narrower than the width of the main transport path, and the cap nut in the transport path has the nut body on the upper side and the bag portion on the lower side. It is an arrangement posture, and it conveys in the state where the pressure of conveyance air is made to act on the undersurface of a flange, and buoyancy is made to act on a cap nut.

  As described above, since the pressure of the carrier air acts on the lower surface of the flange, buoyancy acts on the cap nut. Therefore, even if a part of the cap nut moves while rubbing against the inner surface of the transport path due to the gravity of the cap nut, the frictional force is reduced, and the transport posture is normal without causing an abnormal inclination of the cap nut. Maintained. Alternatively, the buoyancy causes the nut main body and the flange portion to float in the main conveyance path, and the cap nut moves without contacting the inner surface of the conveyance path. In this way, the cap nut is transported in a normal posture without being tilted when it is in a completely floating state that does not contact the inner surface of the transport path. Further, the buoyancy causes the flange to move while sliding on the ceiling surface of the conveyance path. In this case, since the flange is guided to the ceiling surface, the cap nut is conveyed in a normal posture without being inclined.

  Since the width of the main transport path is set larger than the width of the sub transport path, the nut body moves while contacting the bottom surface of the main transport path. The whole cap nut tends to incline around the contact point by the applied air pressure. However, since the buoyancy acts on the cap nut as described above, the frictional force at the contact location is reduced, and a smooth sliding phenomenon continues at that location to prevent the cap nut from tilting. When the flange is sliding on the complete floating or the ceiling surface of the conveyance path as described above, the cap nut is not inclined because it does not contact the bottom surface of the main conveyance path. When such buoyancy acts, the cap nut is transported in combination of three states such as a low friction state, a complete levitation state, and a guide sliding state with respect to the ceiling surface. Or it is conveyed only in any one of the above three states, or is conveyed while the two states are alternately repeated.

  Except for the screw holes, the mass of the nut body and the flange are solid, and the hollow bag portion has a smaller mass. For this reason, the center of gravity of the complicatedly shaped cap nut in which the flange, the nut main body, and the bag portion are integrated is biased toward the nut main body. In this type of cap nut, usually, the pressure receiving area of a portion with a large mass is often much lower than the pressure receiving area of a bag portion with a small mass. Even under such conditions, since the air pressure acts on the flange, the cap nut is suspended upward at a location above or near the center of gravity. Therefore, since the cap nut is not pushed up but pulled up, the phenomenon of tilting in an abnormal direction is prevented.

  The three states as described above are closely related to the curved shape of the conveyance path and the centrifugal force when the cap nut passes through the curved portion. Since the centrifugal force acting on the cap nut is added to the buoyancy caused by the carrier air when the main conveyance path is curved so that the main conveyance path is located outside the curve in the curved portion, the flange Is likely to slide on the ceiling surface of the main conveyance path. In addition, when the bending direction is opposite to the above bending direction, the centrifugal force acting on the cap nut is added and the nut body tends to come into strong contact with the bottom surface of the main conveyance path. The strong contact is reduced by buoyancy, and the curved portion can be moved smoothly.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the nut according to claim 1, wherein the nut is temporarily locked in a state where the nut body and the flange are positioned on the upper side and the bag portion is positioned on the lower side. It is characterized by injecting carrier air to the outer surface of the main body. Since the carrier air injection force acts on or near the center of gravity of the cap nut, the cap nut is sent out in a normal posture without being inclined, and the transport posture in the transport path is correctly maintained.

  A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the temporary locking is performed by at least a magnetic attraction force. Since the carrier air is jetted onto the cap nut attracted by the magnet, the cap nut is rapidly sent out when the carrier air exceeds the magnet's attractive force. Therefore, the cap nut enters the transport path accurately.

  The invention according to claim 4 is of a type in which a carrier air is blown to a bag nut provided with a flange on one side of the nut main body and a container-like bag part having a hollow inside on the other side to move the conveyance path. The conveyance path is composed of a main conveyance path that allows the nut body and the flange to pass therethrough, and a sub conveyance path that is provided below the main conveyance path and allows the bag portion to pass. The bag nut is set to be narrower than the width. It is composed of a supply pipe made of a synthetic resin material that allows the cap nut to reach the target location, and the depth of the relay passage member gradually becomes deeper toward the supply pipe. Smooth connection with the supply pipe It is the conveyance apparatus of the cap nut, characterized in that the conveying path is constructed Te.

  The invention according to claim 4 basically exhibits the same function and effect as the invention according to claim 1. On the other hand, the depth of the relay passage member gradually increases toward the supply pipe, and the relay passage member and the supply pipe are smoothly connected to form a conveyance path. It is possible to smoothly convey the cap nut without being caught at the connection portion between the feed pipe and the feed pipe.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  The illustrated embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cap nut 1 conveyed in the present invention includes a hexagonal nut body 3 having a screw hole 2 at the center, and a flange integrally provided with the nut body 3 on one side of the nut body 3. 4 and the inside provided integrally with the nut main body 3 on the other side of the nut main body 3 are constituted by a hollow bag portion 5. Although the shape of the bag part 5 changes variously according to the situation where the bag nut 1 is used, in this example, it is comprised by the cylindrical part 6 and the hemispherical spherical part 7 continuing to it. And the cross section of the flange 4 and the bag part 5 is circular. The lower surface 8 of the flange 4 is a pressure receiving surface on which the pressure of carrier air described later acts. The cap nut 1 is made of iron.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall structure of a transport apparatus for carrying out a method for transporting a cap nut 1 according to the present invention. The cap nut 1 sent out from the parts feeder 9 is sent from the introduction member 10 to the component delivery device 11 so that the cap nut 1 is sent out one by one toward the supply pipe 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the introduction member 10 has a U-shaped cross section that is open upward, and is provided with a step portion 13 that receives the flange 4. Accordingly, the cap nut 1 enters the component delivery device 11 while the flange 4 is in a so-called neck-hanging state and slides on the stepped portion 13. And the bag part 5 is arrange | positioned under the introduction member 10, and the nut main body 3 is arrange | positioned at the upper side.

  The component delivery device 11 is accommodated in an outer box 14 having a rectangular cross section in a state in which a transfer member 15 can be advanced and retracted, and the transfer member 15 is advanced and retracted by an air cylinder 16. The transfer member 15 takes two positions: a receiving position for receiving the cap nut 1 from the introduction member 10 and a sending position for sending the received cap nut 1 toward the supply pipe 12. The component delivery device 11 and the air cylinder 16 are fixed to a stationary member 17.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the cover plate 18 of the outer box 14 is removed. The transfer member 15 is formed with a receiving recess 19 that opens toward the introduction member 10 and the supply pipe 12. The cross-sectional shape of the receiving recess 19 is shown in FIG. This cross-sectional shape is set in accordance with the outer shape of the cap nut 1, and includes a large portion 20 that receives the flange 4, a middle width portion 21 that receives the nut body 3, and a small width portion 22 that receives the bag portion 5. It is composed of A support surface 23 that supports the flange 4 is formed in the large portion 20, and a support surface 24 that supports the nut body 3 is formed in the middle width portion 21.

  The shape of the outlet portion 25 is set so that each of the large, middle, and small width portions 20, 21, and 22 continues in the outlet portion 25 of the outer box 14. That is, the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, one end of the relay passage member 26 is coupled to the outer box 14 of the component delivery device 11, the supply pipe 12 is connected to the other end, and the supply pipe 12 supplies the cap nut 1. Connected to the destination location. FIG. 7B is a three-dimensional view with the cover plate 27 removed, and the cross-sectional shape of the relay passage member 26 is the same as the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the large, medium, and small width portions 20a, 21a, and 22a, and support surfaces 23a and 24a that support the flange 4 and the nut body 3 are provided. 7A also shows the supply pipe 12 in a three-dimensional manner with the cover plate 33 removed.

  The depth of the relay passage member 26 gradually increases toward the supply pipe 12 at the change portion 28. In this manner, the depth is gradually increased at the changing portion 28, and the bottom portion of the small width portion 22 is smoothly continuous with the bottom portion of the supply pipe 12. An insertion portion 29 is provided in a state protruding from the end portion of the relay passage member 26, and the insertion portion 29 is inserted into a receiving portion 30 formed at the end portion of the supply pipe 12. The conveyance path of the supply pipe 12 is continuous.

  The transport path is composed of a main transport path 31 and a sub transport path 32. In the relay path member 26, the large portion 20a and the middle width portion 21a correspond to the main transport path 31, and the small width portion 22a corresponds to the sub transport path 32. It corresponds. On the other hand, the conveyance path of the supply pipe 12 is a main conveyance path 31 in a wide portion and a sub conveyance path 32 in a narrow portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the height of the main conveyance path 31 in the vertical direction is set sufficiently larger than the total dimension of the nut body 3 and the flange 4. The dimensional relationship is used so that the nut main body 3 and the flange 4 can float in the main conveyance path 31 when air pressure acts on the flange 4.

  The temporary locking of the cap nut 1 in the receiving recess 19 is attracted by the magnet 34 embedded in the transfer member 15 while the flange 4 and the nut body 3 are supported by the support surfaces 23 and 24. The magnet 34 is embedded in the transfer member 15 near the innermost portion of the receiving recess 19 and close to the support surfaces 23 and 24. Therefore, when the transfer member 15 moves backward and the introduction member 10 and the receiving recess 19 are matched, the foremost cap nut 1 is sucked into the receiving recess 19 by the attractive force of the magnet 34, and the cap nut 1 is temporarily locked. The In order to apply such a magnetic force to the cap nut 1 more strongly, the transfer member 15 is made of a stainless material that is a non-magnetic material. The magnet 34 is a permanent magnet, but it may be an electromagnet.

  A compressed air injection passage 35 is provided in the transfer member 15 in order to pneumatically convey the cap nut 1 that is temporarily locked in the receiving recess 19. The injection passage 35 is the deepest part of the receiving recess 19 and opens at a position where compressed air is injected into the nut body 1. That is, the jet flow of compressed air is jetted in the longitudinal direction of the relay passage member 26. An air hose 40 extending from a compressed air supply source is connected to the outer box 14 to supply compressed air to the injection passage 35.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a base member 36 is fixed to the stationary member 17, and the outer box 14 of the component delivery device 11 and the end of the relay passage member 26 are attached to the base member 36. The other base member 37 is fixed to the stationary member 17, and the other end of the relay passage member 26 and the supply pipe 12 are attached to the base member 37. The supply pipe 12 is fixed to the base member 37 by fastening a U-shaped presser member 38 to the base member 37 with a bolt 39.

  When compressed air is blown from the injection passage 35 to the nut body 3, the cap nut 1 remains in the receiving recess 19 due to the attractive force of the magnet 34 for a very initial time, but the pressure of the carrier air acting on the nut body 3 When the pressure of the carrier air exceeds the attractive force of the magnet 34, the cap nut 1 is instantaneously sent out from the receiving recess 19.

  Thus, the cap nut 1 sent out rapidly receives the dynamic pressure of the carrier air and is sent out from the relay passage member 26 to the supply pipe 12. When the cap nut 1 is moving along the transport path, the pressure of the transport air acts on the lower surface (pressure receiving surface) 8 of the flange 4 as shown by the arrow in FIG. Being transported.

  The effects of the above embodiment are listed as follows.

  Since the carrier air pressure acts on the lower surface 8 of the flange 4, buoyancy acts on the cap nut 1. Therefore, even if a part of the cap nut 1 moves while rubbing against the inner surface of the transport path due to the gravity of the cap nut 1, the frictional force is reduced, and the cap nut 1 is transported without causing an abnormal inclination. Posture is maintained normally. Alternatively, the nut body 3 and the flange 4 are floated in the main conveyance path 31 by the buoyancy, and the cap nut 1 moves without contacting the inner surface of the conveyance path. In this way, the cap nut 1 is transported in a normal posture without being tilted when it is in a completely floating state that does not contact the inner surface of the transport path. Further, the buoyancy causes the flange 4 to move while sliding on the ceiling surface 41 of the conveyance path as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8 and the solid line in FIG. 9. In this case, since the flange 4 is guided by the ceiling surface 41, the cap nut 1 is conveyed in a normal posture without being inclined.

  The abnormal inclination as described above is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, and the flange 4 is in contact with the ceiling surface 41 of the main conveyance path 31, and at the same time, the lower part of the nut body 3 is the main conveyance path 31. The cap nut 1 is clogged in the main conveyance path 31 due to contact with the bottom surface 42 and contact at such two places. In the present invention, since such an abnormal inclination is not imparted to the cap nut 1, smooth conveyance of the cap nut 1 is realized.

  Since the width of the main transport path 31 is set to be larger than the width of the sub transport path 32, the nut body 3 moves while contacting the bottom surface 42 of the main transport path 31. When it becomes larger, the whole cap nut 1 tends to incline around the contact point by the air pressure acting on the cap portion 5. However, since the buoyancy acts on the cap nut 1 as described above, the frictional force at the contact location is reduced, and a smooth sliding phenomenon continues at that location to prevent the cap nut 1 from tilting. When the flange 4 slides on the complete floating or the ceiling surface 41 of the conveyance path as described above, the cap nut 1 does not tilt because it does not contact the bottom surface 42 of the main conveyance path 31. When such buoyancy acts, the cap nut 1 is conveyed in a composite of three states such as a low friction state, a complete levitation state, and a guide sliding state with respect to the ceiling surface 42. Or it is conveyed only in any one of the above three states, or is conveyed while the two states are alternately repeated.

  Except for the screw hole 2, the mass is biased toward the nut body 3 and the flange 4 which are solid, and the mass of the hollow bag portion 5 is small. For this reason, the center of gravity of the complicatedly shaped cap nut 1 in which the flange 4, the nut main body 3, and the bag portion 5 are integrated is biased toward the nut main body 3 side. In this type of cap nut 1, usually, the pressure receiving area of the portion with a large mass is often much lower than the pressure receiving area of the bag portion 5 with a small mass. Even under such a condition, since air pressure acts on the flange 4, the cap nut 1 is suspended upward at a location above or near the center of gravity. Therefore, since the cap nut 1 is not pushed up but pulled up, the phenomenon of tilting in an abnormal direction is prevented.

  The three states as described above are closely related to the curved shape of the conveyance path and the centrifugal force when the cap nut 1 passes through the curved portion. When the curved portion is curved so that the main conveyance path 31 is positioned outside the curve with respect to the auxiliary conveyance path 32, the centrifugal force acting on the cap nut 1 is added to the buoyancy caused by the conveyance air. Therefore, a state in which the flange 4 slides on the ceiling surface 41 of the main transport path 31 is likely to occur. Further, in the case of bending in the direction opposite to the above bending direction, the centrifugal force acting on the cap nut 1 is added, and the nut body 3 tends to come into strong contact with the bottom surface 42 of the main conveyance path 31. The strong contact is reduced by the buoyancy of the carrier air, and the curved portion can be moved smoothly.

  With the nut body 3 and the flange 4 positioned on the upper side and the bag portion 5 positioned on the lower side, the bag nut 1 is temporarily locked in the receiving recess 19, and the nut body 3 of the bag nut 1 that is temporarily locked is secured. The carrier air is jetted onto the outer surface. For this reason, since the injection force of conveyance air acts on the gravity center point of the cap nut 1, or its vicinity, the cap nut 1 is sent out in a normal posture without inclining, and the conveyance posture in the conveyance path is correctly maintained. The

  The temporary locking is performed by at least the attractive force of the magnet 34. Therefore, since the carrier air is jetted onto the cap nut 1 attracted by the magnet 34, the cap nut 1 is rapidly sent out when the carrier air exceeds the attractive force of the magnet 34. Therefore, the cap nut 1 enters the transport path accurately.

  The effects of the above transport method are similarly exhibited in the transport device. Further, the depth of the relay passage member 26 gradually increases toward the supply pipe 12, and the relay passage member 26 and the supply pipe 12 are smoothly connected to form a conveyance path. Is not caught at the connection portion between the relay passage member 26 and the supply pipe 12, and the cap nut 1 can be smoothly conveyed.

  As described above, since the cap nut having a complicated outer shape is smoothly transferred along the conveyance path, it is widely used in various fields such as when the cap nut reaches the parts supply device of the welding apparatus.

It is a top view which shows the whole structure of the conveying apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a cap nut. It is (3)-(3) sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view which shows a part of component delivery apparatus. It is (5)-(5) sectional drawing of FIG. It is (6)-(6) sectional drawing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the edge part of a supply pipe and a relay channel | path member. It is sectional drawing of a supply pipe | tube. It is sectional drawing of a supply pipe | tube.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cap nut 3 Nut main body 4 Flange 5 Cap part 11 Parts delivery apparatus 12 Supply pipe 26 Relay passage member 31 Main conveyance path 32 Sub conveyance path 34 Magnet

Claims (4)

  In the type that moves the conveyance path by blowing the conveyance air to the bag nut in which the flange is provided on one side of the nut body and the inside is provided with a hollow container-like bag part, the conveyance path is the nut body And a main conveyance path through which the flange passes and a sub conveyance path provided below the main conveyance path and through which the bag portion passes, and the width of the sub conveyance path is set to be narrower than the width of the main conveyance path. The cap nut in the road is arranged in such a manner that the nut body is positioned on the upper side and the bag portion is positioned on the lower side, and the pressure of the conveying air is applied to the lower surface of the flange and buoyancy is applied to the cap nut. A method of transporting a cap nut characterized by the above.   The bag nut is temporarily locked with the nut body and the flange positioned on the upper side and the bag portion positioned on the lower side, and the conveying air is jetted onto the outer surface of the nut body of the temporarily locked bag nut. The method for conveying the cap nut according to the description.   The method of conveying a cap nut according to claim 2, wherein the temporary locking is performed at least by an attractive force of a magnet.   In the type that moves the conveyance path by blowing the conveyance air to the bag nut in which the flange is provided on one side of the nut body and the inside is provided with a hollow container-like bag part, the conveyance path is the nut body And a main conveyance path through which the flange passes and a sub conveyance path provided below the main conveyance path and through which the bag portion passes, and the width of the sub conveyance path is set to be narrower than the width of the main conveyance path. The cap nut in the road has an arrangement posture in which the nut body is positioned on the upper side and the bag portion is positioned on the lower side, and the transport path allows the relay nut connected to the component delivery device and the cap nut to reach the target location. And a supply pipe made of a flexible synthetic resin material. The depth of the relay passage member gradually increases toward the supply pipe, and the relay passage member and the supply pipe are smoothly connected. Transport path is configured Conveying apparatus of the cap nut, characterized in Rukoto.

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