Bolt supply device

Abstract

To eject a plurality of kinds of bolts of different bolt sizes by arranging them in a line in a vertical posture through simple rearrangement and operation.SOLUTION: A bolt supply device 100 includes: a single-row ejection unit 10 that ejects bolts arranged in a row in a horizontal posture; and a posture changing unit 20 that changes the posture of the bolts ejected from the single-row ejection unit 10 to a vertical posture and ejects the bolts arranged in a row. The single-row ejection unit 10 includes an inner rotating plate 11, an outer ring plate 12, a rotating mechanism, and an alignment unit 15. The alignment unit 15 includes a transfer-width adjusting mechanism that changes the size of the bolts to be transferred, by changing the breadth of a transfer path 12b of the bolts to a predetermined set value. The posture changing unit 20 includes an ejection guide 21 that ejects the bolts by causing screw portions to fall into a slit 23 and changing the posture from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture. The ejection guide 21 includes a pair of parallel guides 22 disposed on both sides of the slit 23, and the parallel guides 22 include a slit adjusting mechanism that changes the slit interval to change the bolt size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bolt supply device that discharges bolts arranged in a line in a vertical position, and in particular to a bolt supply device that can discharge bolts of a plurality of bolt sizes with different thread thicknesses arranged in a line in a vertical position. [Background technology]

[0002] A bolt supply device that discharges bolts in a vertical position has been developed (see Patent Document 1). As shown in Figures 26 and 27, bolt supply device 900 is equipped with a mechanism that discharges bolts 901 supplied in different positions by arranging them in a line in a vertical position with heads 903 facing upward. The bolt supply device 900 of Patent Document 1 drops bolts 901 supplied in different positions into a zigzag dropping path and discharges them by controlling their position to a vertical position with heads 903 facing upward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-130560 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] This bolt supply device 900 drops bolts 901 into a zigzag-shaped drop path and changes its position to a vertical position, requiring the drop path to be shaped specifically for each bolt size. If a bolt thicker than the designed size is fed into the drop path, it becomes clogged and cannot be discharged. If a bolt thinner than the designed size is fed into the drop path, it cannot properly change its position to a vertical position and be discharged. Therefore, the device 900 that vertically arranges and discharges bolts requires dedicated equipment for each bolt size. Therefore, multiple types of equipment are required for the manufacturing and sorting processes of multiple sizes of bolts. In the bolt manufacturing and sorting processes, it is rare for a single size of bolt to be used, and multiple pieces of equipment are required at sites that handle multiple bolts of different sizes. Using multiple pieces of equipment increases overall equipment costs and also poses the problem of requiring installation space for each piece.

[0005] The present disclosure has been developed with the aim of resolving the above-mentioned problems, and one of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide a bolt supply device that can, with simple assembly and operation, discharge multiple types of bolts of different sizes in a vertical position in a single row. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A bolt supply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has all of the following configurations (a) to (f). (a) The bolt supply device is a single-row discharge unit that discharges bolts in a single row in a horizontal position; The bolts discharged from the single-row discharge section are turned to a vertical position, It also has a posture change unit that discharges the items in a line. (b) The single-row discharge section is an inner rotating plate having a bolt supplied to its upper surface; Located on the outside of the inner rotating plate, an outer ring plate that transfers bolts supplied from the inner rotating plate in a horizontal position; a rotation mechanism that rotates the outer ring plate; and an alignment section that arranges and discharges the bolts transferred in a horizontal position by the rotating outer ring plate. (c) The alignment section is The width (L) of the bolt transfer path through which the outer ring plate rotates is changed to a predetermined setting value. Equipped with a transport width adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (d) The posture change unit is The threaded part of the bolt is fed horizontally from the single-row discharge section and dropped into the slit. Equipped with a discharge guide that changes its position from horizontal to vertical and discharges the product, The discharge guide is A pair of parallel guides are provided on both sides of a slit through which the threaded portion of the bolt passes. (e) Parallel guides are By changing the slit spacing (W), Equipped with a slit adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (f) Parallel guides are The angle of inclination (α) at ​​which the bolt slides and moves in the ejection direction under its own weight. It slopes downward in the direction of bolt transport. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The bolt supply device described above has the advantage that it can discharge multiple types of bolts with different sizes in a vertical row with simple assembly and operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bolt supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic plan view of the bolt supply device of FIG. 1 as seen from above. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the bolt supply device of FIG. 1 taken along line III-III. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a destacking unit. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a rotation mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an alignment unit. [Figure 7] 7A to 7C are schematic plan views showing an example in which the transport width adjustment mechanism changes and sets the lateral width (L) of the transport path to a set value. [Figure 8] 8A to 8C are schematic cross-sectional perspective views taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, each showing an example in which the transport width adjustment mechanism changes and sets the lateral width (L) of the transport path to a set value. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional perspective views showing other examples of the transport width adjustment mechanism. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing another example of an outer ring plate and a flow path. [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are schematic plan views showing an example of an intermediate guide and a curved guide, and an example of changing and setting the width (M) of the transfer lane to a set value. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of attachment of an inner guide. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of attachment of an inner guide and an outer guide. [Figure 14] 14A and 14B are schematic plan views showing an example of an intermediate guide and a linear guide, and an example of changing and setting the width (M) of the transfer lane to a set value. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing an intermediate guide and a transfer lane. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an intermediate guide, a discharge guide, and a pair of parallel guides. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an intermediate guide and a position changing unit. [Figure 18] 10 is a schematic perspective view showing attachment and detachment of a discharge guide and a pair of parallel guides as an example of a slit adjustment mechanism. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which a bolt in a forward position is transformed from a horizontal position to a vertical position. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which a bolt in a rearward position is transformed from a horizontal position to a vertical position. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view showing a comparative example without a swinging portion or a collision protrusion, in which a bolt is supplied in a backward position, and the threaded portion falls into a slit and tilts. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the position change unit as seen obliquely from below. [Figure 23] 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the posture changing unit and the slit adjustment mechanism. FIG. [Figure 24] 10 is a schematic plan view of the posture changing unit, showing the swinging unit, the collision convex unit, the opposing convex unit, and the parallel guide, as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the alignment section and the single-line alignment section. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the behavior of bolts in a conventional bolt supply device. [Figure 27] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of the behavior of bolts in a conventional bolt supply device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the examples described below exemplify bolt supply devices that embody the technical concepts of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure does not specify the bolt supply device as described below. Furthermore, the present disclosure in no way specifies the components set forth in the claims to the components of the embodiments. The dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of components described in the embodiments, unless otherwise specified, are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure and are merely illustrative examples. Note that the drawings are simplified, schematic, and schematic for explanatory purposes, and the size and relative positions of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. In the following description, the same names and symbols indicate components that are identical or of the same quality, and detailed descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements constituting the present disclosure may be configured with the same component, with one component serving multiple functions, or conversely, the function of one component may be shared among multiple components.

[0010] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be specified by the following configurations and features. A bolt supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has all of the following configurations (a) to (f). (a) The bolt supply device is a single-row discharge unit that discharges bolts in a single row in a horizontal position; The bolts discharged from the single-row discharge section are turned to a vertical position, It also has a posture change unit that discharges the items in a line. (b) The single-row discharge section is an inner rotating plate having a bolt supplied to its upper surface; Located on the outside of the inner rotating plate, an outer ring plate that transfers bolts supplied from the inner rotating plate in a horizontal position; a rotation mechanism that rotates the outer ring plate; and an alignment section that arranges and discharges the bolts transferred in a horizontal position by the rotating outer ring plate. (c) The alignment section is The width (L) of the bolt transfer path through which the outer ring plate rotates is changed to a predetermined setting value. Equipped with a transport width adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (d) The posture change unit is The threaded part of the bolt is fed horizontally from the single-row discharge section and dropped into the slit. Equipped with a discharge guide that changes its position from horizontal to vertical and discharges the product, The discharge guide is A pair of parallel guides are provided on both sides of a slit through which the threaded portion of the bolt passes. (e) Parallel guides are By changing the slit spacing (W), Equipped with a slit adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (f) Parallel guides are The angle of inclination (α) at ​​which the bolt slides and moves in the ejection direction under its own weight. It slopes downward in the direction of bolt transport.

[0011] The bolt supply device described above has the advantage of being able to discharge multiple types of bolts of different sizes in a vertical line with simple assembly and operation. This is because the bolt supply device is configured to connect a single-line discharge section that discharges bolts in a single line and a position changing section that changes the position of the bolts to a vertical position and discharges them to the single-line discharge section. The single-line discharge section is configured to include an inner rotating plate and an outer ring plate, a rotation mechanism that rotates the inner rotating plate and the outer ring plate, and an alignment section that discharges bolts transported by the outer ring plate in a single line. The alignment section is configured to include a transfer width adjustment mechanism that changes the width (L) of the transfer path for the bolts transported by the rotation of the outer ring plate to a preset value. Furthermore, the position changing section is configured to include a discharge guide consisting of a pair of parallel guides arranged on both sides of a slit that changes the position of the bolts to a vertical position, and the discharge guide is equipped with a slit adjustment mechanism that changes the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides to a preset value, allowing both the single-line discharge section and the position changing section to change the bolt size being transported. In other words, the above configuration is a structure in which a single-row discharge section, which discharges supplied bolts arranged in a horizontal position in a single row, is connected to a position change section, which changes the position of the bolts supplied in a horizontal position in a single row to a vertical position; the single-row discharge section is provided with a transfer width adjustment mechanism that changes the size of the bolts that are discharged in a single row, and the position change section is provided with a slit adjustment mechanism that changes the slit spacing (W) through which the threaded section drops and changes its position, resulting in a unique structure that can be changed and set according to the bolt size whose position is to be changed.

[0012] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the transfer width adjustment mechanism includes a lateral width guide disposed on the surface of the outer ring plate to set the lateral width (L) of the transfer path, and a guide adjustment mechanism that displaces the lateral width guide in the radial direction of the outer ring plate, so that the guide adjustment mechanism displaces the lateral width guide to change the lateral width (L) of the transfer path between the inner peripheral edge of the outer ring plate and the lateral width guide. The above configuration is characterized in that the transfer width adjustment mechanism is provided with a lateral width guide that changes the lateral width (L) of the transfer path in the outer ring plate depending on its position, and a guide adjustment mechanism that displaces this lateral width guide in the radial direction of the outer ring plate, and the guide adjustment mechanism displaces the lateral width guide in the radial direction of the outer ring plate to change and set the lateral width (L) of the transfer path, so that the bolt size to be discharged in a row in a horizontal position can be changed and set with a simple structure and operation.

[0013] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the alignment unit includes a single-row alignment unit that rotates an outer ring plate to line up and discharge bolts, and an intermediate guide that supplies the bolts supplied from the single-row alignment unit in a single row to the position change unit, and the intermediate guide can have a transfer lane width adjustment mechanism that changes and adjusts the width (M) of the transfer lane along which the bolts supplied from the single-row alignment unit are transferred in a single row to the position change unit.The above configuration has the advantage that the transfer lane adjustment mechanism provided in the intermediate guide can displace and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane along which the bolts are transferred in a single row to the position change unit, making it possible to change and set the size of bolts that are discharged in a single row in a horizontal position with a simple structure and operation.

[0014] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the intermediate guide comprises an inner guide arranged on the inner peripheral edge side of the outer ring plate and an outer guide arranged outside the inner guide, and the transfer lane width adjustment mechanism can change and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane by displacing the inner guide and / or the outer guide. The above configuration has the advantage that, because the transfer lane adjustment mechanism can change and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane by displacing the inner guide and / or the outer guide, it is possible to change and set the size of bolts to be discharged in a row in a horizontal position with a simple structure and operation.

[0015] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the intermediate guide includes a pair of side walls disposed on both sides of the transfer lane, the pair of side walls having inner inclined surfaces at their bottoms that slope downwardly toward the center of the transfer lane, and a slit-shaped opening between the inner inclined surfaces provided on the pair of side walls, through which the transfer surface, which is the upper surface of the outer ring plate, is exposed. The above configuration has the advantages of allowing the bolts in the transfer lane to be transferred smoothly and stably on the transfer surface of the rotating outer ring plate, stabilizing the attitude and behavior of the bolts, preventing and eliminating bolt clogging inside, and discharging the bolts in a vertical position in a single row.

[0016] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the slit adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of parallel guides with different slit spacing (W) and a detachment mechanism that detaches and replaces each of the parallel guides, allowing the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides to be changed by replacing them with parallel guides with different slit spacing (W) using the detachment mechanism. The above configuration has the advantage that the slit adjustment mechanism of the posture change unit includes a plurality of parallel guides with different slit spacing (W) and a detachment mechanism that allows each of the parallel guides to be detached and replaced, allowing the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides to be changed by replacing them with parallel guides with different slit spacing (W) using the detachment mechanism, thereby allowing bolts of different bolt sizes to be changed to a vertical posture.

[0017] In a bolt supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the discharge guide includes a position change area that changes the position of the supplied bolts from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and an external discharge section that discharges the bolts that have been changed to the vertical position in a line to the outside, and the position change area can include a swing section that swings the threaded portions that drop into the slits of the parallel guides in the width direction of the slits. This configuration has the advantage of being able to efficiently and stably discharge a large number of bolts in a line in a vertical position.

[0018] In another embodiment of the bolt feeder of the present disclosure, the swinging unit includes multiple collision projections that alternately collide with both sides of the threaded portion of a bolt falling through a slit in a parallel guide, and the collision projections can be spaced apart in the bolt transfer direction. In the bolt feeder described above, both sides of the threaded portion falling through the slit in the parallel guide alternately collide with the collision projections, causing the bolt to tilt while swinging. The tilting threaded portion in this state can have its tilt angle controlled when tilting from a horizontal position to a vertical position, preventing clogging caused by the threaded portion overlapping the head of the previous bolt. This has the advantage of shortening the takt time for discharging bolts and enabling a large number of bolts to be efficiently and stably discharged in a single vertical position per unit time.

[0019] Furthermore, the bolt supply device described above has the advantage of being able to stably change the orientation of bolts supplied in both forward and backward orientations from horizontal to vertical, and then discharge them in a line through the slits of the parallel guide. The parallel guide has a position change area that changes the orientation of bolts supplied in both forward and backward orientations to vertical, and this position change area has a swinging unit that swings the threaded portion that falls into the slit of the parallel guide and tilts in a horizontal direction that intersects the tilting plane. The swinging unit has multiple collision protrusions arranged at intervals in the bolt transport direction, which alternately collide on both sides of the tilting threaded portion as it falls through the slits of the parallel guide and tilts, i.e., as it changes orientation from horizontal to vertical. The threaded portion that passes through the slits and tilts toward the vertical orientation alternately collides with the collision protrusions on both sides, causing it to swing and tilt, weakening the momentum of its tilt and slowing down its speed in the tilting direction. The force of the tilt weakens, the tilting speed attenuates, and the bolt that changes its position to a vertical position moves from a horizontal position to a vertical position, then passes through the vertical position and is further restricted from tilting toward the horizontal position. As a result, the threads of a bolt supplied with its head point facing backward fall down the slit and tilt, but the threads do not tilt beyond the vertical position and move beyond the head of the bolt in the forward position, eliminating the problem of the tip of the threads resting on the head of the bolt in the forward position and preventing it from changing its position to a vertical position properly, and even a bolt in a backward position that is supplied with its head point facing forward can be reliably changed to a vertical position and discharged. (Bolt supply device 100)

[0020] 1 and 2, the bolt supply device 100 discharges randomly supplied bolts 1 in a vertical line. The bolt supply device 100 shown in these figures includes a line discharge unit 10 that discharges a large number of bolts 1 supplied without directionality in a horizontal line, and a position change unit 20 that changes the position of the horizontally oriented bolts 1 supplied and discharged from the line discharge unit 10 to a vertical position and discharges them in a vertical line.

[0021] The bolt supply device 100 can be used in all devices that suspend the heads 3 of the bolts 1 on parallel guides 22 and discharge them in a vertical position. The following specific example illustrates a device that discharges hexagonal bolts 1a, each with a hexagonal head 3, in a row, but this disclosure does not limit the bolts 1 to hexagonal bolts 1a, and the bolts 1 include all bolts in which the heads 3 and threaded portions 2 are connected as an integral structure, such as flanged bolts, hexagon socket head bolts, low-head bolts, and bolts with a circular head, as well as screws and bolts such as flat head screws, tapping screws, hexagonal tapping screws, wood screws, and drill screws. (Single row discharge section 10)

[0022] The single-file discharge unit 10 discharges a large number of bolts 1 that have been supplied without directionality in a single file in a horizontal position, and supplies them to the position changing unit 20. The single-file discharge unit 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes an inner rotating plate 11 to which bolts 1 are supplied in a random position, an outer ring plate 12 disposed on the outside of the inner rotating plate 11, a rotation mechanism 40 that rotates the outer ring plate 12, and an alignment unit 15 that supplies the bolts 1 supplied to the outer ring plate 12 in a single file in a horizontal position. (Inner rotating plate 11, outer ring plate 12)

[0023] The inner rotating plate 11 is a rotating disk disposed inside the outer ring plate 12 and is rotatable within an inner plane around the first rotation axis 42. The upper surface of the inner rotating plate 11 serves as a loading surface 11a for receiving and storing bolts 1. The loading surface 11a of the inner rotating plate 11 receives a large number of bolts 1 supplied from an external device such as a hopper, temporarily stores them, and as it rotates, sends out the densely packed bolts 1 to the outer periphery of the inner rotating plate 11 while appropriately dispersing them using supply guides 11b, etc., and guides them to the outer transfer section 12A, where the bolts 1 are transferred to the outer ring plate 12.

[0024] The outer ring plate 12 is disposed outside the inner rotating plate 11 and rotates in the same direction as the inner rotating plate 11. The outer ring plate 12 is disposed rotatably within an outer plane inclined relative to the inner plane, centered on a second rotating shaft 43 inclined from the first rotating shaft 42. The upper surface of the outer ring plate 12 forms a ring-shaped transfer surface 12a that continues in the transfer direction of the bolts 1. The transfer surface 12a is formed in a ring shape along the outer periphery of the inner rotating plate 11, and transfers multiple bolts 1 fed from the inner rotating plate 11 in the rotational direction as the outer ring plate 12 rotates. The width of the transfer surface 12a is set to be sufficiently wider than the outer diameter of the bolts 1 so that multiple bolts 1 can be placed on it and transferred. The width of the transfer surface 12a is appropriately determined depending on the outer diameter of the bolts 1 to be transferred and the number of bolts to be transferred, but is, for example, 3 to 20 cm. Although the transfer surface 12a in Figures 1 to 3 is flat and planar, depending on the shape and size of the bolt 1 to be transferred, the shape of the transfer surface 12a can be U-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped groove in cross section, or it can also be uneven, stepped, tapered, etc.

[0025] The configuration in which the outer ring plate 12 is disposed outside the inner rotating plate 11 allows a large number of bolts 1 supplied from an externally connected device to be temporarily stored on the placement surface 11a, which is the upper surface of the inner rotating plate 11, and then, as the inner rotating plate 11 rotates, the bolts 1 can be supplied to the transfer surface 12a, which is the upper surface of the outer ring plate 12. This prevents a large number of bolts 1 supplied to the inner rotating plate 11 from concentrating all at once and being supplied excessively to the outer ring plate 12, and also prevents the amount of bolts 1 supplied to the outer ring plate 12 from becoming too small, allowing an appropriate amount of bolts 1 to be efficiently supplied to the outer ring plate 12. The outer ring plate 12 can increase the amount of bolts 1 transported by widening the width of the transfer surface 12a, and the maximum width of the transfer surface 12a is, for example, at least three times, and preferably at least five times, the diameter of the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1. Furthermore, with this structure, the bolts 1 are sequentially sent from the inner rotating plate 11 to the outer ring plate 12 while they are both rotating, and it is possible to prevent a large number of bolts 1 from being supplied to the outer ring plate 12 in a packed state, effectively preventing the bolts 1 from rubbing against each other and being damaged. The single-file discharge unit 10 shown in Figure 1 has two rotating bodies, the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12, but the disk that carries the bolts 1, rotates, and discharges them in a single file does not necessarily have to be made up of separate members, the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12, and could, for example, be a single disk.

[0026] The transfer surface 12a on the upper surface of the outer ring plate 2 is continuous with the bolt 1 transfer direction and has a ring-shaped transfer path 12b extending circumferentially around the outer ring plate 2. The transfer path 12b aligns and transfers the bolts 1 in a single row in a horizontal position facing the tangential direction of the circumference, regardless of whether they are in a forward or backward position. The transfer surface 12a in Figures 1 to 3 has a transfer path 12b along the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 2 on the side of the inner peripheral edge 12f. The outer ring plate 12 discharges the bolts 1 in a single row in a horizontal position using the alignment unit 15 described below. The single-row alignment unit 15A and width guide 51 described below guide the bolts 1A and 1B in both forward and backward positions onto the transfer path 12b along the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 2, improving the transfer volume and transfer efficiency of the aligned bolts 1. The transfer path 12b in Figure 8 is a U-shaped groove. The U-groove transport path 12b can be shaped to follow the outer shape of the threaded portion 2, or can be an arc or curved surface larger than the outer diameter of the threaded portion 2, or a groove with a radius of curvature larger or smaller than the outer diameter of the bolt 1. At least a portion of the bolt 1 can be placed on the transport path 12b and transported along the center line of the transport path 12b. The U-groove transport path 12b suppresses and prevents lateral slippage and rolling of the bolts 1, allowing them to be transported in a line on the transport path 12b. The U-groove suppresses and prevents lateral slippage and rolling of the bolts 1, and does not necessarily have to match the width (L) of the transport path 12b. However, the transport path 12b can be shaped other than a U-groove, such as a V-groove, a U-shaped groove that contacts the underside of the bolt 1, or a step or staircase shape on which the threaded portion 2 or the threaded portion 2 and head 3 rest. This allows the bolts 1 to be transported in a stable line with reduced lateral slippage and rolling. The transfer path 12b need only have a width, shape, and configuration that allows it to align and transfer the bolts 1 in a row in a horizontal position facing the tangent direction of the circumference. For example, in the case of bolts 1 that can be transferred in a stationary position without rolling, such as hexagonal bolts 1a, the transfer path 12b does not necessarily have to be groove-shaped, and can be a flat surface, similar to the transfer surface 12a, as shown in Figure 10.

[0027] The outer ring plate 12 is disposed at an angle relative to the inner rotating plate 11. The outer ring plate 12 is disposed so that a portion thereof is continuous with the inner rotating plate 11, and has an outer transfer section 12A that receives the supply and transfer of bolts 1 from the inner rotating plate 11. The outer transfer section 12A has a portion of the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 that is flush with the inner rotating plate 11 or at a lower position than the inner rotating plate 11. The outer ring plate 12 has the outer transfer section 12A, to which bolts 1 are supplied from the inner rotating plate 11, and an upper section 12B that is disposed at a higher position above the inner rotating plate 11, and transfers the bolts 1 supplied from the inner rotating plate 11 from the outer transfer section 12A to the transfer surface 12a of the upper section 12B. 3, the height difference between the outer ring plate 12 and the inner rotating plate 11 increases as the outer ring plate 12 moves away from the outer transfer section 12A, and an alignment section 15 is provided at a position above the inner rotating plate 11, for example, at the part where the height difference is greatest or in the vicinity thereof. The outer ring plate 12 is disposed at an incline relative to the inner rotating plate 11. To achieve this configuration, for example, the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 can be disposed at an incline relative to each other, inclined in opposite directions relative to the horizontal plane. However, the inner rotating plate 11 may be held horizontal and only the outer ring plate 12 may be inclined, or the outer ring plate 12 may be held horizontal and the inner rotating plate 11 may be inclined.

[0028] The bolts 1 transferred from the inner rotating plate 11 to the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 may be transferred in various positions, such as horizontal, stacked, oblique, and vertical. The bolt supply device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 4 has a destacking unit 13 disposed on the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12, allowing the bolts 1 that pass through the destacking unit 13 to be transferred in an unstacked state. The destacking unit 13 removes and separates the stacked bolts 1 transferred on the transfer surface 12a, allowing only single-layer, horizontal bolts 1 to pass. The gap between the lower edge of the destacking unit 13 and the upper surface (transfer surface 12a) of the outer ring plate 12 is a gap that allows only a single layer of bolts 1 to pass through. The destacking unit 13 is positioned inclined radially from the outer periphery toward the inner periphery, moving, guiding, and directing the stacked bolts 1 on the transfer surface 12a inward, and removing bolts 1 that exceed the transfer path 12b to the inner rotating plate 11. In other words, the destacking section 13 tilts the position of the bolts 1 on the transfer surface 12a in a direction that allows them to be moved, guided, and removed from the transfer path 12b and inner rotating plate 11. While destacking the bolts 1, the destacking section 13 appropriately disperses the concentrated bolts 1 along the transfer surface 12a, smoothly correcting the transfer direction, trajectory, and posture of the bolts 1. Therefore, the destacking section 13 allows only a single layer of bolts 1 transferred on the outer ring plate 12 via the transfer surface 12a or the transfer path 12b of the transfer surface 12a, and guides bolts 1 on the first layer of bolts 1 or bolts 1 in an upright position to the inside of the outer ring plate 12, and also removes and discharges them from the outer ring plate 12 to the inner rotating plate 11. The bolts 1 transferred on the outer ring plate 12 always become a single layer of bolts 1 in a horizontal position after passing through the destacking section 13. This simple mechanism allows the bolts 1 transferred in a stack on the outer ring plate 12 to be transferred in a single layer. However, for example, it is also possible to detect the bolts 1 with an optical sensor and remove the bolts 1 that are in an upright position or that are being transported in an overlapping position by air flow or the like.

[0029] The outer ring plate 12 shown in Figures 1 to 3 has an outer peripheral wall 12e disposed along its outer periphery. The outer peripheral wall 12e increases the rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12, preventing the bolts 1 from flying outward from the transfer surface 12a and falling due to centrifugal force. This bolt supply device 100 rotates the outer ring plate 12 quickly, allowing a large number of bolts 1 to be efficiently and stably supplied in the discharge direction. The outer ring plate 12 may have a guide between the destacking section 13 and the narrowest width (width of a row of bolts 1) of the single-row alignment section 15A (width guide 51) that gradually narrows the transfer surface 12a as it advances in the transfer direction, pushing the bolts 1 on the transfer surface 12a inward (toward the inner edge). Similar to the width guide 51, this guide increases the density of the bolts 1 on the inner side, improving transfer and supply efficiency.

[0030] A gap is formed between the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 and the outer peripheral edge of the inner rotating plate 11. This is because the outer ring plate 12 is inclined relative to the inner rotating plate 11. In FIG. 1, this gap is blocked by a blocking wall 12c to prevent the bolt 1 from leaking. The blocking wall 12c is provided along the first opening 12d in the outer ring plate 12 and is connected and fixed to either the outer ring plate 12 or the inner rotating plate 11, allowing it to rotate with either one. The blocking wall 12c can be connected to a disk that rotates the outer ring plate 12. The blocking wall 12c can be, for example, a vertical surface or a downwardly sloping surface from the outer ring plate 12 to the inner rotating plate 11. This reduces the impact when the bolt 1 is removed from the outer ring plate 12 to the inner rotating plate 11, thereby minimizing damage caused by the impact. The blocking wall 12c can also be made of a synthetic resin such as fluororesin, allowing it to fall smoothly.

[0031] The outer ring plate 12 has a circular first opening 12d at its center, and this first opening 12d is approximately the same size as the inner rotating plate 11. The inner rotating plate 11 is arranged so that it protrudes from the first opening 12d of the outer ring plate 12. In the example of FIG. 5 , the inner rotating plate 11 is arranged inside the first opening 12d of the outer ring plate 12 so that the edge of the inner rotating plate 11 coincides with the inner circumference of the outer ring plate 12 in a cross-sectional view, forming an outer transfer section 12A for the bolt 1. With this arrangement, the upper surfaces of the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 are partially continuous, and bolts 1 supplied to the upper surface of the inner rotating plate 11 are pushed outward by the supply guide 11b and can be guided to the upper surface of the outer ring plate 12. In addition, by inclining the outer ring plate 12 downwardly toward the outer periphery at the portion where the bolt 1 is guided from the inner rotating plate 11 to the outer ring plate 12, the bolt 1 being transferred from the inner rotating plate 11 side to the outer ring plate 12 side can be easily guided into the outer ring plate 12 by the bolt 1's own weight.

[0032] The inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 can be manufactured by cutting a single metal plate into a circle using a laser or press. This is because the outer peripheral edge of the inner rotating plate 11 is close to the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12. However, it goes without saying that the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 can be manufactured from separate metal plates. The outer diameter of the inner rotating plate 11 can be, for example, 10 to 100 cm so that it can store a large number of supplied bolts 1. If the inner rotating plate 11 is made larger, a large number of large bolts 1 can be stored. (Rotation mechanism 40)

[0033] The rotation mechanism 40 directly or indirectly rotates the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12. The rotation mechanism 40 can rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 around their respective rotation axes. The inner rotating plate 11 can be rotatably disposed about a first rotation axis 42, and the inner rotating plate 11 can be arranged to rotate in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane. The outer ring plate 12 can be arranged outside the inner rotating plate 11 and rotatably disposed about a second rotation axis 43 that is inclined relatively to the first rotation axis 42. The rotation mechanism 40 in FIG. 1 rotates the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 in the same direction. The rotation mechanism 40 supplies bolts 1 from the rotating inner rotating plate 11 to the outer ring plate 12, and aligns the bolts 1 supplied to the outer ring plate 12 in a row in the alignment unit 15 and supplies them to the position conversion unit 20 in a horizontal position.

[0034] The rotation mechanism 40 includes one or more drive motors 41. The rotation mechanism 40 can rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 together using one motor, or can rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 separately using two or more motors. The first rotating shaft 42 and the second rotating shaft 43 can be rotatably connected to each other, so that the rotational torque of one can be transmitted to the other to rotate them. The inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12 can be rotatably connected to each other at a portion other than the rotating shaft. The rotation mechanism 40 can rotate either the inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12 by rotating the inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12, and transmitting this rotational torque to the other of the inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12 via the rotation transmission mechanism 49. The rotation mechanism 40 can rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 together at the same rotation speed. 5 is connected to a central rod 42a fixed to the center of the inner rotating plate 11, and rotates the inner rotating plate 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The motor 41 can be, for example, an induction motor, a reduction motor, or a stepping motor. Note that it is preferable that the rotation mechanism 40 has a waterproof structure as necessary, for example, a waterproof motor.

[0035] 5 illustrates a configuration in which one motor rotates the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12. The inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 are connected to a frame 48 so that they can rotate at a relative inclination. A center rod 42a, whose axis is the first rotating shaft 42, is fixed to the center of the inner rotating plate 11, and this center rod 42a is rotatably connected to the frame 48 via a bearing. A second sub-rotating plate 46 is fixed to the underside of the outer ring plate 12 via a blocking wall 12c, and a cylindrical second rotating shaft 43, fixed to the center of the second sub-rotating plate 46, is rotatably connected to the frame 48 via a bearing.

[0036] The rotation transmission mechanism 49 in FIG. 5 includes a first pin 45 connected to the inner rotating plate 11 and a pair of second pins 47 connected to the outer ring plate 12 and arranged to guide the first pin 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner rotating plate 11 has a first sub-rotating plate 44 fixed to its underside, and a first pin 45 fixed to the underside of the first sub-rotating plate 44, protruding from the underside of the first sub-rotating plate 44. The outer ring plate 12 has a second sub-rotating plate 46 fixed to its underside via a blocking wall 12c, and a pair of second pins 47 fixed toward the center on the upper surface of a flange portion of a cylindrical rotating shaft 43a fixed to the center of the second sub-rotating plate 46. The first pin 45 is inserted so as to be able to move in and out between the pair of second pins 47 and to move along the second pins 47. When either the inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12 is rotated, this rotation transmission mechanism 49 transmits rotational torque to the other of the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 via the first pin 45 and the second pin 47, causing the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 to rotate together.

[0037] The rotation mechanism 40 of FIG. 5 rotates the inner rotating plate 11 using a motor 41, and transmits the rotational torque to the outer ring plate 12 via a rotation transmission mechanism 49 to rotate the outer ring plate 12. In this case, the drive shaft of the motor 41 is directly or indirectly connected to the center rod 42a of the inner rotating plate 11, thereby allowing the inner rotating plate 11 to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed. Therefore, this rotation mechanism 40 can drive the outer ring plate 12 to rotate using a simple structure in which a cylindrical rotating shaft 43a connected to the outer ring plate 12 is fixed to a frame 50 via a bearing, eliminating the need for a transmission mechanism such as a gear mechanism for rotating the outer ring plate 12. Furthermore, the configuration in which the inner rotating plate 11 is directly driven by the motor 41 allows stable rotation of the inner rotating plate 11, which becomes heavy when a large number of bolts 1 are loaded. In particular, directly driving the inner rotating plate 11, which becomes heavy when a large number of bolts 1 are supplied, reduces the load on the first pin 45 and second pin 47 that constitute the rotation transmission mechanism 49.

[0038] The rotation mechanism 40 rotates the outer ring plate 12 using the motor 41, and transmits the torque of this rotation to the inner rotating plate 11 via the rotation transmission mechanism 49 to rotate it. The rotation mechanism 40 rotates the motor 41. More specifically, the motor 41 rotates the rotating shaft 43a connected to the outer ring plate 12 or the second sub-rotating plate 46, thereby rotating the outer ring plate 12. For example, the rotation transmission mechanism 49 may include a drive gear attached to the motor 41 and a ring-shaped external gear attached to the rotating shaft 43a connected to the outer ring plate 12, and the rotation of the motor 41 rotates the outer ring plate 12 via the drive gear and the external gear. This configuration reduces the rotational speed of the motor 41 using a gear ratio to adjust the rotational speed of the outer ring plate 12. This configuration is particularly advantageous in that it allows for the use of an inexpensive motor 41, while simultaneously adjusting the rotation speed and obtaining strong torque. Furthermore, because the rotation of the motor 41 is transmitted directly to the outer ring plate 12 via the drive gear and the external gear, the rotational speed of the outer ring plate 12 can be maintained constant. Therefore, the bolts 1 transported along the transport path 12b can be supplied at a constant speed, and the accuracy of sorting and alignment on the transport path 12b can be improved. However, a known mechanism other than a gear mechanism can also be used for the rotation transmission mechanism 49 that rotates the outer ring plate 12 using the motor 41.

[0039] The above rotation mechanism 40 rotates either the inner rotating plate 11 or the outer ring plate 12 with one motor, and also rotates the other of the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 via the rotation transmission mechanism 49, so that the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 rotate together at the same rotation speed. In this single-file discharge section 10, the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 rotate at the same rotation speed, so that bolts 1 can be stably supplied from the inner rotating plate 11 rotating in the outer transfer section 12A to the outer ring plate 12 rotating.

[0040] However, the rotation mechanism 40 can also use two motors to rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 separately. This rotation mechanism 40 can rotate the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 at different rotational speeds (number of rotations). This bolt supply device 100 can adjust the amount of bolts 1 continuously supplied from the inner rotating plate 11 to the outer ring plate 12 in the outer transfer section 12A by adjusting the rotational speed of the inner rotating plate 11. For example, the supply amount can be increased by increasing the rotational speed of the inner rotating plate 11, and the supply amount can be decreased by decreasing the rotational speed of the inner rotating plate 11. Increasing the rotational speed of the outer ring plate 12 can increase the discharge and supply amount from the position change section 20, and decreasing the rotational speed of the outer ring plate 12 can stabilize the position change to a vertical position, behavior, transfer, and meandering movement of the bolts 1 in the position change section 20. For example, by making the rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 slower than that of the inner rotating plate 11, the bolts 1 can be supplied stably, and by making the rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 faster than that of the inner rotating plate 11, the bolts 1 can be transported with increased momentum to the posture change section 20. It is also possible to make it variable so that the rotation speed can be adjusted according to the congestion level of the bolts 1 and the transport situation. (Alignment section 15, single-row alignment section 15A)

[0041] The alignment section 15 of the single-line discharge section 10 aligns and discharges the bolts 1 that are transferred in a horizontal position by the rotating outer ring plate 12. The alignment section 15 aligns the bolts 1 supplied from the outer ring plate 12 in a horizontal position and supplies them to the position changing section 20. The alignment section 15 includes a single-line alignment section 15A that aligns the bolts 1 in a single line on the rotating outer ring plate 12, and an intermediate guide 15B that aligns the bolts 1 supplied from the single-line alignment section 15A in a single line and supplies them to the position changing section 20.

[0042] The single-file alignment unit 15A in Figure 6 transports bolts 1 in a normal horizontal position and orientation on the transfer path 12b of the outer ring plate 2 and supplies them to the transfer lane 60 of the intermediate guide 15B, and pushes bolts 1 in other abnormal positions from the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 toward the inner rotating plate 11 and drops them, thereby transferring the bolts 1 in a single file on the transfer path 12b of the outer ring plate 12. Bolts 1 in a normal horizontal position and orientation refer to bolts 1A and 1B in a forward or backward orientation, aligned along the transfer path 12b, parallel to the tangent direction of the transfer path 12b, and positioned to pass over the transfer path 12b, i.e., bolts 1 are on the transfer path 12b with their central axes aligned along the transfer path 12b. The single-row alignment section 15A in Figure 6 is provided with a width guide 51 that aligns the bolts 1 transported on the transport surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 in a single row on the transport path 12b, and the bolts 1 passing through the width guide 51 are in the correct horizontal position. (Transfer width adjustment mechanism 50)

[0043] The alignment unit 15 is equipped with a transfer width adjustment mechanism 50 that changes the width (L) of the transfer path 12b of the bolts 1 transferred by the rotation of the outer ring plate 12 to a predetermined set value to change the size of the transferred bolts. The transfer width adjustment mechanism 50 can adjust and change the width (L) of the transfer path 12b, and can set the width (L) of the transfer path 12b to an appropriate set value depending on the size of the bolts 1 to be transferred. The transfer width adjustment mechanism 50 shown in FIG. 6 includes a width guide 51 disposed on the surface of the outer ring plate 12, i.e., the transfer surface 12a, to determine the width (L) of the transfer path 12b, and a guide adjustment mechanism 52 that displaces the width guide 51 in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12. The width guide 51 forms the transfer path 12b between itself and the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 and determines the width (L) of the transfer path 12b. The guide adjustment mechanism 52 changes and adjusts the position and / or posture of the width guides 51 to change and adjust the width (L) of the transfer path 12b. The guide adjustment mechanism 52 can change the width (L) of the transfer path 12b between the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 and the width guides 51 by displacing them in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12. This allows for a simple structure and operation to change the size of bolts discharged in a horizontal position lined up in a row. For example, the guide adjustment mechanism 52 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A to 7C can narrow the width (L) of the transfer path 12b by displacing the width guides 51 radially inward (toward the inner periphery) of the outer ring plate 12 (e.g., L1 in FIG. 7A), or can widen the width (L) of the transfer path 12b by displacing the width guides 51 radially outward (toward the outer periphery) of the outer ring plate 12 (e.g., L3 in FIG. 7C). As shown in Figures 7A to 7C, for example, the guide adjustment mechanism 52 can displace and position the width guide 51 to a position that sets the width (L1, L2, L3) of the transfer path 12b to a predetermined set value depending on the size of the bolt to be transferred, and can fix it with the fixing mechanism 53.

[0044] The width guide 51 guides and guides the bolts 1 being transported on the transport surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 to the transport path 12b, and transports the bolts 1 in a row along the transport path 12b. The distance and width between the tip 51a of the width guide 51 and the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 determines the width (L) of the transport path 12b. The width guide 51 sets the width (L) of the transport path 12b as a gap that allows only a single row of bolts 1 to be transported, and transports the bolts in a row along the transport path 12b. As shown in Figure 6, width guide 51 is positioned on transfer surface 12a, outside transfer path 12b, and tip 51a of width guide 51 is shaped to follow transfer path 12b, which extends in an arc, and is positioned to guide threaded portions 2 of bolts 1 into transfer path 12b, so that bolts 1 supplied on transfer surface 12a are transferred in a row along transfer path 12b. Of bolts 1 supplied on transfer surface 12a in various attitudes and positions, width guide 51 allows only bolts 1 in a row in the correct attitude and position along transfer path 12b to pass through and be transferred. The width guide 51 corrects, for example, some of the bolts 1 that are being transported in two or more rows or that are being transported in a posture or position that does not follow the transport path 12b, to a normal posture along the transport path 12b, and guides them onto the transport path 12b, allowing them to pass and be transported in a single row.The remaining bolts 1 that are in an abnormal posture or position that does not follow the normal posture or position along the transport path 12b are pushed from the outer ring plate 12 to the inner rotating plate 11, removed, and then supplied again from the mounting surface 11a of the inner rotating plate 11 to the transport surface 12a.

[0045] As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 8A to 8C, the width guide 51 has an inclined surface 51b that slopes downward toward the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 at the tip 51a side. A part of the bolt 1 (for example, one face, one side, or corner of the hexagon of the head 3 of a hexagonal bolt 1a) contacts and slides against the inclined surface 51b, stably supporting the bolt 1 together with the transport path 12b and allowing it to be guided, led, and moved along the transport path 12b. The inclined surface 51b can be flat (Figure 8), curved, or a combination of flat and curved surfaces. In the single-row alignment section 15A of Figure 6, the tip 51a of the width guide 51 gradually narrows the transport surface 12a as it advances in the transport direction, with the narrowest width being the width (width (L) of the transport path 12b) that allows a line of bolts 1 to pass along the transport path 12b. This width guide 51 smoothly guides the bolts 1 toward the transfer path 12b on the inner peripheral edge 12f side of the outer ring plate 12, allowing them to be oriented along the transfer path 12b, thereby stably transferring the bolts 1 on the transfer path 12b and pushing them out to the inner rotating plate 11. The width guide 51 described above allows both forward-facing and backward-facing bolts 1A, 1B aligned on the transfer path 12b to pass through, thereby increasing the amount of bolts supplied to the position changing unit 20. Furthermore, by guiding, directing, and pushing out the bolts 1 on the transfer surface 12a toward the transfer path 12b provided on the inner edge side of the outer ring plate 12, the width guide 51 increases the density and frequency of the bolts 1 passing through the transfer path 12b, increasing the number of passes per unit time and improving the efficiency of supplying bolts 1 to the position changing unit 20, both of which can improve the amount of bolts 1 discharged per rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 and the discharge efficiency. Furthermore, as the rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 increases, the centrifugal force increases, but the tip 51a and inclined surface 51b of the width guide 51 can utilize the centrifugal force to smoothly and stably guide, induce, and push out the bolt 1 into the transfer path 12b (side) provided on the inner peripheral edge 12f side of the outer ring plate 12.

[0046] The guide adjustment mechanism 52 includes a fixing mechanism 53 that fixes the width guide 51 at a predetermined set position, and a moving mechanism 54 that moves the width guide 51 in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12. The width guide 51 is fixed to the base frame, and the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 rotates relative to the base frame, so that the width guide 51 is positioned close to the transfer surface 12a without contacting it. For example, the fixing mechanism 53 shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 8A to 8C includes a fixing bolt 53a that penetrates the width guide 51 and is screwed into the base frame 53e to fix the width guide 51 in an adjusted position. The fixing bolt 53a has an operating lever 53b connected to its upper end, a flange 53c that is integral with the operating lever 53b and presses against the upper surface of the width guide 51, and a threaded portion 53d that is integral with the flange 53c. The operating lever 53b tightens the fixing bolt 53a to fix the width guide 51 in an adjusted position, and loosens the fixing bolt 53a to allow the width guide 51 to move in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12. The fixing bolt 53a can fix the width guide 51 in an adjusted position by screwing the threaded portion 53d into the female threaded hole 53f of the base frame 53e. The fixing bolt 53a has an operating lever 53b, which the user can operate without using tools to fix the width guide 51 in an adjusted position or to move it.

[0047] The movement mechanism 54 for the width guide 51 shown in Figures 6, 7A to 7C, and 8A to 8C includes an adjustment screw 54b with a knob 54a at its rear end and a vertical rib 54d, with the male thread of the threaded rod of the adjustment screw 54b threaded into a female threaded hole 54c. The adjustment screw 54b rotatably connects the tip of the threaded rod without moving axially. The vertical rib 54d is fixed to a base frame 53e with the female threaded hole 54c extending radially of the outer ring plate 12. The movement mechanism 54 has an elongated hole 54e in the width guide 51 through which the fixing bolt 53a passes. When the width guide 51 is movable, i.e., when the fixing bolt 53a is loosened, the knob 54a is rotated to move the threaded rod of the adjustment screw 54b axially, thereby moving the width guide 51 radially of the outer ring plate 12. The above-described bolt supply device 100 can change the width (L) of the transfer path 12b by displacing the width guide 51 in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12 using the guide adjustment mechanism 52, and therefore has the advantage that the size of the bolts to be discharged in a horizontal position lined up in a row can be changed with a simple structure and operation.

[0048] The alignment unit 15 can have one or more single-line alignment sections 15A and width guides 51. The multiple single-line alignment sections 15A and width guides 51 can have the same or different shapes and configurations depending on their placement. This prevents the bolts 1 from being partially aligned in two rows, enabling more reliable single-line transfer of the bolts 1. Horizontally positioned bolts 1 can be smoothly transferred in a single line along the inner peripheral edge 12f of the rotating outer ring plate 12 without jamming. For example, the single-line alignment unit 15A shown in Figures 2 and 25 has two width guides 51. The total length of the tip 51a and inclined surface 51b of each width guide 51 in the transfer direction can be increased, preventing overlapping or interlocking of the threaded portions 2 and allowing horizontally positioned bolts 1 to be transferred in a single line without jamming. Each guide adjustment mechanism 52 can change or adjust the width (L) of the transfer path 12b. The width guide 51 in Figure 25 has a tip 51a and a side wall 51c. The tip 51a has an inclined surface 51b that slopes downward toward the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12, and the tip 51a is linear, with a portion arranged so that the width between the tip edge and the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 gradually narrows in the transport direction of the bolt 1. The guide adjustment mechanism 52 of Figure 25, like the above-mentioned or transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66, has a fixing mechanism 53 and a moving mechanism 54, and can change the lateral width (L) of the transfer path 12b by displacing the lateral width guide 51, which is connected via a connecting plate 53g, in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12.

[0049] The present disclosure does not limit the transport width adjustment mechanism 50 to the above structure. For example, the transport width adjustment mechanism 50 can change the lateral width (L) of the transport path 12b by replacing the lateral width guides 51 in whole or in part. The guide adjustment mechanism 52 in FIGS. 9A and 9B includes a plurality of lateral width guides 51 (51X, 51Y) that are detachably arranged on the surface of the outer ring plate 12 and have different lateral widths L (L4, L5) of the transport path 12b, and a detachment mechanism 55 that detaches the lateral width guides 51 (51X, 51Y). The detachment mechanism 55 detaches the lateral width guides 51 arranged on the surface of the outer ring plate 12 and can change the lateral width L (L4, L5) of the transport path 12b by replacing them with lateral width guides 51 (51X, 51Y) that set a predetermined lateral width (L) of the transport path 12b. In this configuration, the transport width adjustment mechanism 50 has multiple detachable and replaceable width guides 51 that change and set the width (L) of the transport path 12b of the outer ring plate 12, so that the width (L) of the transport path 12b can be changed by detaching and replacing the width guides 51, and the size of bolts that are lined up in a row and discharged in a horizontal position can be changed with a simple structure and operation. The detachable mechanism 55 can be realized, for example, by fixing bolts 53a that pass vertically through the width guides 51 and detachably attach the width guides 51 to the top of the base frame 53e, and can be configured similarly to the fixing mechanism 53 that fixes the width guides 51 in a set position. For example, the guide adjustment mechanism 52 can fix the width guide 51X in a fixed position on the outer ring plate 12 by screwing the fixing bolt 53a of the detachment mechanism 55 into the base frame 53e, thereby adjusting the width (L4) of the transport path 12b to a predetermined width, or can change the width (L5) of the transport path 12b by loosening and pulling out the fixing bolt 53a and replacing it with the width guide 51Y of a different width L5. (Intermediate guide 15B)

[0050] The intermediate guide 15B is disposed between the single-line alignment section 15A and the position change section 20, and is a guide that guides, directs, and supplies the bolts 1 supplied from the single-line alignment section 15A to the position change section 20. The alignment section 15 may be provided with one or more intermediate guides 15B. The intermediate guide 15B has a transfer lane 60 that aligns the bolts 1 supplied from the single-line alignment section 15A in a single line and transfers them to the position change section 20. The transfer lane 60 is a path, course, or transfer trajectory of the bolts 1 along which the bolts 1 are transferred along the intermediate guide 15B.

[0051] The intermediate guide 15B in FIG. 2 includes a curved guide 62 that transfers the bolts 1 in the rotational direction of the outer ring plate 12 and a linear guide 63 that transfers the bolts 1 linearly. The curved guide 62 in FIG. 2 has a curved guide and transfers the bolts 1 supplied from the single-row alignment unit 15A in the rotational direction of the outer ring plate 12. The curved guide 62X in FIGS. 11 to 13 has a curved guide that gently curves in the direction of travel (increases the radius of curvature) and gradually corrects the travel and transfer direction of the bolts 1 supplied along the arc-shaped movement path 12b of the outer ring plate 12 to linear travel. The linear guide 63 in FIGS. 12 to 14 has a linear guide and transfers the bolts 1 supplied from the curved guide 62 linearly. The linear guide 63 ensures that the bolts 1 travel linearly and stabilizes their posture, allowing the bolts 1 to be supplied to the posture change unit 20 in a stable manner. The intermediate guide 15B in FIG. 1 has a curved guide 62X disposed on the entrance side of the transfer lane 60 (the front side in the transfer direction) and a straight guide 63 disposed on the rear side in the transfer direction, with the straight guide 63 connected to the position change unit 20 and the discharge guide 21. The intermediate guide 15B can have one or more curved guides 62 and straight guides 63. The curved guide 62X and straight guide 63, which are made up of multiple members, can be separate members or may have an integrated structure. The position change unit 20 can also have a portion that doubles as the intermediate guide 15B.

[0052] The intermediate guide 15B can be provided on both the inside and / or outside of the transfer lane 60 to guide and direct the bolts 1 and determine the transfer direction. The curved guide 62 and linear guide 63 in FIGS. 1 and 2 each include inner guides 62X and 63X located on the inner peripheral edge 12f side of the outer ring plate 12 and outer guides 62Y and 63Y located outside the inner guides 62X and 63X. The inner guide 62X and outer guide 62Y of the curved guide 62 extend to the linear guide 63, and the discharge side of the transfer lane 60 of the linear guide 63 is linearly connected to the discharge guide 21. This configuration allows the inner guides 62X and 63X and the outer guides 62Y and 63Y located on both sides of the transfer lane 60 to reliably transfer the bolts 1 while stabilizing their movement.

[0053] The intermediate guide 15B has a displacement guide 64 that guides and directs the bolts 1, which are transported in a row along the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12, to the transport lane 60. The displacement guide 64 displaces the bolts 1, which are supplied in a row in a tangential orientation on the transport path 12b, from the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 toward the outer periphery, and guides them to the transport lane 60, which extends tangentially to the transport path 12b or outward from the tangent line. The displacement guide 64 displaces, moves, and transports the bolts 1 on the inner peripheral transport trajectory Rin on the transport path 12b to an outer transport trajectory Rout, which is positioned further outward on the outer ring plate 12 than the inner peripheral transport trajectory Rin. The inner peripheral transport trajectory Rin is the trajectory along which the bolts 1 are transported toward the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12, and FIG. 11 shows the inner peripheral transport trajectory Rin as the transport path 12b.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a displacement guide 64 provided on an inner guide 62X on the entrance side (near side in the transport direction) of the transport lane 60. The displacement guide 64 is positioned to contact the bolts 1 (thread portion 2, head portion 3) on the transport path 12b that have passed through the width guide 51. The displacement guide 64 displaces the transport direction of the bolts 1A in a forward position and the bolts 1B in a backward position, guiding and directing the bolts 1 along the transport lane 60. The displacement guide 64 has a shape and configuration that allows it to displace the portion of the bolt 1 that contacts it in the direction of transport. For example, the displacement guide 64 can have a flat surface, a curved surface, a straight line, a curved line, an inclined surface, or a step. The displacement guide 64 in FIG. 6 has an inclined surface 64a that slopes downward from the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 to the outside, and a side wall 64b that is a plate-like or wall-like guide. The inclined surface 64a can contact the bolts 1 at a low position, guiding, directing, and displacing the bolts 1 in the displacement direction while reducing the degree of contact and collision. The displacement guide 64 in Figure 6 has a side wall 64b on top of the inclined surface 64a, which reliably prevents the bolt 1 from climbing over the inclined surface 64a, and together with the inclined surface 64a, can reliably and stably guide and direct the bolt 1 to the transfer lane 60.

[0055] The displacement guide 64 in Figure 6 has an inner portion 64c located inside the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12, and the inclined surface 64a of the inner portion 64c intersects with a tangent to the center line of the transfer path 12b and extends from inside the transfer path 12b across the transfer path 12b toward the outer periphery of the transfer surface 12a. This displacement guide 64 reliably contacts and collides with the bolts 1 on the transfer path 12b. The contact or collision triggers the displacement of the bolts 1 from the inner transfer trajectory Rin on the transfer path 12b to the outer transfer trajectory Rout on the transfer path 12b, reliably, smoothly, and stably guiding and guiding the bolts 1 to the transfer lane 60, not only on a flat transfer path 12b (Figure 10) but also on a grooved transfer path 12b (Figure 8). The linear displacement guide 64 that crosses the transfer path 12b easily determines the displacement direction, and the contact or collision triggers the displacement and transfer of the bolts 1 outward from the tangent. The displacement guide 64 can be positioned so that the transport direction is deflected outward from the tangent at an angle of, for example, 10 to 70 degrees, preferably 20 to 50 degrees. The displacement guide 64 is set within the above range in order to reliably guide and direct the bolts 1 from the transport path 12b to the transport lane 60, while also smoothly guiding and directing the bolts 1 from the transport path 12b to the transport lane 60 while suppressing and reducing disruptions to the behavior and transport posture of the bolts 1 due to contact or collision with the displacement guide 64. The displacement guide 64 can be provided with an inclined surface 64a that slopes downward toward the transport lane 60 along the transport lane 60, and by providing this on the entrance side of the inner guide 62X of the curved guide 62, the bolts 1 can be smoothly and reliably guided and directed from the transport path 12b to the transport lane 60. The displacement guide 64 in Figure 6 further has a receiving guide 64d at the tip end of the inner placement portion 64c to prevent the bolt 1 from falling, thereby preventing and suppressing the bolt 1 from falling and allowing it to be guided and led to the transfer lane 60 in a stable and efficient manner.

[0056] The intermediate guide 15B can be provided with a pair of side walls 61A on both sides of the transfer lane 60. The pair of opposing side walls 61A form the transfer lane 60 for transferring the bolts 1 therebetween. The side walls 61A in FIGS. 1 and 2 are formed by arranging a pair of plate members extending in the up-down direction (vertical direction) facing each other, with the inside thereof forming the transfer lane 60 for the bolts 1. The plate members can be made of metal plate or plastic plate, and the curved side walls 61A can be made by bending a metal plate or by molding plastic. The side walls 61A are fixed to the base frames 67d, 68f, and the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 rotates relative to the base frames 67d, 68f, so that the side walls 61A are positioned close to the transfer surface 12a without coming into contact with it. The intermediate guide 15B, which has a pair of side walls 61A arranged on both sides of the transfer lane 60, has the advantage of being able to increase the rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 and transfer the bolts 1 in a line along the transfer lane 60. This is because the outer side walls 61A can prevent the bolts 1 from shifting sideways to the outside of the transfer lane 60 due to centrifugal force. The transfer lane 60, which has side walls 61A on both sides, can stabilize the behavior and transfer of the bolts 1 without causing them to shift position between the pair of side walls 61A, even at a rotation speed of the outer ring plate 12 that does not cause the bolts 1 to shift sideways due to centrifugal force, and can transfer the bolts 1 in a line reliably and stably.

[0057] The transfer lane 60 in FIGS. 11 and 12 includes a curved transfer lane 60A and a straight transfer lane 60B. The curved transfer lane 60A has at least a curved portion of the transfer lane 60, through which bolts 1 are supplied from the single-file alignment section 15A. The straight transfer lane 60B has at least a straight portion of the transfer lane 60, through which bolts 1 supplied from the curved transfer lane 60A are discharged and transferred to the posture change section 20. The intermediate guide 15B in FIGS. 11 and 12 includes a displacement guide 64 on the inner guide 62X of the curved guide 62 of the curved transfer lane 60A on the entrance side of the transfer lane 60 through which bolts 1 are transferred from the single-file alignment section 15A. The displacement guide 64 pushes and displaces and transfers bolts 1 on the inner peripheral transfer trajectory Rin to the outer transfer trajectory Rout. The bolts 1 displaced and transferred by the displacement guide 64 are transferred from the curved transfer lane 60A to the straight transfer lane 60B and discharged to the posture change section 20. The side walls 61A on both sides of the curved transfer lane 60A shown in Figure 11 are equipped with curved guides 62X having a shape that curves along the transfer trajectory R of the bolt 1 transferred in the rotational direction of the outer ring plate 12, and the side walls 61A on both sides of the straight transfer lane 60B are equipped with straight guides 62Y having a shape that extends linearly.

[0058] The side walls 61A of the intermediate guide 15B have inner inclined surfaces 61B at their bottoms that slope downward toward the center of the width of the transfer lane 60. The pair of side walls 61A shown in Figures 13 and 15 have inner inclined surfaces 61B on both sides of the bottom, and a slit-shaped opening 61C is provided between the inner inclined surfaces 61B on both sides, with a width that does not allow the head 3 of the bolt 1 to pass through, and the slit-shaped opening 61C exposes the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12. The transfer lane 60 of the intermediate guide 15B does not have a bottom, and the bolt 1 is transferred by the transfer surface 12a exposed to the slit-shaped opening 61C. The rotating transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12, exposed through the slit-shaped opening 61C, allows the bolts 1 to be placed on it and smoothly transferred along the transfer lane 60, stabilizing the behavior and transfer posture of the bolts 1. By utilizing the rotation of the outer ring plate 2, the bolts 1 can be reliably and stably supplied from the transfer path 12b along the inner peripheral edge 12f through the transfer lane 60 to the position change unit 20. The pair of side walls 61A in this configuration have inner inclined surfaces 61B that slope downward toward the center line in the width direction of the transfer lane 60, forming V-grooves on both sides of the bottom of the transfer lane 60, and a slit-shaped opening 61C in the center. In this transfer lane 60, the bolts 1 slide along the inner inclined surfaces 61B on both sides and are transferred along the outer transfer trajectory Rout. In particular, the transfer lane 60 supports the bolts 1 as they contact and slide against the V-groove shapes on both sides and the central transfer surface 12a, stabilizing their behavior and transfer posture, guiding the bolts 1 without misalignment, and preventing lateral movement. The slit-shaped opening 61C has an opening width (S) that allows the bolts 1 on the transfer lane 60 to be placed on the transfer surface 12a and transferred. The bolts 1 can be transferred stably on the transfer surface 12a while contacting the transfer surface 12a at the same speed as the transfer path 12b. This eliminates the need for a separate means or mechanism for transferring the bolts 1 on the transfer lane 60, which is advantageous in terms of cost and noise. The inner inclined surface 61B on either side can be configured with a downward inclination angle so that it contacts the head 3 of the bolt 1 being transferred. The downward inclination so that the head 3 of the bolt 1 being transferred contacts the inner inclined surface 61B on both sides further suppresses and reduces disturbances in the behavior and transfer posture of the bolt 1, allowing for stable transfer. The side wall 61A and the inner inclined surface 61B can be separate members (Figure 13) or can be configured as an integrated structure.

[0059] The transfer lane 60 can be shaped to fit the bolts 1, for example, a groove-like or stepped shape such as a U-groove, V-groove, or U-shaped groove. The transfer lane 60 can have the same shape, width, and configuration across the entire area, or it can have different shapes, widths, and configurations depending on the location, such as curved and straight lines, and can have different shapes, widths, and configurations depending on the curvature of the curve. For example, bolts 1 supplied with force from the single-row alignment section 15A have a fast initial transfer speed and a large centrifugal force, so the curved transfer lane 60A can be shaped and height accordingly. The intermediate guide 15B can have a shape and surface that minimizes a decrease in transfer speed. Alternatively, the width of the transfer lane 60 can be made wider at the entrance and narrower at the exit, thereby reducing the transfer speed and stabilizing the transfer behavior through the frictional resistance of the intermediate guide 15B. The intermediate guide 15B can also have a bottom surface.

[0060] 13 and 16 have a connecting section 65 that connects the transfer surface 12a to the discharge guide 21 and transfers and supplies the bolt 1 from the transfer surface 12a to the discharge guide 21. The connecting section 65 in Fig. 16 is disposed outside the transfer surface 12a and is shaped to follow the outer peripheral edge of the outer ring plate 12, and extends the bottom surface of the transfer lane 60 from the transfer surface 12a to connect and link to the parallel guide 22. The connecting section 65 in Fig. 16 has a groove 65a, such as a U-groove or V-groove, whose width and depth increase in the direction of travel, and the groove 65a guides the bolt 1 (threaded portion 2) into the slit 23 and makes it easier for the threaded portion 2 to drop and tilt.

[0061] In Figure 1, the transfer lane 60 is inclined downward in the transfer direction, and bolts 1 are transported on the transfer surface 12a of the rotating outer ring plate 12 and supplied to the position change unit 20. This configuration allows bolts 1 to be smoothly and stably supplied to the parallel guides 22, which are inclined downward in the transfer direction of the bolts 1, without requiring a separate bolt 1 transport mechanism. The intermediate guide 15B can be appropriately sized, shaped, and configured depending on the transfer speed, amount, centrifugal force, etc. of the bolts 1. The entrance to the transfer lane 60 can be located at the top area where the transfer surface 12a of the outer ring plate 12 is at its highest point, near that area, or beyond that area on the downward slope. The intermediate guide 15B can be located in an area where the change in the downward slope on the entrance side of the transfer lane 60 is smaller than the change in the downward slope on the exit side of the transfer lane 60 (i.e., the change in the slope on the discharge side of the transfer lane 60 is greater than the change in the slope on the entrance side of the transfer lane 60). The displacement guide 64 is located higher than the position change unit 20. This configuration allows the displacement guide 64 to smoothly push the bolt 1 from the inner transfer path Rin to the outer transfer path Rout in the area of ​​the transfer surface 12a where the downward slope change is small. Furthermore, the connecting section 65 connecting the transfer surface 12a to the discharge guide 21 can be located in the area where the downward slope change is greater than at the entrance. This allows the bolt 1 to be smoothly fed to the discharge guide 21. The difference in slope between the transfer surface 12a and the parallel slide 22 can be reduced, allowing the downward slope of the transfer surface 12a to be utilized to feed the bolt 1 to the parallel slide 22. The parallel slide 22 can slide the bolt 1 in the discharge direction under its own weight, enabling stable posture change. The distance from the entrance of the intermediate guide 15B to the discharge of the posture change section 20 reduces the disturbance of the bolt 1's behavior and transfer posture. This allows the bolt 1 to be stably transferred to the slit 23 between the pair of linearly extending parallel slides 22 in a stable posture. This reduces and suppresses the bolt 1's sway and movement in the width direction of the slit 23, stabilizing its posture and transfer direction. Furthermore, the height difference can be maximized. In addition, bolts 1A, 1B can be transferred stably regardless of whether they are in a forward or backward position, and can be continuously supplied stably regardless of whether they are supplied at low or high speed. Furthermore, the transfer lane 60 and intermediate guide 15B are connected to the position change unit 20 at a predetermined position outside the outer ring plate 12, where space is secured, and can contribute to making the device more compact and miniaturized.The position change unit 20 is arranged in a predetermined position and space is secured, so that the position change of the bolt 1 to a vertical position and the sliding movement under its own weight can be realized reliably and stably.

[0062] The intermediate guide 15B is equipped with a transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 that changes and adjusts the width (M) of the transfer lane 60. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can appropriately set the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 according to the size of the bolt to be transferred by changing and adjusting the position and posture of the intermediate guide 15B. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can control and stabilize the transfer direction, path, and behavior of the bolts 1 by setting the appropriate width (M) of the transfer lane 60. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can set, change, and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 at each position by changing the position, posture, and shape of the side wall 61A and inner inclined surface 61B.

[0063] The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can change and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 in a planar, linear, or pointwise manner by adjusting the position, posture, and shape of one or more intermediate guides 15B. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can change and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 at the position where the intermediate guide 15B is fixed, and can also change and adjust the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 using the elastic side wall 61A. For example, it can move and change the posture of either or both of the inner guides 62X, 63X and the outer guides 62Y, 63Y. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 in Figures 11A and 11B shows an example in which the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 is changed by changing the position of the inner guide 62X (side wall 61A) of the curved guide 62 on the entrance side of the transfer lane 60. In Figure 11A, the arrangement of the inner guide 62X determines the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 as M11 from the entrance side at the position where the displacement guide 64 is located, M12 at the position where the curved guide 62 is located, M13 at the position where the straight guide 63 is located, and M14 at the position where the bottom of the inclined surface 62a is located. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 in Figure 11B positions and moves the inner guide 62X more inward than in Figure 11A, thereby widening the width (M) of the transfer lane 60, and determining, for example, M21 from the entrance side at the position where the displacement guide 64 is located, M22 at the position where the curved guide 62 is located, M23 at the position where the straight guide 63 is located, and M24 at the position where the bottom of the inclined surface 63a is located, allowing bolts 1 of larger sizes to be transferred than in Figure 11A. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66, which displaces and adjusts the curved guide 62 to an appropriate width (M) according to the bolt size, can reliably and stably transfer the bolts 1 from the transfer path 12b to the transfer lane 60 and stabilize the behavior of the bolts 1 passing through the curved guide 62. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 displaces and moves the intermediate guide 15B (inner guide 62X in Figures 11A and 11B) in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12 to change the width (M) of the transfer lane 60, so that with a simple structure and operation, the size of bolts that are lined up in a row and discharged in a horizontal position can be changed.

[0064] 14A and 14B can narrow the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 by displacing or moving the outer guide 63Y of the linear guide 63 radially inward (toward the inner periphery) of the outer ring plate 12 (for example, FIG. 14A), and can widen the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 by displacing the intermediate guide 15B radially outward (toward the outer periphery) of the outer ring plate 12 (for example, FIG. 14B). The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 sets the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 to M15 at the position of the linear guide 63 in FIG. 14A and M16 at the position of the lowest part of the inclined surface 63a, and to M25 at the position of the linear guide 63 in FIG. 14B and M26 at the position of the lowest part of the inclined surface 63a, allowing bolts 1 of a larger size to be transferred than those in FIG. 14A. As shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66 can uniformly change the width (M) of the transfer lane 60 (linear transfer lane 60B) by translating the outer guides 62Y and 63Y relative to the inner guides 62X and 63X, but can also move or displace them non-parallel. The side wall 61A of the intermediate guide 15B can have an elastic guide, plate, or wall that allows its position and posture to be adjusted. For example, as shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the intermediate guide 15B can change its position and posture by elastically deforming the outer guide 63Y. The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism 66, which displaces and adjusts the linear guide 63 to an appropriate width (M) according to the bolt size, can stabilize the behavior of the bolt 1 passing through the linear guide 63, allowing the bolt 1 to be stably transferred to the posture change unit 20.

[0065] 12 to 14 includes fixing mechanisms 67 and 68 that fix the intermediate guide 15B in a set position, and moving mechanisms 67h and 68h that move the intermediate guide 15B in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12. For example, the fixing mechanism 67 in FIG. 12 includes a fixing bolt 67e that passes through a connecting plate 67a connected to the side wall 61A of the inner guide 62X and is screwed into a female threaded hole 67c in a vertical rib 67b provided on a base frame 67d to fix the inner guide 62X in an adjusted position. The connecting plate 67a is screwed into the vertical rib 67b provided on the base frame 67d, and positions the side wall of the inner guide 62X, which is fixed to the underside, in a fixed position. The fixing bolt 67e includes an operating lever 67f connected to its upper end, a flange 67g integral with the operating lever 67f that presses against the upper surface of the connecting plate 67a, and a threaded portion integral with the flange 67g. The operating lever 67e secures the inner guide 62X to an adjusted position by tightening the fixing bolt 67e, and allows the inner guide 62X to move in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12 by loosening the fixing bolt 67e. The movement mechanism 67h may include, for example, an elongated hole 67i or multiple through-holes in the connecting plate 67a through which the fixing bolt 67e passes, allowing the inner guide 62X to move to a predetermined position with the fixing bolt 67e loosened. The fixing bolt 67e with the operating lever 53b allows the user to fix the intermediate guide 15B to an adjusted position or to move it without using tools. The connecting plate 67a can connect one or both wall surfaces of the inner guide 62X and / or the outer guide 63Y and be fixed to the base frame 67d.

[0066] The fixing mechanism 68 in FIGS. 13 and 14 includes a first connecting portion 68a connected to the side wall 61A of the outer guide 63Y, a second connecting portion 68b connected to the inner inclined surface 61B of the outer guide 63Y, and a fixing bolt 68c that passes through the first connecting portions 68a, 68b and is screwed into a base frame 68f to fix the first and second connecting portions 68a, 68b in adjusted positions. The side wall 61A is fixed to the inner surface of the vertical wall of the first connecting portion 68a, which is fixed to the base frame 68f. The vertical wall is disposed outside the side wall 61A and fixes the side wall 61A to its inner surface. The connecting portion 68b is stacked between the first connecting portion 68a and the base frame 68f and fixed to the base frame 68f. The first and second connecting portions 68a, 68b can be integrally formed or separate members to fix the side wall 61A and the inner inclined surface 61B of the outer guide 63Y. The fixing bolt 68c has an operating lever 68d connected to its upper end, a flange 68e integral with the operating lever 68d that presses against the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions 68a and 68b, and a threaded portion (male threaded portion) integral with the flange 68c. The operating lever 68d tightens the fixing bolt 68c to fix the outer guide 63Y in an adjusted position via the first and second connecting portions 68a and 68b, and loosens the fixing bolt 68c to allow the outer guide 63Y to move in the radial direction of the outer ring plate 12 via the first and second connecting portions 68a and 68b. The fixing bolt 68c can be directly or indirectly fixed to the base frame 68f by threading its threaded portion into a female threaded hole 68f, thereby fixing the outer guide 63Y in an adjusted position. The fixing bolt 68c with the operating lever 68d allows the user to easily fix the outer guide 63Y in an adjusted position or to move it without using tools. (Posture change unit 20)

[0067] The position changing unit 20 changes the position of the bolts 1 that are fed from the single-row discharge unit 10 in a horizontal position to a vertical position and discharges them in a single row. The position changing unit 20 is equipped with a discharge guide 21 that changes the position of the bolts 1 that are supplied in a horizontal position from the single-row discharge unit 10 to a vertical position and discharges them. The discharge guide 21 in Figure 17 discharges the bolts 1 that are supplied from the intermediate guide 15B in a vertical position. The discharge guide 21 is equipped with a pair of parallel guides 22 that engage both sides of the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 and transports it in a vertical position.

[0068] The pair of parallel guides 22 in FIG. 16 has a pair of metal plates with flat surfaces arranged in parallel, and slides and moves and transports the bolt 1. Each of the pair of parallel guides 22 in FIG. 16 is plate-shaped and has a flat surface. It includes a first slide 22a arranged on the inside near the inner peripheral edge 12f of the outer ring plate 12 and a second slide 22b arranged on the outside of the first slide 22a. The first slide 22a and the second slide 22b are arranged parallel and connected via a slit 23 between them. The top surfaces of the first guide 22a and the second guide 22b are flat so that the head 3 of the bolt 1 can be engaged and slid. The pair of parallel guides 22 hooks the head 3 of the bolt 1 and guides the threaded portion 2 into the slit 23, transporting the bolt in a suspended, vertical position. The first guide 22a and the second guide 22b have inclined surfaces that slope downward in the transport direction (discharge direction) of the bolt 1, allowing the bolt 1 to slide in the discharge direction under its own weight and be discharged. A slit 23 through which the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 passes is provided between the pair of parallel guides 22, i.e., between the first guide 22a and the second guide 22b. The slit 23 has an inner width (W) smaller (narrower) than the diameter (diagonal) of the head 3 of the bolt 1 and larger (wider) than the diameter (outer diameter) of the threaded portion 2 so that the threaded portion 2 can pass smoothly without passing through the head 3 of the bolt 1. The inner width (W) of the slit 23 is wider than the passage gap (D) between the collision convex portion 31 and the opposing convex portion 34, which will be described later. The width of the slit 23 determines the maximum width over which the bolt 1 swings and meanders, and the passing position and range of the bolt 1 can be determined within the range of the inner width (W). When the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 in a horizontal position falls into the slit 23, the position of the bolt 1 can be changed from horizontal to vertical.

[0069] The pair of parallel guides 22 has a pair of side portions 22d outside the area where the head 3 of the bolt 1 on both sides is engaged and slid, and forms an upper region 22c above the first guide 22a and the second guide 22b. The upper region 22c provides a space for converting the position of the bolt 1, which is transported in a horizontal position in the position conversion region 24, to a vertical position, and a space for the head 3 of the bolt 1 to pass through. The pair of parallel guides 22 in Figures 16, 22, and 24 has a first guide 22a and a second guide 22b disposed on either side of the slit 23, and has a pair of opposing side portions 22d connected to the first guide 22a and the second guide 22b on the opposite side of the slit 23. The side portions 22d can form and secure the upper region 22c, limit and regulate the movement behavior of the bolt 1, and can also connect and fix the first guide 22a and the second guide 22b via the side portions 22d, allowing the positioning of the position control arm 26 described below. However, the pair of parallel guides 22 may be, for example, L-shaped with the first guide 22a and / or the second guide 22b together with the side portion 22d. The pair of parallel guides 22 may also be U-shaped with the slit 23 opening upward.

[0070] The parallel guides 22 allow the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 supplied in a horizontal position to pass through the slits 23, sliding the head 3 in an engaged state while transporting it, and then convert the horizontally-positioned bolt 1 to a vertical position for discharge. The parallel guides 22 have a position conversion area 24 that converts the horizontally-positioned bolt 1 to a vertical position by dropping the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 into the slits 23. The bottom surface of the head 3 of the bolt 1 in a vertical position is engaged and comes into contact with the upper surfaces on both sides of the pair of parallel guides 22, suspending the bolt 1. The head 3 of the bolt 1 in the slits 23 is engaged with the upper surfaces of the pair of parallel guides 22, resulting in a suspended state. The above configuration reduces contact of the parallel guides 22 with the threaded portion 2, preventing and suppressing damage to the threads and deterioration of the quality of the threads. Furthermore, because this configuration hangs the bolt 1 from its head 3, i.e., the base side (neck side) of the threaded portion 2, even in the case of a bolt that has an anti-loosening adhesive such as Loctite (a registered trademark of Henkel, LOCTITE) attached to the tip side (foot side) of the threaded portion 2, contact with the adhesive is prevented, and the bolt can be supported, slid, transported, and its position changed at the top of the base side (neck side) of the threaded portion 2 where no adhesive is attached.

[0071] The parallel guide 22 is inclined downward in the direction of advancement and transport of the bolt 1 at an inclination angle (α) that allows it to slide in the discharge direction so that the supplied bolt 1 advances and transports under its own weight. This configuration simplifies the structure and reduces costs without requiring a separate bolt transport mechanism, and the inclination angle (α) and the speed at which the bolt 1 slides in the discharge direction on the inclined surface can be determined and adjusted. The inclination angle (α) can be, for example, between 10 and 40 degrees, and preferably between 15 and 30 degrees. Increasing the inclination angle (α) increases the transport speed, but if it is too large, the tilt angle of the bolt 1 increases, which can easily interfere with smooth sliding, sliding, and movement. Therefore, the inclination angle (α) is set within the above range. The parallel guide 22 can be designed to determine, change, and adjust the inclination angle (α) appropriately depending on the size, supply amount, etc. of the bolt 1. For example, it can be adjusted depending on the size, mass, shape, configuration, and condition of the bolt, and can accommodate bolts ranging from plated bolts with low sliding resistance to oily bolts.

[0072] Bolts 1 that are not aligned in the front-to-rear direction are supplied to the discharge guide 21 from the intermediate guide 15B. As shown in FIG. 19, the bolts 1 that are not aligned in the front-to-rear direction are supplied from the intermediate guide 15B to the discharge guide 21 in a forward position with the tip of the threaded portion 2 facing forward in the direction of travel (bolt 1A in a forward position), or as shown in FIG. 20, they are supplied from the intermediate guide 15B in a backward position with the head 3 facing forward in the direction of travel (bolt 1B in a backward position). By dropping the tip of the threaded portion 2 into the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22, the tip of the threaded portion 2 of both the forward-facing bolt 1A and the backward-facing bolt 1B falls under its own weight, changing from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Furthermore, lateral sway of the bolt 1 can be suppressed and reduced.

[0073] As shown in Figure 19, when a bolt 1A is in a forward position and its threaded portion 2 is supplied to the discharge guide 21 first, the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 precedes the head 3, and the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 falls through the slit 23 first. As the bolt 1 (1A) in a forward position moves forward, the tip of the threaded portion 2 gradually falls into the slit 23. As the forward-positioned bolt 1A advances in the transfer direction, the threaded portion 2 gradually moves from the tip (foot side) into the slit 23, and it can change its position to a vertical position without being supported in a horizontal position. In this position, the threaded portion 2 falling into the slit 23 has a small drop, and the tip of the threaded portion 2 falls slowly. Therefore, it does not tilt significantly beyond the vertical position toward the horizontal position, and the tip of the threaded portion 2 does not rise high enough to overlap the head 3 of the bolt 1C in the forward position. The direction in which the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 falls is counterclockwise relative to the direction of advancement of the bolt 1 (from right to left in Figure 19), and the threaded portion 2 gradually falls from the tip on the foot side into the slit 23. When the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 starts to fall, the head 3, which is larger and heavier than the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2, remains behind, and the head 3 pushes it forward, causing the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2, which is in a forward position and lower than the head 3, to gradually fall into the slit 23. As the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 in a horizontal position advances, it is gradually guided into the slit 23, moves into the slit 23, and the length of its presence changes, converting it from a horizontal position to a vertical position, allowing for a smooth conversion from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

[0074] However, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, when a bolt 1B is fed backward from its head 3 into the discharge guide 21, its head 3 precedes the tip (foot side) of its threaded portion 2. As the head 3 slides along the top surface of the parallel guide 22, the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 momentarily drops down the slit 23 at the same time as the entire bolt 1 moves into the slit 23. When the bolt 1B is shifted from a horizontal position to a vertical position in this state, as shown by the chain line in Figure 21, the threaded portion 2 momentarily drops down the slit 23. This causes the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 to fall down the slit 23 at a high speed, i.e., the kinetic energy of the threaded portion 2 is large, and the threaded portion 2 may exceed the vertical position and move in the opposite direction toward the horizontal position like a pendulum. When a bolt 1 is fed backward, swinging sharply like a pendulum, the tip of the threaded portion 2 may rise from the bottom with great force and ride over the head 3 of the bolt 1 that has already moved along the parallel guide 22, preventing it from returning to its normal vertical position.

[0075] In particular, the parallel guides 22 are inclined downward in the direction of bolt 1 transfer so that the supplied bolt 1 slides forward under its own weight. When a bolt 1B is supplied to the parallel guides 22 in a backward position, its threaded portion 2 is higher than its head 3 when it begins to fall into the slit 23. The threaded portion 2 falling from a high position may tilt rapidly toward the horizontal position beyond the vertical position as it changes from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Furthermore, the forward-positioned bolt 1C, which is supplied to the parallel guides 22 first and assumes a vertical position, is lower than the bolt 1 that falls through the slit 23 and changes position, due to the downward slope of the parallel guides 22. In particular, the top surface of its head 3 is lower. Therefore, the bolt 1 that falls through the slit 23 and tilts rapidly may tilt less and ride up onto the head 3 of the forward-positioned bolt 1C. The bolt 1, with its threaded portion 2 resting on the head 3, cannot return to a vertical position, and the device, which cannot normally return to a vertical position, comes to an emergency stop. An emergency stop of the feeder is a serious issue that can stop the line.

[0076] For bolt 1B in the backward position, the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 falls clockwise relative to the direction of movement of bolt 1 (from right to left in Figure 20). For bolt 1B in the backward position, the timing at which the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 starts to fall (the timing at which the entire bolt 1 moves into slit 23 in Figure 20) and the direction of fall (clockwise in Figure 20) are different from those of bolt 1A in the forward position. For bolt 1B in the backward position, the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 behind the head 3, which is ahead in the direction of movement, starts to fall later, so during high-speed transport, the tip (foot side) of the threaded portion 2 may not fall sufficiently and ride up onto the head 3 of bolt 1C in the forward position that is moving ahead on parallel guide 22, making it impossible to return to the normal vertical position.

[0077] The above drawbacks can be resolved by aligning the bolts 1 supplied to the intermediate guide 15B by the single-file discharge unit 10 in the front-to-back direction and supplying all bolts 1 to the discharge guide 21 as forward-facing bolts 1A. However, a device that aligns bolts 1 in the front-to-back direction removes backward-facing bolts 1B and selects only forward-facing bolts 1A to be discharged from the threaded portion 2, which lengthens the takt time and halves the number of bolts 1 that can be discharged per unit time. In this type of device, maximizing the number of bolts 1 that can be discharged per unit time is an extremely important issue. This is because a supply device with low processing capacity requires the use of a large number of units to increase the amount of bolts discharged per unit time. Furthermore, the need for a mechanism or structure that removes backward-facing bolts 1B and selects only forward-facing bolts 1A leads to the complexity, size, and cost of the device. The posture conversion unit 20 of the present disclosure, equipped with a swing unit 30 and a posture control arm 26, can resolve these issues. In addition, the bolt supply device of the present disclosure has the advantage that it can smoothly and stably transport bolts to the transport lane of the intermediate guide by rotating the outer ring plate, stabilizing the posture and behavior of the bolts, and preventing and eliminating bolt clogging inside.

[0078] The parallel guides 22 are equipped with a slit adjustment mechanism 70 that changes and adjusts the slit spacing (W). The slit adjustment mechanism 70 changes the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides 22 to an appropriate spacing depending on the bolt size to be transferred after the parallel guides 22 are converted to a vertical position. The slit adjustment mechanism 70 shown in Figures 14 and 18 changes the slit spacing (W) by replacing the parallel guides 22 (W1, W2 in Figure 14). To change the slit spacing (W) by replacing the parallel guides 22, the slit adjustment mechanism 70 includes a plurality of parallel guides 22 with different slit spacings (W) and a detachable mechanism 71 that detachably and interchangeably secures each of the parallel guides 22 with different slit spacings (W). The detachable mechanism 71 changes the slit spacing (W) by replacing the parallel guides 22 with ones with different slit spacings (W).

[0079] The detachment mechanism 71 shown in FIG. 18 enables the parallel guides 22 to be detached by one or more (two in FIG. 18) fixing bolts 72 that penetrate the parallel guides 22 horizontally. The fixing bolts 72 fix the parallel guides 22 to vertical ribs 74 of a base frame 73. The vertical ribs 74 in FIG. 18 have upwardly opening U-shaped grooves 74a at their upper ends that guide the fixing bolts 72. The fixing bolts 72 are connected and fixed to the parallel guides 22 by having a threaded portion 78 at their front ends threaded into female threaded holes 75 provided in the side portions 22d of the parallel guides 22. The fixing bolts 72 have an operating lever 76 connected to their rear ends, a flange portion 77 that is integral with the operating lever 76 and presses the side surface of the vertical rib 74 against the side surface (side portion 22d) of the parallel guides 22, and a threaded portion 78 that is integral with the flange portion 77. The fixing bolt 72 can be fixed to the vertical rib 74 by screwing the screw portion 78 into the female screw hole 75 on the side surface (side portion 22d) of the parallel guide 22 with the screw portion 78 guided into the U-groove 74a of the vertical rib 74. The detachment mechanism 71 in Fig. 18 fixes the parallel guide 22 at multiple points to the base frame 73 with multiple fixing bolts 72, and can stably fix the parallel guide 22 at a specific position in a specific posture.

[0080] The slit adjustment mechanism 70 described above changes and sets the slit spacing (W) to an optimal slit by replacing the parallel guides 22 with ones having different slit spacing (W). However, the slit adjustment mechanism 70 can also include a position setting mechanism 79 that changes and sets the slit spacing (W) between a pair of parallel guides 22. For example, the position setting mechanism 79 shown in FIG. 23 includes a connecting bar 79a that connects the upper edges of the side portions 22d of the parallel guides 22 to a mating structure, and a fixing bolt 79c that secures the side portions 22d of the parallel guides 22 to the connecting bar 79a. The connecting bar 79a connects the parallel guides 22 at multiple locations, connecting the pair of parallel guides 22 in a parallel position. The connecting bar 79a includes multiple rows of mating grooves 79b that guide the upper edges of the side portions 22d of the parallel guides 22 in a mating structure. The parallel guides 22 guide the upper edges of their side portions 22d into the mating grooves 79b of the connecting bar 79a, thereby changing and setting the slit spacing (W) between the pair of parallel guides 22. Furthermore, the slit adjustment mechanism 70 of FIG. 23 includes a fixing bolt 79c that fixes the parallel guides 22 in a specific position on the connecting bar 79a without misalignment. The fixing bolt 79c passes through the connecting bar 79a and is threaded into a female threaded hole 79d in the parallel guides 22, fixing the parallel guides 22 in their specific position on the connecting bar 79a without misalignment. The connecting bar 79a has multiple rows of mating grooves 79b to adjust the slit spacing (W) between the parallel guides 22. The slit adjustment mechanism 70 with this structure can adjust the slit spacing (W) by loosening the fixing bolt 79c and changing the mating grooves 79b that guide one or both of the parallel guides 22. The above-described position setting mechanism 79 changes the slit spacing (W) by changing the position at which the parallel guides 22 are guided and connected to the connecting bar 79a, but the position setting mechanism 79 can also change and adjust the slit spacing (W) by translating and fixing the parallel guides 22. The present disclosure does not specify the position setting mechanism 79, and the mechanism may be any mechanism that can adjust the slit spacing (W) by moving and fixing the parallel guides 22. (swinging part 30)

[0081] The parallel guide 22 has a swinging unit 30 in the position change area 24. The swinging unit 30 swings the screw portion 2, which falls into the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22 and tilts, in the width direction of the slit 23. The swinging unit 30 swings the screw portion 2, which falls into the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22 and tilts, in the width direction of the slit 23. The swinging unit 30 swings the screw portion 2 in the horizontal direction that intersects with the vertical plane (side portion 22d) of the parallel guide 22, as the bolt 1 is transported in the discharge direction.

[0082] The swinging unit 30 reliably and stably changes the position of not only forward-facing bolts 1A but also rearward-facing bolts 1B to a vertical position and discharges them from the parallel guides 22. The parallel guides 22, in which the swinging unit 30 is provided in the position change area 24, reliably and stably changes the position of bolts 1 supplied from the intermediate guide 15B in both forward-facing and rearward-facing positions from a horizontal position to a vertical position and discharges the bolts 1, that is, bolts 1 supplied without aligning or selecting the front-to-rear direction of the bolts 1. In particular, the swinging unit 30 stably changes the position of rearward-facing bolts 1B supplied in a rearward position with their heads 3 facing forward from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

[0083] The swinging unit 30 has two or more collision protrusions 31 that contact and collide with the thread portion 2 of the bolt 1 being transported in the discharge direction. One or more collision protrusions 31 are arranged on each side of the pair of parallel guides 22. The collision protrusions 31 are protrusions that protrude toward the slit 23. When the bolt 1 collides with or comes into contact with one of the collision protrusions 31 from the front side of the bolt, it changes the direction of travel of the bolt 1, causing it to alternately collide with and come into contact with the collision protrusions 31 on both sides of the parallel guide 22, causing the bolt 1 to snake along its travel direction. The swinging unit 30 has multiple collision protrusions 31 arranged at intervals in the direction of bolt 1 travel, causing the thread portion 2 of the bolt 1 that is supplied from the intermediate guide 15B and falls into the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22 to alternately collide with both sides of the thread portion 2, causing the thread portion 2 to swing laterally. The multiple collision protrusions 31 provided on the swinging unit 30 alternately collide with both sides of the thread portion 2 that falls through the slit 23 and advances while changing its position from horizontal to vertical. As the thread portion 2 falls down the slit 23 and advances, it alternately collides with the collision protrusions 31 on the opposite side, and is repelled, changes direction, and changes posture by the collision protrusions 31, swinging left and right as it advances. As the thread portion 2 advances in the transfer direction while swinging, its kinetic energy is attenuated each time it collides with a collision protrusion 31, and its direction of advancement snakes, slowing the speed of movement in the transfer direction, reducing the forward and backward tilt of the bolt 1 as it advances and preventing it from passing the vertical posture and tilting in the opposite direction. It is preferable to have three or more collision protrusions 31, as this prevents excessive collision and contact with a single collision protrusion 31, distributes the collision and contact, and repeats moderate collisions and contacts, allowing it to collide and contact multiple collision protrusions 31 in stages, thereby more reliably and efficiently achieving these effects. Collision protrusions 31 protrude into the slits 23 from both sides of the pair of parallel guides 22, and are disposed and protrude at positions where the bolt 1 (threaded portion 2) traveling parallel to the parallel guides 22 will collide with and come into contact with the collision protrusions 31, preventing it from moving straight. This configuration prevents the bolt 1 traveling parallel to the parallel guides 22 from traveling straight in the posture change area 24, and ensures that the threaded portion 2 collides with and comes into contact with the collision protrusions 31, thereby attenuating kinetic energy, slowing down the transport speed, reducing the forward / backward tilting of the bolt 1 as it travels, and preventing it from passing the vertical posture and tilting in the opposite direction.

[0084] 22 and 24 has first, second, and third collision protrusions 31a, 31b, and 31c from the front side in the direction of advancement of the bolt 1, with the first and third collision protrusions 31a and 31c arranged at a distance in the direction of transfer of the bolt 1 on the second guide 22b side, and the second collision protrusion 31b arranged between the first and third collision protrusions 31a and 31c on the first guide 22a side. Figure 24 shows an example in which both sides of the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1 alternately collide with and come into contact with the collision protrusions 31, causing the threaded portion 2 to advance while swinging in the width direction of the slit 23. In Figure 24, the threaded portion 2 of the bolt 1, which falls into the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22 and moves parallel to the parallel guide 22 while tilting in the forward and backward directions, first collides with and comes into contact with the first collision protrusion 31a on the second guide 22b side of the threaded portion 2 (the first portion 2a of the threaded portion 2 including the left or left front side of the direction of movement in Figure 24), and is reflected and repelled, changing its course in a direction approaching the first guide 22a side on the opposite side. Next, the first guide 22a side of the threaded portion 2 (second portion 2b of the threaded portion 2 including the right or right front in the direction of travel in FIG. 24 ) collides with, comes into contact with, and is reflected and repelled by the second collision protrusion 31b on the first guide 22a side, changing its course toward the opposite side of the second guide 22b. Furthermore, the second guide 22b side of the threaded portion 2 (third portion 2c of the threaded portion 2 including the left or left front in the direction of travel in FIG. 24 ) collides with, comes into contact with, and is reflected by the third collision protrusion 31c on the second guide 22b side, changing its course toward the opposite side of the second guide 22b. The bolt 1 moves in a serpentine manner while swinging the threaded portion 2 in the lateral direction of the slit 23, and is supplied to the external discharge portion 25 and discharged in a line. The swinging portion 30 has a collision protrusion 31 that reliably collides with and comes into contact with the threaded portion 2, and can have a collision protrusion 31 that passes with or without contact depending on the position, tilt, and swing of the threaded portion 2. The same applies to the opposing convex portion 34. Note that the first portion 2a, the second portion 2b, and the third portion 2c indicate the side or portion with which the threaded portion 2 comes into contact, and it does not matter whether the threaded portion 2 rotates due to advancement or collision. This configuration reduces the tilting speed, tilting momentum, and transport speed of the bolt 1 each time it collides with or comes into contact with the collision convex portion 31, thereby reducing the degree of contact and change in direction and ensuring that the change in posture to a stable vertical posture can be completed.After the attitude change to the vertical attitude is complete, the bolt 1 can be brought into contact with the collision protrusion 31 to move in a predetermined direction, or the bolt 1 can be allowed to pass without coming into contact with the collision protrusion 31. A spare collision protrusion 31 can be provided in the position after the attitude change is complete to prevent irregular or erratic behavior.

[0085] The swinging part 30 in FIG. 24 has an opposing convex part 34 positioned opposite the collision convex part 31 of the pair of parallel guides 22. The bolt 1 passes through a passage gap (D) defined by the opposing convex part 34 facing the collision convex part 31 or the parallel guide 22. The opposing convex part 34 protrudes toward the slit 23 (inside), or is positioned flush with the tip of the parallel guide 22, or does not protrude toward the slit 23 (inside). The advancing threaded part 2 swings and tilts vertically and / or horizontally, contacting and colliding with the side or bottom of the opposing convex part 34. The collision convex part 31 and the opposing convex part 34 define the passage gap (D) through which the threaded part 2 passes; strictly speaking, the passage gap (D) is determined by the distance between the collision and contact surfaces (portions) of the collision convex part 31 and the opposing convex part 34 with which the threaded part 2 collides and comes into contact. The passing gap (D) is set to be narrower than the inner width (W) of the slit 23 of the parallel guide 22 and slightly larger than the outer diameter (d) of the threaded portion 2. The difference between the passing gap (D) and the outer diameter (d) of the threaded portion 2 is set to an optimum value taking into account the thickness of the bolt 1. For example, in a bolt supply device 100 for which the outer diameter of the threaded portion 2 is 3 to 5 mm, the difference between the passing gap (D) and the outer diameter of the threaded portion 2 can be set to 0.1 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm. This passing gap (D) can control the path and movement trajectory of the threaded portion 2 and can suppress vertical and / or horizontal tilting within a preferred range.

[0086] The swinging unit 30, which is provided with the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34, can control the course and movement trajectory of the screw portion 2 that collides with and repels the collision protrusion 31, using the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34 at the opposing position. Furthermore, the screw portion 2 that collides with the collision protrusion 31, is repelled, and changes direction, and then collides with and comes into contact with the opposing protrusion 34, so the kinetic energy of the screw portion 2 can be more efficiently attenuated by both the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34. Therefore, the swinging unit 30, which is provided with the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34, has the characteristic of more efficiently attenuating the kinetic energy of the screw portion 2 while controlling the serpentine trajectory of the screw portion 2 that advances while swinging, and can reliably and stably change its posture from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

[0087] The swinging unit 30 can determine, adjust, and control the number of collisions, degree, and direction changes of the threaded portion 2, the meandering of the bolt 1, and swinging motion of the bolt 1 by combining the protrusion of the collision protrusions 31, the number and arrangement of the collision protrusions 31, and the passage gap (D). For example, the number of collisions can be increased by providing four or more collision protrusions 31, and the left-right swing can be increased by narrowing the spacing between adjacent collision protrusions 31. Increasing the protrusion of the collision protrusions 31 increases the degree of rebound and direction change, while decreasing the protrusion of the collision protrusions 31 decreases the degree of direction change and improves straightness. The passage gap (D), the spacing between the collision protrusions 31, and the arrangement can be uniform or can be appropriately determined depending on the placement location, for example, by setting the passage gap (D) on the entrance side of the posture change unit 20, which has momentum, and the spacing between adjacent collision protrusions 31 wider than on the exit side.

[0088] The collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34, the portions where the threaded portion 2 collides and contacts (collision surfaces, contact surfaces), can be curved, flat, or uneven. The collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34 can be polygonal (e.g., circular, semicircular, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or trapezoidal), regular or irregular, plate-like, and can be rotating or non-rotating. This disclosure does not specify the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34. For example, the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34 in FIGS. 22 and 24 are collision rings 32 and 35 with the outer periphery of the threaded portion 2 that collides and contacts, and the collision rings 32 and 35 are circular rings 32a and 35a with a circular outer shape that the threaded portion 2 collides and contacts. The width and arrangement of the passage gap (D) can be easily determined by the size and arrangement of the circular rings 32a and 35a. The circular rings 32a, 35a rotate in a circular shape, making the collision surface and passage gap (D) uniform and absorbing impact by rotation. The circular rings 32a, 35a can collide with and contact the bolt 1 at the portion protruding toward the slit 23, and the collision surface and degree of change in direction can be continuously changed without interruption, gradually increasing or decreasing, allowing the bolt 1 to change direction and move forward in the transport direction. This applies to the pair of circular rings 32a, 35a, which have similar shapes, whether they are the same size or different sizes. The circular rings 32a, 35a can indicate the collision surface with a tangent line. For example, the tangent line of the circular ring 32a, 35a that protrudes most toward the slit 23 is parallel to the parallel guide 22, and the degree of change in direction of the bolt 1 that comes into contact there is small. As the distance from the narrowest passage gap (D) to the front increases, the angle of the tangent line relative to the parallel line of the parallel guide 22 increases, allowing the degree of change in direction of the contacting bolt 1 to increase, and in either case, the bolt 1 can be changed in direction and advanced in the transfer direction. Note that the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34 can be shaped other than circular. For example, the tip side of the collision protrusion 31 and the opposing protrusion 34 that protrudes into the slit 23 can be a tapered hexagon, and have a surface parallel to the parallel guide 22, a surface inclined relative to the parallel guide 22, and a corner that connects the surface parallel to the parallel guide 22 and the surface inclined relative to the parallel guide 22.

[0089] These collision rings 32, 35 are fixed to the underside of the parallel guide 22 by set screws 32c, 35c that pass through the centers of the circular rings 32a, 35a. With the above configuration, the upper surface of the parallel guide 22 is a flat, inclined surface without obstacles, allowing the head 3 to slide in the ejection direction to eject the bolt 1. Furthermore, by fixing the circular rings 32a, 35a to the underside of the parallel guide 22, the threaded portion 2 collides with and comes into contact with the outer periphery of the collision protrusion 31, which is located lower than the parallel guide 22, so that the tilting and kinetic energy of the threaded portion 2 can be more efficiently damped and excessive tilting can be more efficiently prevented. Furthermore, the collision convex portion 31 and the opposing convex portion 34, which are located below the height thickness of the parallel guide 22, can control the serpentine trajectory of the advancing screw portion 2 at the base side (neck side) of the screw portion 2 close to the head 3 of the bolt 1, thereby reducing contact with the tip (foot side) of the screw portion 2 of the bolt 1, preventing quality degradation that could damage the thread shape at the tip of the screw portion 2, and also preventing or reducing contact with anti-loosening adhesives and the like attached to the tip of the screw portion 2.

[0090] The collision ring 32 of the collision convex portion 31 can have a larger outer diameter than the collision ring 35 of the opposing convex portion 34. In FIG. 24, the collision ring 32 of the collision convex portion 31 is a large ring 32b with a larger outer diameter than the collision ring 35 of the opposing convex portion 34, and the collision ring 35 of the opposing convex portion 34 is a small ring 35b with a smaller outer diameter than the collision ring 35 of the opposing convex portion 34. In the swinging unit 30 of this configuration, the large rings 32b and the small rings 35b are alternately arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the parallel guide 22, thereby providing a passage gap (D) that allows the threaded portion 2 to meander. In the swinging unit 30 of FIG. 24, the collision rings 32 of the multiple collision convex portions 31 arranged at intervals in the traveling direction of the threaded portion 2 are all large rings 32b with the same outer diameter, and further, the collision rings 35 of the multiple opposing convex portions 34 arranged at intervals in the traveling direction of the threaded portion 2 are all small rings 35b with the same outer diameter, so that the bolt 1 can be swung. However, the plurality of large rings 32b and the small rings 35 may have different outer diameters.

[0091] 24, the set screws 32c, 35c that secure the collision rings 32, 35 of the large ring 32b and small ring 35b are arranged in a straight line on the underside of the parallel guide 22, forming the large ring 32b, which is the collision convex portion 31, and the small ring 35b, which is the opposing convex portion 34, and the large ring 32b protrudes into the serpentine path of the threaded portion 2, thereby providing a passage gap (D) between the large ring 32b and the small ring 35b, which allows the threaded portion 2 to meander. With the above configuration, the passage gap (D) that allows the threaded portion 2 to meander can be determined by the outer diameter sizes of the collision convex portion 31 and the opposing convex portion 34, and the collision convex portion 31 and the opposing convex portion 34 can be easily replaced.

[0092] The collision rings 32, 35 are preferably made of a cushioning material such as plastic or rubber-like elastic material, which reduces the noise level generated when the threaded portion 2 collides and has the advantage of being able to more efficiently absorb the kinetic energy of the colliding threaded portion 2.

[0093] Furthermore, the swinging unit 30 can be provided with a passing position defining guide 36 that defines the passing position of the threaded portion 2 passing through the slit 23. The passing position defining guide 36 is arranged on either one or both sides of the pair of parallel guides 22, and the passing position and passing range of the threaded portion 2 passing through the slit 23 can be defined by the passing gap (T) between the pair of passing position defining guides 36 or the passing gap (T) between the passing position defining guide 36 and the parallel guide 22. For example, by arranging the passing position defining guide 36 on the near side of the collision protrusion 31, the passing gap (T) can define the position, range, degree of collision, direction of change, and degree of direction change at which the passing bolt 1 contacts and collides with the first collision protrusion 31, thereby enabling the same collision, contact, and direction change to be repeatedly achieved reliably and stably. The passing position defining guide 36 can be the collision ring 32, 35 or the circular ring 32a, 35a, similar to the collision convex portion 31 or the opposing convex portion 34, and can define the passing position of the bolt 1 as well as attenuate kinetic energy and reduce tilting upon contact and collision with the bolt 1. The pair of passing position defining guides 36 can have the same or different size (outer diameter), shape, and degree of protrusion.

[0094] 22 and 24, the swinging unit 30 has central guides 37, which serve as passing position determining guides 36, provided at opposing positions on both sides of the pair of parallel guides 22. The central guides 37 position the screw portion 2 dropping into the slit 23 at the center of the slit 23. The central guides 37 in FIG. 24 are positioned in front of the first collision protrusion 31a, and the passing position where the screw portion 2 dropping into the slit 23 first passes can be determined by the passing gap (T). By positioning the screw portion 2 as the passing gap (T) between the pair of central guides 37, the screw portion 2 passes through the center of the slit 23, and the position and degree of collision and contact with the first collision protrusion 31a protruding from the first guide 22a into the inside of the slit 23 can be made constant and stable. The central guide 37 can stably repeat collisions and contacts with the first collision protrusion 31 (first collision protrusion 31a) and subsequent collision protrusions 31 (second collision protrusion 31b, third collision protrusion 31c), thereby enabling more stable and reliable control of the serpentine trajectory of the screw portion 2 advancing through the collision protrusion 31 and improving the accuracy of reproducibility.

[0095] The bolt 1 moves forward while swinging and meandering, with both sides of the threaded portion 2 alternately colliding with the collision protrusions 31. In Figure 24, the threaded portion 2 that has passed through the passage gap (T) between a pair of central guides 37 first contacts and collides with the first collision protrusion 31a at the first portion 2a of the threaded portion 2, including the right or right front side in the direction of travel, and changes direction toward the second guide 22b. Next, the second portion 2b of the threaded portion 2, including the left or left front side in the direction of travel, contacts and collides with the second collision protrusion 31b, and changes direction toward the first guide 22a. Next, the third portion 2c of the threaded portion 2, including the right or right front side in the direction of travel, contacts and collides with the third collision protrusion 31b, and changes direction toward the second guide 22b. This reduces the tilting speed, momentum, and transport speed, ensures that the bolt changes position to a vertical position, and is discharged from the external discharge portion 25 in a line. It does not matter whether the screw portion 2 rotates due to advancement or collision.

[0096] In FIG. 24, the threaded portion 2 passes through the passage gap (T) of the central guide 37 and then passes through the passage gaps (D1, D2, D3) between the collision convex portion 31 and the opposing convex portion 34. The central guide 37 can have the same or different configuration, shape, size, and arrangement as the collision rings 32 and 35. For example, the central guide 37 in FIG. 24 has a pair of circular rings 37a and a set screw 37c that passes through the center of the circular rings 37a and is fixed to the underside of the parallel guide 22. The central guide 37 in FIG. 24 has a pair of middle rings 37b, each with an outer diameter intermediate between the large ring 32b of the collision convex portion 31 and the small ring 35b of the opposing convex portion 34, arranged in opposing positions. The middle rings 37b can be made of the same material as the large rings 32b and the small rings 35b. The pair of middle rings 37b are fixed to the underside of the parallel guides 22 on both sides, separated by the passage gap (T), in opposing positions with set screws 37c. By arranging a pair of medium rings 37b of the same size at the same positions on both sides of a pair of parallel guides 22, the passage gap (T) of the central guide 37 can be positioned in the center of the slit 23. By arranging the set screw 37c that fixes the medium ring 37b and the set screws 32c, 35c that fix the large ring 32b and the small ring 35b at a distance on a straight line extending along the slit 23, the passage gap (T) of the central guide 37 can be positioned in the center of the slit 23.

[0097] The swinging unit 30, which causes the screw portion 2 to pass through the center of the slit 23 using the central guide 37 and collide alternately with the collision protrusions 31 on both sides, has the advantage of being able to more reliably and stably change the position of the screw portion 2 from a horizontal position to a vertical position. This is because the central guide 37 can determine the position where the screw portion 2 falling through the slit 23, or the screw portion 2 immediately after falling, first passes at the center of the slit 23. The screw portion 2 falling through the slit 23 is first guided to the center of the slit 23, and then alternately collides with the left and right collision protrusions 31, snakes, and absorbs energy, allowing it to change its position to a vertical position. (Attitude Control Arm 26)

[0098] 19 and 20 is provided with an attitude control arm 26 that contacts the bolt 1, particularly the head 3, as it advances along the parallel guide 22, to control its attitude. Since the bolt supply device 100 changes the bolt 1 from a horizontal to a vertical position by dropping the threaded portion 2 into the slit 23, it is not absolutely necessary to provide the attitude control arm 26, but providing the attitude control arm 26 makes it possible to more reliably and stably discharge the bolts 1 in a vertical position in a single line. The attitude control arm 26 is particularly useful when supplying a large amount of bolts 1 at high speed, for stably and reliably discharging the bolts 1 in a vertical position in a single line.

[0099] The attitude control arm 26 in Figures 19 and 20 has its rear end (base side) connected and fixed to the discharge guide 21 (side portion 22d of the parallel guide 22). The attitude control arm 26 has a contact portion 27 at its front end or between its front end and rear end that can come into contact with the head 3 of the bolt 1. The contact portion 27 comes into contact with the head 3 of the bolt 1 to reliably and stably change the position of the bolt 1 from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and moves and discharges the bolt 1 in the vertical position along the parallel guides 22 without overlapping. The contact portion 27 approaches the parallel guides 22 (first guide 22a and second guide 22b) as it moves in the transfer direction, and can have a portion, position, tapered surface, inclined surface, unevenness, or step that narrows the gap with the parallel guides 22. This contact portion 27 contacts the head 3 of the bolt 1 as it advances in the transfer direction, thereby more reliably and stably promoting and assisting in changing the position of the bolt 1 to a vertical position. It also stabilizes the movement and transfer of the bolt 1, ensuring that it is transferred in a vertical position. The contact portion 27 of the position control arm 26 is deformable and movable up and down and / or in the direction of transfer, cushioning the impact of the bolt 1, absorbing kinetic energy, slowing the advancement speed, and reducing noise. The position control arm 26 is made of a metal or resin elastic body that contacts the head 3 of the bolt 1 being transferred to regulate its position and position. It also serves as a buffer material, such as plastic or rubber, reducing noise levels and more efficiently absorbing the kinetic energy of the colliding bolt 1 while transferring it in a vertical position. The contact portion 27 in Figures 19 and 20 is connected to the parallel guide 22 so that it can move up and down. The upward movement of the contact portion 27 can be determined and adjusted by its own mass and elastic deformation, and the degree and range of upward movement can be determined, limited, and adjusted by providing a weight, spring, stopper, etc.

[0100] The posture conversion unit 20 can have one or more posture control arms 26. The posture control arms 26 in FIGS. 19 and 20 are configured as a first posture control arm 26A and a second posture control arm 26B spaced apart in the direction of bolt 1 transfer, but they can also be integrated. In FIGS. 19 and 20, the first posture control arm 26A is disposed in the posture conversion area 24 where the bolt 1 tilts from a horizontal position to a vertical position. The first contact portion 27a contacts the head 3 of the bolt 1 moving along the parallel guides 22 in a horizontal position, causing the threaded portion 2 to drop into the slit 23, tilting the bolt 1 from the horizontal position to a vertical position and ensuring a posture conversion. The second posture control arm 26B is disposed on the discharge side of the posture conversion area 24, maintaining the vertical position of the bolt 1, preventing the heads 3 of the bolts 1 from overlapping, and discharging the bolts in a single row.

[0101] The vertical distance (H1) between the first contact portion 27a of the first attitude control arm 26A and the parallel guide 22 and the vertical distance (H2) between the second contact portion 27b of the second attitude control arm 26B and the parallel guide 22 can be the same or different heights. 19 and 20, the vertical distance (H2) between the second contact portion 27b of the second attitude control arm 26B, which comes into contact with the head 3 of the bolt 1 moving along the parallel guide 22, and the parallel guide 22 is narrower than the vertical distance (H1) between the first contact portion 27a of the first attitude control arm 26A and the parallel guide 22. The vertical distance (H1) between the first contact portion 27a of the first attitude control arm 26A and the parallel guide 22 is such that a bolt 1 in a horizontal position can be tilted to a vertical position and the head 3 of the bolt 1 in a vertical position can pass through but cannot pass through, so that the first contact portion 27a comes into contact with the head 3 of the bolt 1 moving along the parallel guide 22 in a horizontal position, causing the threaded portion 2 to drop into the slit 23, tilting the bolt 1 from the horizontal position to a vertical position and reliably changing its position. The vertical distance (H2) between the second contact portion 27b of the second attitude control arm 26B and the parallel guide 22 is such that the head 3 of one bolt 1 in a vertical position can pass through, preventing the heads 3 of successively transported bolts 1 from moving along the parallel guide 22 in an overlapping state and being discharged. The first attitude control arm 26A and the second attitude control arm 26B in Figures 19 and 20 stabilize the change in attitude, movement, and behavior of the bolt 1, and can suppress and correct irregular positions and attitudes. The two-stage attitude control arm 26 with different heights and widths can more reliably change the bolt 1 from a horizontal position to a vertical position, prevent the heads 3 of the bolts 1 from overlapping, and smoothly and stably discharge the bolts 1 in a vertical position in a single line.

[0102] The external discharge unit 25 lines up and discharges the bolts 1 that have been changed to a vertical position in the position change area 24 to the outside. The external discharge unit 25 can discharge and remove the bolts 1 according to downstream processes, such as an inspection machine, counting device, transfer machine, or container insertion machine. To smoothly and stably discharge the vertically oriented bolts 1, the external discharge unit 25 can be provided with a head guide that guides the head 3 of the bolt 1 on the parallel guides 22 and slits 23, and a head guide gap can be formed between the head guide and the parallel guide 22. The head 3 of the bolt 1 moves on the parallel guide 22 through the head guide gap.

[0103] In the bolt supply device 100, the single-line discharge unit 10 and the position change unit 20 have one or more mechanisms that can change and adjust the width through which the bolts 1 are transported, and multiple types of bolts 1 of different sizes can be discharged lined up in a vertical position. The bolt supply device 100 in Figure 2 has a transport width adjustment mechanism 50, a transport lane width adjustment mechanism 66, and a slit adjustment mechanism 70 that can change and adjust the width (L) of the bolt 1 transport path 12b, the width (M) of the transport lane, and the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides 21, and can discharge multiple types of bolts 1 of different sizes lined up in a vertical position. The bolt supply device 100 described above can be easily reconfigured to accommodate parallel guides 22 with different slit spacing (W), and the width (L) of the transfer path 12b, the width (M) of the transfer lane, and the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guides 21 can be easily changed and set with simple operation of the operating levers 53b, 67f, 68d, etc., allowing multiple types of bolts of different sizes to be lined up vertically and discharged in a single row in a short time. It is easy to operate without requiring advanced skills or experience. This configuration allows each width to be changed and set with simple operation, reduces the number of parts that need to be changed or adjusted depending on the bolt size being transported, and allows for parts to be provided for fine adjustment as needed.

[0104] Moreover, the bolt supply device 100 described above can stably discharge the bolts 1 in a vertical position and in a single row, and the amount of bolts 1 supplied can be easily adjusted and changed. The single-row discharge unit 10 rotates the inner rotating plate 11 and the outer ring plate 12 with the rotation mechanism 40 to feed out the bolts 1, and discharges them using the position change unit 20. Therefore, the amount of bolts 1 supplied can be adjusted and changed simply by changing the rotation speed of the motor 41 of the rotation mechanism 40. For example, the rotation speed of the motor 41 can be set and changed using an attached controller. Furthermore, the bolt supply device 100 described above can shorten the tact time for arranging the bolts 1 in a vertical position and can efficiently and stably discharge a large number of bolts 1 per unit time in a vertical position and in a single row. For example, the bolt supply device 100 can supply approximately 6,500 M6 bolts 1 with a thread portion 2 length of 20 mm per minute at a rotation speed of approximately 21 rpm. The single-line discharge unit 10 rotates on a circular inner rotating plate 11 and a ring-shaped outer ring plate 12, arranging the bolts in a single line and transporting them in a horizontal position, while the position change unit 20 reliably and stably discharges them in a vertical position. The above configuration reduces contact, collision, and overlap between bolts 1, preventing deterioration in the quality of the bolts 1. Furthermore, without a vibration mechanism, noise can be suppressed and reduced at all speeds, from low to high, during discharge. [Industrial Applicability]

[0105] The present disclosure can be effectively used as a bolt supply device that can, with simple rearrangement, discharge a plurality of types of bolts with different bolt sizes in a vertical position in a line. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 100, 900... volt supply device 1,901...Bolt 1A...Bolt in forward position 1B...Bolt facing backwards 1C…Forward position bolt 1a...Hexagon bolt 2...Threaded part 2a…Part 1 2b…Part 2 2c…Part 3 3,903...(Bolt) head 10...Single row discharge section 11...Inner rotating plate 11a...Placement surface 11b…Supply Guide 12...Outer ring plate 12A…Outside transfer section 12B…Upper part 12a…Transfer surface 12b...transport route 12c…Closure wall 12d...first opening 12e…Outer wall 12f...inner edge 13...Destacking section 15...Alignment section 15A...Single row alignment section 15B...Intermediate guide 20... Posture change section 21...Ejection guide 22...Parallel guide 22a…1st Guide 22b...2nd Guide 22c…upper area 22d...Side 23...Slit 24...Posture change area 25…External discharge part 26...Attitude control arm 26A...First attitude control arm 26B...Second attitude control arm 27...Contact part 27a...first contact portion 27b...Second contact part 30...Swinging part 31...Collision convex part 31a...First collision protrusion 31b...Second collision protrusion 31c...Third collision protrusion 32...Collision ring 32a...Circular ring 32b...Large ring 32c...Set screw 34...Opposite convex part 34a...first opposing convex portion 34b...second opposing convex portion 34c...Third opposing convex part 35...Collision ring 35a...Circular ring 35b...Small ring 35c...set screw 36...Passing position guide 37...Central guide 37a...Circular ring 37b...Middle ring 37c...Set screw 40...Rotation mechanism 41...Motor 42...First rotation axis 42a...Center rod 43...Second rotation axis 43a...Cylindrical rotating shaft 44...First sub-rotating plate 45...1st pin 46...Second sub-rotating plate 47...Second pin 48...frame 49...Rotation transmission mechanism 50…Transfer width adjustment mechanism 51, 51X, 51Y...Width guide 51a...tip 51b…Slanted surface 51c…Side wall 52...Guide adjustment mechanism 53…Fixing mechanism 53a...Fixing bolt 53b...Operating lever 53c…Tsubabe 53d...Threaded part 53e...Base frame 53f...female screw hole 53g...Connecting plate 54...Movement mechanism 54a...knob 54b...Adjustment screw 54c...female screw hole 54d...Vertical rib 54e…Elongated hole 55...Detachable mechanism 60...Transport lane 60A...Curved transport lane 60B...Straight transport lane 61A…Side wall 61B…Inner slope 61C...Slit-shaped opening 62...Curved guide 62X...Inner guide (of curved guide) 62Y...Outer guide (of curved guide) 62a…Slope surface 63...Straight guide 63X...(Straight line guide) inner guide 63Y...Outer guide (of straight guide) 63a…Slope surface 64...Displacement guide 64a…Slope surface 64b…Side wall 64c...Inner placement part 64d...Receiving guide 65... Liaison Department 65a…Groove 66...Transport lane width adjustment mechanism 67…Fixing mechanism 67a...Connecting plate 67b...Vertical rib 67c...female thread hole 67d...Base frame 67e...Fixing bolt 67f...Operating lever 67g…Tsubabe 67h…Movement mechanism 67i…long hole 68…Fixing mechanism 68a...1st connection part 68b…Second connection part 68c...fixing bolt 68d...Operating lever 68e…Tsubabe 68f...base frame 68g...female screw hole 68h...Moving mechanism 68i...long hole 70...Slit adjustment mechanism 71...Detachable mechanism 72...Fixing bolt 73...Base frame 74...Vertical rib 74a...U-groove 75...Female screw hole 76...Operating lever 77... Tsuba section 78...Threaded part 79…Position setting mechanism 79a...Connecting bar 79b…Mating groove 79c...fixing bolt 79d...female screw hole

Claims

1. A bolt supply device having all of the following configurations (a) to (f). (a) The bolt supply device is a single-row discharge unit that discharges bolts in a single row in a horizontal position; The bolts discharged from the single-row discharge section are changed to a vertical position, It also has a posture change unit that discharges the items in a line. (b) the single-row discharge section an inner rotating plate having a bolt supplied to its upper surface; disposed on the outer side of the inner rotating plate, an outer ring plate that transfers the bolts supplied from the inner rotating plate in a horizontal position; a rotation mechanism that rotates the outer ring plate; and an alignment unit that arranges and discharges the bolts that are transferred in a horizontal position by the rotating outer ring plate. (c) the alignment section The outer ring plate is rotated to change the width (L) of the bolt transfer path to a predetermined set value, Equipped with a transport width adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (d) the attitude change unit is The threaded portion of the bolt supplied from the single-row discharge section in a horizontal position is dropped into the slit, Equipped with a discharge guide that changes its position from horizontal to vertical and discharges the product, The discharge guide is A pair of parallel guides are provided on both sides of the slit through which the threaded portion of the bolt passes. (e) the parallel guide is By changing the slit spacing (W), Equipped with a slit adjustment mechanism to change the size of the bolt being transported. (f) the parallel guide is The angle of inclination (α) at ​​which the bolt slides and moves in the ejection direction under its own weight. It slopes downward in the direction of bolt transport.

2. The bolt supply device according to claim 1, The feed width adjustment mechanism a width guide disposed on the surface of the outer ring plate to set the width (L) of the transfer path; a guide adjustment mechanism for displacing the width guide in the radial direction of the outer ring plate, The guide adjustment mechanism displaces the width guide, A bolt supply device in which the lateral width (L) of the transfer path between the inner peripheral edge of the outer ring plate and the lateral width guide is changed.

3. The bolt supply device according to claim 1, The alignment unit includes: a line aligning unit that discharges bolts in a line by rotating the outer ring plate; an intermediate guide that aligns the bolts supplied from the single-row aligning unit in a single row and supplies them to the position changing unit, The intermediate guide is A bolt supply device having a transfer lane width adjustment mechanism that changes and adjusts the width (M) of a transfer lane along which the bolts supplied from the single-row alignment section are aligned in a row and transferred to the posture change section.

4. The bolt supply device according to claim 3, The intermediate guide is an inner guide disposed on the inner peripheral edge side of the outer ring plate; an outer guide disposed outside the inner guide, The transfer lane width adjustment mechanism changes and adjusts the width (M) of the transfer lane by displacing the inner guide and / or the outer guide.

5. The bolt supply device according to claim 3, The intermediate guide is A pair of side walls are provided on both sides of the transfer lane, The pair of side walls are an inner inclined surface that slopes downward toward the center of the transfer lane is disposed at the bottom; a slit-shaped opening between the inner inclined surfaces provided on the pair of side walls, A bolt supply device in which the upper surface of the outer ring plate, which is a transfer surface, is exposed through the slit-shaped opening.

6. The bolt supply device according to claim 1, The slit adjustment mechanism A plurality of the parallel guides having different slit intervals (W); a detachment mechanism for detaching and attaching each of the parallel guides in an exchangeable manner, The detachable mechanism is used to replace the parallel guide with one having a different slit interval (W), A bolt supply device in which the slit spacing (W) of the parallel guide is changeable.

7. The bolt supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The discharge guide is a position change area for changing the position of the supplied bolt from a horizontal position to a vertical position; an external discharge unit that discharges the bolts that have been changed to the vertical position in a line to the outside, The posture change area is The screw portion that falls into the slit of the parallel guide, A bolt supply device having a swinging part that swings the slit in the width direction.

8. The bolt supply device according to claim 7, The swinging portion is a plurality of collision protrusions with which both sides of the threaded portion of a bolt dropping through the slit of the parallel guide collide alternately; A bolt supply device in which the collision protrusions are arranged at intervals in the bolt transfer direction.

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