Parts exchange device and parts exchange system

Abstract

This cutting edge component exchange device 1 for exchanging a cutting edge component 103 fastened with a screw 104, comprises: a cylindrical member 2; a cylindrical member holder 3 that supports the cylindrical member 2 so as to be movable in the direction of a center axis C; and a driver bit 4 that is independent of the cylindrical member 2 and is inserted into the cylindrical member 2 so as to be rotatable around an axis. A gap is provided as an air conducting path 18 between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the driver bit 4. Since the component to be exchanged and the screw can be suctioned together, efficient work is achieved for exchanging both the component to be exchanged and the screw.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a part replacement device and part replacement system for replacing replaceable parts fastened by screws. [Background technology]

[0002] 10, an indexable cutting tool 101 has a cutting edge component 103 with a blade fixed to a cylindrical holder 102 with a screw 104. The cutting edge component 103 needs to be firmly fixed to the holder 102 to receive the reaction force during machining, so most of the cutting edge component 103, except for the part that comes into contact with the workpiece, is embedded in the holder 102.

[0003] The cutting edge part 103 is smaller than the fingertip of a worker and has a sharp blade for processing, so the worker needs to wear protective gloves, etc. and manually replace the cutting edge part 103. Although the replacement work of small parts requires the use of fingertips, the difficulty of the work is not low even when wearing gloves.

[0004] Since fine chips, or swarf, adhere to the cutting edge part 103, the screw 104, and the holder 102 after machining, the worker must perform an additional task of blowing air onto the cutting edge part 103, the screw 104 for fixing the cutting edge, and the holder 102 to remove the chips prior to removing the cutting edge part 103, which is not considered to be a high work efficiency. If chips remain between the cutting edge part 103 and the holder 102, this may deteriorate the machining accuracy and cause machining defects, so the chip removal task cannot be neglected.

[0005] As described above, most of the cutting edge part 103 other than the cutting edge is embedded in the holder 102, and the part protruding from the holder 102 is very small, so it is not easy to hold it with a robot hand or the like. Although it is possible to pick up the cutting edge part 103 by using magnetic force, the cutting edge part 103 becomes magnetized, and cutting chips made of magnetic material adhere to it, which creates a problem that makes removal of the chips even more difficult. Of course, if the cutting edge part 103 is made of a non-magnetic material, it cannot be attracted by magnetic force. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is desirable to improve the efficiency of the task of replacing replaceable parts together with screws. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a part replacement device for replacing a replaceable part fastened by a screw includes a tubular member, a tubular member holder that supports the tubular member so as to be movable along a central axis direction, and a driver bit that is inserted into the tubular member so as to be rotatable about its axis independently of the tubular member. A gap is provided as an air passage between an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member and an outer peripheral surface of the driver bit. The tip of the driver bit protrudes from the nozzle at the tip of the tubular member. A gap of a predetermined distance is secured between the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle of the tubular member and the outer peripheral surface of the driver bit, and the inner diameter of the nozzle of the tubular member is longer than the outer diameter of the driver bit in order to adsorb the replaceable part. In order to adsorb the screw, an axial hole is opened in the driver bit from its tip to a predetermined distance rearward, and the axial hole is connected to the air guide passage. . Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to this aspect, the replaceable part can be air-sucked together with the screw, making it possible to efficiently replace the replaceable part. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting edge part replacement device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the end face taken along line AA of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of the tip end of the nozzle portion of the cylindrical member in FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is an end view of the tip of a tubular member according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cutting edge part replacement system in which the cutting edge part replacement device of FIG. 1 is attached to the end of a robot arm. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process of replacing the cutting edge part by the cutting edge part replacement device of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a step of replacing the cutting edge part subsequent to the step of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an end view of the cutting edge part replacement device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a supplementary view for explaining the work of attaching the cutting edge part by the cutting edge part replacement device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a replaceable blade tool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same function and configuration are given the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be given only when necessary. The present disclosure relates to a screw fastening device for loosening and fastening screws, and in particular to a part replacement device that can hold and replace a replaceable part fastened to a base or the like by a screw together with the screw by air suction. Here, a cutting edge part for cutting a workpiece will be described as an example of the replaceable part. (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cutting edge part replacement device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1 taken along the line AA. For convenience of explanation, the lower side of the paper is referred to as the front end or lower side, and the upper side of the paper is referred to as the rear end or upper side. The cutting edge part replacement device 1 includes a cylindrical member 2 having a cylindrical hollow, a cylindrical member holder 3 that supports the cylindrical member 2 so as to be movable along the direction of the central axis C, a driver bit 4 that is inserted into the cylindrical member 2 so as to be rotatable about its axis independently of the cylindrical member 2, a nut runner 5 for driving the axial rotation of the driver bit 4, and a nut runner holder 6 that detachably fixes the nut runner 5 by a clamping mechanism or the like. The nut runner holder 6 is connected to the cylindrical member holder 3. The nut runner holder 6 and the cylindrical member holder 3 are integrally configured as a U-shaped or C-shaped base block 7.

[0011] A cylindrical through hole 8 is formed in the tubular member holder 3. The tubular member 2 is inserted coaxially into this through hole 8. A ring-shaped flange 9 protruding inward is provided on the lower periphery of the through hole 8 in the tubular member holder 3. A ring-shaped flange 10 protruding outward from the middle of the tubular member 2 abuts against this flange 9, restricting the downward movement of the tubular member 2. A disk-shaped holder cover 11 is placed over the through hole 8 of the tubular member holder 3. The holder cover 11 is fastened to the upper surface of the tubular member holder 3 at four points with bolts 12. The holder cover 11 restricts the upward movement of the tubular member 2. The tubular member 2 is supported by the tubular member holder 3 between the flange 9 and the holder cover 11 so as to be freely movable.

[0012] Typically, the nozzle 17 of the cylindrical member 2 located at the most forward position (lowest position) is located slightly behind the tip 20 of the driver bit 4, in other words, the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 protrudes slightly forward from the nozzle 17 of the cylindrical member 2 located at the lowest position. This allows the operator to fit the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 into the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104 while visually checking the tip 20 of the driver bit 4. The amount of protrusion of the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 from the nozzle 17 of the cylindrical member 2 located at the lowest position is arbitrarily adjusted with the maximum value being the distance (embedding amount) that the surface of the head 105 of the screw 104 is recessed from the surface of the cutting edge part 103 fixed to the holder 102. This allows the nozzle 17 of the cylindrical member 2 to come into contact with the surface of the cutting edge part 103 with the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 fitted into the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104 of the holder 102, ensuring a state in which air suction is possible. However, this does not deny the fact that the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 is in the same position as the nozzle 17 of the tubular member 2 in the lowest position and the two are aligned, or that the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 is slightly set back from the nozzle 17 of the tubular member 2 in the lowest position.

[0013] Here, by removing the holder cover 11 from the tubular member holder 3, the tubular member 2 can be pulled out upward from the through hole 8 of the tubular member holder 3, and the tubular member 2 can be inserted from above into the through hole 8 of the tubular member holder 3, that is, easily attached and detached. As illustrated in Fig. 3(a) to Fig. 3(d), cutting edge parts 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, and 103-4 having different cutting edge shapes are appropriately used according to the cutting method, specifications, etc. The cutting edge part replacement device 1 brings the nozzle 17 of the tubular member 2 into contact with the surface of the cutting edge part 103 and adsorbs it by air, so it is preferable to use tubular members 2 having a cylindrical shape that matches the surface shape of the cutting edge part 103. From various cylindrical members 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 having different shapes of nozzles 17-1, 17-2, 17-3, 17-4, one that matches the cutting edge component 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, 103-4 can be selected and easily replaced. As shown in Fig. 4, the cylindrical member 2 may be composed of a cylindrical member main body 21 and a nozzle part 23 that is detachable from the cylindrical member main body 21 by screwing or fitting, etc., and the nozzle part 23 having a cylindrical shape that matches the surface shape of the cutting edge component 103 may be appropriately replaced.

[0014] Returning to Figures 1 and 2, an introduction hole 13 for introducing the driver bit 4 is formed in the center of the holder cover 11. Guide holes 14 are formed through the holder cover 11 at two locations around the introduction hole 13. A guide pin 15 protruding from the rear end of the cylindrical member 2 is slidably inserted into the guide holes 14. This prevents the cylindrical member 2 from tilting, and ensures movement parallel to the central axis C of the cylindrical member 2.

[0015] A compression coil spring 16 is fitted onto the cylindrical member 2. The compression coil spring 16 is disposed between the holder cover 11 and the flange portion 10. The cylindrical member 2 is biased towards the tip by the compression coil spring 16. Note that the compression coil spring 16 can be replaced with other biasing members such as a tension spring, a leaf spring, etc.

[0016] The tip of the cylindrical member 2 is thin and forms a nozzle portion 19. The inner diameter of the cylindrical member 2 is not uniform from the nozzle 17 at the tip to the rear end, but changes along the central axis C. The inner diameter of the portion (front portion) from the tip of the cylindrical member 2 to a position a certain distance behind the tip is wide, and the inner diameter of the portion (rear portion) behind the tip is narrower than the inner diameter of the front portion. The inner diameter of the rear portion is slightly wider than the outer diameter of the driver bit 4 to allow the axial rotation of the driver bit 4 and suppress its shaking, and is configured to be almost equal, whereas the inner diameter ID1 of the front portion is sufficiently wider than the outer diameter of the driver bit 4 so that the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 2 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the driver bit 4 by a certain distance, for example, several millimeters, and a gap as an air conducting passage 18 is secured between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 2 and the outer peripheral surface of the driver bit 4.

[0017] Furthermore, the inner diameter ID1 of the tip part of the tubular member 2 is narrower than the outer diameter (or outer dimension) ED1 of the surface of the cutting edge part 103 as the part to be replaced, and is wider than the inner diameter (or inner dimension) ID2 of the surface of the cutting edge part 103. As a result, the nozzle 17 comes into contact with the surface of the cutting edge part 103, and the surface part of the cutting edge part 103 that is more inward than the surface part that comes into contact with the nozzle 17 is exposed to the air conducting passage 18. Therefore, when the air conducting passage 18 is sucked to a negative pressure, the tubular member 2 can be adsorbed without being sucked into the tubular member 2.

[0018] The cross-sectional shape of the rear portion of the tubular member 2 is circular so as not to hinder the axial rotation of the driver bit 4, while the cross-sectional shape of the front portion of the tubular member 2 that constitutes the air conduction passage 18 is typically circular, but may also be a polygon such as a triangle or a rectangle.

[0019] A circular opening 24 is provided in the side wall of the front part of the cylindrical member 2. The opening 24 is connected to the air guide passage 18, and a tubular air connection part 25 is attached to the opening 24 facing outward. As shown in FIG. 5, an air hose 41 is connected to the air connection part 25, and an air pump device (vacuum pump device) 40 is connected to the other side of the air hose 41. The air pump device 40 sucks air from the air guide passage 18. This generates a negative pressure in the air guide passage 18, and the cutting edge part 103 can be sucked together with the screw 104. An air switch 42 is interposed in the air hose 41. By switching the air switch 42, air is supplied to the air guide passage 18. This supplies air to the air guide passage 18, and air is blown out from the nozzle 17. The cutting chips attached to the cutting edge part 103 and the screw 104 can be removed by the air blow.

[0020] An operator can replace the cutting edge part 103 by gripping the cutting edge part replacement device 1. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, the cutting edge part replacement device 1 may be attached to a tool changer 34 at the tip of an articulated arm 31 of a robot 30 to automate the replacement of the cutting edge part 103. In the latter case, the cutting edge part replacement device 1 constitutes a cutting edge part replacement system together with a control device (not shown) that controls the robot 30, the cutting edge part replacement device 1, and the robot 30 to proceed with the cutting edge part replacement work. Note that the replacement operation will be described below using the cutting edge part replacement system as an example.

[0021] 6 and 7 show the process of removing the cutting edge part 103 from the holder 102 by the cutting edge part replacement device 1. First, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the cutting edge part replacement device 1 is moved by the operation of the articulated arm 31 of the robot 30, and the nozzle 17 of the cylindrical member 2 and the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 are respectively positioned above the cutting edge part 103 and the screw 104 to be replaced. Next, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the cutting edge part replacement device 1 descends, and the nozzle 17 approaches the cutting edge part 103 to a predetermined distance. Then, the air pump device 40 is driven to supply air to the air guide passage 18, and the air is blown out from the nozzle 17. As a result, the cutting chips attached to the cutting edge part 103 and the screw 104 are blown off and removed. By removing the cutting chips, poor fitting of the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 into the bit insertion groove 106 of the screw 104 in the subsequent process is reduced, and cutting chips are prevented from being pinched when reassembling a new cutting edge part 103, thereby preventing a decrease in machining accuracy.

[0022] After the chips have been removed, the cutting edge part replacement device 1 is lowered again. During the second descent, since the screw 104 is embedded in the cutting edge part 103, the nozzle 17 first comes into contact with the surface of the cutting edge part 103 as shown in FIG. 6(c). Then, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the cutting edge part replacement device 1 is further lowered until the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 fits into the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104. During this time, since the cylindrical member 2 is movable and is biased forward by the compression coil spring 16, the nozzle 17 is maintained in contact with the surface of the cutting edge part 103 as the cutting edge part replacement device 1 is lowered.

[0023] Next, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the nut runner 5 is driven to rotate the driver bit 4 about its axis. This loosens the screw 104 and removes it from the screw hole of the holder 102. Then, the air switch 42 is switched and the air pump device 40 is driven, generating negative pressure in the air guide passage 18 and adsorbing the cutting edge part 103 to the nozzle 17. Since the screw 104 is held down by the tip 20 of the driver bit 4, it is adsorbed together with the cutting edge part 103 while inserted in the screw hole of the cutting edge part 103. Furthermore, outside air is sucked in through the screw hole of the cutting edge part 103, releasing the vacuum state of the air guide passage 18, and the cutting edge part 103 is prevented from falling off.

[0024] 7(c), as the articulated arm 31 of the robot 30 moves up the cutting edge part replacement device 1, the cutting edge part 103 adsorbed to the nozzle 17 is released from the holder 102 together with the screw 104. The adsorbed cutting edge part 103 and the screw 104 are transported as they are to a cutting edge part tray (not shown).

[0025] A new cutting edge part 103 can be attached to the holder 102 by reversing the above-mentioned removal process.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, regardless of the material of the cutting edge part 103 as a replacement part and the screw 104 fixing it, it is not necessary to hold the cutting edge part 103 or to switch to an air blowing device, and the cutting chips can be removed by air blowing, the screw 104 can be loosened, and the cutting edge part 103 and the screw 104 can be picked up as a series of operations while holding the cutting edge part replacement device 1. Therefore, the cutting edge part 103 can be replaced efficiently, and the worker is freed from the risk of installing and removing small parts and cutting his fingers with the blade. In addition, by mounting the cutting edge part replacement device 1 to the tip of the arm of the robot 30 to configure a cutting edge part replacement system, it is possible to automate the cutting edge part replacement, in which case there is no need to separately hold both the screw 104 and the cutting edge part 103 with two arms, and equipment costs can be reduced. Second embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the screw 104 is not directly sucked, and therefore, when attaching the cutting edge part 103 to the holder 102, it is necessary to insert the screw 104 into the screw hole of the cutting edge part 103 as a preparation in advance. Also, the chips in the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104 are not removed by directly blowing air onto them, but are indirectly removed by, for example, drawing in the air blown onto the surface of the cutting edge part 103. The second embodiment realizes directly sucking the screw 104 and directly blowing air onto the chips in the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104 to remove them.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 8, the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 equipped in the cutting edge part replacement device 1 according to this embodiment is open, and an axial hole 27 is drilled rearward from the opening 29 of the tip 20 to a position halfway through the driver bit 4. A horizontal hole 28 is drilled in the driver bit 4 at its rear end or midway, and the axial hole 27 communicates with the air conducting passage 18 via this horizontal hole 28.

[0028] When air is supplied to the air conducting passage 18, air is blown out of the cylindrical mouth 17 via the air conducting passage 18 between the cylindrical member 2 and the driver bit 4, and at the same time, air is blown out of the tip opening 29 of the driver bit 4 via the horizontal hole 28 and the axial hole 27 (air blow function). This allows the air to be blown directly onto the chips in the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104, effectively removing the chips in the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104, and almost completely eliminating poor fitting of the tip 20 of the driver bit 4 into the bit fitting groove 106 of the screw 104.

[0029] Furthermore, when the air in the air guide passage 18 is sucked in, negative pressure is generated in the air guide passage 18 as well as in the axial hole 27 of the driver bit 4. This allows the screw 104 to be adsorbed by itself, and as shown in Figure 9, for example, the screw 104 can be picked up by the cutting edge part replacement device and inserted into the screw hole of the cutting edge part 103. The cutting edge part 103 can be adsorbed together with the screw 104, transported to the holder 102, and attached. In addition, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combination, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment includes various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combinations selected from the multiple components disclosed. For example, if the problem can be solved and the effect can be obtained even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, the configuration from which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1... cutting edge part replacement device, 2... cylindrical member, 3... cylindrical member holder, 4... driver bit, 5... nut runner, 6... nut runner holder, 7... base block.

Claims

1. A part replacement device for replacing a replaceable part fastened by a screw, comprising: A cylindrical member; a cylindrical member holder that supports the cylindrical member so as to be movable along a central axis; a driver bit that is inserted into the cylindrical member so as to be axially rotatable independently of the cylindrical member; A gap is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member and the outer circumferential surface of the driver bit as an air passage, A tip of the driver bit protrudes from a nozzle at a tip of the cylindrical member, A gap of a predetermined distance is secured between an inner peripheral surface of the nozzle of the cylindrical member and an outer peripheral surface of the driver bit, and an inner diameter of the nozzle of the cylindrical member is longer than an outer diameter of the driver bit in order to adsorb the replaceable part, In the part replacement device, the driver bit has an axial hole formed from its tip to a predetermined distance rearward in order to adsorb the screw, and the axial hole is connected to the air conducting passage.

2. The part replacement device according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that biases the cylindrical member in a distal direction.

3. 3. The part replacement device according to claim 1, wherein the air conducting passage is provided in a range from the opening of the cylindrical member to a position a predetermined distance behind the opening.

4. 4. The part replacement device according to claim 3, wherein an O-ring is interposed between the cylindrical member and the driver bit at a position rearward of the air conducting passage.

5. 5. The part replacement device according to claim 1, further comprising: a nut runner holder connected to the cylindrical member holder; and a nut runner removably held by the nut runner holder for axially rotating the driver bit.

6. 6. The part replacement device according to claim 1, wherein an opening communicating with the air conducting passage is provided in a side wall of the cylindrical member, and an air pump device is connected to the opening via an air hose.

7. The part replacement device according to claim 6 , further comprising a switching unit interposed between the opening and the air pump device for switching between suction and supply of air.

8. The part replacement device according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is detachable from the tubular member holder.

9. 9. The part replacement device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical member comprises a cylindrical member body and a nozzle portion that is detachable from the cylindrical member body.

10. 10. A part replacement system comprising: the part replacement device according to claim 1; and a robot having the part replacement device mounted on an arm tip thereof.

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