JPH09203407A - Method of supplying screws with washers and assembly thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To supply screws with washers with high reliability and at low cost. SOLUTION: A large number of washers 5 are connected in a row through micro joints 4 to form a continuous body 1, screws 6 are attached to and held by each washer 5, and the washers 5 holding the screws 6 are in a row. The washer-equipped screw assembly 7 connected to is attached to the supply means, and each washer 5 is sequentially cut and separated at the micro joint 4 to supply the washer-equipped screw.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of supplying a screw with a washer and an assembly thereof for supplying a screw and a washer in a combined state to a screw tightening device of various assembling equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for supplying a washer and a screw to a screw tightening device, each of them is usually supplied one by one to a head part of the screw tightening device by a parts feeder including a vibration feeder. It is configured to perform a screw tightening operation after a washer and a screw are combined in a part.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. (insert publication number) discloses a screw assembly in which a large number of screws are held in a tape-shaped holding body at a predetermined pitch interval, and this screw assembly is supplied. It is known that by mounting the tape-shaped holding body at a predetermined pitch by mounting it on the means, the screws are sequentially fed to predetermined feeding positions.

Also, a combination of a washer and a screw is known in advance.

[0005]

However, there is a problem in supplying components with a parts feeder such as a vibration feeder that is difficult to supply with high reliability regarding the posture of the head, especially in the case of a minute screw. In addition, when the screw and washer are combined in the head part of the screw tightening device, there is also a problem in the reliability of the combined operation, and the structure of the head part becomes complicated and large, and the screw tightening robot may move it. In the case of screw tightening, there is a problem that the head portion becomes heavy and high-speed operation cannot be performed, resulting in a decrease in productivity.

On the other hand, when a screw assembly having a tape-shaped holding member is used to supply the screws by the supplying means, the screw can be supplied with high reliability, and a combination of the washer and the screw is previously formed into the tape-shaped product. The screw with the washer combined can be supplied by holding it on the body, but after the screw is supplied, the tape-shaped holder is cut and discarded, or is recycled for reuse, and the manufacturing cost of the tape-shaped holder or There is a problem that the cost for maintenance, management and delivery for cyclic use is high and the overall supply cost is high.

In view of the above conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a washer-equipped screw supply method and an assembly thereof capable of supplying a washer-equipped screw with high reliability and at low cost. .

[0008]

A method for supplying a washer-equipped screw according to the present invention forms a continuous body in which a large number of washers are connected in a row through micro joints, and mounts and holds screws on each washer, The washer holding the screw is connected in a line, and a set of washer-equipped screws is attached to the supply means, and each washer is sequentially cut and separated at the micro joint to supply the washer-equipped screw. By supplying a screw with washer as a screw holder with a highly reliable connection, the continuous body itself can be used as a washer, making it necessary to use a screw holder separately. It is intended to reduce costs by eliminating it.

Further, when the side band portion having the feed holes is formed on one side or both sides of the continuous body and each washer is connected to the side band portion through the micro joint, the feed holes of the side band portions are utilized. Each washer can be delivered in a reliable and accurate manner.

If the micro joint portion is cut and separated while leaving the washer side, the micro joint portion protruding from the washer can be used as a rotation preventing protrusion.

Further, as an assembly of screws with washers for carrying out the above-mentioned supply method, there is provided one in which a large number of washers are connected to each other in a row through micro joints and each washer is attached and held with screws. Preferably, one or both sides of the continuum are provided with side band portions having feed holes formed therein, and each washer is connected to the side band portions via a micro joint.

The continuous body can be formed with good productivity by punching a strip-shaped plate material, but it may be made of synthetic resin. Further, the washer may be not only a plain washer but also a spring washer.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of a method for supplying a washer-equipped screw according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a continuous body formed by press-molding a strip-shaped plate material made of a steel plate. A side strip 2 is formed on one side of the strip and a feed hole 3 is formed in the side strip 2 at a predetermined pitch. Are formed. A large number of washers 5 are connected to one side of the side band portion 2 at predetermined pitches via micro joints 4, respectively.

The press-formed continuous body 1 is sent to a screw mounting device (not shown), and as shown by an arrow a in FIG. A washer-equipped screw assembly 7 is formed in which the held washers 5 are connected in a line.

Thereafter, the assembly 7 of the screws with washers is
Supply means (not shown) in a state where it is properly wound around a reel or the like
The washer is attached to the assembly 7 of washers and screws.
Is pitch-fed using the feed holes 3, so that the washers 5 holding the screws 6 are sequentially fed toward a predetermined supply position. In this way, by supplying the screw assembly 7 with washers by utilizing the feed hole 3, the screws 6 combined with the washer 5 are reliably and accurately fed out in sequence. The screw 6 combined with the washer 5 delivered to the supply position is separated from the side band 2 by cutting the washer 5 at the micro-joint 4 portion at the supply position and gripped by a screw tightening head (not shown). Then, the screw 6 is used to tighten the required portion.

Incidentally, when the washer 5 is cut at the peripheral portion at the time of cutting and separating at the micro joint 4, the screw 6 can be fastened with the ordinary washer 5 as shown in FIG. 2 (a). On the other hand, when the micro joint 4 is left on the washer 5 side and cut and separated in the vicinity of the side band portion 2, as shown in FIG. 2B, the micro joint 4 projecting from the washer 5 is projected on the member to be fastened. By engaging with the portion 9, it can be used as the rotation preventing protrusion 8 of the washer 5 at the time of fastening.

According to this embodiment, the continuous body 1 formed by connecting the washers 5 can be supplied with high reliability by supplying the screw 6 as a holding body for the screw 6, and the continuous body 1 itself can be supplied. By using the washer 5 as the washer 5, it is not necessary to separately use a screw holder, and it is possible to supply a screw with a washer with high reliability and at low cost. Further, by using the feed hole 3 of the side band portion 2, each washer-equipped screw can be supplied more reliably and accurately.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the side band portion 2 is provided only on one side of the continuous body 1 is shown. However, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the side band portion 2 is provided on both sides of the continuous body 1. Alternatively, a washer 5 may be formed between the side bands 2 and 2, and the micro joints 4 and 4 extending from the washer 5 to both sides may be connected to the side bands 2 and 2, respectively. With such a configuration, more reliable supply can be achieved.

On the other hand, as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the washer 5 may be connected to each other through the micro joint 4 to form the continuous body 1 without forming the side band portion 2.

According to such a structure, since the side band portion 2 having the feed hole 3 is not provided, the structure of the supplying means and the reliability of the supplying operation may conflict with each other, but most of the materials are used. It has the advantage that it is not wasted at all and there is no need for post-treatment after the washer screw is supplied.

In each of the above embodiments, the washer 5 is a flat washer, but as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
The spring washer 10 can also be used.

In the above embodiment, the continuous body 1 is formed by pressing a strip-shaped plate material made of steel plate, but it may be made of synthetic resin. Needless to say, the screw 6 may be made of any material such as steel, stainless steel, brass, synthetic resin, or the like.

[0024]

According to the method for supplying a washer-equipped screw and the assembly thereof of the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, a large number of washers form a continuous body connected in a row through micro joints. Then, attach a screw to each washer, attach the washer holding the screw to the supply means, and attach the washer-attached screw assembly to the supply means. Since a screw with a screw is supplied, a continuous body formed by connecting washers can be supplied with high reliability by supplying a screw as a screw holding body, and the continuous body itself is used as a washer. As a result, it is not necessary to use a screw holder separately, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, the side band portion having the feed holes is formed on one side or both sides of the continuous body, and when each washer is connected to the side band portion through the micro joint, the feed holes of the side band portions are used. Each washer can be delivered in a reliable and accurate manner.

If the micro joint part is cut and separated while leaving the washer side, the micro joint part projecting from the washer can be used as a rotation preventing projection.

Further, the above continuous body can be formed with good productivity by punching a strip-shaped plate material. Further, not only plain washers but also spring washers can be applied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of an assembly of screws with washers according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a fastening state with a washer-equipped screw of the same embodiment, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view when used as a general washer,
(B) is a top view when using it as a washer with a rotation stop protrusion.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of an assembly of screws with washers according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the washer-equipped screw assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of an assembly of screws with washers of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Continuum 2 Side band 3 Feed hole 4 Micro joint 5 Washer 6 Screw 7 Screw assembly with washer 8 Anti-rotation protrusion 10 Spring washer

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A washer in which a plurality of washers form a continuous body connected in a row through micro joints, screws are attached to and held by each washer, and the washers holding the screws are connected in a row. A method of supplying a washer-equipped screw, characterized in that an assembly of attached screws is attached to a supply means, and each washer is sequentially cut and separated at a micro joint portion to supply a washer-attached screw. 2. A side band portion having a feed hole is formed on one side or both sides of the continuous body, and each washer is connected to the side band portion via a micro joint. How to supply screws with washers. 3. The method for supplying a screw with washer according to claim 1, wherein the micro joint part is cut and separated leaving the washer side, and the micro joint part projecting from the washer is used as a rotation preventing projection. . 4. An assembly of screws with washers, characterized in that a large number of washers are connected to each other in a row via micro joints, and each washer is attached and held by a screw. 5. The continuous body is provided with a side band portion having feed holes formed on one side or both sides thereof, and each washer is connected to the side band portion via a micro joint.
Assembly of screws with washers as described. 6. The washer-equipped screw assembly according to claim 4, wherein the continuous body is formed by stamping a strip-shaped plate material. 7. The washer-equipped screw assembly according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the washer is a spring washer.