Fastening method for fasteners

Abstract

The present application provides a fastening method of a fastener, which can prevent improper fastening of the fastener and shorten the fastening time of the fastener. The fastening method of the fastener fastens the fastener to a workpiece by using a spindle, the upper end of which is provided with the fastener, and the lower end of which has a non-circular fitting portion for fitting a nut wrench shaft. The fastening method of the fastener includes: a mounting step of mounting the fastener on the upper end of the spindle; a first pressing step of pressing the nut wrench shaft on the non-circular fitting portion by ascending the nut wrench shaft while reversely rotating the nut wrench shaft in the opposite direction of the fastening direction; a second pressing step of pressing the fastener on the workpiece by ascending the nut wrench shaft while reversely rotating the nut wrench shaft in the opposite direction of the fastening direction; and a fastening step of forwardly rotating the nut wrench shaft in the fastening direction after the nut wrench shaft is fitted into the fitting portion of the spindle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a fastening method of a fastener. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the prior art, in a process of automatically fastening a fastener such as a bolt using a spindle and a nut runner shaft, the spindle is usually combined to the nut runner shaft using a fitting portion, and the fastener is fastened to a workpiece by the spindle. In this process, fitting between the spindle having the fastener installed and the nut runner shaft is usually performed while the nut runner shaft is being rotated in a forward direction (i.e., the nut runner shaft is rotated in a tightening direction). However, such an approach can cause a problem of continuous rotation in a forward direction in a state where the spindle and the nut runner shaft are not fitted. Also, the fastener is fastened by rotation, so the spindle and the nut runner shaft are raised, and a condition where the spindle is detached can occur in a state where the spindle and the nut runner shaft are fitted. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the fastening method of the fastener to overcome the above problems. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application provides a fastening method of a fastener, which can prevent a condition where the fastener is not properly fastened, and can shorten a fastening time required for the fastener.

[0004] The present application provides a fastening method of a fastener, which fastens a fastener to a workpiece using a spindle having the fastener installed at an upper end thereof and a fitting portion having a non-circular shape at a lower end thereof, the fitting portion being fitted to a nut runner shaft. The fastening method of the fastener includes a mounting step of mounting the fastener to the upper end of the spindle, a first pressing step of pressing the nut runner shaft to the fitting portion having the non-circular shape by raising the nut runner shaft while being reversely rotated in a direction opposite to a tightening direction, a second pressing step of pressing the fastener to the workpiece by raising the nut runner shaft while being reversely rotated in the direction opposite to the tightening direction, and a fastening step of forwardly rotating the nut runner shaft in the tightening direction after the nut runner shaft is fitted to the fitting portion of the spindle.

[0005] In an embodiment of the present application, the fastening method of the fastener further includes a third pressing step of pressing the fastener to the workpiece by raising the nut runner shaft again while releasing contact between the fastener and the workpiece after the second pressing step, and the fastening step is performed after the third pressing step.

[0006] Based on the above, in the fastener fastening method of the present invention, the fastener is mounted on the upper end of the spindle, and the nut wrench shaft is rotated in the reverse direction while rising to press the nut wrench shaft onto a non-circular mating portion. Subsequently, the nut wrench shaft is rotated in the reverse direction while rising to press the fastener onto the workpiece. Thus, even when the fastener is pressed onto the workpiece, the nut wrench shaft continues to rotate in the reverse direction until it is mated with the spindle's mating portion, at which point it is rotated in the forward direction to fasten the fastener to the workpiece. This prevents improper fastening and, compared to a situation where improper mating occurs during forward rotation, the adjustment time from an improperly mated state to a properly mated state is shorter, thus reducing the required fastening time. Therefore, the fastener fastening method of the present invention can prevent improper fastening and shorten the required fastening time.

[0007] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a side view of the spindle device and nut wrench shaft used in a fastener fastening method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the spindle used in the spindle assembly shown.

[0010] Figure 3 Is using Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the fastening method of the main spindle assembly and the fasteners of the nut wrench shaft;

[0011] Figures 4A to 4F yes Figure 3 The diagram shows the operation flow of the fastener fastening method.

[0012] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0013] 50: Fasteners;

[0014] 60: Workpiece;

[0015] 100: Spindle assembly;

[0016] 110: Spindle;

[0017] 112: Upper end;

[0018] 114: Lower end;

[0019] 116: Chimeric part;

[0020] 120: Outer shell;

[0021] 200: nut wrench shaft;

[0022] 210: fitting portion;

[0023] A1, A2: arrow;

[0024] S1: mounting step;

[0025] S2: first pressing step;

[0026] S3: second pressing step;

[0027] S4: third pressing step;

[0028] S5: fastening step;

[0029] X, Y, Z: axial direction; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherein, Figure 1 is a side view schematic diagram of a spindle device used in a fastening method of a fastener of an embodiment of the present application and a nut wrench shaft, Figure 2 is Figure 1 a lower view schematic diagram of a spindle used in the spindle device shown, Figure 3 is a flow chart of a fastening method of a fastener using Figure 1 the spindle device and the nut wrench shaft shown, Figures 4A to 4F is Figure 3 a schematic diagram of an operation flow of the fastening method of the fastener shown. The fastening method of the fastener of the present embodiment will be explained below in conjunction with Figures 1 to 4F wherein Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figures 4A to 4F the axial directions X, Y, Z are shown to further explain the relative positions of the components mentioned later in the three-dimensional space, but this is only one example of the present application, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the present embodiment, the fastening method of the fastener 50 is a method of fastening the fastener 50 on the workpiece 60 using the spindle 110 in the spindle device 100, wherein the upper end 112 of the spindle 110 is equipped with the fastener 50, and the lower end 114 of the spindle 110 has a non-circular fitting portion 116 (shown as a square hole in Figure 2 but not limited thereto) for fitting in the nut wrench shaft 200.

[0032] Further, in the present embodiment, the spindle device 100 includes a spindle 110 and a housing 120, the housing 120 slidably supports the spindle 110 in the up-down direction (i.e., the axial direction Z), i.e., the spindle 110 can slide in the up-down direction along the inner side of the housing 120. The fastener 50 is, for example, a bolt (not limited thereto), and is installed at the upper end 112 of the spindle 110. The nut runner shaft 200 is provided with a corresponding fitting portion 210, and can be fitted with the fitting portion 116 provided at the lower end 114 of the spindle 110. However, the present application is not limited to the embodiment of the spindle 110 (e.g., not limited to the spindle 110 sliding up and down with the housing 120), which can be adjusted according to needs.

[0033] Further, in the present embodiment, the nut runner shaft 200 can be driven to rotate by a driving source not shown. During the rotation of the nut runner shaft 200, the nut runner shaft 200 rises and presses on the non-circular fitting portion 116, thereby pushing the spindle 110 to rise and press the fastener 50 on the workpiece 60. The rotation of the nut runner shaft 200 in the tightening direction to tighten the fastener 50 on the workpiece 60 is referred to as forward rotation (e.g., clockwise rotation along the Z axis), and the rotation of the nut runner shaft 200 in the opposite direction to the tightening direction is referred to as reverse rotation (e.g., counterclockwise rotation along the Z axis), but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0034] In an ideal state, the fitting portion 210 of the nut runner shaft 200 is fitted with the fitting portion 116 of the spindle 110, so that the spindle 110 and the fastener 50 installed at the upper end 112 of the spindle 110 rotate and rise simultaneously with the rotation and rise of the nut runner shaft 200, and the fastener 50 further twists into the workpiece 60 by rotation after contacting the workpiece 60, thereby tightening the fastener 50 on the workpiece 60. However, during the rise of the nut runner shaft 200, a poor fitting condition (i.e., the fitting portion 210 of the nut runner shaft 200 and the fitting portion 116 of the spindle 110 have not been fitted) can occur due to the phase problem of rotation, etc., resulting in poor tightening of the fastener 50. Thus, the present embodiment provides the following tightening method of the fastener 50 to overcome the above problems.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 3In this embodiment, the fastening method for the fastener 50 includes the following steps. In the installation step S1, the fastener 50 is installed on the upper end 112 of the spindle 110. In the first pressing step S2, the nut wrench shaft 200 is raised while rotating in the opposite direction to the tightening direction, so as to press the nut wrench shaft 200 onto the non-circular fitting portion 116. In the second pressing step S3, the nut wrench shaft 200 is raised while rotating in the opposite direction to the tightening direction, so as to press the fastener 50 onto the workpiece 60. In the third pressing step S4, after the second pressing step S3, with the contact between the fastener 50 and the workpiece 60 released, the nut wrench shaft 200 is raised again to press the fastener 50 onto the workpiece 60, and after the third pressing step S4, the tightening step S5 is performed. In the tightening step S5, after the nut wrench shaft 200 is engaged with the engagement portion 116 of the main shaft 110, the nut wrench shaft 200 is rotated in the tightening direction.

[0036] In detail, firstly, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4A As shown, in installation step S1, the fastener 50 is installed on the upper end 112 of the spindle 110. That is, in this embodiment, the fastener 50 is fastened by installing the fastener 50 on the upper end 112 of the spindle 110 before the nut wrench shaft 200 and the mating part 116 of the spindle 110 are engaged. Therefore, the subsequent steps are carried out while the fastener 50 is still installed on the upper end 112 of the spindle 110.

[0037] Next, as Figure 3 and Figure 4B As shown, after installation step S1, in the first pressing step S2, the nut wrench shaft 200 is rotated in the opposite direction to the tightening direction (e.g., Figure 4B As indicated by arrow A1, the nut wrench shaft 200 rises while rotating in the opposite direction, pressing it against the non-circular engagement portion 116. In other words, the nut wrench shaft 200 rotates in the opposite direction while rising, thereby entering the housing 120 of the main shaft assembly 100 and pressing against the non-circular engagement portion 116. At this point, the nut wrench shaft 200 is only pressed against the non-circular engagement portion 116, and the engagement portion 210 of the nut wrench shaft 200 is not yet engaged with the engagement portion 116 of the main shaft 110.

[0038] Next, as Figure 3 and Figure 4C As shown, after the first pressing step S2, in the second pressing step S3, the nut wrench shaft 200 is rotated in the opposite direction to the tightening direction (e.g., Figure 4Cthe nut wrench shaft 200 is rotated in the reverse direction and is raised, thereby pushing the main shaft 110 to slide with respect to the housing 120, and further pushing the main shaft 110 and the fastener 50 mounted on the main shaft 110 to be raised, so that the fastener 50 is pressed against the workpiece 60. At this time, the fitting portions 210 of the nut wrench shaft 200 and the fitting portions 116 of the main shaft 110 are not yet fitted, so that the main shaft 110 and the fastener 50 mounted on the main shaft 110 are pushed to be rotated in the reverse direction and to be raised, but since they are rotated in the direction opposite to the tightening direction, the fastener 50 is not yet twisted into the workpiece 60. Further, the first pressing step S2 and the second pressing step S3 are both to rotate the nut wrench shaft 200 in the reverse direction and to raise it, so that the first pressing step S2 and the second pressing step S3 can be continuous actions without stop, but the present application is not limited to this.

[0039] Next, as shown in Figure 3 , Figure 4D and Figure 4E , after the second pressing step S3, in a third pressing step S4, the nut wrench shaft 200 is raised again to press the fastener 50 against the workpiece 60, with the fastener 50 being released from contact with the workpiece 60. That is, after the second pressing step S3, the fastener 50 is pressed against the workpiece 60 and suppresses the rotation of the main shaft 110 by friction, and when the nut wrench shaft 200 rotated in the reverse direction reaches a certain phase, the fitting portions 116 of the main shaft 110 and the fitting portions 210 of the nut wrench shaft 200 correspond to each other, and the main shaft 110 is lowered due to gravity, so that the fitting portions 210 of the nut wrench shaft 200 and the fitting portions 116 of the main shaft 110 are fitted to each other. Due to the fitting of the fitting portions 210 of the nut wrench shaft 200 and the fitting portions 116 of the main shaft 110, the fastener 50 is released from contact with the workpiece 60 (as shown in Figure 4D ). Therefore, it is preferable to raise the nut wrench shaft 200 again while rotating it in the reverse direction to press the fastener 50 against the workpiece 60 again (as shown in Figure 4E ).

[0040] Finally, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4F , after the third pressing step S4, a tightening step S5 is performed. In the tightening step S5, after the nut wrench shaft 200 is fitted to the fitting portions 116 of the main shaft 110, the nut wrench shaft 200 is rotated in the positive direction in the tightening direction (as shown in Figure 4FThat is, since the nut runner shaft 200 is fitted to the fitting portion 116 of the main shaft 110, the nut runner shaft 200 is raised while being rotated in the forward direction, and the main shaft 110 and the fastener 50 mounted on the main shaft 110 are also raised while being rotated in the forward direction. The forward direction rotation refers to the action of the nut runner shaft 200 being rotated in the fastening direction of the fastener 50 to the workpiece 60, and thus the fastener 50 is rotated in the fastening direction during the forward direction rotation to be further twisted into the workpiece 60 by the rotation, thereby fastening the fastener 50 to the workpiece 60. However, the present application is not limited to whether the third pressing step S4 is performed or not, and after the second pressing step S3, if the contact of the fastener 50 to the workpiece 60 is not released (i.e., the case where the fitting portion 210 of the nut runner shaft 200 is fitted to the fitting portion 116 of the main shaft 110), the third pressing step S4 of raising the nut runner shaft 200 again can be omitted, and the fastening step S5 can be directly performed.

[0041] Thus, in the present embodiment, the fastener 50 is mounted to the upper end 112 of the main shaft 110 before the fitting portion 116 of the main shaft 110 is fitted to the nut runner shaft 200, and the nut runner shaft 200 is raised while being rotated in the reverse direction to press the nut runner shaft 200 against the non-circular fitting portion 116, and then the fastener 50 is pressed against the workpiece 60. In this way, even if the fastener 50 is pressed against the workpiece 60 before the fitting portion 116 of the main shaft 110 is fitted to the nut runner shaft 200, the nut runner shaft 200 continues to be rotated in the reverse direction until after the fitting portion 116 of the main shaft 110 is fitted to the nut runner shaft 200, the nut runner shaft 200 is rotated in the forward direction to fasten the fastener 50 to the workpiece 60. In this way, the fastening of the fastener 50 can be prevented from being improper, and the adjustment time from the improper fitting state to the fitted state can be shortened compared to the case where the fastening is improper in the forward direction rotation, and thus the fastening time required for the fastener 50 can be shortened. Accordingly, the fastening method of the fastener 50 can prevent the fastening of the fastener 50 from being improper, and can shorten the fastening time required for the fastener 50.

[0042] In the fastening method of the fastener of the present application, the fastener is mounted to the upper end of the spindle, the nut wrench shaft is rotated reversely while being raised to press the nut wrench shaft on the non-circular fitting portion. Then, the nut wrench shaft is rotated reversely while being raised to press the fastener on the workpiece. Preferably, the nut wrench shaft is raised again to press the fastener on the workpiece while releasing the contact between the fastener and the workpiece. In this way, even if the fastener is pressed on the workpiece, the nut wrench shaft continues to rotate reversely until the nut wrench shaft is fitted to the fitting portion of the spindle, and then the nut wrench shaft is rotated forward to fasten the fastener to the workpiece, so that the improper fastening of the fastener can be prevented, and the adjustment time from the improper fitting to the fitting to each other is short compared with the case where the fitting is poor in the forward rotation, and the required fastening time can be shortened. Accordingly, the fastening method of the fastener of the present application can prevent the improper fastening of the fastener, and can shorten the required fastening time of the fastener.

[0043] Finally, it should be noted that the above examples are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing examples, or make equivalent replacement for part or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A fastening method of a fastener using a spindle to fasten the fastener to a workpiece, the upper end of the spindle being provided with the fastener, the lower end of the spindle having a non-circular fitting portion to be fitted to a nut wrench shaft, the fastening method of the fastener characterized by comprising: a mounting step of mounting the fastener to the upper end of the spindle; a first pressing step of pressing the nut wrench shaft against the non-circular fitting portion while reversely rotating the nut wrench shaft in a direction opposite to a fastening direction; a second pressing step of pressing the fastener against the workpiece while reversely rotating the nut wrench shaft in the direction opposite to the fastening direction; and a fastening step of forwardly rotating the nut wrench shaft in the fastening direction after the nut wrench shaft is fitted to the fitting portion of the spindle. Further comprising:

2. The fastening method of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein a third pressing step of again raising the nut wrench shaft to press the fastener against the workpiece after the second pressing step with the fastener being out of contact with the workpiece, and the fastening step is performed after the third pressing step. ​

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