JPH056021Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention makes it possible to continuously supply screws, etc. by holding and transporting a large number of objects such as screws and other shaft members with heads. Concerning supply materials for goods and services.

[Prior Art] In recent years, with the automation of screw tightening machines and the like, automation of screw supply is also progressing. Therefore, the problem is how to efficiently and continuously supply screws to a screw tightening machine.

Conventionally, in the continuous supply of screws,
As shown in Publication No. 71414, a structure has been proposed in which a long tape is formed with insertion holes through which screws are inserted at predetermined intervals, and cuts are formed near each insertion hole. has been done.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve] However, with the conventional screw supply film,
In order to allow the screw to fall out of the insertion hole when the screw is removed from the film, the periphery of the insertion hole is broken in order to enlarge the insertion hole. For this reason, the above-mentioned cuts are provided in order to prevent the tearing range from increasing and the entire film being torn, that is, to restrict the tearing range.

In this way, in this conventional screw supply film, the screws are taken out based on the breakage of the film, so there is a situation where it is difficult to break due to the breakage strength of the film, and the physical strength of the film is reduced. Accurate management of this breaking strength is required, and since the film breaks when taken out, it is impossible to reuse the film, which poses a problem from an economic standpoint.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of this invention is to be able to continuously supply a large number of articles, and to be able to easily remove the articles that have been transported. The purpose of the present invention is to provide supply materials that can be reused and have improved economic efficiency.

[Means to solve the problem] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem and achieve the purpose,
The article supplying material related to this invention is for holding an article and conveying it to a supplied position, and the article has a head comprising a shaft body and a head unit integrally connected to the shaft body. The article supplying material is an attached shaft member, and the article supply material includes a main body formed of a flexible material, a plurality of which are formed at predetermined intervals on the main body, and are set smaller in diameter than the head, and the shaft main body is inserted through the main body. The device is characterized by comprising an insertion hole, and a pair of slits formed in the main body so as to be continuously connected to the insertion hole, and allowing expansion of the insertion hole.

Further, the main body is characterized in that an auxiliary slit is formed in the main body so as to communicate with the tip of each of the slits and extend in a direction crossing the slits.

Further, each of the auxiliary slits is characterized in that it extends along the conveyance direction of the article supply material.

Furthermore, the article supply material related to this invention is for holding an article and conveying it to a supplied position, and the article includes a shaft body and a head integrally connected to the shaft body. The article supply material is a member with a head, and includes a main body formed of a flexible material, a plurality of openings formed at predetermined intervals in the main body, and an opening from a pair of opposing sides of each opening. A pair of support pieces integrally formed with the main body so as to extend to near the center, and a recess formed approximately at the center of the mutually opposing edges of the support pieces, into which the shaft main body is inserted. It is characterized by the following:

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the article supply material according to the present invention will be described in detail when applied to a screw supply tape with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of the screw supply tape 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, this screw supply tape 10
The tape main body 10a is made of a flexible material, for example, a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride resin, or paper.

A large number of sprocket holes 12 are formed at one side edge of the tape body 10a at equal intervals along the tape extending direction. These sprocket holes 1
2 is provided to engage with a sprocket 50 provided in a screw tightening machine 14, which will be described later, and to transport the tape 10 in accordance with the rotation of this sprocket 50.

Further, approximately in the center of this tape body 10a, there is a
A large number of screw insertion holes 16 are provided along the tape extending direction.
are formed at equal intervals. This screw insertion hole 16
A screw 18 as a shaft member with a head defined as an article is inserted through the screw 18 and supported by the tape 10 . Here, this screw 18 is
As shown in FIG. 2, the head 18a and the head 1
8a and a screw body 18b integrally connected to the screw body 18a. The head 18a is formed to have a first diameter, and the first diameter is set to be larger than the second diameter (outer diameter of the thread) of the screw body 18a.

Here, the screw insertion hole 16 is formed to have a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter that defines the head of the screw 18 formed in this way and is set approximately equal to the second diameter. ing. In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, the screw body 18b of the screw 18 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 16, so that the lower surface of the head 18a is attached to the tape body 10a around the screw insertion hole 16. The screw 18 will be locked to the upper surface, and in this way the screw 18 will be supported by the tape 10.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 again, a pair of slits 20a and 20b are formed in the tape body 10a so as to communicate with the screw insertion holes 16 mentioned above. In this embodiment, these slits 20a and 20b are set to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tape 10 extends. These pair of slits 20a, 20b
is provided so that the corresponding screw insertion hole 16 can expand, that is, expand its diameter.

The tape main body 10a also has auxiliary slits 22a, 2 with the center portions communicating and connected to the tips of the slits 20a, 20b described above.
0b is formed. Each auxiliary slit 22a,
22b is set to extend along the direction in which the tape 10 extends. In other words, each auxiliary slit 22a, 22b is set to extend along the side edge of the tape main body 10a. These auxiliary slits 22a and 22b are provided to easily allow the deformation of the tape body 10a that causes the insertion hole 16 to expand.

Furthermore, a partition slit 24 is formed in this tape body 10a, located between the screw insertion holes 16 that are adjacent to each other. This partition slit 24 is designed so that when the screw insertion hole 16 expands to take out the screw 18, the deformation of the tape main body 10a due to this expansion is caused by the deformation of the adjacent screw insertion hole 16.
This is provided to prevent the adjacent screw insertion hole 16 from expanding unnecessarily.

Here, the slit (including the auxiliary slit and the partition slit) is defined by a through groove formed to have a predetermined width and pass through the tape body 10a in the thickness direction.

Since the screw supply tape 10 is formed as described above, as shown in FIG.
6, the lower surface of the head 18a of the screw 18 is latched to the upper surface of the tape body 10a around the screw insertion hole 16, so that the portion of the tape body 10a that is latched is is maintained based on its rigidity. As a result, in a natural state, in other words, in a state where no external force is applied to the screw 18, the tape body 10a of the screw 18
This prevents the screw 18 from being removed from the tape 1.
0 will continue to be well supported.

Here, the rigidity of such tape 10 is relatively small. Therefore, as described below,
In the screw tightening 14, the bit approaches the tape 10 from above so as to pass through it toward the top surface, and fits into a cross hole 18c formed in the head 18a of the screw 18 supported by the tape 10. Then, when the bit further descends and pushes up the screw 18, the head 18a of the screw 18 is inserted into the pair of slits 20a, 20b and the auxiliary slits 22a, 2.
2b causes the screw insertion hole 16 to expand or expand in diameter, and the screw 18 is taken out from the tape 10 by passing through the screw insertion hole 16.

In the above description, the screw insertion hole 1 is used as a structure for removably supporting the screw 18.
6. Although the explanation has focused on the pair of slits 20a, 20b and the auxiliary slits 22a, 22b, it can also be expressed as described below.

That is, the tape main body 10a has a large number of rectangular shapes (approximately square shapes) arranged at equal intervals along the direction in which the tape main body 10a extends.
An opening 26 is defined. Approximately rectangular support pieces 28a and 28b extend from a pair of opposing sides of the opening 26 (in this embodiment, sides perpendicular to the extending direction of the tape 10).
6 is integrally formed so as to extend toward the center. The tip edges of these support pieces 28a and 28b are set to face each other and be close to each other in the center of the opening 26.

Further, a semicircular recess 30 is formed in the center of the mutually opposing tip edges of these support pieces 28a and 28b.
a, 30b are formed. These recesses 30
a and 30b define the aforementioned screw insertion hole 16 in a combined state.

Explaining that the screw supply tape 10 is formed as described above, the operation for removing the screw 18 is as follows.
It is explained as follows. That is, in a state where the screw body 18b of the screw 18 is held between the two recesses 30a and 30b, this sandwiched state is maintained due to the rigidity of the support pieces 28a and 28b, and therefore,
The screw 18 remains supported by the tape body 10a. On the other hand, when the screw 18 receives a downward force from the bit,
The support pieces 28a and 28b are rigid, and
It will be bent from the corresponding side. As a result,
The distance between the mutually opposing front edges of both support pieces 28a and 28b is increased, and as a result, the screw insertion hole 16 defined by both recesses 30a and 30b is enlarged in diameter. In this way, the screw 18 is taken out downward from the tape main body 10a.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the configuration of the screw tightening machine 14 for taking out the screws 18 supported by the screw supply tape 10 configured as described above and screwing them onto a workpiece will be schematically illustrated. Explain.

This screw tightening machine 14 is used by being detachably attached to the tip of a robot arm 32 of an automatic assembly device (not shown), and includes a mounting body 34 that is detachably attached to the tip of the robot arm 32. There is. The mounting body 34 includes a first mounting stage 34a extending substantially horizontally and a second mounting stage 34 extending substantially diagonally downward.
b.

An air cylinder 36 for vertically driving the bit is fixed on the first mounting stage 34a in a state extending in the vertical direction. A piston 38 is provided in this air cylinder 36 so as to penetrate downward through the first mounting stage 34a and to be able to protrude further downward. This piston 38
An elevating platform 42 is attached to the lower end of the platform 42 with an elastic buffer in the vertical direction via a spring 40 for buffering during positioning.

A DC servo motor 44 for driving the rotation of the bit is fixed to the upper surface of the lifting table 42. A drive shaft 44a of this motor 44 passes through the lifting platform 44 and is taken out downward.
At the bottom end of the
Bits 46 are connected together. This bit 46 is configured to fit from above into a cross recess 18c formed in the head 18a of the screw 18 described above, and is made of magnetized metal.

Since the drive system for the bit 46 is configured as described above, the bit 46 is rotationally driven when the motor 44 starts, and the air cylinder 36
bit 46 by supplying compressed air to
is lowered to the screw-screwing position on the workpiece via the screw take-out position defined below.

On the other hand, the aforementioned screw supply tape 10 is stored in a spirally wound manner in the cartridge 48, with the screws 18 inserted and supported in the respective screw insertion holes 16. One end of the screw supply tape 10 is horizontally taken out to the outside through a tape take-out port 48a formed in the cartridge 48. This cartridge 48
connects the tape outlet 48a to the mounting body 3.
It is detachably attached to the lower part of the second attachment stage 34b of No. 4.

With the cartridge 48 attached to the second attachment stage 34b of the attachment main body 34 in this manner, the tip of the screw supply tape 10 is taken out forward (to the left in the figure).

On the other hand, the tip of the second attachment stage 34b,
That is, in front of the vertical movement position of the bit 46,
A sprocket 50 for transporting the tape is rotatably disposed. The sprocket 50 is configured to be rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) built into the second mounting stage 34b. The leading end of the tape 10 taken out from the cartridge 48 is connected to the sprocket 50 by engaging the sprocket hole 12 formed therein with the teeth of the sprocket 50.

Since the conveyance drive system for the tape 10 is configured as described above, in response to the intermittent rotational drive of the sprocket 50, the tape 10 is moved so that the screw 18 supported by the sprocket 50 is moved between the screws 18 defined below the bits 46. It will be fed intermittently so that it is regulated to the take-out position.

The screw tightening operation of the screw tightening machine 14 configured as above will be explained below.

First, as described above, the cartridge 48 in which the screw supply tape 10 supporting the screws 18 is stored is attached to the second attachment stage 34b of the attachment body 34, and the tape is removed from the outlet 48a of the cartridge 48. The preparatory operation is completed by taking out the leading end of tape 10 and engaging the leading end of tape 10 with sprocket 50.

After this, when the robot arm of the automatic assembly device moves to a position directly above the part of the workpiece to be screwed, the screw tightening operation is started, that is, compressed air is supplied to the air cylinder 36 and the piston 48 is lowered. At the same time, the DC servo motor 44 is activated and the bit 46 is rotated and lowered. When the lower end of the bit 46 descends to the screw removal position, it fits into the cross hole 18c formed in the head 18a of the screw 18, and the screw 18
While rotating the tape 1, based on the above-mentioned operation,
It will be removed downward from 0.

Here, as described above, since the bit 46 is magnetized, the screw 18 removed below the tape 10 is attracted to the bit 46 by magnetic force, and there is no risk of it falling downward.

Then, as the bit 46 rotates, the screw 18 also rotates, and as the bit 46 descends, it is further lowered and brought to the screw-screwing position of the workpiece. That is, at this screw screwing position, a screw hole (not shown) into which the screw 18 is screwed is formed in the workpiece, and by inserting the rotating screw 18 into this screw hole, the screw is screwed. 18 will be screwed onto the workpiece.

Thereafter, when it is detected from a change in the load on the motor 44 that the screw 18 is completely screwed into the screw hole, the supply of compressed air to the air cylinder 36 is stopped, and the return spring (see Fig. The repulsive force (not shown) causes the piston 38 to rise. That is, the bit 46 separates from the screw 18 screwed into the workpiece and rises to the upper standby position. In this way, a series of screw tightening operations for one screw 18 are completed.

As detailed above, in this embodiment, the screw supply tape 10 having the above-mentioned structure is used, so the screw 18 is well supported by this tape 10 as long as no external force is applied to the screw 18. When the screw 18 is removed from the tape 10 via the bit 46, the removal resistance is extremely small, so just by applying a certain force to the screw 18, the screw 18 can be easily and reliably removed.
will be removed from tape 10.

In this embodiment, the head 18a of the screw 18 is supported in a state where it is engaged with the upper surface of the tape 10, so that its vertical position is accurately determined.
Control of the amount of downward stroke is then very easily accomplished.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the screws 18 are removed from the tape 10, the tape is not broken in any way, so that the tape 10 can be reused, which is very economical.

It goes without saying that this invention is not limited to the configuration of the one embodiment described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of this invention.

For example, in this embodiment, a screw was used as the article, and the attachment of the screw was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any other shaft member with a head, such as a bolt, may be used.

Moreover, although the description has been made using tape as the article supply material, the supply material is not limited to such a tape, and may be in the form of a sheet.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the slit is formed to penetrate through the tape in the thickness direction and is composed of a through groove having a predetermined width. For example, the structure is not limited to the above structure, and may be formed of cuts.

[Effects of the invention] As detailed above, the article supply material related to this invention is for holding an article and conveying it to a supplied position, and the article is attached to a shaft body and integrated with the shaft body. A shaft member with a head is provided with a head connected to the head, and the article supplying material includes a main body formed of a flexible material, and a plurality of the article supply materials are formed at predetermined intervals on the main body, an insertion hole through which the shaft body is inserted, and a pair of slits formed in the main body so as to be continuously connected to the insertion hole and allowing expansion of the insertion hole. It is characterized by Therefore, according to this invention, a large number of articles can be continuously supplied, the articles that have been transported can be easily removed, and the articles can be reused, resulting in improved economic efficiency. Supplies will be provided.

Further, the main body is characterized in that an auxiliary slit is formed in the main body so as to communicate with the tip of each of the slits and extend in a direction intersecting with the tips. Therefore, according to this invention, it is possible to continuously supply a large number of articles, it is possible to easily and reliably remove the articles that have been transported, and it is also possible to reuse them, which is economical. This means that supplies with improved properties will be provided.

Further, each of the auxiliary slits is characterized in that it extends along the conveyance direction of the article supply material. Therefore, according to this invention, a large number of articles can be continuously supplied, the articles that have been transported can be easily and easily removed, and they can be reused, which is economical. The objective is to provide supply materials with improved properties.

Furthermore, the article supplying material according to this invention is for holding an article and conveying it to a supplied position, and the article includes a shaft body and a head integrally connected to the shaft body. The article supply material is a member with a head, and includes a main body formed of a flexible material, a plurality of openings formed at predetermined intervals in the main body, and an opening from a pair of opposing sides of each opening. A pair of support pieces integrally formed with the main body so as to extend to near the center, and a recess formed approximately at the center of the mutually opposing edges of the support pieces, into which the shaft main body is inserted. It is characterized by the following: Therefore, according to this invention, a large number of articles can be continuously supplied, and the articles that have been transported can be easily removed.
This provides a product supply material that can be produced and reused, and has improved economic efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the article supply material according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the shape of a screw applied as an article, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the state in which the screw is supported. A perspective view showing a screw supply tape,
FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing the configuration of a screw tightening machine in which the screw supply tape is used. In the figure, 10...screw supply tape, 12...sprocket hole, 14...screw tightener, 16...screw insertion hole, 18...screw, 18a...head, 18b...
...Screw body, 18c...Cross recess, 20a, 20b
... Slit, 22a, 22b ... Auxiliary slit, 24 ... Partition slit, 26 ... Opening, 2
8a, 28b...support piece, 30a, 30b...recess, 32...robot arm, 34...mounting body, 34a...first mounting stage, 34b
... second installation stage, 36 ... air cylinder, 38 ... piston, 40 ... spring,
42... Lifting platform, 44... DC servo motor, 4
4a... Drive shaft, 46... Bit, 48... Cartridge, 48a... Tape outlet, 50...
...It's a sprocket.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) An article supplying material for holding and transporting an article to a supplied position, the article comprising a shaft body and a head integrally connected to the shaft body. A shaft member with a head, the article supplying material comprising a main body made of a flexible material, a plurality of which are formed at predetermined intervals on the main body, each having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head, and a shaft member with a head. An article supplying material comprising: an insertion hole through which a main body is inserted; and a pair of slits formed in the main body so as to be continuously connected to the insertion hole, and allowing expansion of the insertion hole. (2) The article supply material according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary slit is formed in the main body so as to communicate with the tip of each of the slits and extend in a direction crossing the slits. (3) The article supply material according to claim 2, wherein each of the auxiliary slits extends along the conveyance direction of the article supply material. (4) In an article supply material for holding an article and transporting it to a supplied position, the article is a shaft member with a head that includes a shaft body and a head integrally connected to the shaft body. The article supplying material includes a main body made of a flexible material, a plurality of openings formed in the main body at predetermined intervals, and extending from a pair of opposing sides of each opening to near the center of the opening. A pair of support pieces integrally formed on the main body so as to project out; and a recess formed approximately in the center of opposing edges of the support pieces, into which the shaft main body is inserted. Materials for supplying goods.