JPH07116934A - Automatic assembling device for string fastening tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inspect an assembly automatically, simultaneously when a socket member and a plug member are assembled. CONSTITUTION:An automatic assembling device is composed of a socket supply chute 3, a socket holding device 4, a plug supply chute 5, a plug holding device 6 and a carrying device 7. A socket 1 is lowered in a socket chute 31, and is held on a holding plate 42 in a condition where the direction of a side part opening 12b is adjusted by an eccentric roller 35 and guide ribs 33a and 33b of a regulating chute 32. A plug 2 lowered in the plug supply chute in a condition where the direction of a string inserting hole 22 is regulated by a guide rib 52, is held by the shoulder parts 83 and 84 and the step difference part 65a of a plug holding stand 65 in a condition where the projecting part 82 of a regulating stick 81 is inserted in a clearance between forked engaging pieces 24a and 24b, and is sandwiched by holding claws 61a and 61b. In this condition, a carrying stand 75 advances, and the plug is fitted and inserted in the socket. Whether or not the plug pushed in the socket by a head of a pushing-in pin is returned to a former position by elastic force of the engaging pieces, is detected by a phototube 90.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic device for assembling a cord fastener, and more particularly to an automatic device for assembling a cord fastener of a nesting type which is composed of two members, a socket member and a plug member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Nesting-type cord fasteners (cord locks) are well known as devices for adjusting and fixing cords used for various purposes such as rucksacks, tents, jackets with hood, and the like, in an adjustable manner. Has been. Generally, a string fastener has a hollow socket (or cylinder) member having a closed end and an open end and having a pair of side openings, and a lateral socket slidably inserted into the socket member. It is composed of a plug (or piston) member having a string insertion hole, and a spring interposed between the bottom wall of the socket member and the plug member. In using such a cord fastener, the plug member is pushed into the socket member against the force of the spring, and the side opening of the socket member and the cord insertion hole of the plug member are aligned substantially coaxially. By passing the cord in this state and releasing the pushing force, the plug member moves by the spring action, and the cord can be clamped and fixed between the socket member and the plug member. However, since the above-mentioned cord fastener is composed of three members, the cost is high, the assembly thereof is complicated and time-consuming, and there is also a problem of corrosion when made of metal.

From this point of view, recently, it is made of two members, that is, made of an elastic material such as plastic and having a socket member and a plug member having a portion that can be elastically deformed when pushed into the socket member. As a result, a cord fastener that does not require a spring has been developed. However, even in such a cord tightening tool composed of two members, a socket member and a plug member, the assembling is performed manually. Therefore, there is a limit to the productivity improvement and cost reduction of the string fastener,
There is also a limit to how to deal with increased production. Further, since the inspection of the assembled string fastener is conducted by the sampling inspection, it is difficult to completely remove the defective product.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide an automatic device for assembling a cord fastener which comprises two members, a socket member and a plug member. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of automatically inspecting whether or not the assembly has a predetermined function at the same time as assembling the socket member and the plug member. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for continuously supplying a socket member and a plug member to an assembling operation part of an apparatus with a side opening of the socket member and a string insertion hole of the plug member oriented in the same direction. To provide. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly system capable of automatically inserting a plug member into a socket member.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a hollow socket member having a pair of symmetrical side openings and housed in the socket member,
It consists of two members, a plug member having a lateral string insertion hole that can be aligned with the side opening of the socket member by movement into the socket member, the plug member being elastically deformed when pushed into the socket member. The socket member has a stop portion on its inner surface, and when the plug member and the socket member are assembled, the engagement portion engages with the stop portion to maintain the assembled state. Provided is an automatic assembly device for a cord fastener configured as described above. The device according to the present invention is basically arranged upright in parallel with being separated from each other at a predetermined interval, and with the side opening of the socket member and the string insertion hole of the plug member oriented in the same direction. A pair of chutes for continuously delivering the socket member and the plug member downward respectively, and a pair of chutes arranged under the chutes for receiving the socket members and the plug members at the lowermost ends of the chutes, respectively, so as to face each other on the same line. Holding means for holding the plug member into the socket member and one holding means for inserting the plug member into the socket member, and one member in a state of being held by the holding means is conveyed toward the other member. And a transporting means for carrying out.

[0006]

The device according to the present invention is an automatic device for assembling a cord tightening tool which comprises two members, a socket member and a plug member. It is provided with a system for continuously supplying the members and a system for automatically assembling the supplied socket members and plug members. In the supply system, the socket member and the plug member are oriented in the same direction with the side opening of the socket member and the string insertion hole of the plug member by a pair of chutes arranged in parallel in parallel at a predetermined distance. In this state, it is lowered by its own weight, and is continuously delivered to the assembly operation section of the device arranged under each chute. For this purpose, preferably, the socket member supply chute has an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the socket member, and is provided on both inner surfaces thereof with a longitudinal projection projecting at a position corresponding to the side opening of the socket member. It is composed of a hollow body having a rectangular cross section having guide ribs extending in the direction, and the socket member is configured such that the depression of the side opening of the socket member slides on the guide rib to descend. Similarly, if, for example, the plug member to be supplied to the device has a bifurcated elastic engagement piece, the plug member supply chute has an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of said plug member and The plug member is composed of a hollow body having a rectangular cross section having guide ribs extending in the longitudinal direction, which are provided on the inner surface of one side of the plug member so as to be positioned corresponding to the gaps between the two engaging pieces of the plug member. The bifurcated engagement piece is configured to descend while straddling the guide rib.

In the assembling operation section, since the socket member and the plug member are supplied with the side openings of the socket member and the string insertion holes of the plug member oriented in the same direction by the respective chutes, these members are supplied. It is not necessary to make rotational alignment, and the respective holding means arranged under each chute respectively receives the socket member and the plug member at the lowermost end of each chute, and in a state where they are held in positions so as to be collinear with each other, Assembly of the socket member and the plug member is automatically performed by moving the holding means holding one member toward the holding means holding the other member by the conveying means to which it is attached. be able to.

In a preferred embodiment, the socket member supply chute is a hollow member having a rectangular cross section having an inner size slightly larger than the outer size of the socket member, and the socket chute is substantially the same as the inner size of the socket chute. And has guide ribs extending in the longitudinal direction protruding at positions corresponding to the side openings of the socket member on both inner surfaces thereof, and at least the lower portion on the side facing the plug member supply chute A socket regulating chute that is opened and is arranged in proximity to the lower portion of the socket chute, and a part of one side of the connecting portion between the socket chute and the socket regulating chute is disposed so as to project inside the chute. The socket member is rotated so that the depression of the side opening of the socket member comes into sliding contact with the guide rib to lower the socket member. Composed of the eccentric roll for adjusting the opening direction. By adopting such a socket member supply system, even if a large amount of socket members are accommodated in the chute, the socket members will not be clogged in the chute and the socket members can be reliably and sequentially supplied to the assembly operation portion. can do.

A suitable socket member holding means arranged below the socket member supply chute is a vertical plate-shaped main body, and a holding plate horizontally projecting from a lower end portion of one side surface of the main body on the front end side. And a stop plate horizontally projecting from the rear end upper end of the same side surface of the main body, and arranged so as to be reciprocally movable in the lateral direction. Thus, by intermittently reciprocating the socket member holding plate having the holding plate and the stop plate, which are located in a stepwise manner when viewed from the side, in the lateral direction, the socket members are supplied one by one to the holding plate, and It becomes possible to sequentially discharge the string fastener assembled by fitting the plug member to the socket member.

Suitable retaining means for the plug members are located underneath the plug member supply chute and are reciprocable so that they can move closer together to hold the plug members and spaced apart to release the plug members. It consists of a pair of holding claws facing each other, and a plug holding base having a piston that is arranged on the rear side of the holding claws and that can reciprocate in the front-rear direction to push the plug member forward. In one aspect, the plug member holding means is mounted on a carrier table slidably mounted on a base table. In a mode for more reliably holding and conveying a plug member having a bifurcated engagement piece, the plug member holding means further has an upper portion having a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimension of the guide rib of the plug member supply chute. A vertically movable restraining cane having at its upper end a projecting portion projecting on the upper end and a shoulder portion around the projecting portion for supporting and positioning the body portion of the plug member and the bifurcated engaging piece. . The restricting cane is arranged such that the convex portion is located on the same vertical line as the guide rib, and the restricting cane is gradually lowered by the cam mechanism as the carrier is advanced.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an apparatus for automatically inspecting an assembly at the same time as assembling the socket member and the plug member, which apparatus is held by the holding means in addition to the system described above. Further comprising a photoelectric tube arranged on a line orthogonal to the exposed portion of the plug member fitted in the socket member, and the plug member pushed into the socket member by the photoelectric tube is elastically deformed. The elastic force of the engaging portion detects whether the engaging portion returns to the position where it engages with the stopper portion of the socket member.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the automatic device for assembling a cord fastener according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entire assembling apparatus. Reference numeral 1 is a socket, 2 is a plug, 3 is a socket supply chute, 4 is a socket holding device, 5 is a plug supply chute, 6 is a plug holding device, and 7 is a conveying device. Show.

Socket 1 and plug 2 to be assembled
Has a shape as shown in FIGS. The socket 1 comprises a cylindrical body 11 having an open end 11a and a closed end 11b. The cylindrical body 11 includes a pair of circular side openings 12a symmetrically located on both sides near the open end 11a,
12b and the side openings 12a, 12b and the closed end 11
b has a pair of rectangular small holes 13a, 13b located between the small holes 13a, 13b, and a pair of stoppers 14a, 14b from the side opening side edges of the small holes 13a, 13b toward the inside of the cylindrical body 11. It is projected. Further, the cylindrical body 11 has a pair of symmetrical inclined surfaces 15a and 15b inside the closed end portion thereof so as to converge from the small holes 13a and 13b toward the inner bottom surface. Further, on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 11, each side opening 12a,
A pair of opposing ribs 16 extending from the open end 11a to the central portion of the cylindrical body are provided at the intermediate portion between 12b so as to project.

On the other hand, the plug 2 has a cylindrical body portion 21 having a lateral cord insertion hole 22 penetrating perpendicularly to its axis.
And a flange-shaped head 2 formed at one end of the body 21
3 and two elastically deformable engaging pieces 24a, 24b protruding from the other end, and the engaging pieces 24a, 2
The tip of 4b is bent outward to form claw portions 25a and 25b. The body portion 21 of the plug 2 is formed with a pair of grooves 26 into which the ribs 16 of the socket 1 are fitted.
The diameter of the side openings 12a and 12b of the socket 1 is the plug 2
The diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of the string insertion hole 22 and is designed to be larger than the diameter of the string to be inserted therethrough.

When the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 1 with the string insertion hole 22 of the plug 2 and the side openings 12a and 12b of the socket 1 aligned with each other, the plug 2 is snap-fitted into the socket 1. Once assembled, the claw portions 25a, 25b of the engaging pieces 24a, 24b of the plug 2 are attached to the socket 1
Since the stoppers 14a and 14b are engaged with each other, the plug 2 does not come out of the socket 1. Further, since the rib 16 of the socket 1 is fitted in the groove 26 of the body portion 21 of the plug 2, the socket 1 and the plug 2 do not rotate relative to each other. To clamp a string or the like with the string fastener assembled in this way, use the plug 2
Is pushed into the socket 1 to align the respective string insertion holes 22 and the side openings 12a and 12b on the same line, and the string A is passed through them. At this time, the pair of engaging pieces 24 of the plug 2
Since a and 24b descend along the inclined surfaces 15a and 15b of the socket 1 and are elastically deformed in a state of being bent inward, when the pressing force on the plug 2 is released, the deformed engaging piece 24
The plug 2 is pushed outward by the elastic force of the a and 24b returning to the original shape, and the string A is clamped by the socket 1 and the plug 2.

Next, each component of the assembling apparatus will be described. The socket supply chute 3 is a socket chute 3
1, a socket restriction chute 32 arranged in contact with the lower end surface thereof, and an eccentric roll 35 arranged at a connection portion between the socket chute 31 and the socket restriction chute 32. The socket chute 31 is a hollow body having a rectangular cross section and having an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the socket 1. The socket restriction chute 32 has substantially the same internal size as the internal size of the socket chute 31, but is open on the side facing the plug supply chute 5 and has a U-shaped cross section. In addition, the side openings 12a, 1 of the socket 1 of the socket restriction chute 32
2b, a pair of guide ribs 33a, 33b facing each other along the inner edges of the opening of both side walls are formed, and the guide ribs 33a, 33b are spaced from the lower end surface 34 of the socket restriction chute 32 by a certain distance. It is projected downward. The eccentric roll 35 rotates the socket 1 housed in the socket chute 1, and the depressions formed by the side openings 12a and 12b of the eccentric roll 35 are brought into sliding contact with the guide ribs 33a and 33b so that the socket 1 is inside the socket regulation chute 32. Side opening 12 so that
This is for adjusting the directions of a and 12b. The eccentric roll 35 is located above one of the guide ribs 33b and is arranged at one side of the lower end portion of the socket chute 31 so that a part thereof projects into the socket chute 31. Rotary shaft 3 connected to 35
It is rotated by a motor 37 via 6.

The socket holding device 4 arranged below the socket supply chute 3 has a vertical plate-shaped main body 41 and a holding body which is horizontally projected from a lower end portion of one side surface of the main body 41 on the front end side. The plate 42 and a stop plate 43 horizontally projecting from the upper end portion on the rear end side of the same side surface of the main body 41. The width of the stop plate 43 is substantially shorter than the width of the holding plate 42 by the width of the guide ribs 33a and 33b, and the height positional relationship between the stop plate 43 and the holding plate 42 is that the stop plate 43 is below the socket regulating chute 32. The guide rib portions 33a, 33 that are adjacent to and below the end surface 34, and the holding plate 42 projects downward from the lower end surface of the socket restriction chute 32.
It is arranged close to the lower end surface of b. A piston 45 of a socket feed cylinder 44 is connected to one end of the main body 41. When the socket feeding cylinder 44 is actuated, the socket holding device 4 is configured such that holding plates 42 and stop plates 43 projecting stepwise from one side surface of the main body 41 are alternately arranged under the socket restriction chute 32. It will reciprocate in the lateral direction.

The plug supply chute 5 comprises a hollow body 51 having a rectangular cross section having an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plug 2, and the hollow body 51 has one side inner surface on which the bifurcated engagement of the plug 2 occurs. It has a guide rib 52 that extends in the longitudinal direction and is provided so as to be positioned corresponding to the gap between the joining pieces 24a and 24b. Therefore, the plug 2 inserted in the plug supply chute 5 has the two forked engagement pieces 24a, 24b.
Falls in the plug supply chute 5 while straddling the guide rib 52.

The plug holding device 6 for receiving and holding the plug 2 delivered from the lower opening of the plug supply chute 5 includes a pair of holding claws 61a, 61b arranged under the plug supply chute 5 and facing each other. It is composed of a plug holding base 65 arranged on the rear side of the holding claw and a restricting cane 81 arranged on the front side. As shown in FIG. 2, each holding claw 61a, 61b has a semicircular facing notch 62a, 62b inside the upper end, and both holding claws 61a, 61b.
The notches 62a and 62b due to the proximity of
The body portion 21 of the plug 2 can be held between them. Arms 63a, 63b of each holding claw 61a, 61b
Is connected to a holding claw drive unit 64, and a piston-cylinder mechanism (not shown) in the unit 64 causes the holding claws 61a and 61b to reciprocate laterally so as to approach and separate from each other.

The plug holding base 65, as shown in FIG.
The head chamber 66b and the spring chamber 66 are provided on the front surface and the rear surface, respectively.
c, the chambers 66b, 66c are communicated with each other by a central through hole 66a having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of each chamber. A push-in pin 67 having a head portion 67a and a flange portion 67b at the front and rear ends in the central through hole 66a.
Is slidably disposed, the head portion 67a of the push-in pin 67 is disposed in the head chamber 66b, and the flange portion 67b is disposed in the spring chamber 66c. A spring 68 is disposed on the bottom surface of the spring chamber 66c, and the spring 68 urges the flange portion 67b of the push pin 67 outward. On the rear side of the plug holding base 65, a plug pushing cylinder 69 has a piston 69a whose tip is the flange portion 67b.
It is located close to. Also, the plug holding base 65
A step portion 65a for positioning the head portion 23 of the plug 2 is formed at the lower end portion of the front surface of the plug. The plug holding base 65 is mounted on the drive unit 64 of the holding claws 61a and 61b, and the drive unit 64 and the plug pushing cylinder 69 are mounted on the transfer base 75 of the transfer device 7.

The carrier device 7 comprises a base 71 and a carrier 75 slidably mounted on the base 71. A groove 72 is formed on the upper surface of the base 71 in a groove shape over the longitudinal direction thereof.
Are formed, and ridges 74 extend in the longitudinal direction on the inner surfaces of both side walls 73 of the recess 72. on the other hand,
On both side surfaces of the carrier table 75, a groove 76 sized to fit the protruding portion 74 extends from the vicinity of the front end of the carrier table 75 to the rear end thereof. The carrier table 75 has a ridge 7 formed on the inner surfaces of both side walls 73 of the base 71 in grooves 76 on both sides thereof.
In a state in which each of the four is fitted, it is attached to the base 71 by sliding it into the recess 72 of the base 71.
The carrier table 75 is connected to a piston 78 of a cylinder 79 for carrying a plug holder mounted on a base 80.

A restricting cane 81 is vertically movably inserted into a through hole 77 formed in a vertical direction at the tip of the carrier table 75. As shown in FIG. 2, the restriction wand 81 has a convex portion 82 protruding upward from the upper end thereof, a shoulder portion 83 on both sides of the convex portion 82, and a rear shoulder portion 84 lower than the shoulder portion 83. Have. The convex portion 82 has a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimension of the guide rib 52 of the plug supply chute 5. The shoulder portion 83 serves as a surface for supporting and positioning the bifurcated engaging pieces 24a, 24b of the plug 2, and the shoulder portion 84 serves as a surface for supporting and positioning the body portion 21 of the plug. The restriction cane 81 and the through-hole 77 of the carrier table 75 in which it is inserted have the carrier table 75 at the initial position (position shown in FIG. 1).
In this case, the convex portion 82 of the restriction wand 81 is positioned so as to be on the same vertical line as the guide rib 52 of the plug supply chute 5. Further, the restriction wand 81 has a moving shaft 85 protruding laterally at the lower end thereof, and the moving shaft 85 is inserted into a guide groove 87 of a cam plate 86 attached to the tip of the base 71. Has been done. Guide groove 87 of cam plate 86
Is inclined downward toward the front. Therefore, the carrier 7
As 5 moves forward by the cylinder 79, the moving shaft 85 of the restriction wand 81 moves along the guide groove 87, so that the restriction wand 81 gradually descends. The height difference of the guide groove 87 of the cam plate 86 is such that when the moving shaft 85 of the restriction wand 81 is at the lowest portion of the guide groove 87, the convex portion 82 of the restriction wand 81 is the holding plate 42 of the socket holding device 4. It is set to be located lower.

In the above-mentioned device, the socket 1 on the holding plate 42 of the socket holding device 4 and the step portion 65a of the plug holding base 65 are provided.
And the holding claws 6 supported by the shoulders 83 and 84 of the control cane 81.
The plug 2 held by 1a and 61b is designed to have a positional relationship such that they are opposed to each other on the same line. Reference numeral 90 indicates whether or not the cord fastener assembled from the socket 1 and the plug 2 has a predetermined function, that is, when the plug 2 is pushed into the socket 1.
Detects whether or not the claw portions 25a, 25b of the engaging pieces 24a, 24b return to the position where they engage with the stoppers 14a, 14b of the socket 1 by the elastic force of the elastically deformed engaging pieces 24a, 24b. It is a photoelectric tube for doing. The photocell 90 has an exposed portion (the head portion 23) of the plug 2 fitted in the socket 1 held on the holding plate 42 after assembly.
And a part of the body portion 21) are arranged on a line orthogonal to the above.

Next, the assembly operation by the above apparatus will be described. Socket 1 put in socket chute 31
Sequentially descends due to its own weight and contacts the eccentric roll 35. The eccentric roll 35 is rotating so as to push up the socket 1. Side openings 12a, 12b of the socket 1
When the concave portion of the eccentric roll faces a part of the eccentric roll 35 on the circumferential side, the socket 1 does not come into contact with the eccentric roll 35, the rotational force of the eccentric roll 35 is not transmitted to the socket 1, and As shown in FIG.
12b is a guide rib 33 of the socket restriction chute 32.
The positional relationship corresponds to a and 33b. After that, the socket 1 sequentially descends in the socket restriction chute 32 while the recesses of the side openings 12a and 12b are in sliding contact with the guide ribs 33a and 33b. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the lowermost socket 1a of the socket 1 housed in the socket restriction chute 32 is supported by the holding plate 42 of the socket holding device 4, and the side opening 12a, 12
The recessed portion b is sandwiched by the guide ribs 33a and 33b and positioned, and in this state, the plug 2 is awaited for insertion.

On the other hand, the plug 2 has two forked engaging pieces 24a, 2
4b is put in the plug supply chute 5 so as to straddle the guide rib 52. Therefore, the plug 2 has the string insertion hole 2
With the two oriented in a predetermined direction, the two-forked engaging piece 24
While being in sliding contact with the guide ribs 52, a and 24b descend within the plug supply chute 5 by their own weight. The lowermost plug 2a sent out from the lower end opening of the plug supply chute 5
As shown in FIG. 2, the head 23 holds the plug while the bifurcated engaging pieces 24a, 24b straddle the convex portion 82 of the restricting wand 81 located directly below the guide rib 52 of the plug supply chute 5. The stepped portion 65a of the base 65 is provided with a forked engagement piece 24a,
24b and the body portion 21 respectively abut against the shoulder portions 83 and 84 of the restricting cane 81, and are stopped and supported. In this state, the drive unit 64 is operated, and the pair of holding claws 61
The a and 61b move so as to approach each other, and hold the body 21 of the plug between the notches 62a and 62b. At this stage, the bottom socket 1
The a and the plug 2a are located on the same line as shown in FIG. 3, and the side openings 12a and 12b, the string insertion hole 22, and the rib 16 and the groove 26 of the plug are aligned in the same direction. The assembly preparation is completed.

Next, the cylinder 79 is operated and the carrier table 75 is advanced toward the socket holding device 4. As the transfer table 75 advances, the plug holding table 65 and the holding claws 61a and 61b mounted thereon and the plug 2a held by the holding claws 61a and 61b also move forward. Supply chute 5
Of the plug supply chute 5 since its upper surface is located close to the lower end opening of the plug supply chute 5.
The plug 2 housed inside does not fall downward. As the carrier 75 further advances, the carrier 75
Although the restriction wand 81 vertically inserted through the through hole 77 of the restriction wand advances, the moving shaft 85 of the restriction wand 81 moves along the guide groove 87 of the cam plate 86. Gradually descends along. Immediately before the plug 2a is inserted into the socket 1a, the restriction wand 81 is lowered to the lowest position, and in this position, the convex portion 82 is located below the holding plate 42 of the socket holding device 4 as described above. , Socket 1a
Since they do not exist between the plug 2a and the plug 2a, they do not hinder their assembly. Then, as the carriage 75 further advances, the plug 2a is inserted into the socket 1a, the ribs 16 of the socket 1a are fitted into the grooves 26 of the plug 2a, and finally the plug 2a is inserted as shown in FIG. The claw portions 25a, 25b at the tips of the engaging pieces 24a, 24b are engaged with the stopper portions 14a, 14b of the socket 1a, respectively. At this point, the insertion process ends. After the insertion process is completed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the driving unit 64 holds the holding claw 61.
a and 61b are moved in the directions away from each other, and the plug 2
Release a. In this way, the assembly of the socket 1a and the plug 2a is completed.

When the assembly of the socket 1a and the plug 2a is completed, the plug pushing cylinder 69 is actuated, and the piston 69a thereof is inserted into the central through hole 66a of the plug holding base 65, and the flange portion 67b of the pushing pin 67 is inserted.
Press. As a result, the head portion 67a of the push-in pin 67
Pushes the head 23 of the plug 2a, and the plug 2a is pushed deeper into the socket 1a. At this time, the engagement pieces 24a and 24b of the plug 2a move along the inclined surfaces 15a and 15b in the socket 1a and elastically deform, as shown in FIG. When the piston 69a of the plug pushing cylinder 69 is pulled back to its original position, the push pin 67 returns to its original position by the action of the spring 68, and the plug 2a is released from the pressure of the head portion 67a of the push pin 67. , Elastically deformed engagement piece 2
The plug 2a is returned to the original position shown in FIG. 7 by the elastic force of 4a and 24b. At this time, the head 23 and a part of the body 21 of the restored plug 2a are detected by the photocell 90 for inspection, and it is determined that a normal socket / plug assembly is obtained. If a normal assembly cannot be obtained due to damage to the engaging pieces 24a and 24b of the plug 2a,
Since the plug 2a does not return to its original position, it is not detected by the photoelectric tube 90 and is determined as a defective product.

After the above inspection process, the cylinder 79 is operated,
The carrier table 75 is pulled back to its original position. At this time, the plug holding base 65 also returns to the original position, so that the lower end of the plug supply chute 5 is opened, and the lowermost plug 2 accommodated in the plug supply chute 5 falls, as shown in FIG. As described above, the head portion 23 is attached to the stepped portion 65a of the plug holding base 65, the forked engagement pieces 24a and 24b, and the body portion 21.
Stops against the shoulders 83 and 84 of the restricting cane 81, respectively, and is supported in a state where the convex part 82 of the restricting cane 81 is inserted between the forked engaging pieces 24a and 24b. At the same time,
The socket feeding cylinder 44 is actuated, and the socket holding device 4 is reciprocated in the lateral direction for one cycle. As the socket holding device 4 advances, the holding plate 42 and the stop plate 43 are moved to the position shown in FIG.
It moves from the position shown in to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the lower portion of the socket restriction chute 32 is opened by the forward movement of the holding plate 42, so that the socket 1a incorporating the plug falls and is discharged downward. Is inserted between the built-in socket 1a and the socket 1b above it, and is stopped at the position where the lower end surface 34 of the socket restriction chute 32 is closed, so that the socket accommodated in the socket restriction chute 32 moves downward. It is prevented from falling. After that, when the socket holding device 4 returns to the original position shown in FIG. 8, the lowermost socket 1 b housed in the socket restriction chute 32 is sent onto the holding plate 42. afterwards,
By repeating the above operation, the socket and the plug are assembled sequentially.

The preferred embodiment of the automatic device for assembling the cord fastener according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the socket regulation chute 32 does not need to open the entire side surface facing the plug supply chute 5 as in the above-described embodiment, and the portion where the lowermost socket 1a held by the socket holding device 4 is located is It should be open. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, the pair of guide ribs 33 are provided from the lower end of the socket restriction chute 32.
When a and 33b are projected, the body of the socket restriction chute can be a hollow body having a rectangular cross section similar to the socket chute 31. Further, when the plug 2 is lightweight and can be stably held by the pair of holding claws 61a and 61b, and therefore the restricting cane 81 is unnecessary, the guide rib 33 is provided.
A holding device having a holding claw having the same shape as a and 33b and a carrying device may be arranged under the socket regulating chute to carry the socket toward the plug. In addition, an assembly receiving chute or similar receiver is placed below the socket control chute, or if a defective product is detected by the photocell, it moves forward to receive the defective product. A chute can also be provided. Further, the present invention is basically applicable to the assembly of all cord tightening tools composed of two members, a socket and a plug, by changing the shape of the chute according to the shape of the socket or the plug.

[0030]

As described above, according to the automatic device for assembling the cord fastener of the present invention, the socket member and the plug member are continuously supplied to the assembling operation portion and the supplied socket member and plug member side. It is possible to automatically hold and assemble the part opening and the string insertion hole in a aligned state. Therefore, it is possible to assemble the strap fastener with high productivity, and it is possible to reduce the cost required for the assembly and the working time. Also,
According to the device of the present invention, the assembly product can be automatically inspected simultaneously with the assembling of the socket member and the plug member, and the defective product can be reliably eliminated and the defective rate can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic assembly device for a cord fastener according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a plug holding portion of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the socket and plug before assembly.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.

5 is a partial side view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the assembled state of the socket and the plug.

6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly showing the pushed state of the socket and the plug and the restored state of the plug to the original position.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the socket supply chute and the socket holding device.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the socket supply chute and the socket holding device showing a state where the socket holding device has advanced.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a string fastening state of a string fastening tool including two members of a socket and a plug.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 socket, 2 plugs, 3 socket supply chute, 4 socket holding device, 5 plug supply chute, 6 plug holding device, 7 carrier device, 12
a, 12b side opening, 14a, 14b stopper,
15a, 15b inclined surface, 16 ribs, 21 body,
22 string insertion hole, 23 head part, 24a, 24b engaging piece, 25a, 25b claw part, 26 groove, 31
Socket chute, 32 socket regulation chute,
33a, 33b guide rib, 35 eccentric roll,
42 holding plate, 43 stop plate, 44 socket feeding cylinder, 52 guide rib, 61a, 61b
Holding claw, 64 holding claw drive unit, 65 plug holding base, 65a step, 67 push pin, 6
8 springs, 69 cylinder for pushing plug, 71
Base, 72 recess, 74 ridge, 75 carrier, 76 groove, 77 through hole, 79 plug holder transport cylinder, 80 base, 81 restricting cane, 82
Convex part, 83, 84 Shoulder part, 85 Moving axis, 86
Cam plate, 87 guide groove, 90 photoelectric tube

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A pair of symmetrical side openings (12a, 12a).
a hollow socket member (1) having b), and a lateral string insertion hole (22) housed in the socket member and capable of aligning with the side opening of the socket member upon movement into the socket member. The engaging member (24a, 24b, 25a, 24a, 24b, 25a, which is made up of two members, a plug member (2) and which can be elastically deformed when pushed into the socket member
25b), the socket member has stop portions (14a, 14b) on its inner surface, and when the plug member and the socket member are assembled, the engaging portion engages with the stop portion and is in an assembled state. A device for automatically assembling a cord fastener configured to hold a cord, the cord fasteners being arranged upright in parallel with being separated from each other by a predetermined distance, and having a side opening of the socket member and a cord insertion hole of the plug member. A pair of chutes (3, 3) for continuously delivering the socket member and the plug member downward in a state of being oriented in the same direction.
5) and holding means (4, 6) arranged under each chute for receiving the socket member and the plug member at the lowermost end in each chute and holding them at positions so as to face each other on the same line. , For inserting the plug member into the socket member, one holding means is attached, and a carrying means (7) for carrying one member in a state of being held by the holding means toward the other member. Automatic device for assembling string fasteners. 2. A chute (3) for feeding the socket member (1) has an inner dimension which is slightly larger than the outer dimension of the socket member, and the inner surfaces on both sides thereof correspond to the side openings of the socket member. It is composed of a hollow body having a rectangular cross section having guide ribs (33a, 33b) extending in the longitudinal direction and projecting at a position, and the socket member is configured such that the depression of the side opening thereof is slidably contacted with the guide rib to descend. The device of claim 1, wherein 3. A socket chute (31), wherein the chute (3) for supplying the socket member (1) is a hollow body having a rectangular cross section having an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the socket member, and the socket. It has substantially the same internal dimensions as the chute, and has longitudinally extending guide ribs (33a, 33b) projecting at positions corresponding to the side openings of the socket member on both inner surfaces thereof. Then
At least a lower portion of the side opposite to the chute (5) for supplying the plug member is opened, and a socket regulation chute (32) disposed in proximity to the lower portion of the socket chute, the socket chute and the socket regulation. A part of the connecting part of the chute is arranged so as to project into the chute, and the socket member is rotated, and the depression of the side opening slides on the guide rib to lower the socket member. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an eccentric roll (35) for adjusting the orientation of the side openings. 4. A holding member (4) for a socket member comprises a vertical plate-shaped main body (41), a holding plate (42) horizontally protruding from a lower end portion of one side surface of the main body on the tip side, and the main body. A stop plate (43) protruding horizontally from the upper end of the rear end side of the same side surface of the same side face, and is arranged so as to be reciprocally movable in the lateral direction under a chute for supplying a socket member. The apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. Plug member (2) to be supplied to the device
Has a forked elastic engaging piece (24a, 24b), and a chute (5) for supplying the plug member.
Has an inner dimension slightly larger than the outer dimension of the plug member, and has the plug member (2) on the inner surface of one side thereof.
Of a hollow body having a rectangular cross section having guide ribs (52) extending in the longitudinal direction and projecting so as to be positioned corresponding to the gaps between the forked engagement pieces (24a, 24b). The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bifurcated engaging piece is configured to descend while straddling the guide rib. 6. A plug member holding means (6) is arranged below the chute (5) for feeding the plug member, for approaching each other for gripping the plug member and for releasing the plug member. 6. A pair of holding claws (61a, 61b) that can reciprocate so as to be separated from each other, and a plug holding base (65) arranged on the rear side of the holding claws. The device according to paragraph. 7. The transfer means (7) comprises a base (71).
And a carrier table (75) slidably mounted on the base, and the plug member holding means (6) is mounted on the carrier table (75). apparatus. 8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the plug holding base (65) has a piston (67) reciprocable in the front-back direction for pushing the plug member forward. 9. The plug member holding means (6) further has an upwardly projecting protrusion having a cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the cross-sectional dimension of the guide rib (52) of the chute (5) for supplying the plug member. (82) and the shoulders (83, 84) around the protrusions for supporting and positioning the body (21) and the bifurcated engaging pieces (24a, 24b) of the plug member (2).
And a vertically movable restraining cane (81) having an upper end portion and an upper end portion, the restraining cane (81) being arranged such that the convex portion (82) is located on the same vertical line as the guide rib (52). 9. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 8 which is provided. 10. The transfer means (7) comprises a base (71).
It includes a cam plate (86) having a guide groove (87) attached to the tip and inclined downward toward the front, and the restricting wand (81) includes a vertical through hole (77) of the carrier table (75). ) And has a moving shaft (85) protruding laterally at the lower end thereof, and the moving shaft (85) of the restricting wand (81) is guided by the guide groove of the cam plate (86). (87), and the cane (8) is attached as the carrier (75) advances.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein 1) is configured to gradually descend. 11. The plug member (2) pushed into the socket member (1) is engaged by the elastic force of the engaging portions (24a, 24b, 25a, 25b) of the elastically deformed plug member (2). Is a stopper part (1) of the socket member (1).
4a, 14b) in order to detect whether or not it returns to the position where it engages with the socket member (4), it is orthogonal to the exposed portion of the plug member (2) fitted in the socket member (1) held by the holding means (4). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a photocell (90) arranged in line.