Assembly device for snap lock
Automating snap lock assembly using a jig and actuator for fixing and inserting components addresses the labor-intensive manual processes, reducing costs and enhancing quality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024099167
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-15
AI Technical Summary
The assembly of snap locks is not automated, leading to high manufacturing costs due to labor-intensive manual processes, particularly in holding the legs of the torsion spring and inserting the base plate into the gap between the torsion spring and swing plate.
The assembly process is automated using a jig and actuator to fix the base plate, set the torsion spring and swing plate, insert rivets, and clamp the wire, with optional use of a robot or electromagnets for component movement and fixing.
Automated assembly reduces labor costs and improves assembly quality by streamlining the snap lock manufacturing process.
Smart Images
Figure 2025182648000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically assembling commonly known snap locks, which are widely used in the general public. [Background technology]
[0002] Snap locks are widely used as a tool that can secure the opening of a bag or other item with a single touch, but their assembly is not automated and is mainly done by hand, which has led to rising manufacturing costs due to rising labor costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] none Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] To automate the assembly of a snap lock, you first need to hold either the base plate or the swing plate, and then insert the rivet from the side while holding the torsion spring and the other plate in place. However, in the process of fixing and assembling the base plate, the bottleneck was the task of holding the legs of the torsion spring with wire, and in the process of fixing and assembling the swing plate, the bottleneck was the process of inserting the base plate into the gap between the torsion spring and swing plate, making automation extremely difficult. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] In order to solve the problem, one or more of the configurations described in any one of claims 1 to 3 of the present invention are selected and adopted. The contents roughly refer to the following configurations. 1. In the first step of assembly, the base plate is fixed to the workbench using a jig, and then the torsion spring and swing plate are set in place using an actuator, and rivets are inserted and fastened. 2. Next, open the swing plate, open the legs of the spring and set them in the designated location, insert the wire from the side and clamp it with a jig on both sides to complete the snap lock. 3. In the process of first fixing the swing plate and starting assembly, the swing plate is fixed to the workbench with a jig, then the torsion spring is set in the designated location, and the torsion spring is moved to the center with a special jig, and in this state rivets are inserted and crimped. 4. The movement, holding, and temporary fixing of each component is performed by a dedicated actuator or a dedicated robot. 5. As described above, regardless of which plate is fixed first, the snap lock can be automatically assembled by the process of the present invention using a dedicated jig. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] By employing one or more of the configurations set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3 of the present invention, all of the above-mentioned problems can be solved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0007] [Figure 1] This shows the appearance and structure of a typical snap lock. [Figure 2] This shows the state in which the snap lock is opened against the spring force. [Figure 3] This shows the process of fixing and assembling the base plate. [Figure 4] 10 shows the process of fixing and assembling the swing plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The embodiments and configurations for implementing the present invention and solving all of the problems are as detailed in claims 1 to 3, and any one or more of them may be selected. An example of the configuration will be explained using the drawings. [Example]
[0009] Figure 2 shows the inside of the base plate and swing plate when the snap lock is fully assembled and opened against the biasing force of the torsion spring.
[0010] Figure 3 shows the assembly process for the snap lock described in claim 1. The base plate 1 placed on the workbench 11 is fixed with the base plate holding jig 8, and after the swing plate 2 and torsion spring 3 are set in place by the actuator, the rivet 5 is inserted from the side and crimped by pressing from both sides. Next, the torsion spring for closing the swing plate 2 is opened by the actuator, and the wire 4 is inserted from the side, and while holding the legs of the torsion spring, the wire is clamped from the left and right, resulting in the state shown in Figure 2.
[0011] Figure 4 shows the assembly process for the snap lock described in claim 2. The swing plate placed on the workbench 11 is fixed with the swing plate holding jig 7, and the torsion spring 3 is set in the designated location, but at this time, the coil part of the torsion spring gets in the way, making it impossible to set the base plate 1 in the designated location. Therefore, the spring pushing jig 9 is used to push the torsion spring together to create a gap, the base plate 1 is set in place, and the rivet 5 is inserted and crimped to obtain the state shown in FIG.
[0012] The movement, fixing, and holding of each component can be easily achieved by using an actuator, but an arm-type robot can also be used.In addition, each plate can be fixed in place by electromagnets, without using a jig. [Industrial Applicability]
[0013] By selecting and adopting one or more of the configurations described in any one of claims 1 to 3 of the present invention, it is possible to solve all of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to automate the snap lock assembly process, which previously relied on manual labor, thereby reducing labor costs and improving assembly quality. [Explanation of symbols]
[0014] 1. Base plate 2. Swing plate 3. Torsion spring 4. Wire 5. Rivets 6. Hook 7. Swing plate holding jig 8. Base plate holding jig 9. Spring clamping jig 10. Wire bending jig 11. Workbench
Claims
1. A snap lock assembly device that is composed of a main body that is attached to one side of the opening of a bag or the like, and a hook that is attached to the other side of the opening, and the main body is composed of five parts: a base plate that is fixed to the item to be attached with a fastening member such as a rivet, a wire that is hooked onto the hook, a swinging plate to which the wire is attached, a rivet that serves as the rotation axis of the swinging plate, and a torsion spring that always applies a force in the direction of closing the swinging plate, and the rivet is attached to the swinging plate that is installed so as to cover the outside of the base plate, and penetrates the base plate inside it, and the main body composed of the five parts mentioned above is assembled almost automatically in the following order of steps.
1. Place the base plate on the workbench and press it against the workbench with a jig to hold it in place.
2. Place the torsion spring in place.
3. Place the swing plate on top, insert rivets from the side, unite the swing plate, torsion spring and base plate, and finally tighten the rivets.
4. Prepare a wire bent into an approximately C-shape, with the opening of the wire slightly wider than the width of the swing plate.
5. Open the swing plate, lift the leg of the torsion spring with a jig, and hold it so that the leg is just touching the swing plate. In this state, align the wire with the designated hole in the swing plate, close the opening, and attach the wire so that it can rotate freely. At this time, the inserted wire will hold the leg of the torsion spring.
2. A snap lock assembly device that is composed of a main body that is attached to one side of the opening of a bag or the like, and a hook that is attached to the other side of the opening, and the main body is composed of five parts: a base plate that is fixed to the item to be attached with a fastening member such as a rivet, a wire that is hooked onto the hook, a swinging plate to which the wire is attached, a rivet that serves as the rotation axis of the swinging plate, and a torsion spring that always applies a force in the direction of closing the swinging plate, and the rivet is attached to the swinging plate that is installed so as to cover the outside of the base plate, and penetrates the base plate inside it, and the main body composed of the five parts mentioned above is assembled almost automatically in the following order of steps.
1. Bend the wire into an approximately C-shape, with the opening slightly wider than the width of the swing plate.
2. The wire is rotatably attached to the swing plate by aligning the opening of the wire with the mounting hole of the swing plate and clamping the wire from both sides with jigs to close the opening.
3. Place the swing plate with the wire attached on the workbench and press it against the workbench with a jig to hold it in place.
4. Place the torsion spring in the designated position and insert one leg of the torsion spring under the wire on the back of the swing plate to temporarily secure it in place.
5. Use a thin plate-shaped or thin rod-shaped jig to move the torsion spring toward the center of the swing plate.
6. Insert the base plate inside the swing plate on both sides of the torsion spring, insert the rivet while removing the jig that was holding the torsion spring, and finally tighten the rivet.
3. 3. The snap lock assembly device according to claim 1 or claim 2, having one or more of the following features:
1. The process of moving and fixing each component is performed using a jig that is operated by an actuator.
2. The process of moving and fixing each component is carried out by an arm-type robot.
3. The process of attaching the wire to the swing plate is configured to be performed in a separate process or by a separate assembly device.
4. The process of fastening the rivets is carried out in a separate process or by a separate dedicated fastening device.
5. Each component is fixed and held by electromagnets.
6. Of the assembly processes, the movement and holding of components, and 20% or more of the assembly process, are manual processes performed by workers.