Rivet feeding device
By combining the rivet conveying mechanism and the fixed adsorption component, the problem of conveying and positioning rivets in different postures is solved, realizing automated rivet feeding and stable riveting, and improving the efficiency and quality of riveting operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610073991.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-03
AI Technical Summary
In the existing riveting process, the rivets cannot be reliably delivered and positioned when they are tilted, placed on the side, or inverted, resulting in feeding failure.
By employing a rivet conveying mechanism and a fixed adsorption conveying assembly, combined with a gripper cylinder, a drive head, and negative pressure adsorption technology, the system achieves precise clamping and automated conveying of rivets, adapting to riveting requirements in different postures.
It enables automated feeding of rivets in different postures, improves the cycle time and continuity of riveting operations, reduces manual intervention, and ensures the stability of rivet head engagement and riveting quality.
Smart Images
Figure CN121589237A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of fastener feeding technology, specifically a rivet feeding device. Background Technology
[0002] Self-piercing friction riveting is a method of joining workpieces together using rivets. This method requires fasteners to be fed along multiple axes and placed on the workpiece surface before riveting. When the equipment needs to work at an angle, sideways or even upside down, the feeding method that relies on gravity or simple mechanical pushing will fail, resulting in the rivets not being reliably fed and positioned.
[0003] Therefore, a rivet feeding device is proposed to solve the problems mentioned above. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a rivet conveying mechanism and a rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly; the rivet conveying mechanism receives external rivets and conveys them to the rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly; the rivet conveying mechanism includes a right-angle slide, a rivet feeding pipe, and a receiving block; the rivet feeding pipe is fixedly connected to the top of the right-angle slide via a rivet feeding pipe fixing block, and the rivet feeding pipe is connected to a feeding channel within the right-angle slide; a receiving block is fixedly connected to the top of the parallel area at the right end of the right-angle slide; an adjustment space exists between the bottom of the right end of the receiving block and the top of the right end of the right-angle slide, and two sets of grippers are slidably connected at both ends within the adjustment space, the two sets of grippers being mirror-shaped; the rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly includes a clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism including grippers, and a gripper cylinder is bolted to the top of the receiving block, the two moving ends of the gripper cylinder being fixedly connected to the grippers respectively.
[0005] Preferably, the upper end of the gripper is provided with a mounting groove for connecting with the moving end of the gripper cylinder. The lower end of the side wall of the gripper that contacts the rivet is recessed inward to form a positioning groove, and the upper end is recessed inward to form a connecting groove. When the two sets of grippers are in the clamping state, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves matches the diameter of the rivet's top cap. When the two sets of grippers are in the unclamped state, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves is greater than the diameter of the rivet's top cap.
[0006] Preferably, the two sets of positioning grooves and connecting grooves are located at the end of the right-angle slide. Two sets of grippers slide in front of the contact face at both ends of the end slide. When the innermost side of the connecting groove and the innermost side of the end slide are on the same plane, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves matches the diameter of the rivet's top cap.
[0007] Preferably, when the rivet head contacts the sidewalls of the two sets of connecting grooves, the rivet is located directly above the connecting channel.
[0008] Preferably, a first driving head is slidably connected to the top of the receiving block. The upper end of the first driving head is threadedly connected to a driving rod. A conveying channel is formed in the center of the driving rod. The conveying channel is connected to the negative pressure chamber in the first driving head. An embedding groove is provided at the bottom of the first driving head. A driving tooth is provided in the embedding groove. The central area of the driving tooth is penetrated by the negative pressure chamber. When the rivet is inserted into the embedding groove, the rivet head at the upper end engages with the driving tooth.
[0009] Preferably, a second drive head is threadedly connected to the lower end of the drive rod, and the negative pressure chamber inside the second drive head is connected to the conveying channel inside the drive rod, and multiple sets of small holes are provided at the bottom of the negative pressure chamber.
[0010] Preferably, multiple sets of small holes are arranged along the circumferential direction at the bottom region of the negative pressure chamber, and the negative pressure chamber in the second drive head does not penetrate the bottom of the second drive head. The second drive head is used to connect with the hollow rivet.
[0011] Preferably, when the hollow rivet is inserted into the embedding groove at the bottom of the second drive head and engages with the drive teeth, the bottom areas of the multiple sets of small holes are attracted and fixed to the top of the rivet head.
[0012] Preferably, a pressure sleeve is fixedly connected to the bottom of the end slide, the pressure sleeve is coaxially arranged with the connecting channel and located directly below the connecting channel.
[0013] Preferably, the right side wall of the receiving block is provided with an exhaust port that is connected to the feeding channel inside the right-angle slide. The exhaust port is used to discharge the airflow when blowing rivets.
[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a rivet feeding device, which has the following beneficial effects: 1. The drive head in this invention adsorbs rivets and delivers them to the workpiece surface. This results in a smaller outer diameter of the pressure sleeve, improving the accessibility of the equipment. It also allows the feeding device to automatically feed rivets and find rivets even when the rivet gun is in different positions, such as upside down, thus realizing the feeding function. By combining negative pressure adsorption with precision clamping and positioning, the entire process of rivet conveying, positioning, rivet finding and handover is automated without human intervention, greatly improving the cycle time and continuity of riveting operations and reducing downtime caused by manual feeding.
[0015] 2. In the rivet locating process, the rivet is not limited in the rotation direction along the rivet axis, but is constrained in the other five directions, which ensures the stability of the rivet locating engagement. Moreover, the feeding and rivet locating functions will not be affected even if the device is in any spatial orientation.
[0016] 3. This invention adapts to different structures of solid, semi-hollow, and hollow rivets by replacing the first and second drive heads.
[0017] 4. The exhaust port opened in the receiving block of the present invention is conducive to the flow of air when blowing rivets, and prevents the airflow from being blocked, which in turn blocks the normal flow of rivets, thus causing the rivets to be unable to move to the area directly below the drive head.
[0018] 5. This invention uses a negative pressure sensor to determine when the nail head finding is complete. If the negative pressure measured by the negative pressure sensor is insufficient during the head finding process, the subsequent pre-pressing and riveting actions will not be performed, thus preventing the nail from being cut at an angle or flipped during riveting, which would lead to poor quality. Attached Figure Description
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Figure 3 ; Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 2 AA section view in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the drive rod structure of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the drive rod of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the second drive head structure of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the end slide structure of the present invention.
[0020] In the diagram: 1. Right-angle slide; 2. Nail feeding tube; 3. Gripper cylinder; 4. Receiving block; 5. Exhaust port; 6. Clamping mechanism; 7. Drive rod; 71. First drive head; 8. Edge pressing sleeve; 9. Rivet; 10. Feeding channel; 62. Gripper; 62. Mounting slot; 63. Positioning slot; 64. Connecting slot; 701. Conveying channel; 72. Embedding groove; 73. Drive tooth; 74. Negative pressure chamber; 75. Second drive head; 751. Small hole. Detailed Implementation
[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0022] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 9 This embodiment provides a rivet feeding device, which can be installed on a rivet gun and its position can be adjusted by the rivet gun. The device includes a rivet conveying mechanism and a rivet fixing adsorption conveying assembly. The rivet conveying mechanism is used to receive external rivets and convey them to the rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly. The rivet conveying mechanism includes a right-angle slide 1, a rivet feeding tube 2, and a receiving block 4; Specifically, please refer to Figure 1 - Figure 4 The nail feeding tube 2 is fixedly connected to the top of the right-angle slide 1 through the nail feeding tube fixing block, and the nail feeding tube 2 is connected to the feeding channel 10 inside the right-angle slide 1. Among them, a receiving block 4 is fixedly connected to the top of the parallel area at the right end of the right-angle slide 1, and an exhaust port 5 is provided through the right side wall of the receiving block 4, which is connected to the feeding channel 10 inside the right-angle slide 1. Specifically, please refer to Figures 1 to 5 There is an adjustment space between the bottom right end of the receiving block 4 and the top right end of the right-angle slide 1. Two sets of grippers 61 are slidably connected at both ends within the adjustment space, and the two sets of grippers 61 are set in a mirror image. Specifically, the rivet fixing adsorption conveying assembly includes a clamping mechanism 6, which includes a gripper 61. The top of the receiving block 4 is bolted with a gripper cylinder 3, and the two moving ends of the gripper cylinder 3 are fixedly connected to the gripper 61 respectively. Specifically, the upper end of the gripper 61 is provided with a mounting groove 62, which is used to connect with the moving end of the gripper cylinder 3. The lower end of the side wall of the gripper 61 that contacts the rivet 9 is recessed inward to form a positioning groove 63, and the upper end of the gripper 61 is recessed inward to form a connecting groove 64. Specifically, the two sets of positioning grooves 63 and connecting grooves 64 are located at the end of the right-angle slide 1 at the end of the slide 1, respectively; Two sets of grippers 61 are slidably connected to the contact surfaces 103 at both ends of the end slide 101. When the innermost side of the connecting groove 64 is on the same plane as the innermost side of the end slide 101, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves 64 matches the diameter of the top cap of the rivet 9.
[0023] Please see Figure 3When the rivet head on the rivet 9 contacts the sidewalls of the two sets of connecting grooves 64, the rivet 9 is located directly above the connecting channel 102; The receiving block 4 is slidably connected to the top of the first driving head 71. The upper end of the first driving head 71 is threadedly connected to the driving rod 7. A conveying channel 701 is formed in the center of the driving rod 7. The conveying channel 701 is connected to the negative pressure chamber 74 in the first driving head 71. The bottom of the first driving head 71 is provided with an embedding groove 72. The embedding groove 72 is provided with a driving tooth 73. The central area of the driving tooth 73 is penetrated by the negative pressure chamber 74. When the rivet 9 is inserted into the embedding groove 72, the rivet groove at the upper end of the rivet 9 meshes with the driving tooth 73. More specifically, the drive rod 7 is connected to a linear driver and a rotating mechanism mounted on the rivet gun. The linear driver is used to drive the drive rod 7 and the rotating mechanism to move up and down together to adjust their positions. The rotating mechanism can drive the drive rod 7 to rotate. The conveying channel 701 inside the drive rod 7 is connected to a negative pressure system mounted on the rivet gun and / or the outside world. A pressure sensor is installed in the conveying channel 701 to sense the value in the conveying channel 701 in real time when the rivet is negatively adsorbed, and to monitor the adsorption effect of the rivet. When the first drive head 71 drives the lower drive tooth 73 to engage with the rivet, the drive rod 7 and the first drive head 71 activate negative pressure. The first drive head 71 rotates and feeds at a speed of 15~30 rpm and a feed speed of 2~4 mm / s, with a feed displacement of 1 mm. After the drive tooth 73 is engaged with the rivet, the first drive head 71 stops rotating and returns to its original position. Then, the two sets of grippers 61 are opened to prevent the grippers 61 from misaligning with the rivet engaged with the lower drive tooth 73 of the first drive head 71.
[0024] Please see Figure 6 and Figure 7 The lower end of the drive rod 7 is threadedly connected to a second drive head 75. The negative pressure chamber 74 inside the second drive head 75 is connected to the conveying channel 701 inside the drive rod 7. The bottom of the negative pressure chamber 74 is provided with multiple sets of small holes 751. The multiple sets of small holes 751 are arranged in the bottom area of the negative pressure chamber 74 along the circumferential direction. The other ends of the multiple sets of small holes 751 converge into one channel and communicate with the inside of the negative pressure chamber 74. The negative pressure chamber 74 inside the second drive head 75 does not penetrate the bottom of the second drive head 75. That is, the bottom of the negative pressure chamber 74 is in a closed state and communicates with the drive teeth 73 and is attracted to the rivet 9 below through the multiple sets of small holes 751. Specifically, the second drive head 75 is used to connect with the hollow rivet 9. When the hollow rivet 9 is inserted into the embedding groove 72 at the bottom of the second drive head 75 and meshes with the drive teeth 73, the bottom area of the multiple sets of small holes 751 is attracted and fixed to the top of the rivet head on the rivet 9.
[0025] For more specific details, please refer to Figure 8The left and right side walls of the second drive head 75 are each provided with a wrench groove, which is used for disassembly and assembly. Please see Figure 1 A pressure sleeve 8 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the end slide 101. The pressure sleeve 8 is coaxially arranged with the connecting channel 102 and is located directly below the connecting channel 102. The first driving head 71 is used to fix semi-hollow or solid rivets by negative pressure adsorption. like Figures 1-9 As shown, the principle of the rivet feeding device provided in this embodiment is as follows: During feeding, the feeding device is connected to the external riveting gun. High-pressure air blows a single rivet 9 along the rivet feeding pipe 2 into the right-angle slide 1. The rivet 9 slides in the right-angle slide 1 to the end slide 101. The gripper cylinder 3 drives the two sets of grippers 61 to move inward, so that the two sets of grippers 61 are in a clamping state. The rivet 9 conveyed by the right-angle slide 1 passes through the end slide 101 and is conveyed to the positioning groove 63 and connecting groove 64 on the gripper 61. The connecting groove 64 restricts the rivet 9 on the gripper 61 and above the connecting channel 102 and directly below the first drive head 71. The high-pressure air is discharged outward through the exhaust port 5 and continues to flow. Even if the entire device is tilted, the rivet 9 is still accurately positioned. The drive rod 7 uses negative pressure chamber 74 to attract rivet 9, so that the rivet 9's top groove is inserted into the embedding groove 72 and meshes with the drive tooth 73. The drive rod 7 rotates while feeding a preset displacement. If the meshing is not good, the value on the pressure sensor will not reach the value for successful meshing, and the system will alarm, thus preventing tilted or flipped rivets 9 from being used for subsequent riveting, which would lead to riveting quality problems. Then, the gripper cylinder 3 controls the two sets of grippers 61 to move outward, so that the two sets of grippers 61 lose their restriction on the rivet 9. The pressure sleeve 8 moves along the axis to press the workpiece. The drive rod 7 drives the rivet 9 to move downward along the rivet axis and insert it into the pressure sleeve 8 until the rivet 9 touches the surface of the workpiece. Then the drive rod 7 rotates and continues to press down, and the rivet 9 is riveted to the workpiece. After the riveting is completed, the equipment is reset, the grippers 61 move to the clamping state, and it is ready to blow the next rivet. The rivet gun can also automatically feed the rivet and find the rivet cap in different postures, such as inverted, so as to realize the feeding function.
[0026] The installation method, connection method, or setting method disclosed in this embodiment are all common mechanical connections. Any connection method that can achieve its beneficial effect can be implemented, so the specific structural composition and working principle will not be described in detail in this embodiment.
[0027] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0028] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A rivet feeding device, characterized in that: Includes a rivet conveying mechanism and a rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly; The rivet conveying mechanism is used to receive external rivets and convey them to the rivet fixing and adsorption conveying assembly; The rivet conveying mechanism includes a right-angle slide (1), a rivet feeding tube (2), and a receiving block (4); The nail feeding tube (2) is fixedly connected to the top of the right-angle slide (1) through the nail feeding tube fixing block, and the nail feeding tube (2) is connected to the feeding channel (10) inside the right-angle slide (1); A receiving block (4) is fixedly connected to the top of the parallel area at the right end of the right-angle slide (1); There is an adjustment space between the bottom right end of the receiving block (4) and the top right end of the right-angle slide (1). Two sets of grippers (61) are slidably connected at both ends within the adjustment space. The two sets of grippers (61) are set in a mirror image. The rivet-fixed adsorption conveying assembly includes a clamping mechanism (6), which includes a gripper (61). The top of the receiving block (4) is bolted with a gripper cylinder (3), and the two moving ends of the gripper cylinder (3) are fixedly connected to the gripper (61) respectively.
2. The rivet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the gripper (61) is provided with a mounting groove (62), which is used to connect with the moving end of the gripper cylinder (3). The lower end of the side wall of the gripper (61) that contacts the rivet (9) is recessed inward to form a positioning groove (63), and the upper end is recessed inward to form a connecting groove (64). When the two sets of jaws (61) are clamped, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves (64) matches the diameter of the top cap of the rivet (9); When the two sets of jaws (61) are not clamped, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves (64) is greater than the diameter of the rivet (9) top cap.
3. The rivet feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The two sets of positioning grooves (63) and connecting grooves (64) are located at the end of the right-angle slide (1) at the end of the slide (101); Two sets of grippers (61) are slidably connected to the contact surfaces (103) at both ends of the end slide (101). When the innermost side of the connecting groove (64) and the innermost side of the end slide (101) are on the same plane, the diameter between the two sets of connecting grooves (64) matches the diameter of the top cap of the rivet (9).
4. The rivet feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the rivet (9) cap contacts the sidewalls of the two sets of connecting grooves (64), the rivet (9) is located directly above the connecting channel (102).
5. A rivet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The receiving block (4) is slidably connected to the top of the first driving head (71). The upper end of the first driving head (71) is threadedly connected to the driving rod (7). A conveying channel (701) is formed in the center of the driving rod (7). The conveying channel (701) is connected to the negative pressure chamber (74) in the first driving head (71). The bottom of the first driving head (71) is provided with an embedding groove (72). The embedding groove (72) is provided with a driving tooth (73). The central area of the driving tooth (73) is penetrated by the negative pressure chamber (74). When the rivet (9) is inserted into the embedding groove (72), the rivet head at the upper end of the rivet (9) meshes with the driving tooth (73). When the rivet (9) engages with the drive tooth (73), the first drive head (71) drives the lower drive tooth (73) to engage with the rivet. The drive rod (7) and the first drive head (71) open the negative pressure. The first drive head (71) rotates and feeds at the same time. When the drive tooth (73) is engaged with the rivet, the first drive head (71) stops rotating and returns to its original position.
6. A rivet feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A second drive head (75) is threadedly connected to the lower end of the drive rod (7). The negative pressure chamber (74) inside the second drive head (75) is connected to the conveying channel (701) inside the drive rod (7), and multiple sets of small holes (751) are provided at the bottom of the negative pressure chamber (74).
7. A rivet feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that: Multiple sets of small holes (751) are arranged along the circumferential direction at the bottom area of the negative pressure chamber (74). The negative pressure chamber (74) in the second drive head (75) does not penetrate the bottom of the second drive head (75). The second drive head (75) is used to connect with the hollow rivet (9).
8. A rivet feeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the hollow rivet (9) is inserted into the embedding groove (72) at the bottom of the second drive head (75) and meshes with the drive teeth (73), the bottom area of the multiple sets of small holes (751) is attracted and fixed to the top of the rivet (9) cap.
9. A rivet feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: A pressure sleeve (8) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the end slide (101). The pressure sleeve (8) is coaxially arranged with the connecting channel (102) and located directly below the connecting channel (102).
10. A rivet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The right side wall of the receiving block (4) is provided with an exhaust port (5) that is connected to the feeding channel (10) inside the right-angle slide (1). The exhaust port (5) is used to allow the airflow to be discharged when blowing rivets.