Coil spring supply device
The coil spring supply device addresses the challenge of untangling and aligning coil springs with hook sections by employing a cylindrical container, inclined surfaces, and discharge rail with barrier members, achieving efficient sequential supply.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TECHNOL EIGHT
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing coil spring supply devices struggle to untangle and separate coil springs with hook sections at both ends, as they tend to entangle and are difficult to separate effectively.
A coil spring supply device utilizing a cylindrical spring housing container, an inclined upper end surface with spring hooking projections, a vertically movable spring collector, and a spring discharge rail with specific barrier members to guide and separate coil springs with hook portions, ensuring they are aligned and discharged in a line.
The device effectively untangles and aligns coil springs with hook portions, preventing entanglement and ensuring sequential supply by using sliding, vibration, and rotational mechanisms to guide and discharge the springs in a straight line.
Smart Images
Figure 2026097673000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a coil spring supply device capable of sequentially supplying coil springs in an aligned state in a row.
Background Art
[0002] A coil spring supply device described in Patent Document 1 is known. This coil spring supply device includes a cylindrical drum capable of accommodating a plurality of coil springs, a driving means for rotating the drum around its substantially horizontal axis, a blade body projecting circumferentially at intervals on the inner circumference of one end of the drum for scraping up the coil springs, a belt conveyor mechanism for receiving and conveying the coil springs that fall after being scraped up by the blade body, a rotating disk whose outer peripheral portion rotates and advances in the upstream direction of the belt conveyor mechanism in the middle of the belt conveyor mechanism and is rotated at a predetermined speed, and an opening is formed between the outer peripheral portion and the belt conveyor mechanism through which a single coil spring can pass and a tangled coil spring cannot pass, and a collision surface for colliding with the tangled coil spring bounced in the upstream direction of the belt conveyor mechanism by the rotational force of the rotating disk.
[0003] According to this coil spring supply device, since the coil springs are accommodated in the cylindrical drum and scraped up and then dropped onto the belt conveyor mechanism, the entire device is compact. Also, since the mutually tangled coil springs are bounced in the upstream direction of the belt conveyor mechanism by the rotational force of the rotating disk and collided with the collision surface with sufficient force, the entanglement of the coil springs is surely eliminated and separated into single coil springs.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, the coil spring supply device described in Patent Document 1 above is intended for coil springs consisting of a winding section in which wire is wound in a cylindrical shape. For coil springs that have hook sections at both ends of the winding section, where the wire is bent in a hook shape within a plane parallel to the center line of the winding section, there is a problem in that the device cannot provide the function of untangling and separating them into a single coil spring. In the above-mentioned coil springs with hook sections at both ends of the winding section, the hook sections tend to get tangled with each other, and it is difficult to separate them sufficiently by applying impact.
[0006] The present invention was made against the above circumstances, and its objective is to provide a coil spring supply device that can sequentially supply coil springs, each having a hook portion formed by a wire being bent into a hook shape at both ends of the winding portion, in a line aligned manner. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The gist of the first invention is a coil spring supply device capable of sequentially supplying coil springs, which have a winding portion in which a wire is wound in a cylindrical shape and a hook portion in which the wire is bent in a hook shape in a plane parallel to the center line of the winding portion, in a line, using sliding and vibration, the device having (a) a cylindrical spring housing container for housing a plurality of the coil springs, and (c) an inclined upper end surface and a spring hooking projection formed inclined along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface so as to hook the hook portion of the coil spring, The invention includes (d) a cylindrical spring collector that is capable of vertical movement such that its upper end surface descends to a position below the opening edge of a through hole formed in the bottom wall of a spring housing container, and (d) a spring discharge rail that is fixed in position at an inclination and has an upper end of a rail that is continuous with the end of a spring retaining projection when the spring collector is raised, and receives the hook portion of the coil spring that is hooked onto the spring retaining projection and slides down, and a lower end of a rail that discharges the coil spring in a line.
[0008] The gist of the second invention is that, in the first invention, the bottom wall of the spring housing container is inclined to become lower toward the through hole, and a plurality of guide grooves are formed radially in the bottom wall into which the winding portion of the coil spring is fitted.
[0009] The gist of the third invention is that, in the first invention, the spring collector is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spring collector, protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface in parallel with the spring retaining projection, and the spring inclination projection contacts the winding portion of the coil spring having the hook portion that is hooked onto the spring retaining projection, thereby inclining the posture of the coil spring.
[0010] The gist of the fourth invention is that, in the first invention, the spring discharge rail has a cross-sectional shape that is sized so that the hook portion of the coil spring does not come off, and the coil spring is moved toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail with the spring discharge rail inserted into the hook portion of the coil spring.
[0011] The gist of the fifth invention is that, in the first invention, a spring rotating member is provided in a fixed position, which contacts the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, and rotates the coil spring around the spring discharge rail as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail.
[0012] The gist of the sixth invention is that, in the first invention, when the hook portion of another coil spring is hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a lateral barrier member is fixed in position below and to the side of the spring discharge rail, which impact-contacts with the lower hook portion of the other coil spring and moves the other coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail.
[0013] The gist of the seventh invention is that, in the first invention, when two other coil springs are attached in a row to the hook portion of the coil spring located below the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a first lower barrier member is fixedly provided below the spring discharge rail, which impact-contacts the lower hook portion of the lower of the two other coil springs, causing the lower coil spring to move upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail.
[0014] The gist of the eighth invention is that, in the seventh invention, when another coil spring is hooked onto the hook portion of the coil spring located below the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a second lower barrier member is fixedly positioned below the spring discharge rail and closer to the lower end of the rail than the first lower barrier member, which impact contacts the lower hook portion of the other coil spring and moves the other coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. [Effects of the Invention]
[0015] The coil spring supply device of the first invention includes: (b) a cylindrical spring housing container for housing a plurality of coil springs; (c) a cylindrical spring collector having an inclined upper end surface and a spring-hooking projection formed inclined along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface to hook the hook portion of the coil spring, and provided to be vertically movable such that the upper end surface descends to a position below the opening edge of the through hole formed in the bottom wall of the spring housing container; and (d) a spring discharge rail having an upper end of a rail that is continuous with the end of the spring-hooking projection when the spring collector is raised and receives the hook portion of the coil spring that is hooked onto the spring-hooking projection and slides down, and a lower end of a rail that discharges the coil springs in a line suspended from it, and provided to be fixed in position in an inclined state. This makes it possible to provide a coil spring supply device that can sequentially supply coil springs, which tend to entangle with each other due to having hook-shaped curved wire sections at both ends of the winding section, in a line, starting from the lower end of the spring discharge rail.
[0016] According to the coil spring supply device of the second invention, the bottom wall of the spring housing container is inclined to become lower toward the through hole, and multiple guide grooves are formed radially on the bottom wall into which the winding portion of the coil spring is fitted. As a result, the coil spring is guided toward the through hole with the winding portion fitted into the multiple guide grooves formed radially on the bottom wall, so when the upper end surface of the spring collector descends to a position below the through hole, the hook portion on the direction of movement of the coil spring is more easily caught on the spring-hooking projection formed along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface of the spring collector.
[0017] According to the coil spring supply device of the third invention, a spring inclination ridge is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spring collector, protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface parallel to the spring hooking ridge, and contacting the winding portion of a coil spring having a hook portion hooked onto the spring hooking ridge, thereby tilting the orientation of the coil spring. As a result, in the case of coil springs with hooks in the same direction, when a coil spring with one hook portion hooked onto the spring hooking ridge is tilted by the spring inclination ridge, other coil springs hooked onto the other hook portion of the spring coil spring are more likely to detach from the other hook portion and fall.
[0018] According to the coil spring supply device of the fourth invention, the spring discharge rail has a cross-sectional shape that is sized so that the hook portion of the coil spring does not come off, and the coil spring is moved toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail with the spring discharge rail inserted into the hook portion of the coil spring. As a result, the coil spring, while sliding toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, will not come off the spring discharge rail even if it is subjected to a rotational force around the spring discharge rail from the spring rotating member, the first lower barrier member, the second lower barrier member, etc.
[0019] According to the coil spring supply device of the fifth invention, a spring rotating member is provided in a fixed position to contact the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, and to rotate the coil spring around the spring discharge rail as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. As a result, in the case of coil springs with hooks facing opposite directions, other coil springs hooked on the hook portion opposite to the hook portion into which the spring discharge rail of the coil spring is inserted are more likely to fall.
[0020] According to the coil spring supply device of the sixth invention, when the hook portion of one coil spring is hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion of one coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a lateral barrier member is fixed in position below and to the side of the spring discharge rail. This barrier member makes impact contact with the lower hook portion of the other coil spring, causing the other coil spring to move upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. As a result, when the other coil spring is moved upward, the hook portion of the other coil spring is more likely to detach from the upper opening of the winding portion of the coil spring suspended from the spring discharge rail.
[0021] According to the coil spring supply device of the seventh invention, when two other coil springs are hooked one after another on a hook portion located below the winding portion of the coil spring during movement toward the lower end side of the rail of the spring discharge rail, a first lower barrier member that impacts and contacts the lower hook portion of the lower coil spring among the two other coil springs and moves the lower coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end side of the rail of the spring discharge rail is fixedly provided below the spring discharge rail. As a result, when the lower coil spring among the two other coil springs hooked one after another is moved upward, the lower coil spring is likely to come off from the upper coil spring among the two other coil springs.
[0022] According to the coil spring supply device of the eighth invention, when one other coil spring is hooked on a hook portion located below the winding portion of the coil spring during movement toward the lower end side of the rail of the spring discharge rail, a second lower barrier member that impacts and contacts the lower hook portion of the other coil spring and moves the other coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end side of the rail of the spring discharge rail is fixedly provided below the spring discharge rail and on the lower end side of the rail than the first lower barrier member. As a result, when the other coil spring is moved upward, the other coil spring is likely to come off from the coil spring.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0023] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a coil spring in the same direction of the hook, which is an example of the coil spring supplied by the coil spring supply device of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front view showing a coil spring with a different hook direction from the coil spring of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing a coil spring supply device of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing the coil spring supply device of FIG. 3. [Figure 5]Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the state in which the coil spring in Figure 1 is hooked onto the spring retaining projection when the spring collector of the coil spring supply device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is in the lowered position. [Figure 6] Figures 1 and 2 show the coil springs hooked onto the spring retaining protrusions and the coil springs sliding down the inclined upper end surface of the spring collector when the spring collector of the coil spring supply device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is raised. [Figure 7] This diagram shows a state in which a coil spring is tilted by a spring inclination protrusion pressing against the winding portion of the coil spring, which is hooked onto a spring hooking protrusion formed on the spring collector. [Figure 8] Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of the spring discharge rail provided in the coil spring supply device. [Figure 9] This figure shows the cross-section AA at the upper end of the spring discharge rail in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This figure shows the cross-section of the bottom rail (BB) at the lower end of the spring discharge rail shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This diagram shows a coil spring being rotated by a spring rotating member while it is moving toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. [Figure 12] This figure shows a portion of the CC cross section in Figure 4, illustrating how the lateral barrier surface pushes up another coil spring that is hooked onto the opening of the winding portion of a coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. [Figure 13]Figure 8 shows a first lower barrier surface that, when two other coil springs are hooked to a hook located below the winding portion of a coil spring that is moving toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, impact contact occurs with the lower hook portion of the lower of the two other coil springs, causing the lower of the two coil springs to move upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. The second lower barrier surface, when one other coil spring is hooked to a hook located below the winding portion of a coil spring that is moving toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, impact contact occurs with the lower hook portion of the other coil spring, causing the other coil spring to move upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. [Figure 14] Figure 8 illustrates a method for calculating the speed at which a coil spring moves along a spring discharge rail, based on the inclination angle of the spring discharge rail. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Examples]
[0025] The coil spring CS1 shown in Figure 1 has a spring steel wire W wound in a cylindrical shape, and a pair of hook portions 12 that are curved in a hook shape in a plane parallel to the center line CL of the winding portion 10, following both ends of the winding portion 10. The hook portions 12 are formed by the wire W being curved in a substantially circular shape over an angular range of approximately 270° from the center of curvature of the curved circle, with a portion of the curved circle open at an opening angle range θf of approximately 90° or less. The openings of the pair of hook portions 12 are formed on the same side when viewed from the center line CL of the winding portion 10.
[0026] The coil spring CS2 with opposite hook directions, as shown in Figure 2, has, like the coil spring CS1 with the same hook direction, a longitudinal winding section 10 in which a spring steel wire W is wound in a cylindrical shape, and a pair of hook sections 12 in which the wire W is bent into a hook shape in a plane parallel to the center line CL of the winding section 10, following both ends of the winding section 10. Also, like the coil spring CS1 with the same hook direction, the wire W is bent into a roughly circular shape in the hook sections 12 within an angular range of approximately 270° from the center of curvature of the bend, and is open within an angular range of approximately 90°. However, the coil spring CS2 with opposite hook directions differs from the coil spring CS1 with the same hook direction in that the openings of the pair of hook sections 12 are formed on the opposite side when viewed from the center line CL of the winding section 10. Hereafter, when the coil spring CS1 with the same hook direction and the coil spring CS2 with opposite hook directions are not distinguished, they will be referred to as coil spring CS.
[0027] As shown in the perspective view of Figure 3 and the plan view of Figure 4, the coil spring supply device 20 includes a box-shaped base 22 positioned in a fixed location, a spring housing container 28 fixed on the base 22 and having a circular bottom wall 24 and a cylindrical outer wall 26 to accommodate multiple coil springs CS1 or coil springs CS2, a cylindrical spring collector 34 provided to be vertically movable such that its upper end surface 32 descends to a position below the opening edge 30a of the through hole 30 formed in the center of the bottom wall 24 of the spring housing container 28, and a rod-shaped spring discharge rail 36 provided in a fixed position at an inclination, which sequentially feeds out coil springs CS1 or coil springs CS2 in a line while they are inserted through the hook portion 12. When supplying coil springs CS, the spring housing container 28 contains a large number of either coil springs CS1 with the hooks in the same direction or coil springs CS2 with the hooks in the opposite direction.
[0028] The base 22 houses a spring housing container 28, a spring collector 34, and a vibration device 40, such as an electromagnetic or motor-driven device, which vibrates components such as a spring discharge rail 36 connected to the spring collector 34, as well as an up-and-down drive device 42 that repeatedly reciprocates the spring collector 34 between an up position and a down position.
[0029] The bottom wall 24 of the spring housing container 28 is sloped so that it becomes lower from the outer circumference toward the through hole 30. The bottom wall 24 has a cross-sectional shape into which the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS is fitted, and multiple guide grooves 38 are formed radially to guide the coil spring CS toward the through hole 30, with one of its pair of hook portions 12 facing the through hole 30.
[0030] The spring collector 34 has an upper end surface 32 that consists of a gently sloping surface 50 and a steeply sloping surface 52, which is steeper than the gently sloping surface 50, separated by a rib line 48 that passes through the vertical center line ML of the spring collector 34 and is inclined with respect to the horizontal line. The upper end surface 32 has spring-holding protrusions 56 that protrude upward so as to hook the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS and are inclined to continue along the outer edge of the upper end surface 32. The spring-holding protrusions 56 are formed by providing a V-shaped groove 58 with a V-shaped cross-section along its inner circumference. In the cross-section of the V-shaped groove 58, the outer groove wall surface 58a is approximately vertical. The opening angle θ between the outer groove wall surface 58a and the inner groove wall surface 58b of the V-shaped groove 58 is, for example, approximately 50°.
[0031] A spring inclined projection 60 is provided on the upper edge of the outer circumferential surface 34a of the spring collector 34, protruding from the outer circumferential surface 34a parallel to the spring retaining projection 56. One hook portion 12 of the spring inclined projection 60 abuts against the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS that is hooked onto the spring retaining projection 56, causing the orientation of the coil spring CS to be inclined to approximately 70° to 80° with respect to the vertical.
[0032] Figure 5 illustrates the relationship between the coil spring CS guided by the guide groove 38 and the spring retaining projection 56 formed on the outer edge of the upper end surface 32 when the spring collector 34 is in the lowered position. When the spring collector 34 is raised from this position, as shown in Figure 6, the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS is hooked onto the spring retaining projection 56, and the other coil springs CS fall along the gently sloping surface 50 or the steeply sloping surface 52 of the upper end surface 32 and are returned to the spring housing container 28. As shown in Figure 7, the coil spring CS hooked onto the spring retaining projection 56 is tilted by the spring inclined projection 60 coming into contact with the winding portion 10, and this tilt of the coil spring CS makes it easier for the other coil springs CS hooked onto the other hook portion 12 to fall, in the case of coil spring CS1. The coil spring CS, which is hooked onto the spring retaining projection 56, slides to the lower side due to vibration and reaches the downstream end of the spring retaining projection 56.
[0033] As shown in Figure 8, the spring discharge rail 36 is connected to the downstream end of the spring retaining projection 56 when the spring collector 34 reaches the raised position and includes an upper rail end 64 that receives the coil spring CS by passing through the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS that is hooked onto the spring retaining projection 56 and slides down due to vibration, and a lower rail end 66 that sends out the coil spring CS in a line. The spring discharge rail 36 has an elliptical cross-sectional shape at the upper rail end 64, as shown in Figure 9, with the major axis being approximately vertical and the minor axis being approximately horizontal, and the portion of the rail other than the upper rail end 64, including the lower rail end 66, has a circular cross-sectional shape that is large enough to prevent the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS from coming off, as shown in Figure 10. The coil spring CS, received at the upper end 64 of the rail, is moved toward the lower end 66 of the rail by vibration, with the spring discharge rail 36 inserted into the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS. As shown in Figure 13, the spring discharge rail 36 is supplied in a straight line from the lower end 66 of the rail to an automatic assembly device (not shown).
[0034] A spring rotating member 70 is fixedly provided on the outer circumferential wall 26 of the spring housing container 28. This member contacts the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS as it moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, causing the coil spring CS to rotate around the spring discharge rail 36 as it moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spring rotating member 70 integrally comprises a tip portion 70a that slides against the spring rotating member 70 to increase the rotation of the coil spring CS to a nearly horizontal state, an intermediate portion 70b that maintains the coil spring CS in a nearly horizontal rotational position as shown in Figure 11, and a base portion 70c fixed to the outer circumferential wall 26 of the spring housing container 28. In this way, when the coil spring CS, which has one hook portion 12 passed through the spring discharge rail 36, is rotated around the spring discharge rail 36 and maintained in a nearly horizontal position as shown in Figure 11, in the case of coil spring CS2, the other coil spring CS that is hooked on the other hook portion 12 is more likely to fall.
[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spring discharge rail 36 is inclined and fixed in position so as to pass through the inside of a longitudinal rectangular tube 80 fixed to the outer peripheral wall 26 of the spring housing container 28. The upward-facing inner wall surface of the outer peripheral wall constituting the rectangular tube 80 is provided with a lateral barrier surface 82 positioned below and laterally from the spring discharge rail 36, and a first lower barrier surface 84 and a second lower barrier surface 86 positioned directly below the spring discharge rail 36 and lower than the lateral barrier surface 82 in a longitudinal direction of the rectangular tube 80. The portion of the outer peripheral wall of the rectangular tube 80 constituting the lateral barrier surface 82 functions as a lateral barrier member, the portion of the outer peripheral wall of the rectangular tube 80 constituting the first lower barrier surface 84 functions as a first lower barrier member, and the portion of the outer peripheral wall of the rectangular tube 80 constituting the second lower barrier surface 86 functions as a second lower barrier member.
[0036] As shown in Figure 12, when vibration causes a coil spring CS to move toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, and the hook portion 12 of another coil spring CS is hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion 10 of that coil spring CS, the lateral barrier surface 82 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS, causing the other coil spring CS to move upward as the coil spring CS slides toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. The height of the lateral barrier surface 82 is set so as to make impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS and push up the other coil spring CS as it slides along the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, the hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS is more likely to detach and fall from the coil spring CS as it slides suspended on the spring discharge rail 36.
[0037] As shown in Figure 13, when two other coil springs CS are hooked to a hook portion 12 located below the winding portion 10 of a coil spring CS that is sliding toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 due to vibration, the first lower barrier surface 84 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the lower of the two other coil springs CS, causing the lower coil spring CS to move upward as the coil spring CS slides toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. Preferably, the first lower barrier surface 84 is inclined to become higher toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. This makes it easier for the lower coil spring CS to detach and fall. The coil springs CS that have reached the lower end 66 of the discharge rail 36 are suspended from the discharge rail 36 and sequentially sent in a line to an automatic assembly device (not shown).
[0038] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, when one coil spring CS is hooked to a hook portion 12 located below the winding portion 10 of a coil spring CS that is sliding toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 due to vibration, the second lower barrier surface 86 provided on the lower end 66 side of the spring discharge rail 36 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS, causing the other coil spring CS to move upward as the coil spring CS moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. The second lower barrier surface 86 is provided on the lower end 66 side of the spring discharge rail 36 than the first lower barrier surface 84, and is preferably inclined so that it becomes higher toward the lower end 66 side of the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, the other coil spring CS is more likely to detach from the coil spring CS while it is suspended from the spring discharge rail 36 and fall off.
[0039] Under constant vibration, the speed V of the coil spring CS sliding toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 is set by the angle θ of the spring discharge rail 36. This speed V affects the ease with which other coil springs CS attached to the coil spring CS suspended by the spring discharge rail 36 can be dropped at the lateral barrier surface 82, the first lower barrier surface 84, and the second lower barrier surface 86.
[0040] In Figure 14, the sliding condition of the coil spring CS on the spring discharge rail 36 under its own weight is given by the coefficient of friction being μ, the acceleration due to gravity being g, and the mass of the coil spring CS being m. F(=mg×sinθ) > f(=μ×mg×cosθ) mg × sinθ > μ × mg × cosθ sinθ / cosθ > μ tanθ > μ θ > arctanμ.
[0041] The velocity V of the coil spring CS when it reaches the sliding distance S is expressed by the following equation (1). 1 / 2(mV 2) = mg × S × sinθ - μ × S × mg × cosθ V=√(2gS(sinθ-μcosθ) ···(1)
[0042] As described above, the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical spring housing container 28 that houses a plurality of the coil springs CS, a cylindrical spring collector 34 having an inclined upper end surface 32 and a spring-hooking projection 56 formed inclined along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface 32 so as to hook the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS, and provided to be vertically movable such that the upper end surface 32 can be lowered to a position below the opening edge 30a of the through hole 30 formed in the bottom wall 24 of the spring housing container 28, an upper rail end 64 that is continuous with the end of the spring-hooking projection 56 when the spring collector 34 is raised and receives the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS that is hooked onto the spring-hooking projection 56 and slides down, and a lower rail end 66 that is provided to send out the coil springs CS in a line suspended in a row, and is provided to be fixed in position in an inclined state. This makes it possible to sequentially supply coil springs CS, which tend to entangle with each other because the wire W has hook-shaped curved hook portions 12 at both ends of the winding portion 10, in a line from the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 to an automatic assembly device (not shown).
[0043] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, the bottom wall 24 of the spring housing container 28 is inclined to become lower toward the through hole 30, and a plurality of guide grooves 38 are formed radially on the bottom wall 24 into which the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS is fitted. As a result, the coil spring CS is guided toward the through hole 30 with the winding portion 10 fitted into the plurality of guide grooves 38 formed radially on the bottom wall 24, so when the upper end surface 32 of the spring collector 34 descends to a position below the opening edge 30a of the through hole 30, the hook portion 12 on the direction of movement of the coil spring CS is more easily caught on the spring hooking projection 56 formed along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface 32 of the spring collector 34.
[0044] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, a spring inclination ridge 60 is provided on the outer circumferential surface 34a of the spring collector 34, protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface 34a parallel to the spring hooking ridge 56, and contacts the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS, which has a hook portion 12 hooked onto the spring hooking ridge 56, thereby tilting the orientation of the coil spring CS. As a result, in the case of coil springs CS1 with hooks in the same direction, when the coil spring CS1 with one hook portion 12 hooked onto the spring hooking ridge 56 is tilted by the spring inclination ridge 60, other coil springs CS that are hooked onto the other hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS1 are more likely to detach from the other hook portion 12 and fall.
[0045] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, the spring discharge rail 36 has a cross-sectional shape that is sized so that the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS does not come off, and the coil spring CS is moved toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 with the spring discharge rail 36 inserted into the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS. As a result, the coil spring CS, while moving toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, will not come off the spring discharge rail 36 even if it is subjected to a rotational force around the spring discharge rail 36 from the spring rotating member 70, the first lower barrier surface 84, the second lower barrier surface 86, etc.
[0046] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, a spring rotating member 70 is provided in a fixed position to contact the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS as it moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, and to rotate the coil spring CS around the spring discharge rail 36 as the coil spring CS moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, in the case of coil springs CS2 with hooks facing in opposite directions, other coil springs CS that are hooked on the hook portion 12 opposite to the spring discharge rail 36 into which the spring spring CS2 is inserted are more likely to fall.
[0047] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, when the hook portion 12 of one coil spring CS is hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion 10 of one coil spring CS as it is moving toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, a lateral barrier surface (lateral barrier member) 82 is fixedly positioned below and to the side of the spring discharge rail 36. This lateral barrier surface 82 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS, causing the other coil spring CS to move upward as it moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, when the other coil spring CS is moved upward, the hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS becomes more likely to detach from the upper opening of the winding portion 10 of the coil spring CS that is suspended from the spring discharge rail 36.
[0048] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, when two other coil springs CS are hooked together to a hook portion 12 located below the winding portion 10 of a coil spring CS that is moving toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, a first lower barrier surface (first lower barrier member) 84 is fixedly provided on the lower side of the spring discharge rail 36. This first lower barrier surface (first lower barrier member) 84 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the lower coil spring CS of the other two coil springs CS, causing the lower coil spring CS to move upward as the coil spring CS moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, when the lower coil spring CS of the other two coil springs hooked together is moved upward, the lower coil spring CS becomes more likely to detach from the upper coil spring CS of the other two coil springs CS.
[0049] In the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment, when one coil spring CS is hooked onto a hook portion 12 located below the winding portion 10 of a coil spring CS that is moving toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36, a second lower barrier surface (second lower barrier member) 86 is fixedly provided below the spring discharge rail 36 and on the lower end 66 side of the first lower barrier surface 84. This second lower barrier surface (second lower barrier member) 86 makes impact contact with the lower hook portion 12 of the other coil spring CS, causing the other coil spring CS to move upward as the coil spring CS moves toward the lower end 66 of the spring discharge rail 36. As a result, when the other coil spring CS is moved upward, it becomes easier for the other coil spring CS to detach from the first coil spring CS.
[0050] Although the coil spring supply device 20 of this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings, the present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
[0051] For example, in the above embodiment, the upper end surface 32 of the spring collector 34 was composed of a gently sloping surface 50 and a steeply sloping surface 52, but it may be composed of one type of inclined surface or a curved surface with an inclination.
[0052] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the V-shaped groove 58 was for forming the spring-retaining projection 56, but if the spring-retaining projection 56 is a wall-like structure projecting upward from the upper end surface 32, the V-shaped groove 58 is not necessarily required.
[0053] Furthermore, although the spring retaining projection 56 was arc-shaped in plan view in the above embodiment, it may also be straight. In this case, for example, the cross-section and upper end surface 32 of the spring collector 34 are composed of a polygonal cross-section such as a triangle, and the spring retaining projection 56 is formed along the edge of one side of that polygon.
[0054] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the hook portion 12 of the coil spring CS was an arc shape in which the wire W was bent in a substantially circular manner within an angular range of approximately 270° from the center of curvature, but it may also be rectangular.
[0055] In the above-described embodiment, the lower end portion 66 of the spring discharge rail 36 had a circular cross-section, but it may have an elliptical cross-section similar to that of the upper end portion 64 of the rail.
[0056] It should be noted that the above is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0057] 10: Winding section, 12: Hook section, 20: Coil spring supply device, 24: Bottom wall, 28: Spring housing container, 30: Through hole, 30a: Opening edge, 32: Upper end surface, 34: Spring collector, 34a: Outer circumference surface, 36: Spring discharge rail, 38: Guide groove, 56: Spring retaining protrusion, 60: Spring inclined protrusion, 64: Upper end of rail, 66: Lower end of rail, 70: Spring rotating member, 82: Lateral barrier surface (lateral barrier member), 84: First lower barrier surface (first lower barrier member), 86: Second lower barrier surface (second lower barrier member), W: Wire, CS: Coil spring, CL: Center line of winding section
Claims
1. A coil spring supply device capable of sequentially supplying coil springs, each having a winding section in which a wire is wound in a cylindrical shape and hook sections in which the wire is bent in a hook shape in a plane parallel to the center line of the winding section, in a line, using sliding and vibration, wherein the coil springs are arranged in a line, and the coil springs have a winding section in which a wire is wound in a cylindrical shape and hook sections in which the wire is bent in a hook shape in a plane parallel to the center line of the winding section, A cylindrical spring housing container for housing multiple coil springs, A cylindrical spring collector having an inclined upper end surface and a spring-hooking projection formed inclined along the outer peripheral edge of the upper end surface to hook the hook portion of the coil spring, and provided to be vertically movable such that the upper end surface descends to a position below the opening edge of the through hole formed in the bottom wall of the spring housing container, The spring collector includes a spring discharge rail that is fixed in position at an inclination, having an upper end of a rail that is continuous with the end of the spring retaining projection when the spring collector is raised, and that receives the hook portion of the coil spring that slides down after being hooked onto the spring retaining projection, and a lower end of a rail that sends out the coil spring in a line. A coil spring supply device characterized by the following.
2. The bottom wall of the spring housing is sloped downward toward the through hole, and multiple guide grooves are formed radially on the bottom wall into which the winding portion of the coil spring is fitted. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
3. The spring collector includes a spring inclination ridge provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spring collector, protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface parallel to the spring retention ridge, and contacting the winding portion of the coil spring having the hook portion that is hooked onto the spring retention ridge, thereby inclining the orientation of the coil spring. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
4. The spring discharge rail has a cross-sectional shape that is sized so that the hook portion of the coil spring does not come off, and the coil spring is moved toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail with the spring discharge rail inserted into the hook portion of the coil spring. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
5. A spring rotation member is provided in a fixed position to contact the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, and to rotate the coil spring around the spring discharge rail as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
6. When the hook portion of another coil spring is hooked onto the upper opening of the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a lateral barrier member is fixed in position below and to the side of the spring discharge rail, causing impact contact with the lower hook portion of the other coil spring and moving the other coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
7. When two other coil springs are attached in a chain to the hook portion of the coil spring located below the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a first lower barrier member is fixedly positioned below the spring discharge rail to make impact contact with the lower hook portion of the lower coil spring of the other two coil springs, thereby moving the lower coil spring upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. A coil spring supply device according to feature 1.
8. When one coil spring is hooked onto the hook portion of the coil spring located below the winding portion of the coil spring as it moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail, a second lower barrier member is fixedly positioned below the spring discharge rail and closer to the lower end of the rail than the first lower barrier member, causing the other coil spring to move upward as the coil spring moves toward the lower end of the spring discharge rail. The coil spring supply device according to feature 7.