JPH0647634A - Screw fastening control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent troubles caused by erroneous selection of screws by letting the screw fastening control device control even the designation of selection by a screw quantitative feed means for screws to be fed, and also providing a means preventing screws from being delivered out of the screw quantitative feed means for screws other than one selected. CONSTITUTION:Both a tool controller 2 controlling the number of fastening turns and fastening torque by an air tool 1, and a plural number of screw quantitative feed means 3, 3... each of which quantitatively feeds each different kind of screws, is controlled in a lump by a screw fastening controller 4. When a plural number of specified screws are fastened, the feed of the different kind of screws out of either one of the quantitative feed means 3, 3... is prevented until the number of fastening turns and fastening torque values come up to each specified value. By this constitution, erroneous selection on both each kind of screws and the number of screws, can thereby be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the number of screw tightening operations (number of screw tightening screws) when an operator repeatedly performs screw tightening work of a plurality of types of screws in an assembly process of automobile parts using an air tool or the like. ) And a tightening torque management device for managing tightening torque and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a screw tightening work management device of this type, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an air tool 31, a tool controller 32, and a plurality of screw quantitative supply devices (however, only one set is shown in FIG. 4) 33. There is a combination of and. The tool controller 32 is configured to previously input the screw tightening frequency (the number of screws) and the tightening torque value of a plurality of types of screws to be tightened by a ten-key operation, and a screw tightening work selection signal is input from the outside. Then, the screw tightening frequency and tightening torque value of the corresponding screw are selected. Since the air tool 31 has a tightening torque detection function, the tool controller 32 counts the number of times each time the screw tightening work of one type of screw is completed, and the tightening torque is appropriate. Check if there is any, and if the specified number of screw tightening is not reached within the standard working time preset by the timer, or if even one tightening torque failure occurs,
The warning indicator lamp 34 is turned on and the fact is announced by voice to prompt the operator to recheck the screw tightening frequency and tightening torque.

On the other hand, the plurality of screw constant quantity supply devices 33 are constructed by combining an auxiliary hopper 35 and a pearl feeder 36 as one unit, and each screw constant quantity supply device 33 has different kinds of screws. It is housed. Further, each screw quantitative supply device 33 is provided with a screw counting means, and the number of screws to be dispensed in one dispensing operation is set in advance, so that the worker can specify a specific screw quantitative supply device 33. Reaching under the chute 37 and opening the gate 38, the required number of screws counted are discharged. Reference numeral 39 is a control panel.

[0004]

However, in the conventional screw tightening work management apparatus as described above, the tool controller 32 manages the number of times of screw tightening and the tightening torque, while the screw to be supplied to the worker. The number of screws for each type is managed only on the side of each screw fixed amount supply device 33, and the operation order is not instructed and controlled. In other words, the operator is left to select all the screws that should be screwed. Therefore, if the screw selection is incorrect, the screw tightening work will be executed based on the wrong type and number of screws. There is a risk that this may result in troubles that make it necessary to re-tighten after removing the screws, which is not preferable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a screw tightening work management device which prevents an error in selection of the type and number of screws.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, when a screw tightening operation for a plurality of types of screws is performed by using a screw tightening tool having a tightening torque detecting function possessed by an operator, the number of times the screw is tightened and the tightening torque. In a screw tightening work management device for managing the above, a tool controller, a plurality of screw quantitative supply means, and a screw tightening work management means are included.

The tool controller is preset with the number of times of tightening and the tightening torque of each of a plurality of types of screws to be tightened by a screw tightening tool, and receives a screw tightening operation selection signal to receive the corresponding screw. The number of screw tightening and the tightening torque are selected, and it has a function of determining whether or not the number of screw tightening and the tightening torque of the selected screw have reached the set values.

Further, the plurality of screw fixed amount supplying means respectively accommodate different kinds of screws, and similarly to the display means for receiving the screw tightening operation selection signal and visually displaying that the screw has been selected, the screw tightening operation selection signal. In response to this, it has a gate lock mechanism that unlocks the gate of the screw supply port individually, and has the function of counting and ejecting the required number of screws when the type of accommodated screws is selected. ing.

Further, the screw tightening work management means is preset with a plurality of screw tightening work patterns including screw tightening works of a plurality of types of screws, and receives a work instruction signal from the outside to apply a corresponding screw tightening work. The operation pattern is selected, and the screw tightening operation selection signals for multiple types of screws required for multiple screw tightening operations included in the selected screw tightening operation pattern are output for each screw tightening operation using the previous screw tightening operation. It has a function of sequentially outputting to any one of the tool controller and a plurality of screw fixed amount supply means on condition that the number of times and the tightening torque are proper.

[0010]

According to this structure, the screw fixed amount supply means for supplying the screw to be screwed is visually displayed and specified by the display means, and the other screw fixed amount supply means is prevented from delivering the screw. No more mistakes in selecting the type and number of screws.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention. As an entire system, an air tool 1 having a tightening torque detection function and the number of times of tightening of screws by the air tool 1 (number of screws) ) And a tool controller 2 for checking the tightening torque thereof, a plurality of screw constant amount supply devices 3, 3 ... Each of which accommodates a different type of screw and counts and pays out the required number of screws each time, and the tool. The screw tightening operation management controller 4 and the like, which are in charge of overall control of the controller 2 and a plurality of screw quantitative supply devices 3, 3, ... The screw tightening work management controller 4 is commonly used for a plurality of patterns of screw tightening work including a screw tightening work for a plurality of types of screws, with the screw tightening work for the same plurality of screws as one unit.

The air tool 1 is driven by compressed air supplied from an air pressure source 6 via an electromagnetic valve 5, and a tightening torque is detected each time by a built-in torque sensor. The output is input to the tool controller 2 via the torque sensor cable 7.

Further, the tool controller 2 basically has the same structure as the conventional one shown in FIG. 4, and the number of times of screw tightening of a plurality of kinds of screws to be screwed by the air tool 1 and the number thereof The tightening torque value is input in advance by the ten-key operation, and when the screw tightening work selection signal is input from the host screw tightening work management controller 4, the screw tightening frequency and tightening torque value of the corresponding screw are input. And are selected.

Then, the tool controller 2 counts the number of times each time one screw tightening work is completed, while checking whether the tightening torque is appropriate, and within the standard working time preset by the timer. If the specified number of screw tightening operations are not performed, or even if one tightening torque failure occurs during the screw tightening work of the same type of screw, both the number of screw tightening and the tightening torque are appropriate. In any case, a corresponding signal is sent to the upper screw tightening work controller 4
It is designed to output to.

In any of the above cases, the screw tightening work management controller 4 turns on or blinks one of the color-coded lamps 8a, 8b, 8c of the alarm indicator lamp 8 and determines the number of screw tightening or tightening. When the tightening torque is not appropriate, the alarm indicator lamp 8 is turned on or blinked and a voice is notified to that effect, prompting the operator to recheck the screw tightening frequency or tightening torque.

The screw constant quantity supply devices 3, 3 ... Each accommodate a different type of screw in each screw constant quantity supply device 3, 3 ,. The number of screws to be paid out in a single operation can be set variably. The screw fixed amount supply devices 3, 3 ...
As shown in FIG. 3, a parts feeder 9 accommodating a predetermined screw, a gate sleeve 11 for storing the screws that are aligned by the parts feeder 9 and delivered through a chute 10, and a screw delivered to the chute 10 side. And a sensor 12 for counting the number of gates, and an electromagnetic gate lock mechanism 13 for locking and unlocking the gate sleeve 11, for example.
A display lamp 17 is provided at.

When the gate lock mechanism 13 is in the unlocked state, the operator extends his hand below the gate sleeve 11 and pushes it up to open the gate sleeve 11, and the screw inside the gate sleeve 11 reaches the operator's hand. In the locked state of the gate lock mechanism 13, the rising operation of the gate sleeve 11 itself is blocked. Reference numeral 14 is a limit switch for detecting the open / closed state of the gate sleeve 11.

A plurality of screw tightening work patterns are stored and set in advance in the screw tightening work management controller 4 with one screw tightening work pattern including the screw tightening works of the plurality of types of screws as described above. When a work instruction signal is input from the higher order production instruction computer 15, a corresponding screw tightening work pattern is selected from the plurality of screw tightening work patterns. Then, the screw tightening work management controller 4 outputs a screw tightening work selection signal for each of a plurality of types of screw tightening works included in the selected screw tightening work pattern, in the order of the screw tightening work, by the tool controller 2 and the corresponding screw quantitative supply device. 3 are sequentially output.

In the screw tightening work management device thus constructed, as shown in FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1, the worker turns on the work start switch 16 (step S
1) A work instruction signal is input from the production instruction computer 15 to the screw tightening work management controller 4, and the screw tightening work management controller 4 selects a screw tightening work pattern corresponding to the instruction in response to the work instruction ( Steps S2, S3).

When any one of the screw tightening work patterns is selected by the screw tightening work management controller 4, the screw tightening works for a plurality of types of screws included in the selected screw tightening work pattern are specified. The screw tightening work management controller 4 identifies the screw tightening work to be performed first among the plurality of types of screw tightening works, and outputs the corresponding screw tightening work selection signal to the tool controller 2 of the corresponding air tool 1 and the screw of the corresponding screw. Quantitative supply device 3
Output to.

When the screw tightening work selection signal is input to the tool controller 2, the tool controller 2 selects the screw tightening frequency and the tightening torque value of the corresponding screw according to the selection instruction of the screw tightening work. (Step S
4, S5). At the same time, in response to the above-mentioned screw tightening operation selection signal, the indicator lamp 17 of the screw constant quantity supplying apparatus 3 in which the screw to be the target of the screw tightening operation is accommodated from among the plurality of screw constant quantity supplying apparatuses 3, 3 ,. Then, any one of the screw fixed amount supply devices 3 is selected, and the gate lock mechanism 13 of the screw fixed amount supply device 3 whose display lamp 17 is lit unlocks (steps S6, S7, S).
8).

Then, the worker reaches for the gate sleeve 11 of the screw constant quantity supply device 3 whose indicator lamp 17 is lit according to the instruction of the indicator lamp 17 which is previously lit, and as shown in FIG. By pushing up, the required number of screws that have been counted in advance are supplied (step S9).

In this way, when the worker is supplied with the screws necessary for the screw tightening work of one type of screw, the timer in the tool controller 2 is reset and the time counting is started during that time. First, the worker performs the screw tightening work using the air tool 1 (step S1).
0).

At this time, the number of times screw tightening is completed is counted by the tool controller 2 as described above, and at the same time, it is checked whether or not the tightening torque of each screw is proper. If the tightening of the specified number of screws is completed before the timer time is up and the tightening torques of the specified number of screws are all within the allowable range, the instruction from the tool controller 2 causes the The screw tightening work management controller 4 is a lamp 8 of the alarm indicator lamp 8.
The c is turned on and the operator is notified by voice (steps S11 to S15).

On the other hand, if the specified number of screw tightening completion signals are not obtained before the timer time is up, or if even one tightening torque error occurs, the tool controller 2 tightens the screw. In response to an instruction to the work management controller 4, the screw tightening work controller 4 causes the warning indicator lights 8 to be colored by different display lamps 8.
Either one of a and 8b is turned on or blinked and the operator is notified by voice to prompt the operator to recheck the screw tightening frequency or tightening torque (steps S11, S12, S16, S17). ).

In this case, the timer is reset and the time is counted again to give a time grace for re-checking the number of times of screw tightening or tightening torque, which is one type. It is not possible to proceed to the next screw tightening work until all the screw tightening times and tightening torques of the screws become the specified values.

After that, when the number of times of tightening and the tightening torque of one type of screw have all become the specified values, the gate lock mechanism 13 of the screw constant quantity supply device 3 which has been supplied with the screw first.
Locks and locks the gate sleeve 11 shown in FIG. 2 (step S18). When the screw tightening work for one type of screw is completed, steps S4 and S6 in FIG.
(Step S19), the screw tightening work selection signal of the next screw included in one screw tightening work pattern is sent from the screw tightening work management controller 4 to the tool controller 2 and the screw constant quantity supply device 3 of the corresponding screw. After being output, the same operation as above is repeated thereafter.

Further, when all of the plurality of screw tightening works included in one screw tightening work pattern are completed, FIG.
Then, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the above series of operations.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, even the instruction for selecting the screw quantitative supply means to receive the screw supply is performed by the screw tightening work management controller, and the screw quantitative supply other than the selected screw quantitative supply means is performed. Since the ejection of screws from the means is prevented, as a result, different types and numbers of screws are supplied for each tightening work in the order of the work, and the required number of screws is supplied in error. It is possible to prevent the trouble caused by the mistaken selection of the screw in the past.

In addition, as for the screw tightening work of one type of screw, unless all the screw tightening numbers and tightening torques reach the specified values, another type of screw for the next screw tightening work is not supplied and Since it is not possible to shift to the screw tightening work, if the number of times of screw tightening is insufficient or tightening torque failure occurs, the process will be performed promptly and reliably, which also contributes to the subsequent process. Trouble can be prevented in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view showing details of the screw fixed amount supply device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a screw tightening work procedure in the screw tightening work management device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view showing an example of a conventional screw tightening work management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air tool (screw tightening tool) 2 ... Tool controller 3 ... Screw fixed amount supply device (screw fixed amount supply means) 4 ... Screw tightening work management controller (screw tightening work management means) 11 ... Gate sleeve 13 ... Gate lock mechanism 17 ... Indicator lamp (display means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When performing screw tightening work for a plurality of types of screws using a screw tightening tool with a tightening torque detection function possessed by an operator, screw tightening work management for managing the number of times and the tightening torque of the screw In the device, the screw tightening frequency and tightening torque for each of the multiple types of screws that should be tightened with a screw tightening tool are preset, and the screw tightening frequency and tightening corresponding to a screw tightening operation selection signal are received. The torque is selected, and the tool controller that determines whether or not the number of tightening times and the tightening torque of the selected screw have reached the set values, and different types of screws are housed in each, and the screw tightening work selection signal is received. Gate lock that unlocks the gate of the screw supply port in response to a screw tightening work selection signal, similar to the display means for visually indicating that the screw has been selected. A plurality of screw fixed amount supplying means for counting and discharging the required number of screws when the type of the accommodated screw is selected, and a plurality of screws including screw tightening work for the plurality of types of screws. The screw tightening work pattern of is set in advance, the applicable screw tightening work pattern is selected in response to a work instruction signal from the outside, and it is necessary for multiple screw tightening works included in the selected screw tightening work pattern. The signal for selecting the screw tightening work for multiple types of screws is provided for each of the screw tightening works on the condition that the screw tightening frequency and tightening torque of the previous screw tightening work were appropriate. A screw tightening work management device comprising: a screw tightening work management unit that sequentially outputs to any one of the units.