Automatic screw driving machine

Abstract

To provide an automatic screw driving machine capable of saving manpower.SOLUTION: An automatic screw driving machine 1 comprises: a frame 10; a moving device travelable on a floor face F, that is provided in the frame 10; and a pair of screw driving devices 40 each capable of screw-drivable onto the floor face F, that is provided in the frame 10. According to the pair of screw driving devices 40, when one of the pair of screw driving devices 40 performs screw-driving onto the floor face F, the other one of the pair of screw driving devices 40 stands by at a stand-by position; and when the other one of the pair of screw driving devices 40 performs the screw-driving onto the floor face F, the one of the pair of screw driving devices 40 stands by at the stand-by position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic screw driver. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when constructing a wooden building, screws are used to connect and secure wooden members such as plywood floor panels. For example, when driving screws to secure floor panels, a worker in a crouching or squatting position holds a screw in one hand and drives the screw by operating a power tool for driving screws (screw driving device) with the other hand.

[0003] This manual screw driving work places a heavy physical burden on the worker, and continuous work can only be done for about three hours at most. Therefore, there is a demand for more efficient screw driving work. One example of a screw driving device aimed at improving efficiency is the continuous screw driving device described in Patent Document 1.

[0004] The continuous screw driving device described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a traveling and moving means for traveling the screw driving device and multiple screw driving machines, and drives screws continuously at a pitch adjusted by the multiple screw driving machines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-1278 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with conventional screw driving devices such as the continuous screw driving device described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the vehicle body (frame) of the screw driving device will lift up due to the reaction force when driving the screws, requiring the worker to support the vehicle body.

[0007] In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic screw driving machine that can reduce the number of workers required. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means. The automatic screw driving machine of the present invention comprises a frame, a moving device mounted on the frame and capable of running on a floor surface, and a pair of screw driving devices mounted on the frame and capable of driving screws into the floor surface, wherein when one screw driving device drives screws into the floor surface, the other screw driving device waits in a standby position, and when the other screw driving device drives screws into the floor surface, one screw driving device waits in the standby position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the automatic screw driving machine of the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic screw driving machine that can reduce the number of workers required. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of an automatic screw driver according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] 13 is a side view showing the automatic screw driver with the drive wheels in contact with the floor surface. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the automatic screw driving machine before performing a screw driving operation. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a first operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a second operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a third operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing an example of the configuration of an automatic screw driving machine 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the automatic screw driving machine 1 with the drive wheels 32 in contact with a floor surface F. Fig. 3 is a front view showing the automatic screw driving machine 1 before performing a screw driving operation.

[0012] The automatic screw driving machine 1 is a screw driving machine (screw driving device) that can move on a floor surface F by driving drive wheels 32.

[0013] In this embodiment, the vertical direction in the automatic screw driver 1 is defined as the "up-down direction V," the vertical upward direction as the "upward UP" in the vertical direction V, and the vertical downward direction as the "downward LO" in the vertical direction V. In addition, of the horizontal directions perpendicular to the vertical direction V, the direction in which the automatic screw driver 1 mainly travels is defined as the "front-to-back direction D," the direction in which the automatic screw driver 1 mainly advances is defined as the "forward FR" in the vertical direction D, and the opposite direction as the "rearward RR" in the vertical direction D. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V and the front-to-back direction D is defined as the "width direction W," one side in the width direction W is defined as the "leftward LT," and the other side is defined as the "rightward RT" in the width direction W.

[0014] The automatic screw driving machine 1 comprises a frame 10, a wheel unit 20, a moving device 30, a screw driving device 40, and a control unit 50.

[0015] The frame 10 has a first frame 11 which is a member extending in the up-down direction V, and a second frame 12 which is a member extending in the front-rear direction D or the width direction W. The frame 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape by combining a plurality of the first frames 11 and a plurality of the second frames 12. The frame 10 is a body portion of the automatic screw driver 1.

[0016] The wheel units 20 are wheels that can rotate around a rotation axis 20R that extends in the width direction W. The automatic screw driving machine 1 has a plurality of wheel units 20, for example, four wheel units 20. In this embodiment, the four wheel units 20 of the automatic screw driving machine 1 are provided below the four corners LO of the frame 10. In addition, the wheel units 20 have a contact surface that can come into contact with the floor surface F.

[0017] Here, the floor surface F is the floor surface (ground surface) in the work space where the automatic screw driving machine 1 drives screws into the floor panel.

[0018] The moving device 30 includes a support part 31 , a lifting part 33 , and a driving wheel 32 . The support portion 31 supports the drive wheel 32 rotatably about a rotation shaft 32R extending in the width direction W. The support portion 31 is provided on the frame 10 (for example, the first frame 11) via a lift portion 33.

[0019] The drive wheel 32 is, for example, a wheel that can rotate around the rotation axis 32R as the center of rotation, and has a contact surface that can come into contact with the floor surface F. The contact surface of the drive wheel 32 has spike parts 32a that protrude in a direction away from the rotation axis 32R (outward). The spike parts 32a have, for example, a plurality of protruding shapes that protrude outward from the contact surface, and are provided on a part or the entire surface of the contact surface of the drive wheel 32.

[0020] The lifting unit 33 is a lifting device capable of raising and lowering the support unit 31 and the drive wheels 32 in the vertical direction V relative to the frame 10. The lifting unit 33 is configured, for example, with an air cylinder using compressed air or an electric cylinder using an electric motor or the like.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive wheel 32 is provided so as to be movable by the lifting part 33 between a position where the spike part 32a contacts the floor surface F and a position where the spike part 32a does not contact the floor surface F.

[0022] The drive wheel 32 is connected to, for example, an electric motor, and rotates about the rotation axis 32R as a rotation center when the electric motor is driven. When the drive wheel 32 is lowered by the lifting unit 33 and the spike unit 32a is in contact with the floor surface F, the drive wheel 32 rotates to generate a propulsive force against the floor surface F. The propulsive force of the drive wheel 32 enables the automatic screw driver 1 to travel in the front-rear direction D relative to the floor surface F.

[0023] The drive wheels 32 have spikes 32a that protrude outward from the contact surface, and the spikes 32a provide high adhesion to the floor surface F. For example, even if the floor surface F is slippery due to the effects of the surface finish of the floor surface F, wetness of the floor surface F due to rain, or the inclination of the floor surface F, the drive wheels 32 can generate sufficient propulsion force on the floor surface F because of the high adhesion provided by the spikes 32a. Therefore, the automatic screw driver 1 can travel on the floor surface F without being affected by the slipperiness of the floor surface F.

[0024] 3, the automatic screw driving machine 1 includes a pair of screw driving devices 40 (a first screw driving device 40A and a second screw driving device 40B). The first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B are arranged side by side in the width direction W. In this embodiment, the first screw driving device 40A is provided on the left side LT, and the second screw driving device 40B is provided on the right side RT.

[0025] The screw driving device 40 includes a screw driving machine 41, a lifting section 42, a support section 43, and a loading section 44.

[0026] The screw driver 41 is a screw driver (screw driving device) capable of driving screws from a screw driving portion 41a provided at the end (lower end) of the lower portion LO. The screw driver 41 can drive screws into the floor surface F by driving the screws with the screw driving portion 41a in contact with the floor surface F.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a front view showing a first operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine 1. Fig. 5 is a front view showing a second operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine 1. Fig. 6 is a front view showing a third operation in the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine 1.

[0028] Here, the moving device 30 and the control unit 50 are omitted in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine 1 will be described in detail later.

[0029] The lifting unit 42 is provided on the frame 10 (for example, the first frame 11) via a support unit 43. The lifting unit 42 is a lifting device that is provided above the screw driver 41 UP and can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction V relative to the support unit 43. The lifting unit 42 is configured, for example, with an air cylinder that uses compressed air or an electric cylinder that uses an electric motor or the like.

[0030] 1, the support portion 43 is a member provided on the first frame 11 and extending in the vertical direction V. As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the lifting portion 42 moves up and down along the support portion 43 extending in the vertical direction V, so that the screw driver 41 and the lifting portion 42 move up and down in the vertical direction V.

[0031] The loading unit 44 is a loading device that is provided in the screw driving machine 41 and is capable of loading screws into the screw driving machine 41. For example, a plurality of screws are stored in the loading unit 44, and after the screw driving machine 41 drives out a screw, a new screw is loaded into the screw driving machine 41 from the loading unit 44. Therefore, the screw driving machine 41 can drive screws continuously.

[0032] The control unit 50 is provided on the frame 10, and is connected to the moving device 30 and the screw driving device 40 wirelessly or via a wire, and is a control device capable of controlling the moving device 30 and the screw driving device 40.

[0033] The control unit 50 controls, for example, an electric motor connected to the drive wheel 32 of the moving device 30, and controls the rotation or stop, rotation speed, rotation angular velocity, etc. of the drive wheel 32. The control unit 50 also controls the lifting unit 33 of the moving device 30, and controls the lifting and lowering operation of the drive wheel 32.

[0034] The control unit 50 controls the screw driving machine 41 of the screw driving device 40, and controls the screw driving operation by the screw driving machine 41. The control unit 50 also controls the lifting unit 42 of the screw driving device 40, and controls the lifting operation of the screw driving machine 41. The control unit 50 may also control the loading unit 44, and controls the screw loading operation by the loading unit 44.

[0035] The control unit 50 is, for example, a program executable device (computer) equipped with a processor, a memory, a storage unit, and the like. Each function of the control unit 50 is realized by, for example, one or more processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) executing a program stored in a program memory. However, all or part of these functions may be realized by hardware (e.g., a circuit unit; circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a PLD (Programmable Logic Device). In addition, all or part of the above functions may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The storage unit is realized by a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like.

[0036] The control unit 50 may be provided, for example, outside the automatic screw driving machine 1. The control unit 50 may also be connected wirelessly or via a wire to an input device such as a controller provided outside the automatic screw driving machine 1, and configured to control the movement device 30 and the screw driving device 40 based on operations input by the worker to the controller.

[0037] Next, the screw driving operation of the automatic screw driving machine 1 will be described.

[0038] First, the control unit 50 controls the movement operation of the moving device 30. Specifically, the control unit 50 controls the moving device 30 to move (lower) the drive wheels 32 to a position where the spike parts 32a contact the floor surface F. The control unit 50 also rotates the drive wheels 32 to advance the automatic screw driving machine 1 in a predetermined direction (for example, forward FR), and moves the automatic screw driving machine 1 to a predetermined position.

[0039] At this time, as shown in Fig. 3, the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B are waiting in a standby position moved upward UP. Here, the standby position refers to a position where the screw driving device 40 waits when the screw driving unit 41a of the screw driving machine 41 does not drive screws. The standby position of the screw driving device 40 is, for example, a position where the screw driving unit 41a of the screw driving machine 41 is not in contact with the floor surface F.

[0040] The standby position may be any position where the screw driving device 40 can wait when not driving screws, and includes, when the screw driving device 40 is not driving screws, the position of the screw driving device 40 in a state where the screw driving portion 41a is in contact with the floor surface F, and the position of the screw driving device 40 in a state where it is raised and lowered in the vertical direction V.

[0041] Furthermore, when the automatic screw driving machine 1 travels on the floor surface F by the moving device 30, the wheel unit 20 rotates about the rotation axis 20R as the center of rotation due to friction between the wheel unit 20 and the floor surface F. The automatic screw driving machine 1 can travel stably on the floor surface F by having the drive wheel 32 that actively rotates and the wheel unit 20 that passively rotates due to friction with the floor surface F.

[0042] Next, the automatic screw driving machine 1 performs a first operation in the screw driving operation. In the first operation, the control unit 50 controls one of the pair of screw driving devices 40 to perform a screw driving operation in the one screw driving device 40. In this embodiment, the one screw driving device indicates the first screw driving device 40A.

[0043] In the first operation, first, the control unit 50 controls the first screw driving device 40A to lower the lifting unit 42 and the screw driving machine 41 of the first screw driving device 40A and place the first screw driving device 40A at a screw driving position, as shown in Fig. 4. Here, the screw driving position is a position where the screw driving device 40 can drive screws into the floor surface F, for example, a position where the screw driving unit 41a and the floor surface F come into contact with each other.

[0044] Next, in the first operation, the control unit 50 controls the first screw driving device 40A located at the screw driving position to drive screws into the floor surface F from the screw driving section 41a. At this time, the other screw driving device 40 (the second screw driving device 40B) is waiting at the standby position. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the second screw driving device 40B is waiting above the first screw driving device 40A located at the screw driving position. At this time, the second screw driving device 40B does not drive screws.

[0045] Next, the automatic screw driving machine 1 performs the second operation of the screw driving operation. In the second operation, the control unit 50 lowers the second screw driving device 40B and moves it to the screw driving position, as shown in Fig. 5. The screw driving part 41a of the second screw driving device 40B that has moved to the screw driving position is in contact with the floor surface F.

[0046] At this time, the first screw driving device 40A has not moved from the position of the first operation. That is, the screw driving portion 41a of the first screw driving device 40A is in contact with the floor surface F. In the second operation, the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B do not drive screws into the floor surface F.

[0047] Next, the automatic screw driving machine 1 performs a third operation in the screw driving operation. In the third operation, the control unit 50 raises the first screw driving device 40A and keeps the first screw driving device 40A on standby at a standby position, as shown in Fig. 6. That is, the screw driving unit 41 of the first screw driving device 40A is moved upward UP, and the screw driving part 41a of the first screw driving device 40A is separated from the floor surface F.

[0048] In the third operation, with the first screw driving device 40A waiting in the standby position and the second screw driving device 40B located in the screw driving position, the control unit 50 controls the second screw driving device 40B to drive screws into the floor surface F from the screw driving portion 41a of the second screw driving device 40B.

[0049] In this way, the control unit 50 controls the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B so that when the first screw driving device 40A drives screws into the floor surface F, the second screw driving device 40B waits in a standby position, and when the second screw driving device 40B drives screws into the floor surface F, the first screw driving device 40A waits in the standby position.

[0050] The control unit 50 performs the above-mentioned first to third operations and drives screws into the floor surface F, and then controls the movement device 30 to move the automatic screw driving machine 1. The control unit 50 moves the automatic screw driving machine 1 based on, for example, preset positions and pitches for driving screws.

[0051] Furthermore, the control unit 50 controls the loading unit 44 to load a screw into the screw driving device 41 after driving the screw. For example, the control unit 50 loads a screw into the screw driving device 40 in a standby state that has driven a screw and moved from the screw driving position to the standby position.

[0052] In this way, the automatic screw driving machine 1 can automatically perform continuous construction by repeating the screw driving operation and movement automatically. Also, because the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B have different timings for driving screws, the reaction force from the floor surface F when driving the screws can be suppressed, and the automatic screw driving machine 1 can be prevented from lifting off the floor surface F due to the reaction force. Therefore, there is no need for the worker to support the automatic screw driving machine 1, which can reduce the number of workers required.

[0053] It is preferable that the screw driving device 40 is provided so that its mounting position relative to the frame 10 can be adjusted. By making the mounting position of the screw driving device 40 adjustable, the width at which the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B drive screws can be set to any desired width.

[0054] In addition, it is preferable that the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B drive screws alternately, but the first screw driving device 40A or the second screw driving device 40B may drive screws consecutively. For example, the first screw driving device 40A and the second screw driving device 40B may drive screws in that order, and after the automatic screw driving machine 1 moves relative to the floor surface F, the second screw driving device 40B and the first screw driving device 40A may drive screws in that order.

[0055] The automatic screw driving machine 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a moving device 30 capable of traveling on a floor surface F, and a pair of screw driving devices 40 (a first screw driving device 40A and a second screw driving device 40B) capable of driving screws into the floor surface F.

[0056] In addition, when the first screw driving device 40A (one of the screw driving devices 40) drives screws into the floor surface F, the second screw driving device 40B (the other screw driving device 40) waits in a standby position, and when the second screw driving device 40B drives screws into the floor surface F, the first screw driving device 40A waits in the standby position.

[0057] As a result, the automatic screw driving machine 1 can be prevented from floating up due to the reaction force it receives from the floor surface F when driving screws, eliminating the need for an operator to support the automatic screw driving machine 1, thereby enabling the provision of an automatic screw driving machine 1 that reduces the number of workers required.

[0058] By using the automatic screw driver 1, the production capacity for screw driving work can be improved by about five times compared to conventional manual work. In addition, since there is no risk of the construction speed decreasing due to worker fatigue as in conventional manual work, the construction speed increases and the overall construction period can be shortened.

[0059] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design modifications and the like within the scope of the present invention are also included. In addition, the components shown in the above-mentioned embodiment and the modified examples shown below can be appropriately combined to form a configuration.

[0060] (Variation 1) In the above embodiment, the screw driving device 40 drives screws by bringing the screw driving portion 41a into contact with the floor surface F, but the embodiment of the screw driving device is not limited to this. The screw driving device may be configured to drive screws without bringing the screw driving portion into contact with the floor surface F, but with the screw driving portion positioned near the floor surface F.

[0061] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, the automatic screw driving machine 1 includes one moving device 30, but the aspect of the automatic screw driving machine is not limited to this. The automatic screw driving machine may include multiple moving devices 30. In this case, the control unit of the automatic screw driving machine may control the multiple moving devices 30 to move the automatic screw driving machine relative to the floor surface F.

[0062] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the screw driving device 40 is controlled by the control unit 50, but the aspect of the screw driving device is not limited to this. The screw driving device may be configured to perform a lifting operation in the up-down direction V, a screw driving operation from the screw driving unit, and a loading operation from the loading unit without being controlled by a control device such as a control unit. For example, the screw driving device may have a mechanism for alternately raising and lowering the first screw driving device and the second screw driving device, and a mechanism for automatically driving out a screw when the screw driving part comes into contact with the floor surface F, and may be configured to automatically perform the lifting and lowering operations and the screw driving operations without being controlled by the control unit.

[0063] (Variation 4) In the above embodiment, the moving device 30 can move on the floor surface F by rotating the drive wheels 32, but the aspect of the moving device is not limited to this. The moving device only needs to be capable of moving on the floor surface F, and may be configured, for example, as a multi-legged mechanism.

[0064] (Variation 5) In the above embodiment, the automatic screw driver 1 drives out screws, but the embodiment of the automatic screw driver is not limited to this. For example, the automatic screw driver may be configured to drive out nails or tacks.

[0065] The "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" are 17 international goals that were adopted at the United Nations Summit in September 2015. The automatic screw driver 1 according to this embodiment can contribute to the achievement of one of the 17 SDGs, for example goal 9 "Build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure." [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 Automatic screw driver 10 Frames 20 Wheel section 30 Mobile Device 32 Drive wheels 32a Spike section 32R Rotating shaft 40 Screw driving device 40A First screw driving device (one side screw driving device) 40B Second screw driving device (the other screw driving device) 50 Control section V vertical direction D Anteroposterior direction W Width direction F Floor

Claims

1. A frame, a moving device provided on the frame and capable of traveling on a floor surface; A pair of screw driving devices provided on the frame and capable of driving screws into the floor surface; Equipped with The pair of screw driving devices are When one screw driving device drives a screw into the floor surface, the other screw driving device waits at a standby position, When the other screw driving device drives a screw into the floor surface, the one screw driving device waits at a standby position. Automatic screw driver.

2. The screw driving device drives screws at a position lowered from the standby position.

2. The automatic screw driver according to claim 1.

3. The pair of screw driving devices alternately drive screws, 2. The automatic screw driver according to claim 1.

4. The moving device has a drive wheel that can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the width direction, The drive wheel has a spike portion that protrudes in a direction away from the rotation shaft and is capable of contacting the floor surface.

2. The automatic screw driver according to claim 1.

5. The drive wheel is capable of ascending and descending between a position where the spike portion is in contact with the floor surface and a position where the spike portion is not in contact with the floor surface. The automatic screw driver according to claim 4.

6. A control unit capable of controlling the screw driving operation by the screw driving device and the movement operation by the movement device, The automatic screw driver according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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