A screw feeder with screw detection function and screw machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of automatic screw locking, especially a screw feeder and screw machine with screw detection function, which comprises a body and a feeding mechanism arranged on the body, and the body is further provided with a detection mechanism for sensing whether the screws fed by the feeding mechanism are qualified. The utility model sets the detection mechanism on the feeder, so that the screws are detected once fed, and whether the screws are qualified can be judged from the feeding end, which ensures the locking efficiency and does not increase the structure of the locking mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automated screw fastening technology, and in particular to a screw feeder and screw machine with screw detection function. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in order to improve the speed of automated production, most industrial products have introduced automatic screw fastening equipment (i.e., screw fastening machines). However, when using screw fastening machines, users often encounter the following problems that cause changes in the specifications and types of screws in the feeder: (1) The user changed the product that needs to be fastened with screws, but the screws used for the previous product are still left in the feeder; (2) The screws used for testing after feeder maintenance are left in the feeder; (3) When the user adds screws to the feeder, the wrong type / specification of screws is added.

[0003] The above operations are common situations that lead to inconsistent screw specifications inside the feeder. These situations will obviously result in poor screw tightening effect, thus causing batch quality problems and potential risks to the customer's products.

[0004] Therefore, current screw fastening machines are equipped with screw detection functions. However, most screw fastening machines add a vision module to the screw fastening mechanism (i.e., next to the electric screwdriver) or set up a vision module in a specific location on the screw fastening machine for screw fastening. The former obviously increases the weight of the screw fastening mechanism and the space requirement, while the latter adds an extra step to the screw fastening process, affecting efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention addresses the problems of existing technologies by providing a screw feeder with screw detection function, which can detect screws while feeding them, thereby avoiding a bulky screw-locking mechanism and without affecting screw-locking efficiency.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] This utility model provides a screw feeder with screw detection function, including a body and a feeding mechanism disposed on the body. The body is also provided with a detection mechanism, which is used to sense whether the screw fed by the feeding mechanism is qualified.

[0008] Furthermore, the detection mechanism includes a stop and a detection module. The stop is installed on the device body and located at the output end of the feeding mechanism. The stop is used to cooperate with the feeding mechanism to maintain the posture of the screw to be detected. The output end of the detection module faces the output end of the feeding mechanism. The detection module is used to sense the length and diameter of the screw.

[0009] Furthermore, the detection module includes two through-beam optical fibers, which are arranged facing each other, and the output end of the feeding mechanism is located between the two through-beam optical fibers.

[0010] Furthermore, the feeding mechanism includes a transmission module, a rotating component, a rotation driver, and a limiting seat. The transmission module and the limiting seat are both installed on the device body. The rotating component is rotatably mounted on the limiting seat. The rotation driver is used to drive the rotating component to rotate. The rotating component has at least one receiving groove for accommodating screws. The transmission module is used to arrange the screws in the device body one by one and then transmit them to the rotating component in sequence. The detection mechanism is located on the limiting seat.

[0011] Furthermore, the number of the receiving slots is two, and the two receiving slots are symmetrically arranged with the center of the rotating component as the center of symmetry; the limiting seat is provided with a detection hole, and when one receiving slot is connected to the output end of the transmission module, the other receiving slot is located in the detection hole.

[0012] Furthermore, the rotating component includes a rotating disk with a groove for accommodating the screw head.

[0013] Furthermore, the detection module includes one of an infrared detection module, a visual detection module, and a photoelectric detection module.

[0014] This utility model also provides a screw-making machine, including a machine body, a feeder, a screw-locking mechanism, a main control unit, and a feeding mechanism, all of which are disposed in the machine body. The feeder, screw-locking mechanism, and feeding mechanism are all signal-connected to the main control unit. The feeder is used to feed screws, the feeding mechanism is used to transfer products to be screwed, and the screw-locking mechanism is used to take out screws from the feeder and fasten the screws onto the products of the feeding mechanism. The feeder is the aforementioned screw feeder.

[0015] Furthermore, the machine body is also equipped with a recycling container; the screw machine also includes the following steps:

[0016] Screws are fed through a feeding mechanism;

[0017] The screws were inspected by a testing agency.

[0018] The screw is judged to be qualified based on the inspection results. If it is qualified, the screw-locking mechanism picks up the screw and moves it to the product of the feeding mechanism for locking. Otherwise, the screw-locking mechanism transfers the screw to the recycling container.

[0019] Furthermore, the inspection mechanism for screws includes:

[0020] Image information of the screws is obtained through an inspection agency;

[0021] The image information of the screw is analyzed to obtain the screw length and screw diameter.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: By setting a detection mechanism in the feeder, the screws are detected as soon as they are fed, so that the quality of the screws can be determined from the feeding end. This ensures the efficiency of screw fastening without compromising the structure of the screw fastening mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is an internal schematic diagram of Example 1.

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of Example 3.

[0026] Reference numerals: 1—body, 2—feeding mechanism, 3—detection mechanism, 4—machine body, 5—screw locking mechanism, 6—main control unit, 7—feeding mechanism, 21—transmission module, 22—rotating component, 23—rotation driver, 24—limit seat, 25—slot, 26—detection hole, 31—stopping component, 32—detection module, 33—through-beam fiber. Detailed Implementation

[0027] 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.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a screw feeder with screw detection function, including a body 1 and a feeding mechanism 2 disposed on the body 1. The body 1 is also provided with a detection mechanism 3, which is used to sense whether the screw fed by the feeding mechanism 2 is qualified.

[0030] This embodiment is applied to a screw-feeding machine to enable the screw feeding function. During operation, the feeding mechanism 2 feeds screws one by one from the housing 1 to the detection mechanism 3, which then inspects the screws, including their length and diameter. After inspection, if any of the screw's inspection criteria are not met, the screw is deemed unqualified and picked up by the screw-feeding machine using this embodiment, then moved to a specific location. When all the screw's inspection criteria are met, the screw is qualified, and the subsequent screw-feeding machine can pick up the screw and fasten it to the product.

[0031] This invention improves efficiency by detecting screws during the screw loading process, and also prevents the screw picking structure from becoming too bulky.

[0032] In this embodiment, the detection mechanism 3 includes a stop 31 and a detection module 32. The stop 31 is installed on the body 1 and located at the output end of the feeding mechanism 2. The stop 31 is used to cooperate with the feeding mechanism 2 to maintain the posture of the screw to be detected. The detection module 32 is disposed on the stop 31, and the output end of the detection module 32 faces the output end of the feeding mechanism 2. The detection module 32 is used to sense the length and diameter of the screw.

[0033] The stopper 31 is used in conjunction with the feeding mechanism 2 to limit and maintain the posture of the fed screws, so that the screws are in an upright state. Since the detection module 32 senses the upright screws, it can accurately obtain the length and diameter values ​​of the screws based on the screws' blocking and reflection of the light signal, thereby achieving the detection effect of the screws.

[0034] Specifically, the detection module 32 includes two through-beam optical fibers 33, which are arranged facing each other, and the output end of the feeding mechanism 2 is located between the two through-beam optical fibers 33.

[0035] The through-beam fiber optic sensor 33, also known as a through-beam fiber optic sensor, uses two through-beam fibers 33 to detect screws, ensuring the accuracy of the detection results. One of the two fibers 33 is a fiber optic transmitter, and the other is a fiber optic receiver. The difference between the transmitted and received signals indicates whether the screw is qualified, making the process simple and efficient.

[0036] In this embodiment, the feeding mechanism 2 includes a transmission module 21, a rotating component 22, a rotation driver 23, and a limiting seat 24. The transmission module 21 and the limiting seat 24 are both installed on the body 1. The rotating component 22 is rotatably disposed on the limiting seat 24. The rotation driver 23 is used to drive the rotating component 22 to rotate. The rotating component 22 has at least one receiving groove 25 for accommodating screws. The transmission module 21 is used to arrange the screws in the body 1 one by one and then transmit them to the rotating component 22 in sequence. The detection mechanism 3 is disposed on the limiting seat 24.

[0037] In actual use, the transmission module 21 includes a feeding component and a feeding cylinder. The feeding channel can be connected to a vibratory feeder or other conventional devices. These devices are used to erect the screw and move it to the feeding component. The side wall of the feeding component limits the screw's posture. The feeding cylinder then moves the feeding component to move the screw to the rotating component 22. The rotating component 22 is moved by the rotation driver 23, so that the screw enters the detection mechanism 3 for detection. The whole process is automated.

[0038] Specifically, there are two receiving slots 25, which are symmetrically arranged with the center of the rotating component 22 as the center of symmetry. The limiting seat 24 is provided with a detection hole 26. When one receiving slot 25 is connected to the output end of the transmission module 21, the other receiving slot 25 is located in the detection hole 26, so that the detection and picking of screws and the feeding of screws can be carried out simultaneously, ensuring the feeding efficiency.

[0039] Specifically, the rotating component 22 includes a rotating disk and a receiving groove 25 for accommodating the screw head. That is, the screw head is accommodated in the receiving groove 25, while the screw body is suspended, so that the screw can be kept in an upright state for detection by the detection mechanism 3.

[0040] Example 2

[0041] The main difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 lies in the detection mechanism 3. Specifically, the detection module 32 in this embodiment is one of the infrared detection module, the visual detection module, and the photoelectric detection module.

[0042] In addition to using optical fiber to detect screws as described in Example 1, detection can also be achieved using one of the following methods: infrared detection, image capture by a vision camera, or photoelectric detection. Specifically, for infrared detection, at least one infrared transceiver can be used to detect the screw, and the specific outline image of the screw can be obtained through the infrared light reflected by the screw; for vision detection, a vision camera is used to directly capture an image of the screw; for photoelectric detection, a photodetector is used, and the light signal reflected by the screw is received and converted into an electrical signal, thereby obtaining the screw outline.

[0043] Apart from this, the other structures in this embodiment are similar to those in Embodiment 1, and will not be described again here.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment provides a screw-making machine, including a machine body 4, a feeder, a screw-locking mechanism 5, a main control unit 6, and a feeding mechanism 7, all of which are disposed on the machine body 4. The feeder, screw-locking mechanism 5, and feeding mechanism 7 are all signal-connected to the main control unit 6. The feeder is used to feed screws, the feeding mechanism 7 is used to transfer products to be screwed, and the screw-locking mechanism 5 is used to take screws from the feeder and lock them. The feeder is the screw feeder described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, specifically: the feeder includes a body 1 and a feeding mechanism 2 disposed on the body 1. The body 1 is also provided with a detection mechanism 3, which is used to sense whether the screws fed by the feeding mechanism 2 are qualified.

[0046] In actual use, the machine body 4 is also equipped with a recycling container to collect and place defective screws; the screw machine also includes the following steps:

[0047] The feeding screw is fed through the feeding mechanism 2;

[0048] The screws were inspected by inspection agency 3, and the inspection included the screw's diameter and length.

[0049] The screw is judged to be qualified according to the test results. If it is qualified, the screw-locking mechanism 5 picks up the screw and moves it to the product of the feeding mechanism 7 for screw-locking; otherwise, the screw-locking mechanism 5 transfers the screw to the recycling container.

[0050] In this embodiment, the screw machine uses the screw feeder described in Embodiment 1. The screw feeder feeds and inspects the screws. When the inspection is qualified, the screw fastening mechanism 5 will pick up the screw and apply it for fastening. When the inspection is unqualified, the screw fastening mechanism 5 will pick up the screw and put it into the recycling container to prevent unqualified screws from being used for fastening.

[0051] Specifically, the inspection mechanism for screws includes:

[0052] Image information of the screw is obtained through a detection mechanism;

[0053] The image information of the screw is analyzed to obtain the screw length and screw diameter.

[0054] Of course, in addition to length and diameter detection, screw posture and shape detection can also be introduced. That is, based on the image information of the screw, it can be detected whether the screw head and the screw body are perpendicular. If they are not perpendicular, the screw is also unqualified. This enables multi-dimensional judgment of screws, ensuring that qualified screws will not affect the flow field of screw-locking action and the quality of screw-locking during subsequent use.

[0055] In this embodiment, the main control unit 6 is used to coordinate the actions of the feeder and the screw-locking mechanism 5, so that the actions of the two can cooperate with each other.

[0056] Specifically, the detection mechanism 3 includes a stop 31 and a detection module 32. The stop 31 is installed on the body 1 and located at the output end of the feeding mechanism 2. The detection module 32 is disposed on the stop 31, and the output end of the detection module 32 faces the output end of the feeding mechanism 2. The detection module 32 is used to sense the length and diameter of the screw.

[0057] Specifically, the feeding mechanism 2 includes a transmission module 21, a rotating component 22, a rotation driver 23, and a limiting seat 24. The transmission module 21 and the limiting seat 24 are both installed on the body 1. The rotating component 22 is rotatably mounted on the limiting seat 24. The rotation driver 23 is used to drive the rotating component 22 to rotate. The rotating component 22 has at least one receiving groove 25 for accommodating screws. The transmission module 21 is used to arrange the screws in the body 1 one by one and then transmit them to the rotating component 22 in sequence. The detection mechanism 3 is set on the limiting seat 24.

[0058] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model in any way. Although the present utility model has been disclosed above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present utility model. 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 utility model. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the present utility model without departing from the scope of the present utility model shall fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A screw feeder with screw detection function, comprising a feeder body and a feeding mechanism arranged on the feeder body, characterized in that, The device body is also equipped with a detection mechanism, which is used to sense whether the screws fed by the feeding mechanism are qualified. The detection mechanism includes a stop and a detection module. The stop is installed on the body and located at the output end of the feeding mechanism. The stop is used to cooperate with the feeding mechanism to maintain the posture of the screw to be detected. The output end of the detection module faces the output end of the feeding mechanism. The detection module is used to sense the length and diameter of the screw.

2. The screw feeder with a screw detection function according to claim 1, characterized by, The detection module includes two through-beam optical fibers, which are arranged facing each other, and the output end of the feeding mechanism is located between the two through-beam optical fibers.

3. The screw feeder with a screw detection function according to claim 1, characterized by, The feeding mechanism includes a transmission module, a rotating component, a rotation driver, and a limiting seat. The transmission module and the limiting seat are both installed on the device body. The rotating component is rotatably mounted on the limiting seat. The rotation driver is used to drive the rotating component to rotate. The rotating component has at least one receiving groove for accommodating screws. The transmission module is used to arrange the screws in the device body one by one and then transmit them to the rotating component in sequence. The detection mechanism is set on the limiting seat.

4. The screw feeder with a screw detection function according to claim 3, characterized by, The number of the receiving slots is two, and the two receiving slots are symmetrically arranged with the center of the rotating component as the center of symmetry; the limiting seat is provided with a detection hole, and when one receiving slot is connected to the output end of the transmission module, the other receiving slot is located in the detection hole.

5. The screw feeder with a screw detection function according to claim 3, characterized by, The rotating component includes a rotating disk and a groove for accommodating the screw head.

6. The screw feeder with screw detection function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection module includes one of the following: an infrared detection module, a visual detection module, and a photoelectric detection module.

7. A screw-making machine, comprising a machine body, a feeder, a screw-fastening mechanism, a main control unit, and a feeding mechanism, all disposed within the machine body, wherein the feeder, screw-fastening mechanism, and feeding mechanism are all signal-connected to the main control unit; the feeder is used to feed screws; the feeding mechanism is used to transfer products to be screwed; and the screw-fastening mechanism is used to remove screws from the feeder and fasten the screws onto the products of the feeding mechanism, characterized in that... The feeder is the screw feeder according to any one of claims 1-6.

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