Equipment and methods for separating torsion springs

Abstract

An apparatus for separating torsion springs (3) includes: a mandrel (2) on which a plurality of torsion springs (3) are provided; a cylinder (19) for advancing the torsion springs (3) on the mandrel (2); a fixed helical core (8) disposed in a straight extension of the mandrel (2) having a pitch matching the geometry of the torsion springs (3); and a rotatable carrier (13) concentrically surrounding the helical core (8), the carrier being configured to individually screw the torsion springs (3) onto the helical core (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for separating torsion springs and an apparatus suitable for carrying out such a separation method. Background Technology

[0002] DE 41 09 194 A1 describes an apparatus for supplying small parts, particularly helical springs. The apparatus is intended for use in a production line for assembling electromechanical functional components and includes a storage container, which is a roller rotatable about its central axis. The storage container has a continuously circumferential slit opening in the central region of its rotational circumference, the slit opening ensuring that the helical springs can reach a guide channel in the stator assembly. The helical springs proceed from the guide channel to an outlet channel, where two sensor devices are connected upstream. The sensor devices are coupled to a control device that operates a so-called selection controller, causing the unused, separated helical springs to reach a receiving device. If no usable helical spring is available, for example in the case of two stuck helical springs screwed into each other, the selection controller supplies the corresponding part to a collection container, which receives those parts that can be removed from the production process.

[0003] The apparatus for automatically sorting and separating helical springs described in DE 36 41 359 A1 includes a rotatable drum with a downwardly inclined longitudinal axis. Within the drum are two rollers with relatively small diameters, one of which has a threaded structure that decisively facilitates the conveying and separation of the helical springs. A carrying element is present on the inner circumferential surface of the drum, which actuates the helical spring by approximately half a turn of the drum as the drum rotates, causing the helical spring to fall onto the roller.

[0004] DE 33 21 173 A1 discloses another device for separating and supplying assemblies, particularly springs. In this case, two loosening devices are provided for moving the assembly stack relative to the shell wall.

[0005] DE 197 56 798A1 describes a system for supplying connecting elements to means for engaging and / or securing the connecting elements in a workpiece. The system can include a flexible supply device. A reloading and separating device operates by means of compressed air, and the flexible supply device is connected to the reloading and separating device.

[0006] The device for separating springs described in EP 1 348 650 A1 operates by means of an airflow. DE 31 42282A1 describes a device for separating springs that includes magnets. In the case of a conveying device for parts, particularly screws or bolts, described in DE 102010 021 474A1, the parts to be conveyed are pulled out of a container by magnetic force, wherein multiple magnets are mounted on a chain that serves as a continuous conveying device.

[0007] Possible applications of torsion springs are described in documents DE 20 44 579 C3 and DE 101 10 367A1. Unlike compression springs configured as helical springs, torsion springs, in addition to the area depicted as a threaded shape, have typically unbent sections on both sides connected to this area. These sections are configured to apply torque between two members that can be twisted relative to each other by means of the spring, wherein the pivot axis between the two members corresponds to the central axis of the coiled area of ​​the torsion spring. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for separating torsion springs that is a further improvement over the prior art, wherein a particularly favorable ratio is sought between equipment cost and process reliability.

[0009] The design and advantages of the present invention, which are described below in conjunction with the separation method, are also meaningfully applicable to devices capable of separating torsion springs from each other and vice versa.

[0010] The separation device includes: a mandrel on which multiple torsion springs are provided; a cylinder for advancing the torsion springs on the mandrel; a fixed helical core disposed in a straight extension of the mandrel, the pitch of which matches the geometry of the torsion springs; and a rotatable carrier concentrically surrounding the helical core, the carrier configured to individually screw the torsion springs onto the helical core. The helical core is, in this case, the female mold of the torsion spring.

[0011] The separation device is therefore suitable for handling torsion springs that, although already correctly oriented on the spindle, can still be partially inserted into or screwed into each other.

[0012] In a typical design, the separation device is vertically oriented, with the workpiece, i.e., the torsion spring, being conveyed from bottom to top. The assembly, including the helical core and the rotatable drive component, is also called the operating assembly.

[0013] The dimensions of the helical core are preferably designed so that the torsion spring can be screwed onto the threads of the helical core with a certain clearance without deformation. Alternatively, the pitch of the helical core is slightly different from that of the torsion spring, so that the further the torsion spring is screwed from the drive member onto the helical core, the tighter the torsion spring is clamped onto the helical core.

[0014] Typically, based on a vertically oriented mandrel, a plurality of torsion springs are strung on the mandrel in a manner that is at least partially overlapping, and the separation of the torsion springs occurs in the following way:

[0015] - Provides an operating assembly formed by a helical core and a rotatable carrier concentrically surrounding the helical core, the helical core having a thread that maps the shape of a torsion spring.

[0016] - Position the operating components on the mandrel.

[0017] Push the torsion spring upwards on the spindle until the uppermost torsion spring can be caught by the actuating element.

[0018] - The rotation of the drive mechanism rotates the uppermost torsion spring onto the spiral core, where the next torsion spring remains on the core first and is the uppermost spring on the next separation.

[0019] The torsion spring can be screwed onto the helical core, for example, until it reaches the stop position. A sensing mechanism can also be used to detect whether the torsion spring is screwed onto the helical core and to what extent. In any case, after the uppermost torsion spring is screwed onto the helical core, the operating component is separated from the spindle, wherein at a later point in time, the same torsion spring is screwed off the helical core again by means of a drive element and separated from the operating component.

[0020] In an advantageous process, after being unscrewed from the spiral core, the rotation of the torsion spring about its own axis of symmetry is transferred to another device, such as an assembly machine, at a defined angle.

[0021] According to a feasible design, the helical core has an outer diameter smaller than the minimum inner diameter of the drive component. Therefore, it is particularly possible to achieve a rotatable drive component that is slidably supported by the helical core in the axial direction while the drive component is fixed relative to the helical core.

[0022] After the operating component is removed from the mandrel, it can be supplied to the assembly position in any orientation. For example, the separated torsion spring can be continuously retained in a vertical orientation. It is also possible to manually or automatically transfer the torsion spring in a horizontal or inclined orientation after the operating component is removed from the mandrel. In any case, the threaded structure of the helical core ensures that the torsion spring will not accidentally detach from the operating component. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein are shown:

[0024] Figure 1 A partial schematic diagram of a device for separating torsion springs is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The separation device, generally indicated by reference numeral 1 in the attached drawings, is designed to remove the torsion spring 3, which is located on the mandrel 2, from the mandrel 2 individually. The mandrel 2 is currently made of thick cardboard. To remove the torsion spring 3 from the mandrel 2, an operating assembly 7 is fitted onto the mandrel; the operating assembly includes a fixed helical core 8 and a rotatable carrying element 13.

[0026] Once the torsion springs 3 are mounted on the spindle 2, overlap between the individual torsion springs 3 can be achieved. Multiple torsion springs 3 can be screwed into each other. Each torsion spring 3 has a winding region 4 in which the torsion spring is wound helically with a constant pitch. The winding region 4 terminates at both ends with an outwardly pointing support leg 5, 6.

[0027] The entire separation device 1 has a vertically oriented central axis MA, which corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the mandrel 2 and the operating assembly 7. The spiral core 8 is directly fitted onto the mandrel 2 during operation of the separation device 1, wherein a small gap between the spiral core 8 and the mandrel 2 is harmless. The spiral core 8 can be a one-piece component of the operating assembly 7, wherein different sections 9, 10, and 11 are distinguishable from each other. Specifically, this includes a threaded section 9, a guide section 10, and a front section 11, the guide section having a smooth cylindrical wall and connecting to the threaded section 9 from above, and the front section connecting to the bottom side of the threaded section 9. The front section 11 terminates in the form of a tapered section 12, which facilitates the transfer of the torsion spring 3 from the mandrel 2 to the operating assembly 7.

[0028] The actuator 13 is concentrically fitted onto the spiral core 8, wherein the sleeve section 15 surrounds the threaded section 9. The height of the sleeve section 15, measured longitudinally along the central axis MA, approximately corresponds to the height of the threaded section 9. The sleeve section 15 is flush with the threaded section 9 at its upper end. At this location, the sleeve section 15 transitions into a support section 16, which has a reduced inner diameter compared to the sleeve section 15. This forms an axial support surface 17, by means of which the actuator 13 is positioned on the threaded section 9. A hole 18 is visible in the sleeve section 15, which can be used for connection with another component (not shown) of the operating assembly 7.

[0029] If the torsion spring 3, which is separate from the spindle 2, is to be transferred to the operating assembly 7, then the entire stack of torsion springs 3 connected to the spindle 2 is facilitated by... Figure 1 The cylinder 19, shown only schematically, advances along the thrust direction VR corresponding to the central axis MA, i.e., it is lifted in the current situation. If the stack of torsion springs 3 is lifted far enough, the uppermost support leg 5 can be gripped by the action contour 14 provided by the carrier 13. By the subsequent mechanical rotation of the carrier 13, the torsion spring 3 is screwed into the threaded section 9 and simultaneously removed from the torsion spring 3 still on the mandrel 2 located further below, the threaded section being understood as the female mold of the torsion spring 3.

[0030] After the torsion spring 3 is fully housed in the operating assembly 7, it can be removed from the spindle 2. Subsequently, the torsion spring 3 is removed from the operating assembly 7 again at other locations, in a different orientation, by the rotation of the drive member 13, and is transferred, for example, to an assembly machine or directly inserted into the instrument to be assembled.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0032] 1. Separation equipment

[0033] 2 spindles

[0034] 3 Torsion Spring

[0035] 4. Winding area

[0036] 5 legs

[0037] 6 legs

[0038] 7 Operating Components

[0039] 8 Spiral Cores

[0040] 9. Threaded section

[0041] 10. Guiding Section

[0042] 11 front section

[0043] 12 Conical Section

[0044] 13 Carrying parts

[0045] 14. Functional Outline

[0046] 15 Sleeve Section

[0047] 16 Support Section

[0048] 17 Axial support surface

[0049] 18 holes

[0050] 19 cylinders

[0051] MA midline

[0052] VR Development Direction

Claims

1. An apparatus for separating a torsion spring (3), comprising: A mandrel (2) on which a plurality of torsion springs (3) can be provided, a cylinder (19) for advancing the torsion springs (3) on the mandrel (2), a fixed spiral core (8) provided in a straight extension of the mandrel (2), which has a pitch matching the geometry of the torsion springs (3), and a rotatable carrier (13) concentrically surrounding the spiral core (8), which constitutes a means for grasping the uppermost torsion spring (3) and individually winding the torsion spring (3) onto the spiral core (8).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The spiral core (8) has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the carrier (13).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, The carrier (13) is slidingly supported by the spiral core (8) and is fixed in the axial direction.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The spiral core (8) is likewise vertically oriented as the carrier (13), wherein the axis of rotation of the carrier (13) coincides with the central axis (MA) of the spiral core.

5. A method for separating torsion springs (3) having the following features: - providing a vertically oriented mandrel (2) on which torsion springs (3) are strung in an at least partially overlapping manner, - providing an operating assembly (7) formed by a spiral core (8) and a rotatable carrier (13) concentrically surrounding the spiral core (8), the spiral core having a thread mapping the shape of the torsion springs (3), - positioning the operating assembly (7) on the mandrel (2), - pushing the torsion springs (3) upwards on the mandrel (2) until the uppermost torsion spring (3) can be grasped by the carrier (13), - winding the uppermost torsion spring (3) onto the spiral core (8) by rotation of the carrier (13), wherein the next torsion spring (3) remains on the mandrel (2).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, Winding the uppermost torsion spring (3) onto the spiral core (8) until a stop position is reached.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, After the uppermost torsion spring (3) has been wound onto the spiral core (8), the operating assembly (7) is separated from the mandrel (2), and at a later point in time the torsion spring (3) is separated from the operating assembly (7) again by being unwound from the spiral core (8) by means of the carrier (13).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, After being unwound from the spiral core (8), the torsion spring (3) is transferred to another device with a defined angular orientation about the symmetry axis of the torsion spring (3) around itself.

Images