Magazine for a placement machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a magazine (10) for accommodating electrical devices which can be arranged in rows one beside the other and can be accessed by a pick-and-place machine for automatically mounting the devices on carrying rails, comprising a main profile (11), on which a carrying-rail profile portion (12) is arranged or formed for the purpose of accommodating a plurality of the electrical devices and for guiding the devices longitudinally displaceably in a displacement direction, wherein a stop (14) for a front one of the devices is arranged at one end of the main profile (11), wherein an element which extends in the displacement direction, and behind which the electrical devices can engage, ends in front of the stop (14), this resulting in the formation of a removal portion (24), from which the front one of the devices can be removed in a direction transverse to the displacement direction. The magazine (10) is distinguished by a mechanism which makes it possible to vary the length of the removal portion (24) in the displacement direction.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a magazine for holding electrical devices, in particular terminal blocks, that can be connected in series, for a pick-and-place machine for the automatic mounting of the devices on a mounting rail. The magazine comprises a base profile on which a mounting rail profile section is arranged or formed for holding a plurality of the electrical devices and for guiding the devices longitudinally in a sliding direction. At one end of the base profile, a stop for a front device is arranged, wherein an element extending in the sliding direction and accessible behind the electrical devices ends before the stop, so that a removal section is formed from which the front device can be removed in a direction transverse to the sliding direction.

[0002] From publication WO 2010 / 057769 A1, a device for the automated assembly of terminal blocks on a mounting rail is known, in which an assembly robot uses a movable gripper to remove terminal blocks held in magazines and arrange them on a mounting rail. The gripper and the terminal block have corresponding contours that interact in a form-fit and / or force-fit manner. The magazines are rail-like with contours that also interact with the contours of the device housings, so that the devices are guided one behind the other in the form of a stack and can be slidably moved within the magazines. A terminal block pushed out of the magazine at one end, and thus out of the engagement of the contours, is grasped by the gripper and placed onto the mounting rail. In embodiments described in the aforementioned publication, a magazine has, for example, two U-shaped rails that encompass the housings of the electrical devices on their sides.The disadvantage is that a specially designed magazine must be provided for each differently shaped housing.

[0003] Documents EP 3 479 442 B1 and US 2020 / 0307923 A1 each also disclose a receiving magazine for electrical devices, in particular terminal blocks, in which the magazine guides the electrical devices stacked one behind the other in guide rails adapted to the outer housing shape. A receiving element is positioned at the front end of the magazine (in the direction of device movement), which has a recess contoured to the electrical device. An electrical device pushed out of the magazine is precisely gripped by the receiving element, which then moves to handle the electrical device further. This also requires the guide rail of the magazine to be adapted to the dimensions and shape of the electrical device's housing.The precise fit of a pushed-out device into the receiving element ensures reliable further processing through accurate and correct positioning of the electrical device, but requires an individual design of the receiving element for each device type, e.g., each terminal block type.

[0004] A housing contour that is identical for many connectable electrical devices of different types is the contour that enables locking onto a mounting rail. Mounting rails are generally designed in a standardized manner as DIN rails. Utilizing this commonality, it is possible to design a guide profile for a magazine of the aforementioned type in such a way that at least the features relevant for locking the terminal blocks onto a mounting rail profile are replicated. In such a design, a stop is typically provided against which the terminal blocks in the magazine are pushed. A section is formed in front of the stop in which the mounting rail profile is modified so that no locking mechanism is present. The locking mechanism usually utilizes undercut elements of the mounting rail profile. If these undercut elements are removed section by section in front of the stop, or if...If a component is missing, a removal section is created. A device inserted into this removal section can then be picked up by a gripper arm of the pick-and-place machine in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the magazine.

[0005] This achieves independence from the rest of the electrical device's housing contour. However, the length of the removal section, where the locking mechanism with the guide profile is released, must be adapted to the stack height of the electrical devices held by the magazine, also known as the "installation width." If the section is too narrow, the device cannot be removed and will become jammed in the removal section. If the length is too great, removing the foremost device may cause the next device in the stack to be lifted along with it. This device may then be moved out of the magazine by the gripper arm or positioned in a way that prevents targeted removal of that electrical device in a subsequent processing step.

[0006] Due to differently designed resting areas and / or different heights of the electrical devices, an adjustment to the length of the removal section must also be made for such a magazine, depending on the device type.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a magazine of the type mentioned at the outset in which adaptation to different types of connectable electrical devices, also with regard to their width or design of the locking area, can be carried out in a simple, process-reliable and quick manner.

[0008] This task is solved by a magazine with the characteristics of an independent claim. Advantageous designs and further developments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0009] A magazine of the type mentioned above, according to the invention, has an adjustment device with which the length of the removal section can be varied in the direction of travel. In this way, the magazine can be easily adapted to the type of electrical device being held, e.g., a specific terminal block type. New types of electrical devices with different widths and / or modified locking mechanisms can be quickly integrated into an automated mounting rail assembly process by adjusting the magazine with respect to the length of its removal section. Furthermore, the total number of magazines required for a pick-and-place machine can be reduced, resulting in material and cost savings and thus increased sustainability.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the magazine, the support rail profile section comprises at least one web extending in the direction of movement as a grippable element. Preferably, two webs are used, each formed at the end of two projecting legs and extending laterally, in the manner of a DIN rail profile. The support rail profile section thus mimics the geometry of the actual support rails onto which the electrical devices are placed by the pick-and-place machine, whereby the geometry and dimensions may differ to the extent that easier movement of the electrical devices within the magazine is achieved.

[0011] In one embodiment, the length of the extraction section can be varied in the direction of movement by guiding the support rail profile section longitudinally along the base profile. It can then be easily moved relative to the base profile, for example via a spindle drive, to adjust its distance to the stop and thus the length of the extraction section.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, a longitudinally displaceable adjusting slide is provided between the stop and the support rail profile section (which is fixedly attached to or formed on the base profile). This adjusting slide, in turn, has at least one web section extending in the direction of movement as a receptacle. Accordingly, not the entire support rail profile section is displaced, but only an adjusting slide arranged longitudinally between the support rail profile section and the stop. The adjusting slide, with its web section, provides a receptacle for maintaining the locking position of the front electrical device and thus effectively extends the support rail profile section telescopically—except in the removal section.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the magazine, the at least one web section of the adjusting slide is designed at its end pointing away from the stop in such a way that it can overlap with the at least one web of the support rail profile section. This prevents a gap from forming between the adjusting slide and the support rail profile section, depending on its position, which would otherwise disengage the locking mechanism of the electrical device.

[0014] Preferably, the adjusting slide has at least one projecting pin on its side facing away from the stop, which can be inserted centrally between the legs of the support rail profile section. This serves to ensure the smoothest possible transfer of the electrical device from the support rail profile section to the adjusting slide, without snagging or jamming.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the magazine, the adjusting slide has a recess in the center of its side facing away from the stop. A slide of a spring-loaded push plate can move into this recess, advancing the stack of electrical devices towards the stop. Preferably, the at least one web section of the adjusting slide terminates at its end facing the stop before a front face of the adjusting slide. This ensures that, despite the recess in the adjusting slide, sufficient material remains in front of the recess (viewed in the direction of travel).

[0016] InIn a further advantageous embodiment of the magazine, the adjusting slide or the stop for adjusting the adjusting slide has a threaded bore extending in the direction of travel. This allows for the simple implementation of a spindle drive for manual adjustment of the adjusting slide. Preferably, a scale is provided to indicate the length of the dispensing section, for example, by coupling the scale or a scale pointer to the adjusting screw.

[0017] Instead of manually adjusting the length of the pick-and-place section, the adjustment can also be made using an actuator. For example, the position of the adjustment slide can be automatically set to the required dimension by the sequence control of the pick-and-place machine. The actuator could be, for example, a stepper motor or a servo motor with a suitable gearbox.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying figures. The figures show: Figures 1 and 2 each show an isometric partial view of a magazine from two different perspectives; Figure 3 shows a top view of an end section of the magazine. Figures 1 and 2 Figure 4: An isometric view of an adjusting slide of the magazine of the Figures 1-3 Figure 5 shows a side view of the adjusting slider of the Figure 4 ; and Figure 6, a top view of the adjusting slide of the Figures 4 and 5 .

[0019] The figures described below show an embodiment of a magazine 10 for a mounting rail placement machine.

[0020] In the description, relative terms such as "left" or "right" refer exclusively to the respective chosen representation.

[0021] In the Figures 1-3An exemplary embodiment of a magazine 10 is shown in different representations. Figure 1 and 2 Each shows an isometric view from different perspectives. Figure 3 shows a top view of the magazine 10. Shown is a more or less long end section of the magazine 10, specifically on the side from which an electrical device held by the magazine 10 is removed.

[0022] Typically, several of the magazines shown are part of a pick-and-place machine for DIN rails. During operation, they are filled with different electrical devices, especially terminal blocks, so that the electrical devices are available for the individual automated assembly of DIN rails or DIN rail sections.

[0023] For the purposes of this application, the term "electrical device" and, in particular, "terminal block" are to be interpreted broadly. All devices that can be mounted in series on a DIN rail for use in electrical switching or control systems constitute electrical devices within the meaning of this application. These electrical devices may include so-called "terminal blocks," which operate purely passively and establish connections between conductors. Electronic devices, such as fuses, power supplies, or input / output devices of control systems that have a DIN rail mounting, also constitute electrical devices within the meaning of this application. Furthermore, accessories such as end plates or end brackets are also to be understood as electrical devices.

[0024] The magazine 10 comprises a longitudinally extending base profile 11, which has a substantially C-shaped cross-section. A support rail profile section 12 is formed centrally on one upper surface of the base profile 11, onto which the electrical devices can be placed and from which they are slidably guided in the longitudinal direction of the magazine 10.

[0025] The mounting rail profile section 12 has a profile that essentially corresponds to that of the mounting rails to which it is to be fitted, which are also referred to as "DIN rails". In particular, it has outwardly projecting webs 13 that can be engaged by a locking mechanism of the mounted electrical device. Compared to the profile of the mounting rails onto which the electrical devices are ultimately mounted, the mounting rail profile section 12 may differ slightly in its dimensions, especially to facilitate easier movement of the electrical devices. However, the webs 13, together with a locking mechanism of the electrical device, secure the electrical device and thus prevent it from falling off the magazine 10.

[0026] At one end, the magazine 10 is equipped with a stop 14 against which the stack of attached electrical devices is pressed. To press the electrical devices against the stop 14 and to advance the electrical devices when a device at the front is removed, a push plate 15 is provided, which is spring-loaded and moved towards the stop 14. The push plate 15 can be retracted from the stop 14 by means of a clamping lever 16 to add further electrical devices and refill the magazine 10. The push plate 15 and the clamping lever 16 are mounted on a slide 17 which is guided longitudinally in the base profile 11.

[0027] In order to remove an electrical device from magazine 10 by the pick-and-place machine, its locking mechanism in magazine 10 must be released. To enable this for electrical devices with different locking widths, an adjusting slide 20 is provided in the illustrated embodiment. For the purposes of this application, the locking width is understood to be the width over which an electrical device effectively engages undercut areas of a mounting rail. Accordingly, an electrical device can be lifted from a mounting rail if there are no undercut areas over a length corresponding to the locking width.

[0028] As in the Figures 1-3As can be seen, the support rail profile section 12, including the webs 13, ends at a certain distance before the stop 14. In the example shown, this distance is on the order of a few centimeters. In this area, the adjusting slide 20 is inserted into the base profile 11 in place of the support rail profile section 12, allowing longitudinal movement.

[0029] The adjusting slide 20 is in the Figures 4-6 shown in different views separately from magazine 10. Figure 4 shows the adjusting slide 20 in an isometric view, Figure 5 shows a front view and Figure 6 a top view of the adjusting slide 20.

[0030] The adjusting slide 20 has a guide profile 21 on both sides, which guides it within the C-shaped base profile 11. On its side facing away from the stop 14, two pins 22 are formed, their outer surfaces bearing against the inner surface of the support rail profile 12. The functions of the pins 22 will be explained in more detail below. Furthermore, web sections 23 are formed on both sides of the adjusting slide 20, which, with respect to their position, dimensions, and function, represent extensions of the webs 13 of the support rail profile 12. At their respective ends pointing towards the webs 13, the web sections 23 are shaped so that they can slide under the webs 13 at these end sections. On the opposite side, facing the stop 14, the web sections 23 do not extend to the front edge of the adjusting slide 20.

[0031] A threaded bore 26 is machined into the center of the front side of the adjusting slide 20, extending longitudinally along the magazine 10 and in the sliding direction of the adjusting slide 20. An adjusting screw 25 engages in this bore and passes through a hole in the stop 14. A spring may be installed between the stop 14 and the adjusting slide 25 to ensure that the head of the adjusting screw 25 rests against the stop 14. A snap ring or similar component may also be fitted onto the adjusting screw 25 on the inner side of the stop 14. Turning the adjusting screw 25 moves the adjusting slide 20 longitudinally within the magazine.

[0032] The bridge sections 23 end at a certain distance from the stop 14, and this distance can be varied by adjusting the adjusting screw 25. The adjusting slide 20, in conjunction with the adjusting screw 25, thus constitutes a device for adjusting the length of the extraction section 24.

[0033] Electrical devices pushed from the push plate 15 towards the stop 14 initially engage behind the webs 13 of the support rail profile section 12. In the area of ​​the adjusting slide 20, the webs 13 end; instead, the web sections 23 are available as undercut areas that are engaged by the locking mechanism of the electrical device. The electrical device thus remains locked in place even in the area of ​​the adjusting slide 20 and is therefore secured against unintentional removal from the magazine 10.

[0034] Only when the electrical device rests against the stop 14 are its locking elements located within the area of ​​the removal section 24, meaning the web sections 23 no longer engage behind it. In this position, and only in this position, can the electrical device be removed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the magazine 10 by a pick-and-place machine. The electrical device, which is directly against the stop, remains engaged with the web sections 23 and is not accidentally lifted, for example, due to friction against the side surfaces. The exact length of the removal section 24 can be precisely adjusted to the locking width of the electrical device. To facilitate adjustment, the adjusting screw 25 can be provided with a scale, for example, printed on it or stamped into the stop 14.The scale can be designed with units of length, but for simplification, specific types of electrical devices can also be explicitly named and / or coded on the scale.

[0035] The adjusting slide 20 has a recess in the center of its side facing away from the stop, into which the carriage 17 can move when there are only a few or only one electrical device left in the magazine 10. To ensure a sufficiently long thread in the threaded bore 26 despite the recess, the web sections 23 do not extend to the front end of the adjusting slide 20. This limits the size of the removal section 24 at the bottom. The amount by which the web sections 23 are set back should therefore not exceed the width of the smallest required removal section 24.

[0036] Depending on the position of the adjusting slide 20, a gap also occurs between the webs 13 and the web sections 23. To prevent an electrical device from no longer being securely locked to the magazine 10 in this area, the web sections 23 in the adjacent area are designed to move section by section under the web 13. In this way, the size of any gap that might occur is minimized compared to a web section 23 moving directly against the web 13. In addition, the pins 22, which overlap with the inside of the support rail profile 12 in every position of the adjusting slide 20, guide the electrical device laterally so that it does not jam in the transition area between the support rail profile section 12 and the adjusting slide 20.

[0037] In a possible further development of the magazine 10, the adjusting screw 25 can also be connected to a controlled actuator, so that the position of the adjusting slide 20 is automatically set to the required dimension by a sequence control of the pick-and-place machine. The actuator can be, for example, a stepper motor or a servo motor with a suitable gearbox. Reference symbol list

[0038] 10 Magazine 11 Base profile 12 Support rail profile section 13 Web 14 Stop 15 Push plate 16 Clamping lever 17 Slide 20 Adjusting slide 21 Guide profile 22 Mandrel 23 Web section 24 Extraction section 25 Adjusting screw 26 Threaded hole

Claims

1. Magazine (10) for accommodating electrical devices that can be arranged in rows for an automatic placement machine for automatically mounting the devices on mounting rails, comprising a base profile (11) on which a mounting rail profile section (12) is arranged or formed for accommodating a plurality of the electrical devices and for guiding the devices so that they can be moved longitudinally in a displacement direction, wherein a stop (14) for a front one of the devices is arranged at one end of the base profile (11), wherein an element extending in the displacement direction and engageable from behind by the electrical devices ends in front of the stop (14), so that a removal section (24) is formed from which the front one of the devices can be removed in a direction transverse to the displacement direction, characterized in that the magazine (10) has a device with which the length of the removal section (24) can be varied in the direction of movement.

2. Magazine (10) according to claim 1, in which the mounting rail profile section (12) comprises at least one web (13) extending in the direction of movement as an element engageable from behind.

3. Magazine (10) according to claim 2, in which the mounting rail profile section (12) is guided in a displaceable manner on the base profile (11) in order to vary the length of the removal section (24) in the direction of displacement.

4. Magazine (10) according to claim 2, in which an adjustment slider (20) guided longitudinally displaceably on the base profile (11) is arranged between the stop (14) and the mounting rail profile section (12), which in turn comprises at least one web section (23) extending in the direction of displacement as an element engageable from behind.

5. Magazine (10) according to claim 4, in which the at least one web section (23) of the adjustment slider (20) is designed at its end facing away from the stop (14) so that it can overlap with the at least one web (13) of the mounting rail profile section (12).

6. Magazine (10) according to claim 4 or 5, in which the adjustment slider (20) has at least one protruding pin (22) on its side facing away from the stop (14), which can be inserted centrally between the legs of the mounting rail profile section (12).

7. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the adjustment slider (20) has a recess centrally on its side facing away from the stop (14).

8. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 4 to 7, in which at least one web section (23) of the adjustment slider (20) ends at its end facing the stop (14) in front of a front side of the adjustment slider (20).

9. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, in which the adjustment slider (20) or the stop (14) for adjusting the adjustment slider (20) has a threaded hole (26) into which an adjustment screw (25) engages.

10. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the length of the removal section (24) is visible on a scale.

11. Magazine (10) according to claim 9, in which the length of the removal section (24) is visible on a scale and the scale or a scale pointer is coupled to the adjustment screw (25).

12. Magazine (10) according to one of claims 4 to 8, comprising an actuator for controllably adjusting the adjustment slider (20).

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