JPS6319294B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a method for automatically assembling a brace.

(Prior Art) A brace is used for bracing of houses, etc., and generally consists of one turnbuckle and two brace rods that are screwed into screw holes formed at both ends of the turnbuckle. To assemble such a brace, brace rods are placed on both sides of the turnbuckle so that their axes are approximately coaxial with the axis passing through the screw hole of the turnbuckle, and the turnbuckle is rotated around the axis. This is done in an automated manner by moving the brace rod in the axial direction toward the turnbuckle and screwing the brace rod into the screw hole of the turnbuckle.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional method for automatically assembling a brace, if the brace rod is straight, the turnbuckle can be assembled simply by moving the brace rod along the rotation axis of the turnbuckle. It is possible to screw the brace rod into the screw hole, but the brace rod can be warped to some extent due to its manufacture, so it is not possible to simply push the brace rod straight into the screw hole of the turnbuckle. ,
Misalignment may occur between the tip of the brace rod and the screw hole. If such positional misalignment occurs, the tip of the brace rod and the threaded hole on the turnbuckle may not line up properly, or even if they do fit together by chance, the threaded hole on the turnbuckle (female thread) and the threaded hole on the brace rod (male thread) may not align properly. ) do not mesh well, resulting in damage to the screw holes and screws, resulting in assembly failure. When such an assembly defect occurs, not only does the efficiency of the assembly process deteriorate accordingly, but also the defective assembly must be manually screwed in and assembled, resulting in troublesome work for the operator. In addition, if damage occurs at the threaded part as described above, it becomes necessary to remove the damaged part, which not only bothers the operator, but also
This results in wasted parts.

In view of this point, the present invention not only moves the brace rod linearly in the axial direction toward the screw hole, but also moves the brace rod while swinging in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. This method attempts to dramatically reduce assembly defects in automatic assembly methods by having the rods search for holes.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The method for automatically assembling a brace according to the present invention is characterized in that a turnbuckle having screw holes at both ends is provided with male threads on both sides of the turnbuckle to be screwed into the screw holes of the turnbuckle at least at one end. The brace rods are arranged so that their axes are substantially coaxial with the axis passing through the screw hole of the turnbuckle, and while rotating the turnbuckle around the axis of the screw hole, both brace rods are rotated in the axial direction and around the turnbuckle. move it to the side,
In an automatic brace assembly method in which male threads of a brace rod are screwed into respective screw holes of a turnbuckle, drive rolls each having an eccentric shaft are mounted on both sides of the turnbuckle, and the eccentric shaft is aligned with the axis of the brace rod. A free roll that swings following the swinging motion of the drive roll is arranged so as to be perpendicular to each other, and a free roll that swings following the swing movement of the drive roll is arranged so that its rotational axis is parallel to the eccentric axis of the drive roll, and these drive rolls and the free roll The brace rods are held at appropriate positions by the rollers, and each brace rod is rotated in the direction of its axis and the turnbuckle while swinging each brace rod in a direction perpendicular to its axis by the swinging motion of the drive roll. The turnbuckle is moved to the side, and the brace rods are screwed into each screw hole of the turnbuckle.

(Function) The brace rod held between the drive roller and the free roller is swung in the direction perpendicular to its axis by the swing movement generated by the rotation of the drive roll, and is moved in the direction of the axis and toward the turnbuckle. will be moved. Therefore, even if the position of the screw hole of the turnbuckle and the tip of the brace rod is slightly misaligned, the brace rod searches for the screw hole of the turnbuckle by the above-mentioned oscillating movement, so that the tip of the brace rod is aligned with the turnbuckle. Matches the screw hole. and,
After the two are aligned, the male screw of the brace rod is screwed into the screw hole of the turnbuckle, but at this time, the brace rod is still rocking, which causes the screw hole of the turnbuckle to connect with the male screw of the brace rod. This prevents the brace rod from getting caught with the male screw, and the screwing is performed smoothly.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The figure shows the implementation of the method for automatically assembling a brace according to the invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a turnbuckle, and screw holes 4 and 5 are formed at both ends of the turnbuckle 1 into which brace rods 2 and 3 are screwed. This turnbuckle 1 has an appropriate rotation mechanism (not shown)
It rotates around the axis P passing through the screw holes 4 and 5.

Brace rods 2 and 3 are arranged on both sides of the turnbuckle 1, and these brace rods 2 and 3 are arranged so that their axes and the axis P of the turnbuckle 1 are approximately coaxial. has been done. The brace rods 2 and 3 are made of round bar-shaped steel material, and the ends near the screw holes 4 and 5 have male screws 2a and 3 screwed into the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1.
a is formed.

Air cylinders 6a and 6b are provided at the other ends of the brace rods 2 and 3, and are adapted to push the brace rods 2 and 3 in the axial direction and toward the turnbuckle 1.

Further, drive rolls 7, 7 having eccentric shafts are disposed on both sides of the turnbuckle so that the eccentric shafts are orthogonal to the axes of the braces 2, 3, and the drive rolls 7, 7 are oscillated. Free rolls 8, 8 that swing following the dynamic motion are arranged so that their rotational axes are parallel to the eccentric axes of the drive rolls 7, 7. The drive rolls 7, 7 and the free rolls 8, 8 are arranged to hold the respective brace rods 2, 3 at appropriate positions. The drive roll 7 is driven by the air cylinders 6a and 6b by a rotational drive source (not shown).
Rotationally driven at approximately the same circumferential speed as the pushing speed of
It swings in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the brace rods 2 and 3. On the other hand, the free roll 8 has an air cylinder 9,
It is pressed against the drive roll 7 side by a pressing tool such as No. 10, and the drive roll 7 and the brace rod 2,
3 reliably, and swings in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the brace rods 2 and 3 following the swinging movement of the drive roll 7.

11 and 12 are both half-cone shaped guides,
This is to reliably guide the tips of the brace rods 2 and 3 into the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1.

Now, when the turnbuckle 1 is rotated about the axis P, the air cylinders 6a and 6b are extended, and the drive roll 7 is rotationally driven, the brace rod 2,
3 moves in the axial direction and toward the turnbuckle 1, and the tip of the brace rod 2, that is, the male threads 2a, 3
The portion a approaches the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1. At the same time, brace rods 2 and 3
As described above, the driving rolls 7, 7 and the free rolls 8, 8 perform a swinging motion in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (vertical direction in the illustrated example). This swinging motion causes the brace rods 2, 3 to search for the screw holes 4, 5 of the turnbuckle 1, ie, so-called hole searching. Therefore, even if a positional deviation occurs between the screw holes 4, 5 and the ends of the brace rods 2, 3, the positional deviation is absorbed by the above-mentioned rocking motion, and the positional deviation between the ends of the brace rods 2, 3 and the turnbuckle 1 is absorbed. Screw holes 4, 5
matches. In other words, even if the brace rods 2 and 3 are slightly warped, the warp will cause the brace rods 2 and 3 to warp.
As long as the swing amount is less than or equal to 3, the tips of the brace rods 2 and 3 and the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1 are securely connected.
matches. Next, insert the male screws 2a and 3a of the brace rods 2 and 3 into the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1.
is screwed in, but at this time, the brace rods 2 and 3 are still rocking, which causes the screw holes 4 and 5 of the turnbuckle 1 to connect with the male threads 2a of the brace rods 2 and 3. , 3a is prevented, and the brace rods 2, 3 are smoothly screwed into the turnbuckle 1.

Note that the amount of swinging of the brace rods 2 and 3 in the vertical direction is approximately twice the amount of eccentricity of the drive roll 7. Therefore, by appropriately determining the eccentricity of the drive roll 7 in relation to the warpage of the brace rods 2 and 3,
Assembly defects can be almost completely eliminated.

In this example, when the eccentricity was set to 3 mm, an average of 25 assembly defects occurred during 1000 assembly operations.
It was confirmed that the number of occurrences could be reduced to three or less.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the method for automatically assembling a brace according to the present invention uses a drive roll having an eccentric shaft and a free roll that swings following the swing motion of the drive roll to assemble the brace rod. , and while swinging the brace rod in a direction perpendicular to its axis, push it in the direction of the axis and toward the threaded hole of the turnbuckle.
The brace rod automatically searches for the turnbuckle screw hole, and the tip of the brace rod and the turnbuckle screw hole match well. Even after they are aligned, the brace rod continues to oscillate, so even if the brace rod is warped, the screw hole of the turnbuckle and the male thread of the brace rod will hardly get caught, and the brace rod will continue to swing. It is smoothly screwed into the turnbuckle. Therefore, assembly defects and damage to parts (damage to turnbuckle threaded holes and damage to male threads of brace rods) can be drastically reduced, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing the amount of manual work required of workers. It has the following effects.

Furthermore, while pushing the brace rod in the direction of its axis and toward the screw hole of the turnbuckle, the brace rod is swung in a direction perpendicular to its axis to search for the screw hole. There is no need to carry out a separate process for aligning the tip of the brace rod with the tip of the brace rod, which reduces working time and improves productivity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a diagram showing an example of the implementation status of the automatic brace assembly method according to the present invention. 1... Turnbuckle, 2, 3... Brace rod, 4, 5... Screw rod, 7... Drive roll, 8...
...freerolls.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A turnbuckle having threaded holes at both ends, and a brace rod having a male screw carved into at least one end thereof to be threaded into the threaded hole of the turnbuckle; The turnbuckle is rotated around the axis of its screw hole, and both brace rods are moved in the axial direction and toward the turnbuckle, and each brace rod is inserted into each screw hole of the turnbuckle. In an automatic method for assembling a brace in which a male screw of a brace rod is screwed in, drive rolls having eccentric shafts are disposed on both sides of the turnbuckle so that the eccentric shafts are orthogonal to the axis of the brace rod; A free roll that oscillates following the oscillating motion of the drive roll is arranged so that its axis of rotation is parallel to the eccentric axis of the drive roll, and these drive rolls and free rolls rotate the respective brace rods. The turnbuckle is moved by holding the brace rod at a proper position and moving the brace rod in the direction of its axis and toward the turnbuckle while swinging each brace rod in a direction perpendicular to its axis by the swinging movement of the drive roll. An automatic method for assembling a brace, characterized in that a brace rod is screwed into each screw hole of the brace.