WO2010145885A1 - Configuration de raccordement, dispositif d'amenée et procédé d'amenée d'éléments - Google Patents

Configuration de raccordement, dispositif d'amenée et procédé d'amenée d'éléments Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010145885A1
WO2010145885A1 PCT/EP2010/056102 EP2010056102W WO2010145885A1 WO 2010145885 A1 WO2010145885 A1 WO 2010145885A1 EP 2010056102 W EP2010056102 W EP 2010056102W WO 2010145885 A1 WO2010145885 A1 WO 2010145885A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tube
arrangement
joining
tube portion
elements
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2010/056102
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rubén Gutiérrez Romero
Sascha Ohly
Original Assignee
Newfrey Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Newfrey Llc filed Critical Newfrey Llc
Publication of WO2010145885A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010145885A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23P—METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS
    • B23P19/00—Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes
    • B23P19/001—Article feeders for assembling machines
    • B23P19/004—Feeding the articles from hoppers to machines or dispensers
    • B23P19/005—Feeding the articles from hoppers to machines or dispensers by using flowing gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21J—FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES
    • B21J15/00—Riveting
    • B21J15/10—Riveting machines
    • B21J15/30—Particular elements, e.g. supports; Suspension equipment specially adapted for portable riveters
    • B21J15/32—Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
    • B65G51/02—Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a joining arrangement comprising a joining tool, by means of which elements can be joined, and comprising a supply device, by means of which elements can be supplied to the joining tool, the supply device having a tube arrangement, through which the elements are supplied to the joining tool and which has a first tube end, which can be connected to an element source, and has a second tube end, which can be connected to the joining tool, and the elements being conveyable through the tube arrangement by means of a first drive device.
  • the present invention relates to a supply device for supplying elements from an element source to an element destination, in particular for a joining arrangement of the aforementioned type.
  • the invention also relates to a method for supplying elements, through a tube arrangement, from an element source to an element destination.
  • a joining arrangement and a supply device of the aforementioned type are known, for example, in the domain of riveting tools and stud joining tools. Such tools are used, for example in the motor vehicle industry, for joining elements to one another, or for joining studs to components. Frequently, the joining processes performed in such cases are performed in an automated manner, a joining tool being fixed, for example, to a robot.
  • the joining tool is connected to an element magazine, via a tube arrangement. It has proved successful in this case to use a blast device as a drive device for conveying the elements through the tube arrangement.
  • a blast device as a drive device for conveying the elements through the tube arrangement.
  • an element is introduced into the first end of the tube arrangement, and the element is then guided through the tube arrangement by means of blast air (i.e. pressurized air or another fluid), until the element arrives at the joining tool.
  • blast air i.e. pressurized air or another fluid
  • the element is taken over and subsequently used in a joining process.
  • the element can be a rivet (solid rivet or semitubular self-piercing rivet), which is used for connecting components.
  • the element can also be a stud, made of metal or plastic, which is subsequently joined to an element by means of a stud joining tool, for example through stud welding or through stud adhesive bonding.
  • the tube arrangement used in the supply device is several metres in length. Owing to local constraints, it may be necessary for the supplying tube to be made relatively long, for example longer than 10 m. It is to be assumed in this case that, the longer the supplying tube, the higher the blast-air pressure of the blast device must be set.
  • the tube arrangement has a first tube portion, and has a second tube portion that adjoins the latter in the direction of supply, a second drive device being realized to support the supplying of an element, which has passed through the first tube portion, through the second tube portion.
  • a method for supplying elements, through a tube arrangement, from an element source to an element destination, in particular for supplying joining elements from an element source to a joining tool comprising the steps:
  • the blast-air pressure in the region of the element source can be reduced.
  • the wear on all elements involved is thereby reduced.
  • the time within which an element is conveyed from the element source to the element destination is thereby reduced. Consequently, the supply cycle time can be reduced.
  • the cycle time of the entire joining arrangement can likewise be reduced or optimized.
  • the joining tool can be, for example, a riveting tool or a stud joining tool.
  • the elements in this case can be rivets or studs made of metal or plastic.
  • the tube arrangement is preferably a flexible tube arrangement, such that the second tube end of the tube arrangement can follow movements of the joining tool (for example, by means of a robot).
  • tube arrangement is not, however, limited to flexible tube arrangements.
  • tube arrangement is also intended to include stiff pipe arrangements and similar.
  • the elements are preferably joining elements having a longitudinal axis.
  • the tube arrangement can be designed to supply the joining elements in this longitudinal direction or, also, in a transverse direction relative thereto. Consequently, the internal cross-section of the tube arrangement can be realized to be round (preferably for studs) or, also, angular (for rivets or the like).
  • a sensor arrangement which senses whether an element has passed through at least the first tube portion.
  • a sensing signal of the sensor arrangement can be used to activate the second drive device only when the element has passed through the first tube portion. It can thereby be ensured, for example in the case of use of blast air, that this blast air captures the element "from behind" within the second tube portion, and drives it in the direction of the joining tool.
  • the sensor arrangement can be designed to perform this sensing indirectly, for example through sensing pressure parameters or through time sensing. In the latter case, the sensing can consist, for example, in that the time required by an element to pass through the first tube portion is measured in a given tube arrangement.
  • the second drive device can then be activated whenever the measured time has expired, following activation of the first device (with the addition of a certain tolerance time, if appropriate).
  • the sensor arrangement is realized as a through-passage sensor arranged on the tube arrangement.
  • first tube portion and the second tube portion are connected to each other via a coupling device, and if the through- passage sensor is arranged on the second tube portion, after the coupling device in the direction of supply.
  • first tube portion and the second tube portion are connected to each other via a coupling device and if the coupling device is connected to the second drive device.
  • the coupling device in this case can basically be a tube sleeve, known per se, for connecting two tube ends, such as that known from the domain of supply devices of joining arrangements.
  • this coupling device can be realized with such modification, however, that it is connected to the second drive device, in order thereby to support the supplying of an element, which has passed through the first tube portion, through the second tube portion.
  • the first drive device is preferably realized to supply elements through the tube arrangement by means of a fluid, in particular by means of blast air.
  • the second drive device can be realized, for example, as an electromagnetic or inductive drive device (in the manner of a ferromagnetic or inductive Gauss gun). It is particularly advantageous, however, if the second drive device is also realized as a blast device. In this case, blast air is supplied to the tube arrangement in a middle region, for example in the region of a coupling device that connects the first and the second tube portion of the tube arrangement to each other.
  • the second drive device realized as a blast device, can be connected to a separate blast-air source.
  • the element source has a blast device that is connected to the tube arrangement and to a support tube, by means of which support blast-air can be supplied into a region between the first and the second tube portion.
  • a single blast device can be used as a first and second drive device, a support tube, via which the support blast-air can be supplied into the region (for example, into a coupling device) between the first and the second tube portion, being routed in parallel to the first tube portion.
  • the overall resource requirement for generating blast air can thereby be reduced.
  • the joining tool is mounted on a robot.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a joining arrangement according to the invention, comprising a supply device according to the invention for executing the supply method according to the invention;
  • Fig. 2 shows a detail view II of an example of a coupling device of a supply device according to the invention.
  • Fig. 3 shows a time sequence diagram for the purpose of illustrating the supply method according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 an embodiment of a joining arrangement according to the invention is denoted in general by the reference 10.
  • the joining arrangement 10 includes a joining tool 12 and a robot 14.
  • the robot 14 has a robot base 16, fixed to which there is a first arm 18.
  • a second arm 20 is connected to the free end of the first arm 18.
  • the joining tool 12 is fixed to the free end of the second arm 20.
  • the joining tool 12 is used to join elements, i.e. to perform joining processes in which joining elements are used.
  • a supply device 22 is used for this purpose.
  • the supply device 22 is connected to a stationary element magazine 26, in which a multiplicity of elements 24 are accommodated, for example in the form of bulk material.
  • the element magazine 26 further has a singling device 28, for singling the elements 24.
  • the supply device 22 includes a blast device 30, by means of which pressurized blast air can be produced.
  • the supply device 22 further includes a tube arrangement 32.
  • a first end 33 of the tube arrangement 32 is connected to the blast device 30.
  • a second end 35 of the tube arrangement 32 is connected to the joining tool 12.
  • the tube arrangement 32 is divided into a first tube portion 34 and a second tube portion 36, which adjoins the joining tool 12 in the direction of supply.
  • the tube portions 34, 36 are connected to each other by means of a coupling device 38.
  • Fig. 1 shows, schematically, that supplying blast-air 37 is introduced into the tube arrangement 32, in order to convey an element 24' through the tube arrangement 32 to the joining tool 12.
  • a single element is conveyed through the tube arrangement 32 in each case.
  • a batch of, for example, two to five elements 24 (or more) is conveyed through in one supply blast step in each case, if a magazine for receiving a batch of such elements is provided in the joining tool 12.
  • the joining arrangement 10 further includes a control device 40, which is connected to a supply control system 42 of the element magazine 26 and to a robot control system 44 of the robot 14.
  • a tool control system 46 in the joining tool 12 can be connected either to the robot control system 44 or to the supply control system 42. It is also possible, however, for the tool control system 46 to be connected directly to the control device 40.
  • an arrival sensor 48 which is designed to detect whether an element 24 that has been supplied through the supply device 22 has reached the joining tool 12.
  • the tube arrangement 32 can be realized to be relatively long. Since the blast-air pressure available for conveying an element 24 in the tube arrangement 32 decreases with increasing length, it can be necessary, up to the present, in the case of very long tube arrangements 32, to work with very high blast-air pressures in the region of the blast device 30.
  • the joining arrangement 10 represented in Fig. 1 has a supply device 22 comprising a supply support device 50.
  • the supply support device 50 is designed to re-accelerate an element that has passed through the first tube portion 34 (for example, the element 24" in Fig. 1). It can thereby be ensured that the element 24" actually arrives at the joining tool 12, even if the pressure of the supplying blast-air 37 in the region of the blast device 30 is relatively low. Further, it can thereby be ensured that the supply time, for supplying an element 24 from the blast device 30 to the joining tool 12, can be shortened.
  • the supply support device 50 includes a through-passage sensor 52, which can be realized to be similar to the arrival sensor 48, and which is arranged on the second tube portion 36, close to the coupling device 38.
  • the through-passage sensor 52 therefore detects whether an element 24 has passed through the first tube portion 34 and the coupling device 38.
  • the supply support device 50 further includes a support tube 54, which is likewise connected to the blast device 30 and leads, in parallel to the first tube portion 34, to the coupling device 38.
  • the support tube 54 can also be connected to another blast device, which is arranged closer to the coupling device 38.
  • Support blast-air 56 which is produced in the blast device 30 (or in another blast device) is supplied through the support tube 54.
  • the support blast-air 56 is introduced into the supply path of the elements 24 in the region of the coupling device 38, and enables an element, which has gone through the first tube portion 34 and the coupling device 38, to be re-accelerated.
  • the coupling device 38 has a channel 58, which, in the region of a connection to the first tube portion 34, has a somewhat greater diameter than the internal diameter of the first tube portion 34. In the region of the coupling to the second tube portion 36, the channel 58 has a diameter that is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the second tube portion 36. It can thereby be ensured that elements 24 supplied through the tube portions 34, 36 and the coupling device 38 can be guided through the coupling device 38 without difficulty.
  • the coupling device 38 in this case has a connection for the support tube 54, which connection extends transversely relative to the direction of supply, such that the support blast-air 56 can be fed into the channel 58.
  • Supplying of the support blast- air 56 is generally effected transversely relative to a longitudinal axis 60 of the channel 58, being so effected at an angle 62.
  • the angle 62 is shown in the drawing as a right angle.
  • the angle 62 is less than 90° and greater than 0°, such that the support blast-air 56 is blown obliquely into the channel 58 in the direction of supply.
  • a division of the tube arrangement 32 into a first tube portion 34 and a second tube portion 36 is represented by unbroken lines. It is understood, however, that, instead of one supply support device 50, it is also possible for a plurality of supply support devices 50 to be distributed over the length of the tube arrangement 32, as indicted by the broken lines at 50a and 50b. Alternatively, the supply support devices 50 can also be realized, respectively, as electromagnetic or inductive supply devices, in which an inductive or electromagnetic force, which accelerates the element 24 in the direction of the joining tool 12, is exerted upon an element 24 guided through them.
  • Fig. 3 shows a time sequence diagram for the purpose of illustrating a method that can be executed by means of the joining arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • a sensing signal of the through-passage sensor 52 occurs, which signal ends again at t 3 .
  • the support blast-air 56 is switched on, this being at least until, at the instant t 5 , a signal of the arrival sensor 48 makes it possible to detect that the element 24 has arrived in the joining tool 12.
  • the signal of the arrival sensor 48 ends and, at the instant X 7 , both the supplying blast-air 37 and the support blast-air 56 are switched off.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une configuration (10) de raccordement comportant un outil (12) de raccordement au moyen duquel des éléments (24) peuvent être raccordés et comportant un dispositif d'amenée (22) au moyen duquel les éléments (24) peuvent être amenés jusqu'à l'outil de raccordement, le dispositif d'amenée (22) comprenant une configuration (32) de tube à travers laquelle les éléments (24) sont amenés jusqu'à l'outil (12) de raccordement et qui présente une première extrémité (33) de tube susceptible d'être reliée à une source (26) d'éléments, ainsi qu'une deuxième extrémité (35) de tube susceptible d'être reliée à l'outil (12) de raccordement, les éléments (24) pouvant être acheminés à travers la configuration (32) de tube au moyen d'un premier dispositif moteur (30), la configuration (32) de tube comprenant une première partie (34) de tube et une deuxième partie (36) de tube, et d'un deuxième dispositif moteur (50) conçu pour aider à l'acheminement, à travers la deuxième partie (36) de tube, d'un élément (24) ayant traversé la première partie (34) de tube.
PCT/EP2010/056102 2009-06-15 2010-05-05 Configuration de raccordement, dispositif d'amenée et procédé d'amenée d'éléments WO2010145885A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE200910025283 DE102009025283A1 (de) 2009-06-15 2009-06-15 Fügeanordnung, Zuführeinrichtung und Verfahren zum Zuführen von Bauteilen
DE102009025283.5 2009-06-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010145885A1 true WO2010145885A1 (fr) 2010-12-23

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DE (1) DE102009025283A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010145885A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022158321A1 (fr) * 2021-01-22 2022-07-28 株式会社神戸製鋼所 Dispositif d'assemblage d'éléments de fixation, procédé de distribution d'éléments de fixation, procédé d'assemblage et procédé de fabrication de corps assemblé
US11408541B2 (en) * 2016-06-16 2022-08-09 Bizlink Industry Germany Gmbh Coupling device for connecting elongated hollow bodies in an assembly system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011103332A1 (de) 2011-05-27 2012-11-29 Newfrey Llc Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Zuführen von Fügeelementen
DE102013201603C5 (de) * 2013-01-31 2018-11-22 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Zuführen von Kleinteilen an Einbauorten

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3409332A (en) * 1967-05-10 1968-11-05 Ralph B. Jones Apparatus for collecting hosiery
US4178662A (en) * 1978-06-05 1979-12-18 U.S. Automation Company Spark plug conveyor and assembling means
JPS62259780A (ja) * 1986-04-01 1987-11-12 株式会社　青山製作所 ナツト類の供給装置
EP0330531A1 (fr) * 1988-02-22 1989-08-30 Otalu S.A. Dispositif d'alimentation en pièces à conduit de transfert
FR2662622A1 (fr) * 1990-06-05 1991-12-06 Garonne Ets Auriol & Cie Dispositif de selection et distribution de pieces telles que rivets.
EP0703037A1 (fr) * 1994-09-26 1996-03-27 Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Appareil pour alimenter en continu et mettre en place des écrous rivets
DE102004034349A1 (de) * 2004-07-15 2006-02-16 Debus + Co. Gmbh Verfahren zur automatischen Montage von Metall- bzw. Kunststoffklammern mittels einer Zuführung, Roboter und Greifer-Vereinzelungskombination, bei Fahrzeug Innen- und Außenverkleidungen

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3409332A (en) * 1967-05-10 1968-11-05 Ralph B. Jones Apparatus for collecting hosiery
US4178662A (en) * 1978-06-05 1979-12-18 U.S. Automation Company Spark plug conveyor and assembling means
JPS62259780A (ja) * 1986-04-01 1987-11-12 株式会社　青山製作所 ナツト類の供給装置
EP0330531A1 (fr) * 1988-02-22 1989-08-30 Otalu S.A. Dispositif d'alimentation en pièces à conduit de transfert
FR2662622A1 (fr) * 1990-06-05 1991-12-06 Garonne Ets Auriol & Cie Dispositif de selection et distribution de pieces telles que rivets.
EP0703037A1 (fr) * 1994-09-26 1996-03-27 Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Appareil pour alimenter en continu et mettre en place des écrous rivets
DE102004034349A1 (de) * 2004-07-15 2006-02-16 Debus + Co. Gmbh Verfahren zur automatischen Montage von Metall- bzw. Kunststoffklammern mittels einer Zuführung, Roboter und Greifer-Vereinzelungskombination, bei Fahrzeug Innen- und Außenverkleidungen

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11408541B2 (en) * 2016-06-16 2022-08-09 Bizlink Industry Germany Gmbh Coupling device for connecting elongated hollow bodies in an assembly system
WO2022158321A1 (fr) * 2021-01-22 2022-07-28 株式会社神戸製鋼所 Dispositif d'assemblage d'éléments de fixation, procédé de distribution d'éléments de fixation, procédé d'assemblage et procédé de fabrication de corps assemblé

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102009025283A1 (de) 2010-12-16

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