JP6155727B2 - Screw feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for supplying screws to a screw carrying jig.

  Conventionally, when a work screwing operation is performed using an electric screwdriver, an operator picks up a screw using an electric screwdriver from a screw alignment supply machine. In this case, the operator needs to reciprocate the electric screwdriver between the workpiece and the screw aligning / feeding machine. On the other hand, recently, as a method for reducing the reciprocating operation of the electric driver, a method in which an operator has a portable jig or the like in which a screw is loaded in advance with a hand on the side not having the electric driver has been proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP2011-36961A

  In the prior art, screws are stored in a supply rail member having an inclination in the longitudinal direction. Here, the supply rail member is provided with a restraining member capable of restraining the sliding of the screw on the downstream side and the upstream side, respectively, and stores a predetermined number of screws by moving the restraining member on the upstream side. . Then, by attaching the portable jig to the supply rail member and releasing the screw restraint by the downstream restraining member, the screw stored between the two restraining members is supplied from the supply rail member to the portable jig. The

  Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the screw supply device requires at least a length for accommodating a supply rail member that stores a predetermined number of screws. Therefore, there is a limit to downsizing the screw supply device.

  The present invention provides a screw supply device that is smaller than the conventional one and supplies a screw carrying jig with the number of screws required by an operator.

  According to one embodiment, a screw supply device is provided. The screw supply device includes: a fixing unit that fixes a screw portable jig having a storage unit that stores a screw in a straight line; a supply unit that supplies a screw from one end of the storage unit to the storage unit; and the supply unit. The first shutter that is installed between the one end and shuts off the supply, the first shutter, and the other end of the housing portion, and is movable along the housing portion. And a second shutter for blocking the screw supplied to the housing portion in the housing portion.

  Provided is a screw supply device that is smaller than before and supplies a screw carrying jig with the number of screws required by an operator.

The figure showing the side of the example of composition of screw supply device 1 The figure showing the upper surface of the example of composition of screw supply device 1 Sectional drawing in the cut surface aa of the screw supply rail part 10 The figure showing the front of the end where the 2nd shutter 12 of the screw supply rail part 10 is installed. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second shutter 12 is closed. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating when the second shutter 12 is open. Sectional drawing in the cut surface bb of the fixing | fixed part 20 The figure showing the upper surface of screw carrying jig 30. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state where the screw discharge gate 32 is closed. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state where the screw discharge gate 32 is open. The figure showing the bottom face of screw carrying jig 30. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the screw discharge gate 32 is closed. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state where the screw discharge gate 32 is open. The figure showing the side surface of the screw portable jig 30 of the side by which the screw discharge gate 32 is installed. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a state where the screw discharge gate 32 is closed. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a state where the screw discharge gate 32 is open. The figure showing the front of the end where the screw discharge gate 32 of the screw portable jig 30 is installed. Sectional view at the cutting plane cc of the screw portable jig 30 The figure showing the function structural example which concerns on the supply part 2 and the screw supply rail part 10 The figure showing the case where the screw portable jig 30 is fixed to the fixing part 20. The figure showing the case where the screw is supplied to the screw portable jig 30 The figure showing the flowchart of operation | movement of the screw supply apparatus 1.

  The screw supply apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of a configuration example of the screw supply device 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a top surface of the configuration example of the screw supply device 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the screw supply device 1 includes a supply unit 2, a screw supply rail unit 10, and a fixing unit 20.

  The supply unit 2 has a function of supplying the screws 3 to the screw supply rail unit 10 one by one.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the screw supply rail portion 10 includes a rail member 11, a second shutter 12, a second shutter storage portion 13, and a sensor 14, which is not illustrated here. And have. The rail member 11 has a groove 11a. The groove 11a can hold a plurality of screws 3 on a straight line. The second shutter 12 can move in the direction of the arrow B and can hold the screw 3 in the groove 11a. The second shutter storage unit 13 has a space for storing the second shutter 12 and a drive mechanism that moves the second shutter 12 in the direction of arrow B although not shown here. Hereinafter, the state in which the second shutter 12 holds the screw 3 in the groove 11a is described as the second shutter 12 being closed. In addition, the state in which the second shutter 12 allows the screw 3 to move in the groove 11a is described as the second shutter 12 being open.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the screw supply rail portion 10 is installed such that one end where the second shutter 12 is installed is located below the other end. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the screw supply rail portion 10 is connected to the supply portion 2 so that the screw 3 supplied from the supply portion 2 is supplied to the groove 11a. In this way, when the second shutter 12 is closed, the screw 3 supplied from the supply unit 2 to the groove 11a slides below the groove 11a due to gravity, and the screw 3 supplied first. The movement stops by contacting the second shutter 12. Further, the second and subsequent screws 3 stop moving when the screw 3 supplied immediately before stops and comes into contact with the screw 3 supplied immediately before. As described above, the screw 3 supplied from the supply unit 2 to the screw supply rail unit 10 is held by the screw supply rail unit 10 by a simple mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing unit 20 includes a fixing member 21, a first shutter 22, a support member 23, and a support member 24. The fixing member 21 has a groove 21a and a groove 21b. The groove 21 a fixes the screw carrying jig 30. The groove 21b holds the first shutter 22. Further, the first shutter 22 can slide in the groove 21b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portion 20 has the same inclination as the screw supply rail portion 10. Furthermore, the fixing portion 20 is installed so that the end on the side where the support member 24 is installed and the end on the side where the second shutter 12 of the screw supply rail portion 10 is installed are in contact with each other. In this way, as will be described in detail later, when the second shutter is opened, the screw 3 held by the screw supply rail portion 10 slides downward due to gravity and enters the groove 21 a of the fixing portion 20. One by one is supplied to the fixed screw portable jig 30. As described above, the screw 3 can be supplied from the supply unit 2 to the screw carrying jig 30 by a simple mechanism.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the screw supply rail portion 10 when the cross section aa shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from the direction of the arrow. The rail member 11 has a groove 11a having a rectangular cut surface. The screw 3 supplied to the groove 11a from the supply part 2 can move on the groove 11a.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the front of the end of the screw supply rail portion 10 on the side where the second shutter 12 is installed. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state where the second shutter 12 is closed. The second shutter 12 moves upward in the direction of the arrow B, so that the screw 3 is held in the groove 11a. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating when the second shutter 12 is open. By moving the second shutter 12 below the arrow B, the screw 3 held in the groove 11 a is moved to the screw carrying jig 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the screw supply rail portion 10 has a sensor 14. The sensor 14 has a function of detecting that the screw portable jig 30 is fixed to the fixing unit 20 and a function of counting the number of screws 3 supplied to the screw portable jig 30. For example, the optical sensor is an example of the sensor 14. Since the sensor 14 has the above-described function, the number of screws 3 required by the operator can be supplied from the supply unit 2 to the screw portable jig 30.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing portion 20 when the cross section bb shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from the direction of the arrow. The fixing member 21 includes a groove 21a having a rectangular cross section and a groove 21b having a rectangular cross section. The screw 21 can be fixed to the groove 21a. The groove 21b holds the first shutter 22. The first shutter 22 can slide in the groove 21b.

  6-10 is a figure showing the structural example of the screw portable jig 30. FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing the upper surface of the screw carrying jig 30. FIG. 7 is a view showing the bottom surface of the screw carrying jig 30. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a side surface of the screw portable jig 30 on the side where the screw discharge gate 32 is installed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the front of the end of the screw carrying jig 30 on the side where the screw discharge gate 32 is installed. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the screw carrying jig 30 when the screw carrying jig 30 is viewed from the direction of the arrow of the section cc shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the screw portable jig 30 includes a screw portable jig member 31, a screw discharge gate 32, and a handle 33. The screw carrying jig member 31 has a through hole 31a and a guide groove 31b, which is not shown here. The through hole 31a can hold the screw supplied from the screw supply rail portion 10 on a straight line, and allows the first shutter 22 of the fixing portion 20 to pass through. The screw discharge gate 32 has a protrusion 32a. The screw discharge gate 32 can move in the direction of the arrow C, and can hold the screw 3 in the through hole 31a. The handle 33 is a protrusion attached to the screw discharge gate 32. The operator can discharge the screw from the screw carrying jig 30 by moving the screw discharge gate 32 in the right direction of the arrow C using the handle 33 when the screw is necessary. Hereinafter, a state in which the screw discharge gate 32 holds the screw 3 held in the through hole 31a will be described as the screw discharge gate 32 being closed. In addition, a state in which the screw discharge gate 32 permits the movement of the screw 3 in the through hole 31a is described as the screw discharge gate 32 being open.

  FIG. 6A, FIG. 7A, and FIG. 8A are diagrams showing the screw discharge gate 32 being closed. FIG. 6B, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 8B are diagrams showing the screw discharge gate 32 being open.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the screw discharge gate 32 can be slid in the direction of the arrow C when the guide groove 31b and the protrusion 32a mesh with each other.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the electric device according to the supply unit 2 and the screw supply rail unit 10.

  The electric device according to the supply unit 2 and the screw supply rail unit 10 includes a sensor unit 41, a control unit 44, a shutter drive unit 45, and a screw supply unit 46.

  The sensor unit 41 includes a screw portable jig mounting sensor 42 and a screw counting sensor 43. The screw portable jig detection sensor 42 is a functional unit that detects whether the screw portable jig 30 is fixed to the fixing unit 20. The screw counting sensor 43 is a functional unit that measures the number of screws 3 supplied to the screw portable jig 30. The sensor unit 41 is realized by the sensor 14.

  The control unit 44 is a functional unit that controls operations of the sensor unit 41, the shutter drive unit 45, and the screw supply unit 46. Although not shown here, the control unit 44 is realized by a processor or a storage device provided in the supply 2 or the screw supply rail unit 10 or both.

  The shutter drive unit 45 is a functional unit that allows the second shutter 12 to be opened and closed, and is realized by a drive mechanism provided in the second shutter storage unit 13.

  The screw supply unit 46 is a functional unit that supplies the screws 3 from the supply unit 2 to the screw supply rail unit 10. The screw supply unit 46 is realized by a mechanism provided in the supply unit 2 although not shown here.

  The operation when the screw supply device 1 supplies screws to the screw portable jig 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1, the first shutter 22 is manually fixed at a predetermined position. Here, the operator slides the first shutter 22 in the groove 21a to fix the first shutter 22 at a predetermined position.

  In step S <b> 2, as shown in FIG. 12, the screw carrying jig 30 with the screw discharge gate 32 closed is fixed to the fixing unit 20. Here, the operator can fix the screw portable jig 30 to the fixing portion 20 by fitting the bottom surface of the screw portable jig 30 into the groove 21 b of the fixing portion 20. At this time, the first shutter 22 penetrates the through hole 31a.

  In step S <b> 3, the screw portable jig detection sensor 42 detects that the screw portable jig 30 is fixed to the fixing unit 20. Then, the control unit 44 controls the shutter driving unit 45 to open the second shutter 12. When the second shutter 12 is opened, the screw 3 held by the screw supply rail portion 10 slides downward due to gravity, and the screw is supplied to the screw carrying jig 30. Then, the supplied screw 3 is blocked by the first shutter 22 so that the screw supplied to the screw portable jig 30 is held. Here, in step S <b> 1, the first shutter 22 is fixed at a position where the number of screws 3 required by the operator can be held by the screw portable jig 30, so that the number of screws 3 required by the operator can be easily obtained. In addition, the screw can be supplied to the portable jig 30.

  In step S <b> 4, the screw counting sensor 43 determines whether a predetermined number of screws 3 have been supplied to the screw portable jig 30. When the predetermined number of screws 3 are supplied to the screw portable jig 30, the process proceeds to step S5. When the predetermined number of screws is not supplied to the screw portable jig 30, the process returns to step S4.

  In step S5, the control unit 44 controls the shutter driving unit 45 to close the second shutter.

  In step S <b> 6, the screw portable jig 30 is detached from the fixing unit 20.

  Thus, the operator needs the screw 3 by supplying the screw 3 to the screw portable jig 30 in a state where the first shutter 22 is fixed at a position where the predetermined number of screws 3 can be supplied to the screw portable jig 30. The number of screws can be supplied to the screw carrying jig 30.

  The following variations can be considered for the screw supply device 1 described above.

  In this embodiment, the screw supply rail portion 10 and the fixing portion 20 are installed with an inclination, but may be installed flat. In this case, the screw supply device 1 needs to have a mechanism for sliding the screw 3 held on the screw supply rail portion 10 toward the screw carrying jig 30. In this case, since the screw 3 held by the screw supply rail portion 10 does not slide in the screw supply rail portion 10 due to gravity, the second shutter 12, the second shutter storage portion 13, and the sensor 14 It does not have to be.

  Moreover, the screw portable jig may have a plurality of through holes 31a. By doing so, the operator can obtain a plurality of sets of a predetermined number of screws at a time.

  In the present embodiment, the screw supply rail portion 10 is described outside the supply portion 2, but the supply portion 2 may include the screw supply rail portion 10.

  In the present embodiment, the first shutter 22 and the screw discharge gate 32 are moved manually, but may be moved electrically.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Screw supply apparatus 2 Supply part 3 Screw 10 Screw supply rail part 11 Rail member 11a Groove 12 Second shutter 13 Second shutter storage part 14 Sensor 20 Fixing part 21 Fixing member 21a Groove 21b Groove 22 First shutter 23 Support Member 24 Support member 30 Screw portable jig 31 Screw portable jig member 31a Through hole 31b Guide groove 32 Screw discharge gate 32a Projection 33 Handle 41 Sensor part 42 Screw portable jig sensor 43 Screw counting sensor 44 Control part 45 Shutter drive part 46 Screw supply Part F Placement surface

Claims (4)

A fixing portion for fixing a screw portable jig having a receiving portion for receiving a screw on a straight line;
A supply unit for supplying screws from one end of the storage unit to the storage unit;
A first shutter installed between the supply unit and the one end and blocking the supply;
A second shutter installed between the first shutter and the other end of the housing portion, movable along the housing portion and blocking a screw supplied to the housing portion in the housing portion; When,
A screw supply device comprising:   2. The screw supply according to claim 1, wherein when the screw carrying jig is fixed to the fixing portion, the second shutter is in a state of blocking the supplied screw in the housing portion. apparatus.   The screw supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing portion fixes the screw carrying jig so that the one end is located above the other end of the housing portion. A sensor for detecting the number of screws supplied to the housing portion;
A controller that controls the first shutter to shut off the supply when the sensor detects that a predetermined number of screws has been supplied to the housing;
The screw supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: