Clip setting device

Abstract

To provide a clip setting device capable of easily setting clips.SOLUTION: A clip setting device 10 includes a loading section 18 into which a plurality of clips 12 is loaded. The clip setting device 10 also includes a gripping section 20 that grips the clips 12 delivered from the loading section 18 and releases the clips 12 when the clips 12 are set in a predetermined position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clip setting device used when setting clips.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a configuration in which a trim is attached to a seat pad by locking a hanging piece fixed to the trim (skin) side to a clip (locking tool) embedded in the seat pad.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in order to embed a clip in a seat pad, a manufacturing method may be adopted in which the clip is set inside a mold for forming the seat pad and the material of the seat pad is foamed inside the mold. In this case, it is desirable that the clip can be easily set, but the invention described in Patent Document 1 above does not consider this point.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a clip setting device capable of easily setting a clip.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A clip setting device according to a first aspect includes a loading portion loaded with a plurality of clips, and a gripping portion that grips the clip sent out from the loading portion and releases the clip when the clip is set at a predetermined position.

[0007] In the clip set device of the first aspect, a plurality of clips are loaded in the loading part. Further, the clip sent out from the loading part is gripped by the gripping part. And when the clip gripped by the gripping part is set at a predetermined position, the gripping part releases the clip. Thus, by using the clip set device of the first aspect, the clip can be easily set.

[0008] The clip set device of the second aspect is the clip set device of the first aspect, in which when the clip is set at the predetermined position, the next clip sent out from the loading part engages with the gripping part, and the displacement of the next clip sent out from the loading part toward the loading part side is restricted.

[0009] According to the clip set device of the second aspect, when the clip is set at a predetermined position, the next clip sent out from the loading part engages with the gripping part. Thereby, the displacement of the next clip sent out from the loading part toward the loading part side is restricted. Thus, in the clip set device of the second aspect, it is possible to prevent or suppress the next clip sent out from the loading part to the gripping part side from being pushed back to the loading part side.

[0010] The clip set device of the third aspect is the clip set device of the second aspect, in which after the clip is set at the predetermined position, the gripping part moves away from the predetermined position, so that the next clip sent out from the loading part is gripped by the gripping part.

[0011] According to the clip set device of the third aspect, after the clip is set at a predetermined position, the gripping part moves away from the predetermined position, so that the next clip sent out from the loading part is gripped by the gripping part. Thus, in the clip set device of the third aspect, in one cycle from when the gripping part approaches the predetermined position to when it moves away, the setting of the clip at the predetermined position can be completed, and the gripping of the next clip by the gripping part can be completed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The clip set device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the clip can be easily set.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] The clip set device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Note that the arrow UP shown in the figure indicates the upper side of the clip set device 10.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the clip set device 10 of the present embodiment is used when setting clips 12 embedded in a seat pad of a vehicle seat in a mold for forming the seat pad. The clip set device 10 includes a base plate 14, a connection portion 16 fixed to the base plate 14, and a loading portion 18 fixed to an end portion of the base plate 14 on the side opposite to the side where the connection portion 16 is fixed. Further, the clip set device 10 includes a gripping portion 20 that grips the clip 12 sent out from the loading portion 18, and a clip biasing portion 22 that biases the clip 12 loaded in the loading portion 18 toward the gripping portion 20 side.

[0016] Here, the configuration of the clip 12 set by the clip set device 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clip 12 includes a base portion 24 formed in a rectangular plate shape, and a pair of locking portions 26 protruding from the base portion 24 toward one side in the thickness direction of the base portion 24. As shown in FIG. 3, circular openings 24A penetrating the base portion 24 in the thickness direction are formed at the four corners of the base portion 24. Further, notches 24B having U-shaped edges are respectively formed on both sides in the short side direction at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking portion 26 includes a pair of locking claws 26A arranged at intervals in the short side direction of the base portion 24. Then, a locking member fixed to the trim side is inserted between the pair of locking claws 26A and locked to the pair of locking claws 26A, so that the trim is attached to the seat pad.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the base plate 14 extends horizontally with the vertical direction as the thickness direction and is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. A connection portion 16 formed in a columnar shape is fixed to the upper surface of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 14. It is possible to connect a robot to this connection portion 16 as an example.

[0018] The loading section 18 includes a loading section main body 28 in which the clips 12 are loaded in a vertically arranged state, and a pressing section 30 that presses the clips 12 loaded in the loading section main body 28 downward. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the loading section main body 28, a plurality of clips 12 can be loaded with the locking section 26 facing downward with respect to the base section 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of guide shafts 32 are provided in the loading section main body 28. By inserting the pair of guide shafts 32 into two of the four openings 24A formed in the base section 24 of the clip 12, a state in which the plurality of clips 12 loaded in the loading section main body 28 are aligned is maintained, and the posture with respect to the gripping section 20 described later is maintained.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the clip biasing section 22 is, for example, a constant-torque spring. The clip biasing section 22 includes a drum 34 supported by the loading section main body 28 on the side of the loading section main body 28, and a belt-shaped spring section 36 wound around the drum 34. In the clip biasing section 22 having this configuration, regardless of the amount of the spring section 36 pulled out from the drum 34, the spring section 36 has a characteristic that the force to return to the drum 34 side becomes a constant load. The spring section 36 pulled out from the drum 34 is locked to a spring section locking section 38 connected to the pressing section 30. Thereby, the force of the spring section 36 to return to the drum 34 side is transmitted from the spring section locking section 38 to the pressing section 30, and the pressing section 30 presses the clips 12 loaded in the loading section 18 toward the gripping section 20 with a constant force.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the gripping portion 20 is fixed to the lower end portion of the loading portion main body 28. The gripping portion 20 includes a pair of gripping claws 40 arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction. The pair of gripping claws 40 each include a plate-shaped gripping claw main body 42 extending in the vertical direction with the horizontal direction as the thickness direction. Further, the upper portion of the gripping claw main body 42 is supported so as to be tiltable (rotatable) via a shaft member 44. The rotation axis of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40 and the rotation axis of the gripping claw main body 42 of the other gripping claw 40 are parallel to each other.

[0021] At the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40, an engaging recess 46 with the other gripping claw 40 side open is formed. The position of this engaging recess 46 is at a portion adjacent to the rotation axis of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40 and slightly below the rotation axis.

[0022] At the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the gripping claw main body 42 of the other gripping claw 40, an engaging recess 46 with the one gripping claw 40 side open is formed. The position of this engaging recess 46 is at a portion adjacent to the rotation axis of the gripping claw main body 42 of the other gripping claw 40 and slightly below the rotation axis.

[0023] The lower end surface of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40 is an inclined surface 48 that inclines toward the opposite side of the other gripping claw 40 as it goes downward. Further, the end portion on the opposite side of the other gripping claw 40 at the lower portion of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40 is a tip portion 50 that tapers downward. The position of this tip portion 50 is offset in the horizontal direction with respect to the rotation axis of the gripping claw main body 42 of one gripping claw 40 and on the opposite side of the other gripping claw 40.

[0024] The lower end surface of the gripping claw body 42 of the other gripping claw 40 is an inclined surface 48 that slopes toward the side opposite to the one gripping claw 40 as it goes downward. Further, at the lower part of the gripping claw body 42 of the other gripping claw 40, the end on the side opposite to the one gripping claw 40 is a tip portion 50 that tapers downward. The position of this tip portion 50 is offset horizontally with respect to the rotation axis of the gripping claw body 42 of the other gripping claw 40 and on the side opposite to the one gripping claw 40.

[0025] Also, one gripping claw 40 is provided with a locking projection 52 that protrudes from the lower part of the gripping claw body 42 toward the other gripping claw 40 side. Further, the other gripping claw 40 is provided with a locking projection 52 that protrudes from the lower part of the gripping claw body 42 toward the one gripping claw 40 side.

[0026] Here, between the pair of gripping claws 40, a rotational biasing spring (not shown) is provided that biases the pair of gripping claws 40 so that the lower end portion of one gripping claw 40 rotates toward the other gripping claw 40 side and the lower end portion of the other gripping claw 40 rotates toward the one gripping claw 40 side.

[0027] (Operation and Effect of this Embodiment) Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the force with which the spring portion 36 constituting the clip biasing portion 22 tries to return to the drum 34 side is transmitted from the spring portion locking portion 38 to the pressing portion 30, and the pressing portion 30 presses the plurality of clips 12 loaded in the loading portion 18 toward the gripping portion 20 side, these plurality of clips 12 are sent from the loading portion 18 side toward the gripping portion 20 side. Then, the clip 12 sent from the loading portion 18 side toward the gripping portion 20 side moves downward between the gripping claw bodies 42 of the pair of gripping claws 40. Here, in the following description, the three clips 12 shown in FIG. 4 may be referred to as the first clip 12A, the second clip 12B, and the third clip 12C in order from the lower side to the upper side.

[0029] Both longitudinal ends of the base portion 24 of the first clip 12A sent from the loading portion 18 side toward the gripping portion 20 side abut against the locking protrusions 52 of the pair of gripping claws 40, respectively. As a result, the first clip 12A is gripped by the pair of gripping claws 40 in a state where it cannot be displaced downward with respect to the pair of gripping claws 40. Further, both longitudinal ends of the base portion 24 of the second clip 12B are disposed in proximity to the engaging recesses 46 formed in the gripping claw bodies 42 of the pair of gripping claws 40.

[0030] In FIG. 4, a part of the mold 56 used when forming the seat pad is shown by a two-dot chain line. As shown in this figure, at the setting position 54 in the mold 56 where the clip 12 is set, a pair of insertion grooves 58 into which the pair of locking portions 26 of the clip 12 are respectively inserted are formed.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the clip setting device 10 is disposed above the setting position 54 and then the clip setting device 10 is lowered, the pair of locking portions 26 of the first clip 12A gripped by the pair of gripping claws 40 are inserted into the pair of insertion grooves 58 formed in the mold 56. At this time, when the tip portions 50 of the pair of gripping claws 40 abut against the setting position 54, the pair of gripping claws 40 rotate so that the lower end portions of the pair of gripping claws 40 are separated from each other. Then, the inclined surfaces 48 of the pair of gripping claws 40 are in contact with the mold 56. In this state, the pair of gripping claws 40 release the first clip 12A. That is, the setting of the first clip 12A to the setting position 54 is completed.

[0032] Further, in a state where the pair of gripping claws 40 release the first clip 12A, both longitudinal ends of the base portion 24 of the second clip 12B are disposed in the engaging recesses 46 formed in the gripping claw bodies 42 of the pair of gripping claws 40 and are locked to the upper edges of the engaging recesses 46. Thereby, it is possible to prevent or suppress the second clip 12B from being pushed back toward the loading portion 18 side.

[0033] Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the clip set device 10 is lifted, the pair of gripping claws 40 rotate such that the lower ends of the pair of gripping claws 40 approach each other by the biasing force of the rotational biasing spring. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the second clip 12B and the third clip 12C are lowered by being pressed by the pressing portion 30 (see FIG. 1). Then, both longitudinal ends of the base portion 24 of the second clip 12B come into contact with the locking projections 52 of the pair of gripping claws 40, respectively. Thereby, the second clip 12B is gripped by the pair of gripping claws 40 in a state where it cannot be displaced downward with respect to the pair of gripping claws 40. Also, both longitudinal ends of the base portion 24 of the third clip 12C are disposed in proximity to the engaging recesses 46 formed in the gripping claw main bodies 42 of the pair of gripping claws 40.

[0034] As described above, by using the clip set device 10 of the present embodiment, the clip 12 can be easily set at the set position 54 of the mold 56. Also, in the clip set device 10 of the present embodiment, in one cycle from when the pair of gripping claws 40 of the gripping portion 20 approach the set position 54 until they separate, the setting of the clip 12 (first clip 12A) to the set position 54 can be completed, and the gripping of the next clip 12 (second clip 12B) by the pair of gripping claws 40 can be completed.

[0035] Also, in the present embodiment, it is possible to connect a robot to the connection portion 16 of the clip set device 10. Thereby, for example, the replacement of the clip set device 10 can be performed at high speed by the operation of the robot.

[0036] Note that the clip set device 10 may be moved by a robot, or may be moved manually by an operator.

[0037] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications other than the above can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0038] 10 Clip set device 12 Clip 18 Loading part 20 Holding part

Claims

1. A loading section into which a plurality of clips are loaded; A gripping section that grips the clip sent out from the loading section and releases the clip when the clip is set at a predetermined position; A clip setting device comprising the above.

2. The clip setting device according to claim 1, wherein when the clip is set at the predetermined position, the next clip sent out from the loading section engages with the gripping section, and displacement of the next clip sent out from the loading section toward the loading section side is restricted.

3. The clip setting device according to claim 2, wherein after the clip is set at the predetermined position, the gripping section moves away from the predetermined position, so that the next clip sent out from the loading section is gripped by the gripping section.

Images