A screw locking method with automatic screw feeding

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of automatic screw locking, in particular to a screw automatic feeding screw locking method, comprising the following steps: A. using a feeder to move a single screw to a temporary storage seat; B. adjusting the screw posture in the temporary storage seat through an adjusting piece, so that the screw is in an upright posture; C. using a sensor to sense the parameters of the screw to determine whether the screw is qualified; D. when the screw is qualified, driving the temporary storage seat to swing so that the temporary storage seat moves from the feeder to the electric screwdriver; E. picking up the screw from the temporary storage seat by the electric screwdriver, and locking the screw to the product by the electric screwdriver after the temporary storage seat leaves the electric screwdriver. The present application uses the temporary storage seat as an intermediate transition platform, adjusts the screw posture after the screw is picked up by the electric screwdriver, so as to ensure that each screw posture meets the requirements and ensures the efficiency of feeding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automated screw fastening technology, and in particular to a screw fastening method with automatic screw feeding. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, automated screw feeding to electric screwdrivers typically uses negative pressure to guide the screw along a guide tube into the screwdriver's suction nozzle, where it is then held and tightened. This method works reliably for medium to large-sized screws, but for smaller screws, such as those with a diameter less than 2mm, the screw's posture can easily deviate due to its smaller size and weight. This makes it difficult for the electric screwdriver to pick up the screw quickly and stably, affecting the overall tightening cycle time and efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention addresses the problems of existing technologies by providing an automatic screw feeding and fastening method that enables stable automatic feeding of small-sized screws.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: This invention provides a screw fastening method with automatic screw feeding, comprising the following steps: A. Use the feeder to transfer individual screws to the temporary storage seat; B. Adjust the screw position in the temporary storage seat using the adjusting component so that the screw is in an upright position; C. Use sensors to detect the parameters of the screws to determine whether the screws are qualified; D. When the screw is qualified, drive the temporary storage seat to swing so that the temporary storage seat moves from the feeder to the electric screwdriver, and then execute step E; E. The screw is picked up from the staging area by an electric screwdriver, and after the staging area leaves the electric screwdriver, the screw is fastened to the product by the electric screwdriver.

[0005] Furthermore, the temporary storage seat is provided with a temporary storage hole with a top opening, the inner diameter of which is not less than the diameter of the screw shank; a guide tube is provided between the temporary storage hole and the feeder, and step A specifically includes: The screws are fed into the guide tube using a feeder; The screw is moved along the guide tube into the temporary storage hole by blowing air through the feeder.

[0006] Furthermore, step C specifically includes: The orientation, shank diameter, and length of the screw inside the temporary storage hole are obtained using sensors. Compare the posture, rod diameter, and length data of the screw with the pre-stored data; if the posture, rod diameter, and length of the screw are all within the range of the pre-stored data, the screw is qualified; if any one of the posture, rod diameter, and length of the screw is not within the range of the pre-stored data, the screw is unqualified.

[0007] Furthermore, the sensor includes at least one of a photoelectric switch and an infrared sensor.

[0008] Further, step E further includes: when the screw is unqualified, take out the screw from the temporary storage hole and transfer it to the NG product station.

[0009] Further, step D specifically includes: D1. Use the motor to drive the eccentric part to rotate, so as to drive the temporary storage seat installed on the eccentric part to swing along an arc; D2. When the temporary storage seat swings to the electric screwdriver, the electric screwdriver picks up the screw from the temporary storage seat; D3. The motor drives the eccentric part to rotate to drive the temporary storage seat to reset and communicate with the feeder. Execute steps A and E.

[0010] Furthermore, in step D, the position of the temporary storage seat is sensed by one of the following two methods: 1. Set a first in-place sensor at the electric screwdriver and a second in-place sensor at the feeder, and respectively use the first in-place sensor and the second in-place sensor to sense the current position of the temporary storage seat; 2. Set a position detector on the temporary storage seat, and use the signal change of the position detector to sense the current distance between the temporary storage seat and the electric screwdriver / feeder, so as to judge the current position of the temporary storage seat.

[0011] Furthermore, in step D1, the temporary storage seat swings along a downward convex arc trajectory to swing between the feeder and the electric screwdriver.

[0012] Further, the end of the feeder has a baffle, and the baffle is used to stop the end of the feeder when there is a screw in the temporary storage seat or the temporary storage seat leaves the feeder.

[0013] Further, step D further includes: When the screw is unqualified, take the screw away from the temporary storage seat.

[0014] Furthermore, the taking the screw away from the temporary storage seat is realized by one of the following methods: 1) Use the electric screwdriver to take the screw away from the temporary storage seat; 2) Set a blowing module in the temporary storage seat, and use the blowing module to blow the screw away from the temporary storage seat; 3) Set an ejecting module in the temporary storage seat, and use the ejecting module to eject the screw out of the temporary storage seat The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The present invention uses a temporary storage seat as an intermediate transition platform. The screw posture is adjusted from the temporary storage seat and then picked up by the electric screwdriver, thereby ensuring that the posture of each screw meets the requirements and ensuring the efficiency of feeding. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[0017] Reference numerals: 1—feeder, 2—temporary storage seat, 3—screw, 4—electric screwdriver, 6—sensor, 9—positioning device, 12—stopper, 21—temporary storage hole. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. The content mentioned in the embodiments is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention provides a screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding, comprising the following steps: A. Use feeder 1 to transfer a single screw 3 to temporary storage seat 2; B. Use temporary storage seat 2 to receive screw 3 in an upright position; C. Use sensor 6 to sense the parameters of screw 3 to determine whether screw 3 is qualified; D. When screw 3 is qualified, drive temporary storage seat 2 to swing so that temporary storage seat 2 moves from feeder 1 to electric screwdriver 4, and then execute step E; E. The screw 3 is picked up from the temporary holder 2 by the electric screwdriver 4, and after the temporary holder 2 leaves the electric screwdriver 4, the electric screwdriver 4 fastens the screw 3 to the product.

[0020] Compared to existing technologies, this invention features a dedicated storage base 2, which can hold one screw 3 at a time. When the feeder 1 delivers a screw 3 into the storage base 2, the sensor 6 of the storage base 2 will detect whether the screw 3 is qualified. Only when the screw 3 is qualified will the storage base 2 transfer the screw 3 to the electric screwdriver 4, which can pick up the upright screw 3 and reliably fasten it to external products.

[0021] Using this invention, screws 3 are fed and transported to electric screwdrivers 4 at high speed and stably. It can be applied not only to screws 3 with larger specifications, but also to screws 3 with smaller specifications. It can also ensure that screws 3 are kept in an upright position when fed to electric screwdrivers 4, so as to ensure that electric screwdrivers 4 can reliably pick them up and fasten them.

[0022] In this embodiment, the temporary storage seat 2 is provided with a temporary storage hole 21 with a top opening. The inner diameter of the temporary storage hole 21 is not less than the diameter of the shank of the screw 3. A conduit (not shown in the figure) is provided between the temporary storage hole 21 and the feeder 1. The temporary storage hole 21 is used to accommodate the screw. Usually, the inner diameter of the temporary storage hole 21 is slightly larger than the diameter of the shank of the screw 3, so as to ensure that the shank of the screw 3 can smoothly enter the temporary storage hole 21.

[0023] Specifically, step A includes: The screw 3 is transferred to the guide tube using the feeder 1; The screw 2 is moved along the guide tube into the temporary storage hole 21 by blowing air through the feeder 1.

[0024] The feeder 1 is connected to the temporary storage seat 2 through a conduit so that the screw 3 enters the temporary storage hole 21 of the temporary storage seat 2 along the conduit. The inner diameter of the conduit is usually 1.2 times the inner diameter of the screw 3. This ensures that the screw 3 can move smoothly along the conduit and also prevents the screw 3 from flipping over during the movement. This ensures that after the screw 3 enters the temporary storage hole 21, it will only be in an upright or tilted state, and there will be no situation where the head of the screw 3 is facing down.

[0025] In this embodiment, step C specifically includes: The sensor 6 is used to obtain the orientation, rod diameter and length of the screw 3 inside the temporary hole 21; The orientation, diameter, and length of screw 3 are compared with the pre-stored data. If the orientation, diameter, and length of screw 3 are all within the range of the pre-stored data, screw 3 is qualified. If any one of the orientation, diameter, or length of screw 3 is not within the range of the pre-stored data, screw 3 is unqualified.

[0026] In other words, judging whether screw 3 is qualified requires judging three dimensions: the posture of screw 3, the diameter of the shank of screw 3, and the length of screw 3.

[0027] Screw 3 posture: When the screw 3 rod has a bend that exceeds the preset range, the screw 3 is unqualified. Even if it can be fastened by the electric screwdriver 4, it cannot be reliably fastened to the screw hole because the rod is too bent.

[0028] Screw 3 shank diameter: A preset numerical range α is defined. If the screw 3 shank diameter is not within this numerical range α, then screw 3 is either too thick or too thin, and therefore unqualified.

[0029] Length of screw 3: A preset numerical range β is provided. When the length of screw 3 is not within this numerical range β, screw 3 is either too long or too short, which will cause screw 3 to be unable to reliably fix the product or to be unable to fully embed into the product after being locked to it, thus making it unqualified.

[0030] After obtaining the above parameters of screw 3 through sensor 6, it can be determined whether screw 3 is qualified; when screw 3 is qualified, it will be moved to electric screwdriver 4 by temporary storage seat 2; when screw 3 is unqualified, it will not be locked to the product by electric screwdriver 4.

[0031] In actual use, the sensor 6 includes at least one of a photoelectric switch and an infrared sensor.

[0032] Whether it's a photoelectric switch or an infrared sensor, the sensor 6 can obtain the outline of the screw 3 by blocking / reflecting light or infrared rays through the screw 3. Then, the parameters of the screw 3 can be identified by the outline and compared with preset values ​​to determine whether the screw 3 is qualified.

[0033] In this embodiment, step D further includes: when screw 3 is defective, screw 3 is removed from the temporary storage hole 21 of the temporary storage seat 2 and then transferred to the NG product station.

[0034] The screw 3 can be removed from the temporary hole 21 in ways including, but not limited to, the following: The removal of screw 3 from temporary storage seat 2 can be achieved in one of the following ways: 1) Use electric screwdriver 4 to remove screw 3 from temporary storage seat 2; 2) An air blowing module is installed in the temporary storage seat 2 to blow the screw 3 away from the temporary storage seat 2; 3) An ejection module is installed inside the temporary storage seat 2 to eject the screw 3 out of the temporary storage seat 2.

[0035] Regardless of the method, the operation is performed only after the temporary storage seat 2 leaves the conduit. This ensures that the top opening of the temporary storage hole 21 of the temporary storage seat 2 is not connected to the conduit, thus ensuring that the screw 3 can be smoothly disengaged from the temporary storage hole 21.

[0036] In this embodiment, step D specifically includes: D1. The eccentric component is driven to rotate by a motor, so that the temporary storage seat 2 installed on the eccentric component swings along an arc. D2. The temporary storage seat 2 swings to the electric screwdriver 4, and the electric screwdriver 4 picks up the screw 3 from the temporary storage seat 2; D3. The motor drives the eccentric component to rotate, thereby resetting the temporary storage seat 2 to be connected to the feeder 1; Perform steps A and E.

[0037] The motor drives the eccentric component to rotate, causing the temporary storage seat 2 to swing along an arc, thereby moving the temporary storage seat 2 from below the feeder 1 to directly below the electric screwdriver 4, ensuring that the movement path of the temporary storage seat 2 does not interfere with the position of the electric screwdriver 4. To further improve efficiency, step E can be executed simultaneously when executing step D3; and steps B and C can be executed when executing step D1.

[0038] Since the rotation of the motor can drive the rotation of the eccentric part, the swing arc of the temporary storage seat 2 is stabilized. By swinging the temporary storage seat 2 back and forth along the arc, the effect of efficiently transferring the screw 3 can be achieved.

[0039] Specifically, in step D, the position of temporary storage 2 is sensed using one of the following two methods: 1) A first position sensor is installed at the electric screwdriver 4, and a second position sensor is installed at the feeder 1. The first and second position sensors are used to sense the current position of the temporary storage seat 2. (ii) A positioner 9 is installed in the temporary storage seat 2. The signal change of the positioner 9 is used to sense the current distance between the temporary storage seat 2 and the electric screwdriver 4 / feeder 1 to determine the current position of the temporary storage seat 2.

[0040] In Method 1, the first and second position sensors can be set as proximity switches, pressure switches, infrared transceivers, etc. As long as the temporary storage seat 2 is detected to be in contact with the electric screwdriver 4 or the feeder 1, the motor will be forced to stop, thereby avoiding excessive squeezing and damage to the corresponding structure.

[0041] In Method 2), only one positioner 9 is set. The positioner 9 can be a proximity switch, pressure switch, infrared transceiver or other existing identification element. When the signal of the positioner 9 changes to the preset signal, it proves that the temporary storage seat 2 is in contact with the electric screwdriver 4 / feeder 1, thus achieving the identification effect.

[0042] Specifically, in step D1, the temporary storage seat 2 swings along a downward convex arc trajectory to swing between the feeder 1 and the electric screwdriver 4.

[0043] The eccentric component can be equipped with a corresponding limiting part that slides in the arc trajectory to limit the eccentric component's swing and prevent it from swaying. A short straight groove can be provided at the top of each end of the arc trajectory. This straight groove is used to stably accommodate the limiting part. When the limiting part enters the straight groove and abuts at the end of the straight groove, it indicates that the temporary storage seat 2 and the electric screwdriver 4 / feeder 1 have completed docking.

[0044] In this embodiment, the feeder 1 has a stopper 12 at its end. The stopper 12 is used to stop the end of the feeder 1 when there is a screw 3 in the temporary storage seat 2 or when the temporary storage seat 2 leaves the feeder.

[0045] The stopper 12 can be a commonly used component such as an electromagnetic switch valve. When the feeder 1 feeds two screws 3 into the guide tube at one time, the electromagnetic switch valve can stop the screws 3, preventing multiple screws 3 from being stacked in the temporary storage seat 2 and falling off when the temporary storage seat 2 swings.

[0046] To further improve stability, a counter can be installed between the guide tube and the feeder 1 to count the number of screws 3 entering the guide tube from the feeder 1. In this way, if more than one screw 3 enters the guide tube in a certain feeding, the stopper 12 will block it in time; then the stopper 12 will release the screws 3 one by one, ensuring that only one screw 3 is fed into the temporary storage seat 2 each time.

[0047] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A screw fastening method with automatic screw feeding, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: A. Use a feeder to transfer a single screw to a temporary storage seat; B. Use the temporary storage seat to receive the screw in an upright posture; C. Use a sensor to sense the parameters of the screw to determine whether the screw is qualified; D. When the screw is qualified, drive the temporary storage seat to swing so that the temporary storage seat moves from the feeder to the electric screwdriver, and then perform step E; E. Pick up the screw from the temporary storage seat via the electric screwdriver, and after the temporary storage seat leaves the electric screwdriver, lock the screw to the product by the electric screwdriver.

2. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temporary storage seat is provided with a temporary storage hole with an open top, and the inner diameter of the temporary storage hole is not less than the diameter of the rod part of the screw; a conduit is provided between the temporary storage hole and the feeder. Step A specifically includes: Use a feeder to transfer the screw to the conduit; Use the feeder to drive the screw to move along the conduit into the temporary storage hole by blowing air.

3. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step C specifically includes: Use a sensor to obtain the posture, rod diameter and length of the screw in the temporary storage hole; Compare the data of the posture, rod diameter and length of the screw with the pre-stored data; if the posture, rod diameter and length of the screw are all within the range of the pre-stored data, the screw is qualified; if any one of the posture, rod diameter and length of the screw is not within the range of the pre-stored data, the screw is unqualified.

4. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sensor includes at least one of a photoelectric switch and an infrared sensor.

5. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step E further includes: when the screw is unqualified, take out the screw from the temporary storage hole and transfer it to the NG product station.

6. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step D specifically includes: D1. Use a motor to drive an eccentric part to rotate, so as to带动 the temporary storage seat installed on the eccentric part to swing along an arc; D2. The temporary storage seat swings to the position of the electric screwdriver, and the electric screwdriver picks up the screw from the temporary storage seat; D3. The motor drives the eccentric part to rotate to带动 the temporary storage seat to reset to communicate with the feeder; Perform steps A and E.

7. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step D, sense the position of the temporary storage seat by using one of the following two methods: I) Set a first in-place sensor at the electric screwdriver and a second in-place sensor at the feeder, and respectively use the first in-place sensor and the second in-place sensor to sense the current position of the temporary storage seat; II) Set a position detector on the temporary storage seat, and use the signal change of the position detector to sense the current distance between the temporary storage seat and the electric screwdriver / feeder to judge the current position of the temporary storage seat.

8. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step D1, the temporary storage seat swings along a downward convex arc trajectory to swing between the feeder and the electric screwdriver.

9. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step D further includes: When the screw is unqualified, take the screw away from the temporary storage seat.

10. The screw fastening method for automatic screw feeding according to claim 9, characterized in that, The taking the screw away from the temporary storage seat is realized by using one of the following methods: 1) Use the electric screwdriver to take the screw away from the temporary storage seat; 2) Set a blowing module in the temporary storage seat, and use the blowing module to blow the screw away from the temporary storage seat; 3) Set an ejecting module in the temporary storage seat, and use the ejecting module to eject the screw out of the temporary storage seat.

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