Conveying device for cylindrical workpieces

Abstract

A conveying device for cylindrical workpieces, comprising a basic device (2) having two conveyance discs (9, 10) which can be driven together, the spacing of which relative to one another is settable, and an attachment part (12) which can be fastened on the basic device (2), and an insert element (20) which can be positioned between the basic device (2) and the attachment part (12) in such a way that a conveying channel (19) for cylindrical workpieces is formed by the conveyance discs (9, 10), the attachment part (12) and the insert element (20), which extends over 45° around the axis of rotation of the conveyance discs (9, 10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a conveying device for cylindrical components, i.e. workpieces, such as bolts. BACKGROUND

[0002] From DE 296 14 393 U1 a device for the automatic conveying of components, such as welding nuts or compression nuts, from a storage container is known. Here, the device is filled via a conveying section, which can be a profiled rail or a hose. The conveying device, to which the conveying section is connected, comprises a rotary body driven in the manner of an electric motor, which has a plurality of cavities arranged obliquely for accommodating components from a bulk storage. The inlet and outlet openings for the components are shaped elliptically, wherein the components leaving the rotary body are transferred to a pivoting discharge chute and from there continue to be transferred to a sorting unit.

[0003] In DE 197 56 798 A1 another system is described, which serves for supplying connecting elements to a device for joining and / or fastening connecting elements in workpieces. The system can also comprise a flexible supply device. A reloading and separating device is operated by means of compressed air, to which the flexible supply device is connected.

[0004] DE 20 2006 017 239 U1 discloses a device for supplying bolt-shaped elements to a supply position for the respective elements. The device comprises a supply hose having sections of different diameters. Here, a brake section having a reduced inner diameter compared to the conveying section is connected on the supply section of the supply hose. The brake section can be elastically deformed, wherein a bolt-shaped element in the brake section can be pressed through the section by a preset pneumatic pressure.

[0005] A separating device for screws described in DE 22 34 566 B2 is provided for being arranged at the end of an inclined slide, which supplies the screws under the action of gravity. The separating device comprises a slide connected to a drive device, which is movable horizontally transversely to the slide.

[0006] In a conveying device for pieces, in particular screws or bolts, described in DE 10 2010 021 474 A1, the components to be conveyed are pulled out of a container by magnetic force. Here, magnets are arranged on a chain as a continuous conveying device. SUMMARY

[0007] The invention is based on the object of developing a conveying device for cylindrical workpieces further to the mentioned prior art, which is characterized by a particularly flexible applicability, i.e. a retrofitting possibility for different workpieces.

[0008] According to the application, the object is achieved by a conveying device according to claim 1. The conveying device comprises a basic device having two conveying discs which can be driven together, the spacing of the conveying discs relative to one another being settable. The conveying device further comprises an accessory part to be fastened on the basic device and an insert element which can be positioned between the basic device and the accessory part, such that a conveying channel for a cylindrical workpiece is formed by the two rotatable conveying discs together with the mentioned non-rotatable parts, namely the accessory part and the insert element, which conveying channel extends over 45° around the axis of rotation of the conveying discs. The conveying of the substantially cylindrical workpiece takes place in the channel by means of frictional and / or clamping forces between the conveying discs and the workpiece. The frictional and / or clamping forces overcome the braking forces occurring between the workpiece and the two fixed parts, namely the accessory part and the insert element, so that the parts are conveyed in a direction which is preset by the rotation of the conveying discs.

[0009] The conveying channel for the cylindrical workpiece extends around the axis of rotation of the conveying discs over 90°, in particular.

[0010] The settable feasibility of the conveying device for different workpieces is provided on the one hand by changing the spacing between the conveying discs, wherein in a particularly simple design the conveying discs merely drive the workpiece in a frictional fit. On the other hand, it is possible for the conveying device to be matched to the dimensions of the workpieces to be conveyed by selecting the parts to be joined to the basic device, namely the accessory part and the insert element. In contrast to the conveying discs, the accessory part and the insert element are non-rotating parts. Thus, the conveying channel is bounded at two sides opposite one another on the diagonal by the movable parts, namely the conveying discs, while rigid elements in the form of the accessory part and the insert element are present at the other two sides of the conveying channel which are likewise opposite one another on the diagonal. Overall, the cross section of the conveying channel is, for example, approximately circular or approximately square, wherein in any case a completely closed wall of the conveying channel is not provided.

[0011] The conveying device can be provided for connecting at least one hose which is passed through by the workpiece. The hose can be connected, in particular, to the input side and the output side of the conveying device, respectively. In a particularly advantageous design, the coupling for connecting the hose is provided only at the accessory part. By this it is possible to provide different accessory parts which are provided for connecting hoses of different dimensions and for conveying different workpieces, wherein the different accessory parts can be combined with the same basic device. In order to set up for different workpieces, apart from changing the spacing between the conveying discs, no changes have to be made at the basic device. In an operationally friendly manner, the coupling can be a component of a coupling device which is self-locking, preventing the workpiece from falling out of the hose.

[0012] The coupling parts arranged at the accessory parts are for example arranged next to each other, i.e. on the same side of the accessory parts. In this case, the conveying channel is configured as a 180° deflection channel, wherein the workpieces are for example supplied to the conveying device from above through a first hose and are conveyed further upwards through a further hose. Overall, the accessory parts are for example designed frame-shaped, wherein the accessory parts are provided for fastening on a device frame formed by the basic device. The conveying discs can be adjusted here such that one of the conveying discs projects on the end side out of the frame-shaped accessory part, wherein a circular, concentric opening of the accessory part with respect to the central axis of the conveying device is largely filled by the conveying disc.

[0013] In contrast to the accessory parts, in an advantageous design the insertion element is narrower in the axial direction than the conveying channel. The axial direction here is the rotational axis of the conveying disc, i.e. the central axis of the conveying device. The narrow design of the insertion element has the advantage on the one hand that an adjustment of the conveying disc over a wide range is possible. On the other hand, only a narrow contact surface is provided between the insertion element and the workpieces, which is advantageous in terms of the friction occurring between the workpieces and the insertion element during conveying. If the conveying channel is configured as a 180° deflection channel, the insertion element usually has a U-shaped shape. A closed frame-like shape of the insertion element is also possible. In all cases, the insertion element can be mounted friendly hung at the basic device and can be secured on the basic device by means of the accessory parts.

[0014] For fastening the accessory parts on the basic device, for example tool-less actuatable mechanisms, in particular latching mechanisms, are provided. Alternatively, the accessory parts can be fastened on the basic device for example by means of a screw connection.

[0015] According to an advantageous refinement, an overload coupling, in particular in the form of a lock-up coupling, is connected between the electric motor of the basic device and the co-rotating conveying disc. A variable speed motor is in particular suitable as drive device of the conveying device. Alternatively, a drive without a transmission, i.e. a direct drive, is considered. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Embodiments of the application are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. Shown therein are:

[0017] Figure 1 A conveying device for cylindrical workpieces is shown in an exploded view,

[0018] Figure 2 A conveying device is shown in a sectional view,

[0019] Figure 3 Components of a conveying device are shown in a schematic view,

[0020] Figure 4 A detail of a conveying device is shown in a perspective view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The conveying device, generally designated 1, is provided for supplying cylindrical workpieces 18, for example bolts or bushings, to an assembly machine, not shown. The conveying device 1 has a basic device 2 which comprises a variable speed motor 3 with an electric motor 4 and a transmission 5. A shaft 6 on the output side of the transmission 5 likewise belongs to the basic device 2. The shaft 6 projects on the end side from a device frame of the basic device 2, designated 8. Two conveying discs 9, 10 are provided on the shaft 6, wherein the spacing between the conveying discs 9, 10, designated d F , can be changed by means of a screw adjustment 11 on the shaft 6.

[0022] In addition to the basic device 2, the conveying device 1 comprises an accessory part 12, also referred to as a housing tool. In the ready-to-use state, the conveying disc 9 can be set to the spacing d F slightly projects from a central opening 13 in the accessory part 12. In each setting of the basic device 2, the conveying discs 9, 10 are arranged concentrically to the rotation axis of the shaft 6, designated R. In order to prevent mechanical overload in each state, even with incorrectly loaded workpieces, an overload coupling 7 is connected between the conveying discs 9, 10 and the variable speed motor 3.

[0023] The components to be transported by means of the conveying device 1 are conveyed in a circular ring form by means of a hose. The hose coupling on the input side of the accessory part 12 is designated 14, and the hose coupling on the output side is designated 15. Here, the coupling pieces 16, 17 of the hose couplings 14, 15 are arranged next to one another on one side of the frame-shaped accessory part 12, in this embodiment the upper side. The supply of workpieces 18 to the conveying device 1 takes place, for example, by gravity. Within the conveying device 1, the workpieces 18 are conveyed on a curved track by means of a friction fit between the conveying discs 9, 10, which causes a deflection of 180° and is illustrated in the drawing by the arrow through the conveying channel 19. The conveying channel 19 has incompletely closed wall sections. The delimitation of the conveying channel 19 is the conveying discs 9, 10 and the accessory part 12 as well as the insert element 20. Figure 2

[0024] Overall, the conveying channel 19 is hereby delimited by two rotating elements, namely the conveying discs 9, 10, and two rigid elements, namely the accessory part 12 and the insert element 20, which functions as a guide plate. The thickness of the guide plate 20, designated D 20 , is less than the spacing d F ​Depending on the exact position of the workpiece 18 between the conveying disks 9, 10, a sliding friction can occur between the workpiece 18 on the one hand and the accessory part 12 and / or the insertion element 20 on the other hand. In any case, the workpiece 18 is still arranged annularly when leaving the conveying channel 19. The frictional force that holds the workpiece 18 between the conveying disks 9, 10 causes that the workpiece 18 can be conveyed several meters, for example 2 to 3 meters, in individual cases up to 5 meters, against the force of gravity on the output side of the conveying device 1. In a typical application case, the workpiece 18 to be conveyed has a diameter in the range of 3.5 mm to 18 mm. The conveying speed can be set by the motor rotational speed of the electric motor 4.

[0025] The basic device 2 including the conveying disks 9, 10 can be set for different workpieces 18. For this purpose, only the spacing d between the conveying disks 9, 10 has to be set F where, unlike in the simplified diagram according to Figure 3 The conveying disks can be designed partly conically. All other conversions relate to the accessory part 12 and the insertion element 20. In particular, the coupling devices 14, 15 should be used, which are matched to the dimensions of the hose to be connected and of the workpiece 18 to be conveyed. The hose coupling devices 14, 15 are designed in such a way that the workpiece 18 does not fall off the hose when the hose is removed from the coupling piece 16, 17. The coupling piece 16, 17 remains at the accessory part 12 in coordination with the workpiece 18.

[0026] Before the accessory part 12 is connected with the basic device, the insertion element 20 designed as a U-shaped guide plate is first loosely hung at the device frame 8. A peg 25 at the device frame 8 engages here into a hole 26 in the guide plate 20. The final fixing of the guide plate 20 is first carried out by the connection of the accessory part 12 with the device frame 8. In the described embodiment, the connection of the accessory part 12 with the device frame 8 involves a latching connection device 21. The latching connection device 21 is made by means of a pawl 22, which engages into a connection profile 23 of the accessory part 12 on the one hand and into a connection profile 24 on the housing side at the device frame 8 on the other hand. Overall, the conveying device 1 can thereby be assembled without tools in coordination with the workpiece 18 to be conveyed.

[0027] For the retrofitting of the conveying device 1 for other workpieces 18, in particular also screw-shaped workpieces 18 with a larger or smaller diameter, first the hose coupling devices 14, 15 are loosened. In a next step, the frictional fit between the conveying disks 9, 10 and the workpiece 18 is eliminated by manipulating the screw adjustment device 11. The workpiece 18 remaining in the conveying device 1 can be removed from the now widened conveying channel 19 by means of a flexible, annular auxiliary means, for example a section of hose. Subsequently, the pawl 22 is removed and the accessory part 12 is removed. In this state, the now exposed guide plate 20 can be pulled out of the peg 25.

[0028] In preparation for conveying workpieces 18 of other sizes, one of the new workpieces 18 can still be manually inserted between conveyor trays 9 and 10 with the accessory component 12 removed, so as to set the spacing d between conveyor trays 9 and 10. F Another installation process is performed in the reverse order of the described disassembly process. Even after the conveyor device 1 is assembled, the spacing d between the conveyor trays 9 and 10 remains unchanged. F Fine adjustments are possible at any time. A complete tool change, namely replacing accessory part 12 and insertion element 20, can be performed in less than two minutes.

[0029] List of reference numerals

[0030] 1. Conveying equipment

[0031] 2. Basic Equipment

[0032] 3. Variable speed motor

[0033] 4 Electric motors

[0034] 5. Transmission

[0035] 6-axis

[0036] 7. Overload coupling device

[0037] 8. Equipment Frame

[0038] 9. Conveyor trays

[0039] 10 Conveyor trays

[0040] 11. Screw Adjustment Device

[0041] 12 accessory parts, housing tools

[0042] 13. Central opening in accessory components

[0043] 14. Input-side hose coupling device

[0044] 15. Output-side flexible hose coupling device

[0045] 16 Couplers

[0046] 17 Couplers

[0047] 18 workpieces

[0048] 19 Conveyor Channel

[0049] 20 Insert components, guide plate

[0050] 21. Locking connection device

[0051] 22 dog

[0052] 23 connecting profile of the attachment part

[0053] 24 connecting profile of the housing side

[0054] 25 peg at the equipment frame

[0055] 26 hole in the guide plate

[0056] d F spacing between the conveying discs

[0057] D 20 thickness of the guide plate

[0058] R rotation axis

Claims

1. A conveying apparatus for cylindrical workpieces, the conveying apparatus comprising: Basic device (2) having two transport discs (9, 10) which can be driven together, the spacing of which relative to one another is settable; and an accessory part (12) which can be fastened on the basic device (2); and an insert element (20) which can be positioned between the basic device (2) and the accessory part (12) such that a transport channel (19) for the cylindrical workpieces is formed by the transport discs (9, 10), the accessory part (12) and the insert element (20), which extends over 45° around the axis of rotation of the transport discs (9, 10).

2. The delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein, Two coupling pieces (16, 17) which are suitable for connecting hoses are provided at the accessory part (12).

3. The delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein, The coupling pieces (16, 17) are components of a hose coupling device (14, 15) which is self-locking and prevents the workpieces from falling out.

4. The delivery apparatus of claim 3, wherein, The coupling pieces (16, 17) are arranged next to one another and the transport channel (19) is configured as a 180° deflection channel.

5. The delivery apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The accessory part (12) is designed frame-shaped and is provided for fastening on a device frame (8) formed by the basic device (2).

6. The delivery apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The transport discs (9, 10) can be adjusted such that one of the transport discs (9) protrudes from the frame-shaped accessory part (12) on the end side, wherein a circular opening (13) in the accessory part (12) is largely filled by the transport disc (9).

7. The delivery apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The insert element (20) is narrower in the axial direction of the transport discs (9, 10) than the transport channel (19).

8. The delivery apparatus of claim 7, wherein, The insert element (20) can be hung at the basic device (2) and can be fixed on the basic device (2) by means of the accessory part (12).

9. The delivery apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein, A latching connection (21) is provided which constitutes a means for fastening the accessory part (12) on the basic device (2).

10. The delivery apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein, An overload coupling (7) is provided which is connected between an electric motor (4) of the basic device (2) and the transport discs (9, 10).

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