JP3584598B2 - Apparatus for distinguishing nuts for fittings - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to determine another apparatus nut pipe joint.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As described in JP-A-59-86492 and JP-A-60-12786, a pipe joint for connecting pipes is generally provided with a nut.
Thus, for example, in the manufacture of an assembly hose, it is necessary to supply a nut of a type that exactly corresponds to the external thread of the connection partner in the process of mounting the hose including the fitting of a connection fitting as a pipe joint.
[0003]
By the way, when assembling the assembly hose, strictly speaking, when automating the mounting process to the hose including the mounting of the connection fittings, put a large amount of nuts into the hopper, take out the nuts from the outlet with a robot, and use the It is possible to supply.
[0004]
By the way, when one hopper is used as a common hopper for each assembly hose type, it is necessary to totally replace nuts in the hopper with nuts of a type corresponding to an assembly hose to be newly manufactured at the time of type switching, At this time, several nuts before may remain in the hopper and be mixed into nuts of a new kind, or workers may put nuts of a different kind that fell on the floor etc. into the hopper. In this case, different kinds of nuts are mixed inside the hopper.
[0005]
Thus, once a different kind of nut has been mixed in, it is difficult to determine the appearance of a nut having the same outer diameter but a different inner diameter, and the wrong nut is attached to the connection fitting. This may occur.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Determine another device of the pipe joint nut of the present invention are those of the above circumstances was devised as a background.
Thus to nuts discriminating apparatus of the present invention is a device for determining the specific type of nut among a plurality of types of pipe fitting nut having different internal diameter sizes, it is erected in (i) vertically, wherein A rod into which a nut can be inserted; and (b) an inner peripheral portion of the specific nut among the nuts provided at an outer peripheral portion of the rod at predetermined positions in the vertical direction of the rod and fitted from an upper end portion of the rod. sealed and held while stopping down, and this from the hook portion for passing a large nut inner diameter downward, and a nut sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the nut in (c) the cited hook, (d) said hook portion in I remote still lower, and a stopper portion for supporting the lower surface is brought into contact with a nut that has passed through the the cited hook, together with and a, supported nut at the stopper portion is predetermined Specific bore size Is provided with a nut size detection sensor for detecting the large ones either of the than or inner diameter size, the nut size detection sensor, and the stopper at the outer position than the inner circumferential position of the nut of the caliber size An air ejection hole opened on the upper surface of the air ejection hole, and an air pressure sensing portion communicating with the air ejection hole, and the stopper portion is provided based on a pressure change of the air pressure sensing portion due to opening or closing of the air ejection hole. wherein the are without the air sensor for sensing the internal diameter size of the upper nut (claim 1).
[0007]
Nut discriminating apparatus of another aspect of the present invention is claimed in claim 1, and wherein the stopper portion is movable up and down along the support can and said rod lower surface of the nut held in the upper side of the hook portion than this And a means for raising and lowering the stopper portion is provided, and the nut held by the stopper portion or the hook portion is pulled out from the rod based on the upward movement of the stopper portion. (Claim 2).
[0008]
[Action and effect of the invention]
This onset Ming device as described above, its upper end is lowered along the rod by fitting the nut from, and provided only nut inner diameter sized to seek to a predetermined position the outer periphery of the rod erected rod together it is held by hooking the hooking part, which is that without to sense at nut detection sensor, the apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the nut specific varieties, thus By using only the determined nut, it is possible to prevent the wrong nut from being attached to the pipe joint .
[0009]
In the present invention, by providing a stopper portion further lower position than pull hook, to support the nut has passed through the pull hook at its stopper, supported nut inner diameter predetermined size has established a nut size detection sensor for detecting the whether those things or larger than this, thus at to Rukoto can also cause the same action as the hook portion at its stopper. That is, it is possible to determine whether the nut supported by the stopper portion is the target nut.
[0010]
Further, in the present invention, the nut size detection sensor constitutes at the air sensor having an air pressure sensing unit which communicates with the air ejection holes and the air ejection holes open in the upper surface of the stopper portion, according to the present invention It is possible to easily determine whether or not the nut on the stopper portion is a specific type of nut based on the closing or opening of the air ejection port by the lower surface of the nut.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is configured such that the stopper portion can be raised along the rod while supporting the lower surface of the nut on the stopper portion or the nut held above the stopper portion, According to the present invention, the discriminated nut can be pulled out of the rod as it is by raising the stopper part, and the stopper part is raised and lowered. This can be easily supplied.
[0012]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 2, a cap nut 10 is a discrimination target, and has a female screw 12 at an inner diameter portion as shown in an enlarged view.
Numerals 10A, 10B, and 10C denote hose connection fitting nuts (nuts for pipe joints) to be distinguished in the present example, each having a different inner diameter size. The nut having the largest inner diameter is the nut 10C.
[0013]
Reference numeral 14 denotes a discriminating rod for discriminating a target nut, which is provided upright on the base 16 via a mounting block 20. The discrimination rod 14 has an insertion shaft portion 18 having a smaller diameter than the main body portion at the lower end portion, and the insertion shaft portion 18 is inserted into the insertion hole 22 of the mounting block 20.
[0014]
The mounting block 20 has a convex portion 24 at the lower end, and the convex portion 24 is fitted into a fitting hole 26 of the base 16.
The mounting block 20 is formed with a female screw hole 34 which is lateral and penetrates, into which a bolt 36 is screwed. An engagement protrusion 38 is formed at the tip of the bolt 36, and the engagement protrusion 38 is engaged with the engagement groove 28 formed in the insertion shaft portion 18 of the discrimination rod 14.
[0015]
Here, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, the engagement groove 28 is formed in a vertical groove 30 from the lower end of the insertion shaft portion 18 to a predetermined height position, and along the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft portion 18 from the upper end. The engaging protrusion 38 is engaged with the lateral groove 32 so that the discriminating rod 14 is prevented from falling out of the mounting block 20 by the engaging action of the engaging protrusion 38. Have been.
The mounting block 20 is provided with another female screw hole 42 on the side opposite to the female screw hole 34, into which a bolt 40 for preventing rotation and retaining is screwed. Bolts 40 fasten plug shaft 18 to mounting block 20.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the discriminating rod 14 has an outer diameter that is gradually increased from the upper portion to the lower portion, and the first fitting shaft portion 74 and the second fitting portion are sequentially arranged from the upper portion. The joint shaft portion 76 and the third fitting shaft portion 78 are formed. The portions where the outer diameters are changed are tapered first and second hook portions 44 and 46 which hook and hold the nuts 10A and 10B. Here, these first and second hook portions 44 and 46 are for hooking and holding the lower end inner diameter portion of the cap nut 10, and the nut 10A having the smallest inner diameter size is held by the first hook portion 44. The nut 10 </ b> B having the intermediate inside diameter passes through the first hook portion 44 and is held by the second hook portion 46.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, an elevating cylinder 48 is installed on the upper side of the base 16, and an elevating plate 52 is attached to an upper end of the rod 50.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elevating plate 52 has an L-shape as a whole, and a block-shaped stopper portion 53 is provided on a lower end and a horizontal support plate 51.
[0018]
The stopper portion 53 abuts on and supports the lower end of the nut 10C that has passed through the first and second hook portions 44 and 46 of the discriminating rod 14 downward. It has a fitting hole 56 that is relatively movable in the axial direction with respect to the lowermost third fitting shaft portion 78 and fits into the third fitting shaft portion 78 with almost no gap.
The support plate 51 is also provided with an insertion hole 54 at the center thereof, which is loosely fitted to the third fitting shaft 78 of the discrimination rod 14.
[0019]
On both sides of the discrimination rod 14, a pair of auxiliary rods 58, 60 are erected on the base 16.
Each of the auxiliary rods 58 and 60 is provided with an optical sensor as a nut detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a nut.
[0020]
Specifically, one auxiliary rod 58 has light emitting portions 62, 64, 66 of the optical sensor with nuts 10 </ b> A, 10 </ b> B held by first and second hook portions 44, 46 or stopper portion 53, respectively. , 10C, and light receiving sections 68, 70, 72 of the optical sensor are mounted on the other auxiliary rod 60 with the discriminating rod 14 interposed therebetween. , 64, 66 are respectively attached.
[0021]
Corresponding to this, each fitting shaft portion 74 of the discriminating rod 14 is provided on the discriminating rod 14 to allow the light emitted from the light projecting portions 62, 64, 66 to pass through the light receiving portions 68, 70, 72. , 76, 78 are provided in the horizontal direction, respectively. Specifically, these light transmitting holes 74A, 76A, 78A are located at positions hidden inside the nuts 10A, 10B, 10C held by the first hook 44, the second hook 46, and the stopper 53, respectively. Is provided.
[0022]
As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the block-shaped stopper portion 53 is provided with an air ejection hole 82 (see FIG. 1) constituting a part of an air sensor 80 as a nut size detection sensor. The air ejection hole 82 is open at the upper surface of the stopper 53 at the upper surface of the stopper 53 and at a position outside the inner diameter (inner circumference) of the target nut 10C to be determined.
[0023]
The stopper portion 53 is provided with a communication passage 84 that allows the air ejection hole 82 to communicate with the air sensor main body 86 of the air sensor 80.
The air sensor main body 86 includes branch passages 90 and 92 for branching the air supplied through the supply passage 88, and a cylinder chamber 94 as an air sensing unit provided between the branch passages 90 and 92. A piston 96 equipped with a magnet is slidably fitted in the cylinder chamber 94, and the piston 96 divides the cylinder chamber 94 into a first chamber 98 and a second chamber 100.
[0024]
Also, throttles 102, 104 and a variable throttle 106 are provided in each of the branch passages 90, 92, and air flowing through the branch passages 90, 92 is throttled by the throttles 102, 104, 106 or the amount of air flowing therethrough. Is to be adjusted.
[0025]
When the air ejection hole 82 is open, the pressure of the first chamber 98 of the cylinder chamber 94 becomes smaller than the pressure of the second chamber 100, and the air sensor 80 lowers the piston 96 (FIG. 4 ( B)) On the other hand, when the air ejection hole 82 is closed, the pressure difference between the first chamber 98 and the second chamber 100 reversely changes, and the piston 96 moves upward (FIG. 4A).
[0026]
A reed switch 108 is provided outside the cylinder chamber 94 and at the upper end in the drawing, and when the piston 96 is positioned at the upper end in the drawing, this is detected by the reed switch 108.
[0027]
Next, a discriminating method using the apparatus of this embodiment will be specifically described below together with the operation of the apparatus.
The cap nut 10 to be discriminated is first fitted to the upper end of the discrimination rod 14 and then moved downward along the discrimination rod 14.
As shown in FIG. 2, the descending cap nut 10 is hooked and held on the first hook 44 of the discriminating rod 14 at its inner diameter, or passes through the first hook 44 and has a lower It is held by the second hook 46 or passes through both hooks 44 and 46 and is supported on the stopper 53 at a position below the second hook 46.
[0028]
The cap nut 10 held by the hooks 44 and 46 or positioned on the stopper 53 hides one of the light transmission holes 74A, 76A and 78A formed in the discrimination rod 14.
That is, one of the light beams emitted from the light emitting units 62, 64, and 66 provided on the auxiliary rod 58 and received by the light receiving units 68, 70, and 72 provided on the auxiliary rod 60 is used. It will be blocked by the cap nut 10.
[0029]
When the light emitted from the light emitting unit 62 is not received by the light receiving unit 68, the cap nut 10 supplied to the discriminating rod 14 is a nut having a minimum inner diameter size among the predetermined nuts. If the light emitted from the light emitting unit 64 is not received by the light receiving unit 70, it is determined that the nut 10B has an intermediate inner diameter. Further, when the light emitted from the light emitting section 66 is not received by the light receiving section 72, it is determined that the light is of a type other than the nuts 10A and 10B, that is, a type having an inner diameter larger than these.
[0030]
4A, if the cap nut 10 on the stopper 53 is the target nut 10C, the lower surface thereof closes the air ejection hole 82 of the air sensor 80. At this time, the pressure in the cylinder chamber 94 in the air sensor 80 changes, and the piston 96 slides upward in the cylinder chamber 94, and the reed switch 108 detects this.
[0031]
Therefore, when the light emitted from the light emitting unit 66 is not received by the light receiving unit 72 and the reed switch 108 is detected, the cap nut 10 is determined to be the nut 10C. If the reed switch 108 is not detected even though the light projected from the light receiving unit 66 is not received by the light receiving unit 72 (FIG. 4B), the cap nut 10 is the target nut 10A, It is determined that it is neither 10B nor 10C.
[0032]
After the cap nut 10 is determined as described above, the stopper portion 53 is raised by the elevating cylinder 48 to a predetermined raising position while supporting the cap nut 10 on the upper surface thereof, and the cap nut 10 is discriminated by the discrimination rod 14. Extract from
Then, the cap nut 10 pulled out from the discrimination rod 14 is supplied to the mounting process of the connection fitting to the hose only when the discrimination result indicates that the cap nut 10 is the intended one.
[0033]
According to determine equipment of this embodiment can be the cap nut 10 fitted to determine the rod 14 determines whether or not a particular breed easily and reliably, thus, connecting only the discriminated nut By bringing the fitting into the fitting mounting process, it is possible to reliably prevent the wrong nut from being mounted on the fitting of the assembly hose of the specific type.
[0034]
The determination equipment of this embodiment, a stopper portion 53 along the determined rod 14 while supporting the cap nut 10 rises to a predetermined height, since it is possible to extract it from the discrimination rod 14, it does not assembled with fittings This can be easily supplied to the hose mounting process.
[0035]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example. For example, if a plurality of types of discriminating rods 14 having different thicknesses are prepared, it is possible to discriminate more types of nuts. For example, the present invention can be configured in variously modified forms without departing from the gist thereof.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a hose connection fitting nut discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the hose connection fitting nut discriminating device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a discrimination rod in the discrimination device for a hose connection fitting nut shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air sensor as a nut size detection sensor in the hose connection fitting nut determination device of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Cap nut 12 Female screw 14 Discrimination rod 44 First hook 46 Second hook 48 Elevating cylinder 53 Stopper 62, 64, 66 Light emitter 68, 70, 72 Light receiver 74A, 76A, 78A Light transmission hole 80 Air sensor 82 Air ejection hole 86 Air sensor body 94 Cylinder chamber

Claims (2)

A device for discriminating a specific type of nut from among a plurality of types of pipe fitting nuts having different inner diameters, wherein (a) a vertically erected rod into which the nut can be inserted, and (b) a vertical direction of the rod. The nut is provided at a predetermined location on the outer peripheral portion of the rod, and the inner diameter portion of the specific nut among the nuts fitted from the upper end portion of the rod is hooked and held, and is lowered and stopped. in nut detection sensor and (d) said hook portion by remote still lower for detecting the presence or absence of the nut in the hook portion to pass the nut downward (c) the cited hook, those nuts passing through the the cited hook a stopper portion for supporting the lower surface by contact
Together and a has a nut size detection sensor is supported nut detects whether is greater things than or inner diameter size of the caliber predetermined size is provided at the stopper portion,
The nut size detection sensor has an air ejection hole opened at an outer position than an inner peripheral position of the nut having the specific inner diameter and opened on an upper surface of the stopper portion, and an air pressure sensing portion communicating with the air ejection hole. and, determination of nut pipe joint, characterized in that are without the air sensor for sensing the internal diameter size of the nut on the stopper portion on the basis of the pressure change in the air pressure sensing unit according to the opening or closing of the air ejection holes apparatus. 2. The stopper according to claim 1 , wherein the stopper is capable of supporting a lower surface of a nut held by the hook above the hook, and is capable of moving up and down along the rod, and is provided with means for elevating the stopper. A nut for a pipe joint, wherein the nut held by the stopper portion or the hook portion is pulled out from the rod based on a rising motion of the stopper portion.

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