Inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like

Abstract

An inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles (2) into panels (3) made of wood or the like is provided with a plurality of stores (9, 10, 12) to store different types of hardware articles (2), a transfer device (16) to pick up the hardware articles (2) from the store (9, 10, 12), and an inserting device (15) to receive the hardware articles (2) from the transfer device (16) and insert them into the panels (3); the inserting device (15) having a holding member (29), which is provided with a plurality of seats (33) for the different types of hardware articles (2).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Applications No. 102021000013991, 102021000013970, 102021000013976 filed on May 28, 2021.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like. EP 1 982 808 A discloses the preamble of claim 1.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] In the field of inserting hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like used for the manufacture of furniture, it is known to provide a drilling / milling / inserting machine of the type comprising a roller or belt supporting device, which defines a substantially horizontal supporting surface for the panels, and extends between a station for loading the panels into the machine and a station for unloading the panels from the machine.

[0004] The machine further comprises at least one machining station provided with an operating unit for machining the panels; at least one inserting station provided with an inserting unit for inserting hardware articles into respective seats formed in the panels by the operating unit; and a feeding device for feeding the panels between the loading station and the unloading station and in a substantially vertical containment plane perpendicular to the supporting surface.

[0005] The feeding device comprises, for example, two gripping members, each of which has two jaws arranged on opposite sides of a path of advancement of the panels in a direction perpendicular to the containment plane.

[0006] The panels are picked up by the two gripping members in the loading station, fed through the machining station and the inserting station, and released into the unloading station.

[0007] The inserting unit comprises an inserting assembly for inserting the hardware articles into the panels; and a feeding assembly for feeding the hardware articles to the inserting assembly.

[0008] Tipically, the feeding assembly comprises at least one vibrating feeding hopper, which is configured to contain the hardware articles and is provided with a feeding channel for successively transferring the hardware articles from the feeding hopper to the inserting assembly.

[0009] Tipically, the inserting assembly comprises an inserting device for inserting the hardware articles into the panels; and a transfer device for transferring the hardware articles from the feeding channel to the inserting device.

[0010] The transfer device comprises a plurality of horizontal shuttles and a plurality of vertical shuttles connected to each other so as to transfer each hardware article from the respective feeding channel to the inserting device.

[0011] The inserting device normally comprises a holding member provided with a seat for receiving and holding a hardware article.

[0012] Known inserting units of the type described above have some drawbacks mainly due to the fact that the holding member of the inserting device is configured to receive and hold a single type of hardware articles and therefore has relatively reduced flexibility and versatility.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like, which is free from the drawbacks described above and simple and inexpensive to implement.SUBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to the present invention, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like is provided as claimed in the appended claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the inserting unit of the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are two schematic perspective views of a first detail of the inserting unit in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second detail of the inserting unit in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the detail in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a first variant of the inserting unit in Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second variant of the inserting unit in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles 2, for example hinges, into panels 3 made of wood or the like.

[0017] The unit 1 comprises an elongated base 4 extending in a horizontal direction 5 and is provided with a feeding device 6, in this case a roller feeding device, defining a supporting surface for the panels 3.

[0018] The panels 3 are arranged on the device 6 in a substantially vertical containment plane, and are fed by the device 6 through an inserting station 7.

[0019] The unit 1 further comprises a feeding assembly 8 in turn comprising a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 9 (four hoppers 9 in this case) arranged successively along the base 4 in direction 5, a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 10 (two hoppers 10 in this case) aligned with each other in a horizontal direction 11 transverse to direction 5, and a plurality of linear stores 12 parallel to each other and to direction 11.

[0020] Each hopper 9, 10 houses on the inside a plurality of articles 2 and is configured and set in vibration to feed the articles 2 successively to an output channel 13 extending in a containment plane substantially perpendicular to direction 5 (for the channels 13 of the hoppers 9) and to direction 11 (for the channels 13 of the hoppers 10).

[0021] The stores 12 are inclined with respect to the ground so as to feed the respective articles 2 by gravity at their output ends.

[0022] At the output of the stores 12 and the channels 13, the articles 2 are picked up by an inserting assembly 14 comprising, in this case, an inserting device 15 mounted in the station 7 for inserting articles 2 into panels 3, and an industrial robot 16 for transferring the articles between the stores 12 or channels 13 and the device 15.

[0023] The assembly 14 further comprises a guide device 17, which extends along the base 4 in direction 5, is mounted between the base 4, the hoppers 9, and the stores 12, and is slidingly engaged by the robot 16 to allow the robot 16 to move between the hoppers 9, 10, the stores 12, and the station 7.

[0024] The robot 16 has at least four degrees of freedom, is mounted so as to rotate around a substantially vertical rotation axis 18 orthogonal to directions 5 and 11, comprises a plurality of articulated arms 19, and is provided with a holding member 20 mounted on the free end of the last arm 19.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the member 20 comprises two jaws 21 which are movable between a clamping position and a release position for releasing at least one article 2.

[0026] Each jaw 21 is delimited by a substantially flat front face 22 and is also delimited by a substantially flat holding face 23, which is substantially perpendicular to the face 22 and faces the face 23 of the other jaw 21.

[0027] Each jaw 21 has at least two substantially semicylindrical cavities 24, which are distributed along the face 23 and open outwards where the face 23 is, and is also provided with a flat lug 25 delimited by the face 23.

[0028] The cavities 24 and the lug 25 of each jaw 21 cooperate with the cavities 24 and the lug 25 of the other jaw 21 to grip and hold different types of articles 2.

[0029] Each jaw 21 also has at least two shaped slots 26, which are distributed along the face 22, open outwards where the face 22 is, and cooperate with the slots 26 of the other jaw 21 to house on the inside corresponding parts of different types of articles 2.

[0030] In other words, the cavities 24, the lug 25, and the cavities 26 of each jaw 21 are configured so as to cooperate selectively with the cavities 24, the lug 25, and the cavities 26 of the other jaw 21 and allow the member 20 to grip and hold different types of articles 2.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the inserting device 15 comprises a pair of parallel uprights 27 extending in a vertical direction 28 orthogonal to directions 5 and 11, each supporting a respective vertical slide (not shown) which is movable along the respective upright 27 in direction 28.

[0032] Each vertical slide (not shown) supports a horizontal slide (not shown), which is mounted so as to move in a straight line in direction 11 with respect to the vertical slide (not shown) and supports a holding member 29 designed to receive the articles 2 from the robot 16.

[0033] The member 29 comprises a central hub 30, which is mounted so as to rotate around its own longitudinal axis 31 which is parallel to direction 28, is delimited by a substantially rectangular outer side wall 32, and is provided with a plurality of forks 33 distributed around the axis 31.

[0034] In this case, the forks 33 are the same number as the number of faces of the wall 32, are uniformly distributed around the axis 31, and each is configured to receive and hold a respective article 2.

[0035] Each fork 33 is slidably coupled to the hub 30 so as to move in a straight line transverse to direction 28, with respect to the hub 30, and to insert the respective article 2 into the respective panel 3.

[0036] In other words, the forks 33 allow the member 29 to receive and hold a plurality of articles 2, in particular different types of articles 2.

[0037] According to some variants, not shown: the robot 16 is configured to pick up a plurality of articles 2 housed in at least one tray arranged on a first bench and to release the empty trays onto a second bench; the inserting device 15 is eliminated and the articles 2 are inserted into the respective panels 3 directly by the robot however this embodiment is not part of the invention and here for illustration purposes only; and the wall 32 has a shape different from the rectangular shape shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0038] The variant shown in Figure 6 relates to an inserting unit 34 comprising a feeding assembly 35 and an inserting assembly 36.

[0039] In this case, the assembly 35 comprises at least one feeding hopper 37 which is absolutely similar to the hoppers 9, 10, an output channel 38 which is absolutely similar to the channels 13, a first bench 39 for receiving trays 40 containing articles 2, and a second bench 41 for receiving the empty trays 40.

[0040] The assembly 36 comprises the inserting device 15 and an anthropomorphic robot 42, which is absolutely similar to the robot 16 and is provided with a holding member 43 which is movable between the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the inserting device 15.

[0041] The hopper 37, the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the robot 42 are mounted on a supporting platform 44 so as to define an assembly 45, which is pre-assembled in the factory of the manufacturer and supplied to the customer with the correct orientation and positioning of the hopper 37, the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the robot 42.

[0042] The variant shown in Figure 7 relates to an inserting unit 46 comprising a feeding assembly 47 and an inserting assembly 48.

[0043] In this case, the assembly 47 comprises a plurality of feeding hoppers 49, which are absolutely similar to the hoppers 9, 10, are provided with respective output channels 50, which are absolutely similar to the channels 13, and are arranged at different heights from the ground, in particular aligned with each other in direction 28.

[0044] The assembly 48 comprises an upright 51 substantially parallel to direction 28, a vertical slide 52 slidably coupled to the upright 51 so as to move in a straight line along the upright 51 in direction 28, and an anthropomorphic robot 53 mounted on the slide 52 to move between the channels 50.

[0045] The assembly 48 is further provided with an inserting device 54, in this case comprising a vertical slide 55, which is slidably coupled to the upright 51 so as to move in a straight line along the upright 51 in direction 28, and supports two horizontal slides 56.

[0046] Each slide 56 is coupled to the slide 55 so as to move in a straight line in direction 11 with respect to the slide 55, and is provided with a holding member 57 which is absolutely similar to the members 29.

[0047] According to a variant not shown, the slide 55 is eliminated, and the slides 56 and the members 57 are mounted on the slide 52.

[0048] The inserting unit 46 has some advantages mainly deriving from the fact that the feeding assembly 47 has relatively small dimensions and that the robot 53 is provided with articulated arms of relatively small length and is therefore relatively inexpensive and compact.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles 2, for example hinges, into panels 3 made of wood or the like.

[0017]The unit 1 comprises an elongated base 4 extending in a horizontal direction 5 and is provided with a feeding device 6, in this case a roller feeding device, defining a supporting surface for the panels 3.

[0018]The panels 3 are arranged on the device 6 in a substantially vertical containment plane, and are fed by the device 6 through an inserting station 7.

[0019]The unit 1 further comprises a feeding assembly 8 in turn comprising a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 9 (four hoppers 9 in this case) arranged successively along the base 4 in direction 5, a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 10 (two hoppers 10 in this case) aligned with each other in a horizontal direction 11 transverse to direction 5, and a plurality of linear stores 12 parallel to each other and to direction 11.

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Applications No. 102021000013991, 102021000013970, 102021000013976 filed on May 28, 2021.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like. EP 1 982 808 A discloses the preamble of claim 1.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] In the field of inserting hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like used for the manufacture of furniture, it is known to provide a drilling / milling / inserting machine of the type comprising a roller or belt supporting device, which defines a substantially horizontal supporting surface for the panels, and extends between a station for loading the panels into the machine and a station for unloading the panels from the machine.

[0004] The machine further comprises at least one machining station provided with an operating unit for machining the panels; at least one inserting station provided with an inserting unit for inserting hardware articles into respective seats formed in the panels by the operating unit; and a feeding device for feeding the panels between the loading station and the unloading station and in a substantially vertical containment plane perpendicular to the supporting surface.

[0005] The feeding device comprises, for example, two gripping members, each of which has two jaws arranged on opposite sides of a path of advancement of the panels in a direction perpendicular to the containment plane.

[0006] The panels are picked up by the two gripping members in the loading station, fed through the machining station and the inserting station, and released into the unloading station.

[0007] The inserting unit comprises an inserting assembly for inserting the hardware articles into the panels; and a feeding assembly for feeding the hardware articles to the inserting assembly.

[0008] Tipically, the feeding assembly comprises at least one vibrating feeding hopper, which is configured to contain the hardware articles and is provided with a feeding channel for successively transferring the hardware articles from the feeding hopper to the inserting assembly.

[0009] Tipically, the inserting assembly comprises an inserting device for inserting the hardware articles into the panels; and a transfer device for transferring the hardware articles from the feeding channel to the inserting device.

[0010] The transfer device comprises a plurality of horizontal shuttles and a plurality of vertical shuttles connected to each other so as to transfer each hardware article from the respective feeding channel to the inserting device.

[0011] The inserting device normally comprises a holding member provided with a seat for receiving and holding a hardware article.

[0012] Known inserting units of the type described above have some drawbacks mainly due to the fact that the holding member of the inserting device is configured to receive and hold a single type of hardware articles and therefore has relatively reduced flexibility and versatility.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like, which is free from the drawbacks described above and simple and inexpensive to implement.SUBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to the present invention, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles into panels made of wood or the like is provided as claimed in the appended claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the inserting unit of the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are two schematic perspective views of a first detail of the inserting unit in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second detail of the inserting unit in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of the detail in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a first variant of the inserting unit in Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a second variant of the inserting unit in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles 2, for example hinges, into panels 3 made of wood or the like.

[0017] The unit 1 comprises an elongated base 4 extending in a horizontal direction 5 and is provided with a feeding device 6, in this case a roller feeding device, defining a supporting surface for the panels 3.

[0018] The panels 3 are arranged on the device 6 in a substantially vertical containment plane, and are fed by the device 6 through an inserting station 7.

[0019] The unit 1 further comprises a feeding assembly 8 in turn comprising a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 9 (four hoppers 9 in this case) arranged successively along the base 4 in direction 5, a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 10 (two hoppers 10 in this case) aligned with each other in a horizontal direction 11 transverse to direction 5, and a plurality of linear stores 12 parallel to each other and to direction 11.

[0020] Each hopper 9, 10 houses on the inside a plurality of articles 2 and is configured and set in vibration to feed the articles 2 successively to an output channel 13 extending in a containment plane substantially perpendicular to direction 5 (for the channels 13 of the hoppers 9) and to direction 11 (for the channels 13 of the hoppers 10).

[0021] The stores 12 are inclined with respect to the ground so as to feed the respective articles 2 by gravity at their output ends.

[0022] At the output of the stores 12 and the channels 13, the articles 2 are picked up by an inserting assembly 14 comprising, in this case, an inserting device 15 mounted in the station 7 for inserting articles 2 into panels 3, and an industrial robot 16 for transferring the articles between the stores 12 or channels 13 and the device 15.

[0023] The assembly 14 further comprises a guide device 17, which extends along the base 4 in direction 5, is mounted between the base 4, the hoppers 9, and the stores 12, and is slidingly engaged by the robot 16 to allow the robot 16 to move between the hoppers 9, 10, the stores 12, and the station 7.

[0024] The robot 16 has at least four degrees of freedom, is mounted so as to rotate around a substantially vertical rotation axis 18 orthogonal to directions 5 and 11, comprises a plurality of articulated arms 19, and is provided with a holding member 20 mounted on the free end of the last arm 19.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the member 20 comprises two jaws 21 which are movable between a clamping position and a release position for releasing at least one article 2.

[0026] Each jaw 21 is delimited by a substantially flat front face 22 and is also delimited by a substantially flat holding face 23, which is substantially perpendicular to the face 22 and faces the face 23 of the other jaw 21.

[0027] Each jaw 21 has at least two substantially semicylindrical cavities 24, which are distributed along the face 23 and open outwards where the face 23 is, and is also provided with a flat lug 25 delimited by the face 23.

[0028] The cavities 24 and the lug 25 of each jaw 21 cooperate with the cavities 24 and the lug 25 of the other jaw 21 to grip and hold different types of articles 2.

[0029] Each jaw 21 also has at least two shaped slots 26, which are distributed along the face 22, open outwards where the face 22 is, and cooperate with the slots 26 of the other jaw 21 to house on the inside corresponding parts of different types of articles 2.

[0030] In other words, the cavities 24, the lug 25, and the cavities 26 of each jaw 21 are configured so as to cooperate selectively with the cavities 24, the lug 25, and the cavities 26 of the other jaw 21 and allow the member 20 to grip and hold different types of articles 2.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the inserting device 15 comprises a pair of parallel uprights 27 extending in a vertical direction 28 orthogonal to directions 5 and 11, each supporting a respective vertical slide (not shown) which is movable along the respective upright 27 in direction 28.

[0032] Each vertical slide (not shown) supports a horizontal slide (not shown), which is mounted so as to move in a straight line in direction 11 with respect to the vertical slide (not shown) and supports a holding member 29 designed to receive the articles 2 from the robot 16.

[0033] The member 29 comprises a central hub 30, which is mounted so as to rotate around its own longitudinal axis 31 which is parallel to direction 28, is delimited by a substantially rectangular outer side wall 32, and is provided with a plurality of forks 33 distributed around the axis 31.

[0034] In this case, the forks 33 are the same number as the number of faces of the wall 32, are uniformly distributed around the axis 31, and each is configured to receive and hold a respective article 2.

[0035] Each fork 33 is slidably coupled to the hub 30 so as to move in a straight line transverse to direction 28, with respect to the hub 30, and to insert the respective article 2 into the respective panel 3.

[0036] In other words, the forks 33 allow the member 29 to receive and hold a plurality of articles 2, in particular different types of articles 2.

[0037] According to some variants, not shown: the robot 16 is configured to pick up a plurality of articles 2 housed in at least one tray arranged on a first bench and to release the empty trays onto a second bench; the inserting device 15 is eliminated and the articles 2 are inserted into the respective panels 3 directly by the robot however this embodiment is not part of the invention and here for illustration purposes only; and the wall 32 has a shape different from the rectangular shape shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0038] The variant shown in Figure 6 relates to an inserting unit 34 comprising a feeding assembly 35 and an inserting assembly 36.

[0039] In this case, the assembly 35 comprises at least one feeding hopper 37 which is absolutely similar to the hoppers 9, 10, an output channel 38 which is absolutely similar to the channels 13, a first bench 39 for receiving trays 40 containing articles 2, and a second bench 41 for receiving the empty trays 40.

[0040] The assembly 36 comprises the inserting device 15 and an anthropomorphic robot 42, which is absolutely similar to the robot 16 and is provided with a holding member 43 which is movable between the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the inserting device 15.

[0041] The hopper 37, the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the robot 42 are mounted on a supporting platform 44 so as to define an assembly 45, which is pre-assembled in the factory of the manufacturer and supplied to the customer with the correct orientation and positioning of the hopper 37, the channel 38, the benches 39 and 41, and the robot 42.

[0042] The variant shown in Figure 7 relates to an inserting unit 46 comprising a feeding assembly 47 and an inserting assembly 48.

[0043] In this case, the assembly 47 comprises a plurality of feeding hoppers 49, which are absolutely similar to the hoppers 9, 10, are provided with respective output channels 50, which are absolutely similar to the channels 13, and are arranged at different heights from the ground, in particular aligned with each other in direction 28.

[0044] The assembly 48 comprises an upright 51 substantially parallel to direction 28, a vertical slide 52 slidably coupled to the upright 51 so as to move in a straight line along the upright 51 in direction 28, and an anthropomorphic robot 53 mounted on the slide 52 to move between the channels 50.

[0045] The assembly 48 is further provided with an inserting device 54, in this case comprising a vertical slide 55, which is slidably coupled to the upright 51 so as to move in a straight line along the upright 51 in direction 28, and supports two horizontal slides 56.

[0046] Each slide 56 is coupled to the slide 55 so as to move in a straight line in direction 11 with respect to the slide 55, and is provided with a holding member 57 which is absolutely similar to the members 29.

[0047] According to a variant not shown, the slide 55 is eliminated, and the slides 56 and the members 57 are mounted on the slide 52.

[0048] The inserting unit 46 has some advantages mainly deriving from the fact that the feeding assembly 47 has relatively small dimensions and that the robot 53 is provided with articulated arms of relatively small length and is therefore relatively inexpensive and compact.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0016]With reference to Figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, an inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles 2, for example hinges, into panels 3 made of wood or the like.

[0017]The unit 1 comprises an elongated base 4 extending in a horizontal direction 5 and is provided with a feeding device 6, in this case a roller feeding device, defining a supporting surface for the panels 3.

[0018]The panels 3 are arranged on the device 6 in a substantially vertical containment plane, and are fed by the device 6 through an inserting station 7.

[0019]The unit 1 further comprises a feeding assembly 8 in turn comprising a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 9 (four hoppers 9 in this case) arranged successively along the base 4 in direction 5, a plurality of vibrating feeding hoppers 10 (two hoppers 10 in this case) aligned with each other in a horizontal direction 11 transverse to direction 5, and a plurality of linear stores 12 parallel to each other and to direction 11.

[...

Claims

1. An inserting unit for the insertion of furniture hardware articles (2) into panels (3) made of wood or the like, the inserting unit comprising an inserting assembly (14; 36; 48) to insert hardware articles (2) into panels (3) made of wood or the like; and a feeding assembly (8; 35; 47) to feed the hardware articles (2) to the inserting assembly (14; 36; 48); the feeding assembly (8) comprising a plurality of stores (9, 10, 12) to store different types of hardware articles (2); characterized in that the inserting assembly (14) comprises a transfer device comprising an industrial robot (16; 42; 53) to pick up the hardware articles (2) from the store (9, 10, 12) and an inserting device (15; 54) to receive the hardware articles (2) from the industrial robot and insert them into the panels (3); the industrial robot (16; 42; 53) having at least four degrees of freedom; and the inserting device (15; 54) comprising a holding member (29; 43; 57), which is provided with a plurality of seats (33) for the different types of hardware articles (2).

2. The inserting unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member (29; 43; 57) comprises a central hub (30), which is mounted so as to rotate around a rotation axis (31); the seats (33) being distributed around the rotation axis (31).

3. The inserting unit according to claim 2 and further comprising an operating device to move the central hub (30) around the rotation axis (31) in an intermittent manner.

4. The inserting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each seat (33) has the shape of a fork.

5. The inserting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding member (29; 43; 57) comprises a central hub (30); each seat (33) being coupled to the central hub (30) so as to move between a retracted rest position and an extracted operating position, in which the seat (33) engages the hardware article (2) in the panel (3) .

6. The inserting unit according to claim 5, wherein the central hub (30) is delimited by an outer side wall (32); the seats (33) being obtained on the outer side wall (32) .

7. The inserting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeding assembly (47) further comprises a plurality of feeding plates (49), in particular feeding hoppers, containing the hardware articles (2) and, for each feeding plate (49), a respective feeding channel (50) for successively transferring the hardware articles (2) from the feeding plate (49) to the inserting assembly (48); the feeding plates (49) being arranged at different heights from the ground.

8. The inserting unit according to claim 7, wherein the industrial robot (53) is movable between the feeding channels (50) in a substantially vertical direction (28).

9. The inserting unit according to claim 8, wherein the feeding plates (49) and the respective feeding channels (50) are superimposed on each other in direction (28).

10. The inserting unit according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the inserting assembly (48) further comprises an upright (51) extending in direction (28) and slidably engaged by the industrial robot (53).

11. The inserting unit according to claim 10, wherein the inserting device (54) is slidably coupled to the upright (51) to move in a straight line in direction (28).

12. The inserting unit according to claim 11, wherein the industrial robot (53) and the inserting device (54) are movable along the upright (51) independently of each other or integrally with each other.

13. The inserting unit according to any one of the preceding claims and further comprising a supporting platform (44) to which at least part of the inserting assembly (36) and at least part of the feeding assembly (35) are fixed.

14. The inserting unit according to claim 13, wherein the stores (9, 10, 12) and the industrial robot (42) are mounted on the supporting platform (44).

15. The inserting unit according to claim 14, wherein the feeding assembly (35) comprises a feeding plate (37), in particular a feeding hopper (37), mounted on the supporting platform (44) and / or a tray (40) mounted on the supporting platform (44) to contain the hardware articles (2); the industrial robot (42) being mounted on the supporting platform (44) to pick up the hardware articles (2) from the feeding plate (37) and / or from the tray (40).

16. The inserting unit according to claim 15, wherein the feeding assembly (35) further comprises a first bench (39) to accommodate the trays (40) containing the hardware articles (2) and a second bench (41) to accommodate the empty trays (40); said first and second benches (39, 41) being mounted on the supporting platform (44).

17. The inserting unit according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the supporting platform (44) rests on a supporting floor.

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