Fastener discharging device and fastener discharging method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fastener discharging device and a fastener discharging method. The fastener discharging device includes: a conveying member, a control and judgment member, a sensing member, an image capturing member, a reciprocating moving member, and a discharging member. When the sensing member senses that a fastener passes by, it sends a sensing signal to the control and judgment member. The control and judgment member calculates the real-time central position of the fastener, and according to the real-time central position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member, controls the reciprocating moving member to move the image capturing member so that the image capturing member moves to the capturing position to capture the fastener image. The control and judgment member then decides whether to activate the discharging member based on the image. The fastener discharging method is the method for the fastener discharging device to perform discharging. Through the device and method of the present invention, the image of the real-time center of the fastener can be accurately captured, and it can be analyzed and judged whether it is a good product. And the defective products can be actually excluded in real time, ensuring the product yield. Moreover, the conveying member does not need to stop during the entire execution process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exclusion device and an exclusion method for processed workpieces, and more particularly to a fastener discharging device and a fastener discharging method capable of accurately discharging materials. Background Art

[0002] When screening fasteners (such as screws), it depends on manual operation of a camera to capture images of the fasteners for judgment. The imaging position of the camera and the discharging position of the discharging component for excluding defective fasteners both need to be adjusted manually. Manually adjusting the positions of these components is not easy. When there are human operation errors, defective fasteners cannot be effectively excluded. It is necessary to stop the machine or rely on manual inspection to find the unselected defective products from a pile of good products, which is quite time-consuming and laborious. In addition, whether the central position of the fastener can be captured to completely judge the quality of the fastener is also a problem. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to solve various problems of known fastener discharging devices and propose a fastener discharging device capable of accurately discharging materials.

[0004] To achieve the above and other purposes, the present invention provides a fastener discharging device, which includes: a conveying component that conveys along a conveying direction at a predetermined speed; a control and judgment component; a sensing component disposed on one side of the conveying component, the sensing component being signal-connected to the control and judgment component, and when the sensing component senses that a fastener passes by, sending a sensing signal to the control and judgment component; an image capturing component movably disposed on one side of the conveying component, the image capturing component being signal-connected to the control and judgment component; a reciprocating movement component connected to the image capturing component and signal-connected to the control and judgment component, the reciprocating movement component being used to reciprocally move the image capturing component; and a discharging component disposed downstream of the image capturing component, the discharging component being signal-connected to the control and judgment component. Wherein, when the control and judgment component receives the sensing signal, the control and judgment component calculates the real-time central position of the fastener, and based on the real-time central position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying component, controls the reciprocating movement component to move the image capturing component so that the image capturing component moves to an imaging position to capture an image of the fastener, and the control and judgment component determines whether to activate the discharging component according to the image.

[0005] Optionally, when the control and judgment component receives the sensing signal, the control and judgment component controls the image capturing component located at a pre-imaging position to capture a pre-imaging image of the fastener, and the control and judgment component calculates the real-time central position of the fastener according to the pre-imaging image, and the pre-imaging position corresponds to the position of the sensing component.

[0006] Optionally, the control and judgment component calculates the real-time central position of the fastener according to the size of the fastener.

[0007] Optionally, the discharging member is disposed on the same side of the image capturing member and connected to the reciprocating member, and the control and judgment member controls the reciprocating member to move the discharging member to the discharging position to discharge the fastener according to the real-time central position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member.

[0008] Optionally, the distance between the discharging member and the image capturing member is fixed.

[0009] Optionally, the discharging member and the image capturing member are independently connected to the reciprocating member.

[0010] Optionally, the discharging member is a solenoid valve.

[0011] Optionally, the discharging member is a swing rail splitter.

[0012] The present invention further provides a fastener discharging method for discharging fasteners on a conveying member, characterized in that the fastener discharging method includes: using a sensing member to sense the passing of a fastener; calculating the real-time central position of the fastener; moving the image capturing member to the capturing position to capture an image of the fastener according to the real-time central position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member; and judging whether the fastener is qualified according to the image.

[0013] Optionally, it further includes: moving the discharging member to the discharging position to discharge the fastener according to the real-time central position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member.

[0014] Thus, the fastener discharging device and the fastener discharging method of the present invention can accurately capture an image of the real-time center of the fastener and analyze and judge whether the fastener is a good product accordingly. If it is a defective product, it can be discharged in real time and accurately, avoiding the confusion of good products and defective products, ensuring the product yield, and the entire execution process does not require stopping the conveying of the conveying member.

[0015] To further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. However, these descriptions and the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention and do not impose any limitation on the scope of the rights of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1A It is a sensing schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1B It is an image capturing schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 1C It is a discharging schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the fastener discharging device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 Flow chart of the fastener discharging method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the real-time center position according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Reference numerals:

[0025] 100 Fastener discharging device

[0026] 200 Fastener discharging device

[0027] 300 Fastener discharging device

[0028] 400 Fastener discharging device

[0029] 1 Conveyor member

[0030] 11 Good product track

[0031] 12 Defective product track

[0032] 2 Control and judgment member

[0033] 3 Sensing member

[0034] 4 Image capturing member

[0035] 5 Reciprocating moving member

[0036] 6 Discharging member

[0037] 6’ Discharging member

[0038] d Conveying direction

[0039] P0 Pre-shooting position

[0040] P1 Capturing position

[0041] P2 Discharging position

[0042] S Fastener

[0043] S1 Center

[0044] S101 Step

[0045] Step S102

[0046] Step S103

[0047] Step S104

[0048] Step S105

[0049] t sensing signal Detailed implementation manner

[0050] To fully understand the present invention, through the following specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a detailed description of the present invention is given. Those skilled in the art can understand the purpose, features and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. It should be noted that the present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified and changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the attached drawings of the present invention are only for simple schematic illustration and are not drawn according to actual dimensions. The following embodiments will further detail the related technical content of the present invention, but the disclosed content is not used to limit the claims of the present invention. The description is as follows:

[0051] As Figures 1A to 1C shown, the fastener discharging device 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes: a conveying member 1, a control and judgment member 2, a sensing member 3, an image capturing member 4, a reciprocating moving member 5 and a discharging member 6.

[0052] The conveying member 1 is, for example, a common conveying tool in production lines such as a conveying track or a conveying belt, and it conveys the fasteners S along the conveying direction d at a predetermined speed. In this embodiment, the fastener S is a screw, however, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be other forms of parts.

[0053] The control and judgment member 2 is a member with the ability to issue control instructions and perform logical judgment, and can be, for example, a control and judgment chip or a control and judgment circuit.

[0054] The sensing member 3 is disposed on one side of the conveying member 1, and the sensing member 3 is signal-connected to the control and judgment member 2. When the sensing member 3 senses that a fastener S passes by, it sends a sensing signal t to the control and judgment member 2. In this embodiment, the sensing member 3 is an optical sensing member, preferably an infrared sensing member; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sensing member 3 can be other forms of sensing members applying other scientific detection principles, such as an electromagnetic sensing member.

[0055] The image capturing component 4 is movably disposed on one side of the conveying component 1, and the image capturing component 4 is connected to the control judging component 2 by signal. In the present embodiment, the image capturing component 4 is a camera with a charge coupled device, which has the advantages of fast shooting and low cost; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the image capturing component 4 can be a camera of other forms.

[0056] The reciprocating member 5 is connected to the image capturing member 4 and is signal-connected to the control judging member 2. The reciprocating member 5 is used to reciprocate the image capturing member 4. The reciprocating member 5 is, for example, an electric slide, so that the image capturing member 4 reciprocates on one side of the conveying member 1 in a direction parallel to the conveying direction d.

[0057] The discharge member 6 is disposed downstream of the image capturing member 4 and is connected to the control judging member 2 by signal. The discharge member 6 has many forms. In the present embodiment, the discharge member 6 is a solenoid valve and is connected and fixed downstream of the image capturing member 4. The discharge member 6 in the form of a solenoid valve discharges the fasteners S judged as defective products from the conveying member 1 by blowing. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the discharge member 6 may be a pneumatic cylinder or other structures, such as the receiving mechanism of the patent with the authorization announcement number CN 210876361 U, so as to selectively achieve the discharge function by directly adjoining the conveying mechanism or not.

[0058] Please refer to the following Figures 1A to 1C and Figure 5 , illustrating how the fastener nesting device 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention performs the fastener nesting method.

[0059] like Figure 1A As shown, first in step S101, the sensing component 3 is used to sense the passing of the fastener S. At this time, the sensing component 3 sends a sensing signal t to the control and judgment component 2.

[0060] Next, in step S102, when the control determination component 2 receives the sensing signal t, the control determination component 2 calculates the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S. Figure 1A and Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the method for the control and judgment component 2 to calculate the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S is: the control and judgment component 2 controls the image capture component 4 located at the pre-shooting position P0 to capture the pre-shooting image of the fastener S. The pre-shooting position P0 corresponds to the position of the sensing component 3. The control and judgment component 2 then calculates the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S based on the pre-shooting image. In the pre-shooting position P0, the image capture component 4 may not be able to capture the whole picture of the fastener S, but may only capture the image near the edge. However, the edge image of the fastener S can be used by the control and judgment component 2 to calculate the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S.

[0061] Since the conveying member 1 conveys along the conveying direction d at a predetermined speed, the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S is a function related to time. Next, step S103 is executed. As Figure 1B shown, the control and judgment member 2 controls the reciprocating moving member 5 to move the image capturing member 4 according to the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S and the predetermined speed of the conveying member 1, so that the image capturing member 4 moves to the capturing position P1 to capture the full-view image of the fastener S. The capturing position P1 may not be fixed. For example, the control and judgment member 2 determines in real time a position downstream of the pre-shooting position P0 as the capturing position P1 according to the predetermined speed of the conveying member 1, and controls the image capturing member 4 to capture the full-view image of the fastener S when the real-time center S1 of the fastener S is expected to pass through the capturing position P1. The capturing position P1 may also be a fixed position. After the image capturing member 4 finishes pre-shooting, the control and judgment member 2 controls the reciprocating moving member 5 to move the image capturing member 4 to the capturing position P1, then calculates how many seconds it takes for the real-time center S1 of the fastener S to pass through the capturing position P1 according to the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S, and makes the image capturing member 4 capture the full-view image of the fastener S at this time point.

[0062] Then, the judgment step S104 is executed: the control and judgment member 2 judges whether the fastener S is qualified according to the full-view image of the fastener S captured by the image capturing member 4. Since the image capturing member 4 captures the image facing the real-time center S1 of the fastener S, the control and judgment member 2 can completely and accurately judge the appearance quality of the fastener S (such as shape, coating, defects, etc.), and then determine whether the fastener S is a good product. If the fastener S is unqualified, the control and judgment member 2 decides to activate the discharging member 6 to discharge the fastener S judged as a defective product.

[0063] As Figure 1CAs shown, step S105 is performed: The control and judgment member 2 controls the reciprocating movement member 5 to move the discharging member 6 to the discharging position P2 to discharge the fastener S according to the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S and the predetermined speed of the conveying member 1. In this embodiment, the discharging member 6 is a solenoid valve, and the fastener S judged as a defective product is discharged from the conveying member 1 by blowing. Moreover, in this embodiment, the discharging member 6 is arranged on the same side of the image capturing member 4, and the distances between the reciprocating movement member 5, the discharging member 6 and the image capturing member 4 are fixed. In other words, the discharging member 6 is fixedly connected downstream of the image capturing member 4 and is driven by the reciprocating movement member 5. In the optimal embodiment, the discharging member 6 is separated from the image capturing member 4 by 80 mm. In this way, the discharging position P2 can be set 80 mm downstream of the capturing position P1. Therefore, after the reciprocating movement member 5 moves the image capturing member 4 to the capturing position P1 in step S103, there is no need to additionally move the discharging member 6. The discharging member 6 waits at the discharging position P2 for the real-time center S1 of the fastener S to pass, and blows the fastener S when the real-time center S1 passes, so as to accurately and stably discharge the fastener S. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the discharging position P2 may be not fixed or fixed at other positions. The control and judgment member 2 controls the reciprocating movement member 5 to move the discharging member 6 to the set discharging position P2 to discharge the fastener S according to the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S and the predetermined speed of the conveying member 1.

[0064] Through the fastener discharging device 100 and the fastener discharging method of the present invention, the image of the real-time center S1 of the fastener S can be accurately captured and analyzed to judge whether the fastener S is a good product. If it is a defective product, it can be discharged in real time and accurately, avoiding the confusion between good products and defective products, ensuring the product yield, and the entire execution process does not need to stop the conveying of the conveying member 1.

[0065] Furthermore, as Figure 2 shown, the difference between the fastener discharging device 200 of the second embodiment of the present invention and the fastener discharging device 100 of the first embodiment is that the discharging member 6 and the image capturing member 4 are independently connected to the reciprocating movement member 5. Therefore, the discharging member 6 and the image capturing member 4 can be respectively driven by the reciprocating movement member 5, and the movement freedom is higher.

[0066] Furthermore, as Figure 3As shown, the difference between the fastener discharging device 300 of the third embodiment of the present invention and the fastener discharging device 100 of the first embodiment is that it is not necessary to move the image capturing member 4 to the pre-shooting position P0 to obtain a pre-shot image. In this embodiment, the control and judgment member 2 calculates the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S according to the size of the fastener S. That is to say, after the edge of the fastener S is sensed by the sensing member 2, the control and judgment member 2 reversely deduces the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S based on the size of the fastener S input in advance. The method of this embodiment can save the reciprocating movement of the image capturing member 4 and directly move to the capturing position P1 suitable for shooting the real-time center S1 position of the fastener S.

[0067] Furthermore, as Figure 4 shown, the difference between the fastener discharging device 400 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention and the fastener discharging device 100 of the first embodiment is that the discharging member 6' is no longer connected to the reciprocating movement member 5, and the form of the discharging member 6' is a yaw and split rail, and is signal-connected to the control and judgment member 2. Downstream of the discharging member 6' are divided into a good product track 11 and a defective product track 12, and the discharging member 6' is controlled by the control and judgment member 2 to determine the yaw direction. If the fastener S is determined to be a good product, the discharging member 6' rotates counterclockwise (taking Figure 4 the drawing as a reference), guiding the good product fastener S to be conveyed to the good product track 11; on the contrary, if the fastener S is determined to be a defective product, the discharging member 6' rotates clockwise, guiding the defective product fastener S to be conveyed to the defective product track 12 to complete the discharging and achieve the sorting of good products and defective products.

[0068] The present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are only used to depict the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that all equivalent changes and substitutions to the above embodiments should be set to be covered within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the content defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A fastener discharging device, characterized in that, The fastener discharging device includes: a conveying member that conveys at a predetermined speed along the conveying direction; a control and judgment member; a sensing member disposed on one side of the conveying member, the sensing member being signal-connected to the control and judgment member, and when the sensing member senses that a fastener passes by, sending a sensing signal to the control and judgment member; an image capturing member movably disposed on one side of the conveying member, the image capturing member being signal-connected to the control and judgment member; a reciprocating movement member connected to the image capturing member and signal-connected to the control and judgment member, the reciprocating movement member being used to reciprocally move the image capturing member; and a discharging member disposed downstream of the image capturing member, the discharging member being signal-connected to the control and judgment member, wherein, when the control and judgment member receives the sensing signal, the control and judgment member controls the image capturing member at the pre-shooting position to capture a pre-shooting image of the fastener, the pre-shooting position corresponding to the position of the sensing member, the pre-shooting image at least including an image of the edge of the fastener, the control and judgment member calculates the real-time center position of the fastener according to the pre-shooting image, and based on the real-time center position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member, controls the reciprocating movement member to move the image capturing member to the capturing position to capture a full-view image of the fastener, and the control and judgment member also decides whether to activate the discharging member according to the full-view image.

2. The fastener discharging device according to claim 1, wherein The discharging member is disposed on the same side of the image capturing member and connected to the reciprocating movement member, and the control and judgment member controls the reciprocating movement member to move the discharging member to the discharging position to discharge the fastener according to the real-time center position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member.

3. The fastener discharging device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The distance between the discharging member and the image capturing member is fixed.

4. The fastener discharging device according to claim 2, characterized in that The discharging member and the image capturing member are independently connected to the reciprocating movement member.

5. The fastener discharging device according to claim 2, wherein, The discharging member is a solenoid valve.

6. The fastener discharging device according to claim 1, wherein The discharging member is a yawing rail splitter.

7. A method for discharging fasteners from a conveying member, characterized in that, The fastener discharging method includes: sensing the passing of a fastener by using a sensing member; controlling the image capturing member at the pre-shooting position to capture a pre-shooting image of the fastener, the pre-shooting position corresponding to the position of the sensing member, the pre-shooting image at least including an image of the edge of the fastener; calculating the real-time center position of the fastener according to the pre-shooting image; moving the image capturing member to the capturing position to capture a full-view image of the fastener based on the real-time center position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member; and judging whether the fastener is qualified according to the full-view image.

8. The fastener discharging method according to claim 7, wherein It further includes: moving the discharging member to the discharging position to discharge the fastener based on the real-time center position of the fastener and the predetermined speed of the conveying member.

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