JP6232585B2 - Screw supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a screw supply device that supplies screws in a predetermined posture.

  As a screw supply device that supplies screws in a predetermined posture, for example, an inner container containing a plurality of screws is rotated relative to an outer container, and the screws are hit against a blade provided in the inner container. There is known one in which only a screw that is stirred and adjusted to a predetermined posture is taken out from an opening (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in such a screw supply device, since it is difficult to adjust a relatively small screw to a predetermined posture itself, the container containing the screw is vibrated so that the screw jumps and the head faces upward. There is also a type that accepts a screw that has fallen by a groove and adjusts its posture.

JP-A-1-104511

  However, in the screw supply device of the type that adjusts the posture by jumping the screw as described above, a vibration mechanism for vibrating the container is necessary, and the weight, size, and cost of the entire screw supply device increase. There was a point.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a screw supply device that can supply a small screw without using a vibration mechanism and can reduce weight, size, and cost.

  The screw supply device of the present invention is attached to the base portion by closing the screw accommodating space, a base portion capable of accommodating a plurality of screws in a concave screw accommodating space in which at least a part of an inner wall is a cylindrical surface. A partition plate made of a non-magnetic material, a rotating plate that rotates outside the screw accommodating space across the partition plate around a central axis of the cylindrical surface in a plane parallel to the partition plate, and the rotation A plurality of magnets attached to a portion outside the cylindrical surface in a region facing the partition plate of the board, and the plurality of magnets moving along a circular path along the rotation path of the rotating disk A tubular member that passes only the screw that is about to enter in a posture extending in parallel with the central axis of the cylindrical surface with the head in contact with the partition plate among the screws in the screw receiving space. It was.

  According to the present invention, a small screw can be supplied without using a vibration mechanism, and the weight, size, and cost can be reduced.

The perspective view of the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention (A) Front perspective view of a screw supply unit provided in a screw mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention (b) Front exploded perspective view The front view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention is provided The screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention is provided. (A) Rear exploded perspective view (b) Rear perspective view The rear view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided The partial expanded front view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided The partial expansion front perspective view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided The partial cross section side view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided The partial cross section side view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided (A) (b) (c) The fragmentary perspective view of the screw supply part with which the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention is provided. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the screw attachment apparatus in one embodiment of this invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a screw attachment device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The screw attachment device 1 automatically supplies a screw 2 to a predetermined screw supply position KP, and automatically picks up the screw 2 supplied to the screw supply position KP and attaches (screws) the screw 2 to a predetermined work position NP. It is something to execute. A screw hole of the object 3 to which the screw 2 is to be attached is positioned at the work position NP.

  The screw attachment device 1 includes an object positioning unit 12, a screw supply unit 13, and a screw attachment unit 14 on a stand 11 for installation on a table. In FIG. 1, the stand 11 includes a horizontal portion 11a and a vertical portion 11b extending vertically upward from the horizontal portion 11a. The object positioning unit 12 is provided in the right region of the horizontal part 11a, and includes a table 12a that holds the object 3, the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the front-rear direction (Y A table moving mechanism 12b that moves in the axial direction) and the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) is provided.

  The screw supply unit 13 is a part that supplies the screw 2 to the screw supply position KP, and functions as a screw supply device. 2A, 2B, and 3, the screw supply portion 13 is a base portion that is attached to the front surface (the surface facing the operator OP side) of the vertical portion 11b of the stand 11 via a spacer SP or the like. 21. The base portion 21 is formed by pasting a transparent second base plate 21b, which is substantially the same type as the first base plate 21a, to the front surface of a first base plate 21a formed in a rectangular flat plate shape extending in the XZ plane.

  The base portion 21 has a concave screw accommodating space 21S that opens to the back side. At least a part of the inner wall of the screw accommodating space 21S is formed in a cylindrical surface 21M. The base portion 21 is provided with a screw insertion path 21T that extends leftward from the screw accommodating space 21S and opens upward. A portion opened above the screw insertion path 21T serves as a screw insertion port 21K. A plurality of screws 2 can be accommodated in the screw accommodation space 21S, and the screw 2 introduced from the screw insertion opening 21K is accommodated in the screw accommodation space 21S through the screw insertion path 21T (FIG. 3).

  4A, 4B, and 5, a partition plate 22 made of a non-magnetic material is provided on the back side of the first base plate 21a so as to block the screw housing space 21S. A rotating plate 23 having outer peripheral teeth is attached to the outer side of the screw accommodating space 21 </ b> S across the partition plate 22 (on the back side of the partition plate 22) so that it can rotate in a plane parallel to the partition plate 22. Specifically, the lower part of the turntable 23 meshes with a drive gear 24 that is rotatably attached to the back side of the first base plate 21a, and the upper part is a right side on the back side of the first base plate 21a. And a second support gear 26 rotatably provided on the left side on the back side of the first base plate 21a. Thus, in the state in which the turntable 23 meshes with the drive gear 24, the first support gear 25, and the second support gear 26, the turntable 23 has the central axis of the cylindrical surface 21M provided on the first base plate 21a. Rotation with J as the center of rotation is possible.

  4A, 4 </ b> B, and 5, a lever member 27 is provided on the back surface of the first base plate 21 a so as to be swingable in a plane parallel to the partition plate 22. A rotating shaft of the second support gear 26 is attached to the lever member 27. The lever member 27 is locked (position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5) and unlocked (position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5) by a locking operation of a lock mechanism 28 provided on the back surface of the first base plate 21a. Can swing between the two. In a state where the lever member 27 is located at the lock position, the second support gear 26 and the rotating disk 23 mesh with each other, and the rotating disk 23 can rotate about the central axis J. On the other hand, when the lever member 27 is in the unlocked position, the second support gear 26 and the turntable 23 are disengaged, and the turntable 23 can be detached from the first base plate 21a.

  4A, 4B, and 5, a drive motor 30 is attached to the back surface of the first base plate 21a. A drive shaft 30a of the drive motor 30 extends rightward (to the side of the drive gear 24), and a bevel gear 31 is attached to the tip of the drive shaft 30a. The drive gear 24 is also a bevel gear and meshes with the bevel gear 31. When the drive shaft 30 a of the drive motor 30 rotates to drive the bevel gear 31, the rotational power is transmitted to the drive gear 24, and the rotating disk 23 meshed with the drive gear 24 rotates about the central axis J.

  In FIGS. 1, 2 (a), 2 (b), and 3, a tubular member 32 is attached to the right side of the base portion 21. The upper half of the tubular member 32 is fitted into a tubular member fitting groove 21H (FIG. 2B) formed in the first base plate 21a, and is sandwiched between the first base plate 21a and the second base plate 21b. It is fixed in the state. The upper end portion of the tubular member 32 is located in the screw accommodating space 21S, and the lower half portion of the tubular member 32 is guided and supported by a guide 21g provided to extend to the lower right from the first base plate 21a. Yes.

  3, 4 (a), 4 (b), 5, and 6, a plurality of magnets 34 are provided in a region (front surface of the turntable 23) that faces the partition plate 22 of the turntable 23. The plurality of magnets 34 are arranged in an annular shape around the rotation center (that is, the central axis J) of the turntable 23. For this reason, when the turntable 23 rotates about the central axis J as described above, the plurality of magnets 34 attached to the turntable 23 move along the circular path around the central axis J (FIG. 3, FIG. 3). 6 and 7), the region outside the cylindrical surface 21M is moved (arrow A shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). As a result, among the plurality of screws 2 housed in the screw housing space 21S, the one attracted to the plurality of magnets 34 moves in the rotational direction of the turntable 23 along a circular path along the cylindrical surface 21M (FIG. 6). And FIG. 7).

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of magnets 34 are provided in a portion on the outer side of the cylindrical surface 21M in the region facing the partition plate 22 of the turntable 23 (FIG. 6). For this reason, among the plurality of screws 2 housed in the screw housing space 21S, the one attracted to the plurality of magnets 34 is a circular orbit (on the cylindrical surface 21M) positioned on the inner side of the moving path Q of the magnets 34. Along the circular orbit along the direction of rotation of the turntable 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, many of the screws 2 that move in a circular orbit along the cylindrical surface 21M have their heads 2T in contact with the partition plate 22, and the main body 2H is moved to the central axis J of the cylindrical surface 21M. It becomes the horizontal posture extended in parallel. This is because the magnet 34 is attached to a portion outside the cylindrical surface 21M of the turntable 23, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 (FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the region R shown in FIG. 8), This is because the magnetic field lines GS act so as to be substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical surface 21M. Here, since the plurality of magnets 34 provided on the turntable 23 are arranged in an annular shape with the central axis J as the center, a large number of screws 2 do not form a lump, and a small number of each is a cylinder. It moves in a circular orbit along the surface 21M. For this reason, each of the screws 2 tends to be in the lateral posture as described above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, in a portion close to the moving path Q of the magnet 34 of the screw insertion path 21 </ b> T provided in the base portion 21, a hollow portion 21 </ b> W that is recessed toward the partition plate 22 side. Is provided. For this reason, the screw 2 that is attracted to the magnet 34 in the region between the screw insertion path 21T and the screw accommodating space 21S is recessed when the region moves upward as the rotating plate 23 rotates. It collides with the upper wall 21Z (FIG. 6) forming the part 21W and is agitated. This also prevents a large number of screws 2 from moving in a lump, and each screw 2 tends to be in a horizontal position.

  As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, between the edge 21F on the side where the partition plate 22 of the cylindrical surface 21M is attached and the partition plate 22, the above horizontal posture (the head 2T is brought into contact with the partition plate 22 and the cylindrical surface A gap 21U is formed in which a part of the head 2T of the screw 2 is in a horizontal posture extending in parallel with the central axis J of 21M. For this reason, the main body 2H comes into close contact with the cylindrical surface 21M of the screw 2 in the horizontal posture, and maintains a stable horizontal posture with the cylindrical surface 21M as a guide.

  2, 3, and 6, a screw passage 33 is formed inside the tubular member 32. The screw passage 33 has an inlet 33A in the screw accommodating space 21S (FIG. 7), and the inlet 33A has a shape that is larger than the projected shape when the screw 2 is in the horizontal posture. Yes. For this reason, the screw 2 trying to enter the inlet 33A in a lateral posture with the head 2T in contact with the partition plate 22 as the turntable 23 rotates can pass through the inlet 33A as it is, but enters in a posture other than that. The intended screw 2 is repelled at the entrance 33A. As a result, the screw 2 that has reached the inlet 33A of the screw passage 33 is in a predetermined attitude (an attitude in which the head 2T is brought into contact with the partition plate 22 and the main body 2H extends in parallel with the central axis J of the cylindrical surface 21M). Only what is about to enter can enter the tubular member 32. The screw 2 that has entered the screw passage 33 of the tubular member 32 is inclined obliquely toward the lower right in the screw passage 33 while maintaining the horizontal posture with the head 2T facing backward (the posture in which the main body portion 2H extends horizontally). And moving while rolling (arrow B shown in FIG. 6), and dropping and discharging from the lower end of the tubular member 32 while maintaining the horizontal posture.

  As described above, the screw supply unit 13 moves the magnet 34 along the circular path of movement Q by the rotating plate 23, and passes through the tubular member 32 of the screw 2 in the screw accommodating space 21 </ b> S attracted to the magnet 34. The direction of the screw 2 is made uniform by passing what is in the posture (the posture extending in parallel with the central axis J of the cylindrical surface 21M with the head 2T in contact with the partition plate 22). The screw 2 can be taken out in a state in which the directions are surely aligned. Further, since no vibration mechanism is required, it can be configured to be light and compact, and the cost can be reduced.

  As described above, when the screw 2 attracted to the magnet 34 reaches the inlet 33 </ b> A of the screw passage 33, the posture is accidentally the above posture (the horizontal posture in which the head 2 </ b> T is in contact with the partition plate 22). Then, since it enters the tubular member 32, it can be said that the posture of the screw 2 attracted to the magnet 34 may be somewhat random. From this, it can be said that the moving path Q of the magnet 34 is not necessarily located outside the cylindrical surface 21M, but the moving path Q of the magnet 34 is more than the cylindrical surface 21M as in the present embodiment. If the screw 2 is located on the outside, the screw 2 is likely to be in a horizontal posture in which the head 2T is brought into contact with the partition plate 22 for the above-described reason, so that the screw 2 can be fed into the tubular member 32 with a high probability.

  In FIG. 1, a screw moving portion 35 is provided on the front surface of the vertical portion 11 b of the stand 11 in the vicinity of the lower end of the tubular member 32. As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, the screw moving portion 35 is provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction with respect to a screw receiving portion 35a made of a horizontal plate-like member. The slider 35b and the slider driving means 35c for driving the slider 35b in the front-rear direction are provided.

  10A, 10B, and 10C, the screw receiving portion 35a is formed with a cross-shaped groove including a lateral groove 36Y extending in the left-right direction and a longitudinal groove 36T extending in the front-rear direction. The lateral groove 36Y has a groove width that is slightly larger than the thickness of the head 2T of the screw 2, and the vertical groove 36T has a groove width that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the main body 2H of the screw 2. Have. The slider 35b drops and discharges from the lower end of the tubular member 32 in a horizontal posture, and then guides to the lateral groove 36Y to “shut down” the screw 2 that has rolled to the right (FIG. 10A and FIG. c)) and the “open position” (FIG. 10 (b)) where the damming is released.

  When the slider 35b moves from the damming position to the open position (FIG. 10 (a) → FIG. 10 (b)), the screw 2 dammed by the slider 35b rolls to the right on the upper surface of the screw receiving portion 35a. When the portion 2H reaches a position (referred to as a posture change position) that coincides with the vertical groove 36T, the main body portion 2H falls downward in the vertical groove 36T and swings about the head 2T as a fulcrum, thereby The vertical posture is extended downward (FIG. 10B). Then, when the screw 2 is in the vertical position, the slider 35b is moved from the open position to the damming position, and the screw 2 in the vertical position is moved rearward along the vertical groove 36T (FIG. 10B → FIG. 10). (C)). Thus, the screw 2 is positioned at the screw supply position KP (FIG. 10C). In this manner, the screw moving unit 35 moves the screws 2 dropped and discharged from the tubular member 32 one by one to the screw supply position KP. The screw moving unit 35 may be configured to move the screw 2 discharged from the tubular member 32 to the screw supply position KP, and is not limited to the above-described configuration.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a stock state detector that detects a state in which the screw 2 stocked in the tubular member 32 reaches a certain amount from the lower end side of the tubular member 32 at the intermediate portion of the tubular member 32. 37 (stock state detecting means) is provided. When the stock state detector 37 detects that a certain amount of screws 2 are stocked in the tubular member 32, the rotation operation of the turntable 23 is stopped until a certain condition is satisfied, and the tube member 32 enters the tubular member 32. The feeding of the screw 2 is interrupted. When the operation of feeding the screws 2 one by one into the tubular member 32 is faster than the operation of the screw moving unit 35 moving the screws 2 one by one to the screw supply position KP, the screws 2 are stocked in the tubular member 32. However, this is because the amount of the screw 2 stocked in the tubular member 32 only needs to be such that the screw moving portion 35 can supply the screw 2 to the screw supply position KP without stagnation.

  Examples of the conditions include that the screw moving unit 35 moves the screw 2 to the screw supply position KP a predetermined number of times. As the stock state detector 37, for example, an optical sensor type that detects the presence or absence of the screw 2 at that position by detecting a state where the emitted inspection light is blocked can be employed.

  The screw attachment part 14 is a part for picking up the screw 2 supplied to the screw supply position KP by the screw supply part 13 and attaching the screw 2 to the screw hole of the object 3 positioned at the work position NP by the object positioning part 12. is there. As shown in FIG. 1, the screw attachment portion 14 is provided on the front surface of the vertical portion 11 b of the stand 11 and at a position behind the screw supply portion 13.

  In FIG. 1, the screw attachment portion 14 includes a horizontal movement actuator 41 provided at the upper left portion of the front surface of the vertical portion 11 b of the stand 11, a bracket 42 moved in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) by the horizontal movement actuator 41, and the bracket 42. And a lift block 44 that is lifted and lowered by the lift actuator 43 and an electric driver 45 that is attached to the lift block 44. When the bracket 42 is driven in the horizontal direction by the horizontal movement actuator 41, the electric driver 45 moves in the horizontal direction together with the lifting actuator 43 and the lifting block 44 (arrow C shown in FIG. 1). Further, when the elevating block 44 is driven in the vertical direction by the elevating actuator 43, the electric driver 45 moves up and down integrally with the elevating block 44 (arrow D shown in FIG. 1).

  The electric driver 45 is an air suction holding type conductive driver that sucks and holds the head 2T of the screw 2 at the lower end of the drive part 45a extending downward, and rotates the screw 2 around the vertical axis in this state. In the standby position shown in FIG. 1, the electric driver 45 has the lower end of the drive unit 45 a positioned above the screw supply position KP.

  The drive unit included in the screw attachment device 1, that is, the drive motor 30 that rotationally drives the rotating disk 23, the slider drive unit 35 c that drives the slider 35 b of the screw moving unit 35, the table moving mechanism 12 b of the object positioning unit 12, and horizontal movement Operation control of the actuator 41, the lifting actuator 43, the electric driver 45, and the like is performed by a control device (not shown) included in the screw attachment device 1.

  When the operator OP performs a screw attachment operation start operation from an input device (not shown) connected to the control device, the rotating plate 23 of the screw supply unit 13 is rotated under the control of the control device. As a result, the screw 2 in the screw accommodating space 21 </ b> S is fed into the tubular member 32, and the screw 2 passes through the screw passage 33 in the tubular member 32 and is discharged from the lower end of the tubular member 32. The screw 2 discharged from the lower end of the tubular member 32 is moved from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture in the screw moving portion 35 and then moved to the screw supply position KP. When the screw 2 is supplied to the screw supply position KP, the electric driver 45 is lowered by the elevating actuator 43 and sucks and holds the screw 2 at the lower end of the drive unit 45a (FIG. 11).

  When the screwdriver 2 is sucked and held, the electric driver 45 is raised by the elevating actuator 43 (FIG. 12) and then moved to the right by the horizontal movement actuator 41, and the lower end of the drive unit 45a is positioned above the work position NP. (FIG. 13). As a result, when the screw 2 held at the lower end of the drive unit 45a is positioned above the work position NP, the electric driver 45 is lowered by the elevating actuator 43, and the drive unit 45a is moved up and down when the lower end of the screw 2 reaches the work position NP. Rotate around the axis. When the electric driver 45 is lowered in accordance with the rotation of the driving unit 45a, the screw 2 is screwed into the screw hole of the object 3 located at the work position NP (FIG. 14, arrow E shown in the figure).

  When the screw 2 is attached to one screw hole of the object 3 as described above, the electric driver 45 returns to the standby position. During this time, the screw supply unit 13 newly supplies the screw 2 to the screw supply position KP, and the object positioning unit 12 positions the next screw hole at the work position NP. Thereafter, when the above steps are repeatedly executed and all the screws 2 to be attached to the object 3 are attached, the work on the object 3 is finished.

  As described above, the screw supply unit 13 (screw supply device) of the screw attachment device 1 according to the present embodiment moves the magnet 34 along the moving path Q of the circular orbit by the rotating disk 23 and is attracted to the magnet 34. Among the screws 2 in the screw accommodating space 21S, a predetermined posture (a posture in which the head 2T is brought into contact with the partition plate 22 and extends in parallel with the central axis J of the cylindrical surface 21M) can pass through the tubular member 32. The direction of the screw 2 is made uniform by letting pass. For this reason, even the small screw 2 can be taken out in a state where the directions are surely aligned. Further, since no vibration mechanism is required, it can be configured to be light and compact, and the cost can be reduced. That is, according to the screw supply device in the present embodiment, the small screw 2 can be supplied without using the vibration mechanism, and the weight, size, and cost can be reduced.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the screw attachment device 1 is configured to be installed on the table by the stand 11, but the horizontal portion 11 a and the object positioning portion 12 are removed from the stand 11. It is good also as a structure which can be moved in three dimensions by an arm mechanism etc. In the screw attachment device 1 having such a configuration, the screw 2 can be attached at an arbitrary position by freely moving the screw attachment device 1. Therefore, the screw attachment device 1 can be incorporated into various manufacturing apparatuses and used in various situations. It becomes possible to perform screw attachment work.

  Provided is a screw supply device that can supply a small screw without using a vibration mechanism and can reduce weight, size, and cost.

2 Screw 2T Head 13 Screw supply part (screw supply device)
21 Base part 21S Screw accommodation space 21M Cylindrical surface 21F Edge 21U Clearance 21T Screw insertion path 21W Recessed part 22 Separation plate 23 Turntable 32 Tubular member 34 Magnet 37 Stock state detector (stock state detection means)
J Center axis Q Movement path

Claims (4)

A base portion capable of accommodating a plurality of screws in a concave screw accommodating space in which at least a part of the inner wall is a cylindrical surface;
A partition plate made of a non-magnetic material that closes the screw housing space and is attached to the base portion;
A rotating disk that rotates outside the screw housing space across the partition plate in a plane parallel to the partition plate, with the central axis of the cylindrical surface as the rotation center;
A plurality of magnets attached to a portion outside the cylindrical surface in the region of the rotating disk facing the partition plate;
Of the screws in the screw housing space drawn by the plurality of magnets that move along the circular path along with the rotation of the rotating disk, the center of the cylindrical surface is brought into contact with the partition plate with the head in contact with the partition plate. A screw supply device comprising: a tubular member that allows passage of only a screw that is about to enter in a posture extending parallel to an axis.   A screw having a posture extending in parallel with the central axis of the cylindrical surface with a head in contact with the partition plate between an edge of the cylindrical surface on which the partition plate is attached and the partition plate The screw supply device according to claim 1, wherein a gap into which a part of the head portion of the screw enters is formed.   The base portion has a screw insertion path that communicates with the screw accommodating space, and a recessed portion that is recessed toward the partition plate is formed in a portion of the screw insertion path that is close to the movement path of the magnet. The screw supply device according to claim 1, wherein the screw supply device is provided.   The screw supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising stock state detection means for detecting a state in which the screw stocked in the tubular member has reached a certain amount.

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