Marking Device

Abstract

To provide a marking device which can make a clear and linear mark to a mark object and is excellent in workability.SOLUTION: A marking device 10 makes a mark to a mark object including a prismatic object. A marking body 28 which makes the mark to the mark object and a seal mechanism which displaces the marking body 28 are provided within a housing attached to the prismatic object. The seal mechanism comes in contact with the mark object by rotating the housing attached to the prismatic object to displace the marking body 28 in a rotation center axis direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a marking device capable of applying a mark to an object to be marked, and in particular to a marking device for fastening members such as bolts and nuts, and plate-like members fastened by the fastening members. [Background technology]

[0002] Fastening members such as bolts, nuts, and washers are used to join steel materials in steel frame construction of structures such as bridges. These fastening members are tightened in the following order: primary tightening, marking, and final tightening.

[0003] Specifically, the nut is first rotated to a predetermined torque value to perform primary tightening. Next, as shown in FIG. 12 , a series of linear marks M are applied to the bolt 30 (in this example, a torsion-type high-strength bolt), nut 40, washer 50, steel plate 60, and other components that have been primarily tightened. After marking, the nut 40 is rotated to perform final tightening. In the final tightening process shown in FIG. 12 , the nut 40 is rotated using a dedicated tool or the like while the pintail 31 receives a reaction force until the pintail 31 breaks. When final tightening is performed correctly, only the mark M applied to the nut 40 will be misaligned, as shown in FIG. 13 . By inspecting this misalignment angle, it is possible to determine whether the bolt 30 has been left untightened, or whether the bolt 30 and nut 40 are rotating together or rotating axially.

[0004] Traditionally, this inspection has been done visually, but it is laborious, time-consuming, and prone to human error, such as oversight.In response, a method has been proposed in recent years in which marked bolts are photographed with a camera after being fully tightened, and inspection is then carried out using image recognition technology.

[0005] Generally, marking is often done by hand using a pen or the like, but the task of marking a large number of fastening members one by one by hand is a heavy burden. Therefore, a marking device capable of marking bolts and the like has been proposed. Patent Document 1 describes an aerosol-type marking tool that applies paint to bolts and the like. Patent Document 2 describes a marking device in which a movable marker unit connected to an operating unit via a link arm is pushed diagonally downward to make contact with the bolt or the like, thereby applying a mark. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-231131 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-355777

[0007] However, with the conventional marking methods described above, the marks applied may be distorted or have blurred contours that do not form a clear, straight line. In inspections using image recognition, if the applied marks are not clear, straight lines, erroneous judgments are likely to occur frequently. Therefore, marking using conventional methods has the problem of frequent image recognition errors.

[0008] Furthermore, in inspections using image recognition, some marks may not be captured depending on the shooting angle, as shown in FIG. 15. It is impossible to determine the quality of an inspection object S if the marks are not visible. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, one possible measure to prevent missing marks is to mark multiple marks on different sides of a single inspection object. In this case, for example, with the marking device described in Patent Document 2, the marking device must be removed from the bolt after marking the first mark, and then reattached to the bolt to imprint the second mark, which presents a problem in terms of workability. Furthermore, if multiple movable marker units were provided inside the marking device to improve workability, the resulting structure would be complex, potentially increasing manufacturing costs and size. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a marking device that is capable of applying clear, linear marks to an object to be marked and has excellent workability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, a marking device that applies a mark to a marking object including a prismatic object is provided, in which a marking body that applies a mark to the marking object and an imprinting mechanism that displaces the marking body are provided inside a housing that is placed over the prismatic object, and the imprinting mechanism is configured so that when the housing attached to the prismatic object is rotated, the marking body is displaced in the direction of the rotation center axis and comes into contact with the marking object.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that the stamping mechanism comprises a marking member having a seesaw structure in which the marking body is connected to one arm, and a movable body that can be displaced radially outward as the housing is rotated, and that the other arm of the marking member is pressed outward by the radially outward displacement of the movable body.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the housing has a cylindrical portion that houses the prismatic object therein, the moving body is a sphere that is engaged and held in a ball receiving hole formed in the cylindrical portion, and the marking body is disposed at a position facing a slit-shaped notch formed in the cylindrical portion.Furthermore, it is preferable that the marking member has an axis that serves as the center of oscillation, and that the axis is inclined so that the upper side approaches the central axis of rotation of the housing.

[0013] It is also preferable that the marking object includes a fastening member including a bolt and a nut, and a plate-like member to which the fastening member is fastened. Furthermore, it is also preferable that the prismatic object is a hexagonal nut, and the moving body is displaced along the side surface shape of the hexagonal nut. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention makes it possible to provide a marking device that is capable of applying clear and linear marks to an object to be marked and has excellent workability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a marking device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the marking device with the cover removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the marking member according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a marking device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a marking device attached to a bolt to be marked. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the marking device shown in FIG. 6 with a cover removed. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the marking device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the marking device shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the marking body is in contact with the marking object. [Figure 11] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a marking body is in contact with an object to be marked. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which one marking has been made on the primary fastened fastening member and plate-shaped member. [Figure 13]13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fastening member and the plate-like member shown in FIG. 12 have been fully fastened. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which two markings are made on a fastening member and a plate-shaped member that have been primarily tightened. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image used in image inspection after final tightening. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the invention will be described below. As shown in Fig. 12, a marking device 10 according to the embodiment is a marking device used to mark a linear mark M on the surface of fastening members such as bolts 30, nuts 40, and washers 50, and plate-like members 60 such as steel plates fastened by these fastening members. In this specification, the object to which the mark M is to be marked will be collectively referred to as a marking object T.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 , the marking device 10 of this embodiment includes a housing 11, which is a cylindrical body with a generally fan-shaped outer shape in a plan view and can be placed over a prismatic object such as a nut 40 threaded onto a bolt 30, and a lid 12 that can cover the top of the bolt 30 when the housing 11 is placed over it. The lid 12 of this embodiment is placed on top of the housing 11 and is fixed to the housing 11 by a fixing frame 13 having screw holes and screws B. The housing 11 and the lid 12 of this embodiment are made of resin. The material is not limited to this and may be something other than resin, but if they are made of resin, the marking device 10 can be lightweight and unbreakable, and is suitable for outdoor use due to its dustproof, waterproof, and durable properties.

[0018] (Internal structure of the housing 11) The internal structure of the housing 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical tube portion 14 is provided inside the housing 11 of the embodiment. The tube portion 14 is a hollow tube-shaped member large enough to accommodate the bolts 30, nuts 40, and washers 50 fastened to the plate-like member 60. The tube portion 14 is open at both the top and bottom ends, and the bolts 30 and the like are accommodated through a lower opening 141. In addition, the wall surface of the tube portion 14 of the embodiment is formed with ball receiving holes 143, which are circular holes that penetrate inward and outward, and notches 142, which are slits that penetrate in the up-down and inward and outward directions. In the embodiment, three ball receiving holes 143 are provided at equal intervals.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2 , a marking body 28 capable of applying a mark to an object to be marked T is supported by a marking member 20 (described later) and disposed in the space between the outer wall of the housing 11 and the cylindrical portion 14. The marking body 28 of this embodiment is a felt printing body that can be impregnated with marking ink, and has a stamping surface 29 formed to fit the surface shape of the object to be marked T. By contacting the object to be marked T, a substantially linear mark M can be applied. The ink impregnated into the marking body 28 is not particularly limited as long as it is ink that can be used for outdoor marking. The marking body 28 may also be configured to include an ink occlusion body that can supply ink.

[0020] The marking member 20 that supports the marking body 28 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the marking member 20 of this embodiment is an arm-shaped member with a bearing hole 21 formed in its middle portion, and has a seesaw structure with a shaft 22 inserted through the bearing hole 21 as a swing fulcrum. The base end side of the shaft 22 is fixed to the housing 11, and the marking member 20 is disposed between the cylindrical portion 14 and the housing 11.

[0021] More specifically, the marking member 20 includes a first arm 23 extending from the bearing hole 21 to one side, and a second arm 24 extending from the bearing hole 21 to the other side. The first arm 23 and the second arm 24 are curved in an arc shape to fit the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 14. The first arm 23 is resilient outward by an arm spring 25 that abuts against a spring receiving portion 231 provided at the tip side of the first arm 23. A pressing ball 26 is disposed between the cylindrical portion 14 and a ball receiving portion 241 provided at the tip side of the second arm 24.

[0022] The pressing ball 26 is a movable body that is held so as to be displaceable inward and outward. In this embodiment, the pressing ball 26 is a resin sphere having a diameter larger than that of the ball receiving hole 143. As shown in FIG. 2 , the pressing ball 26 is pressed radially inward at a position facing one of the ball receiving holes 143 by the second arm 24, which receives a biasing force from the arm spring 25. As a result, the pressing ball 26 is engaged with the ball receiving hole 143 with a portion of the pressing ball 26 protruding toward the inside of the cylindrical portion 14. When this protruding portion is pressed from the inside, the pressing ball 26 is displaced radially outward, pushing the second arm 24 radially outward, and returns to its original position when the pressure from the inside is released.

[0023] 2, a marking body clamping portion 27 capable of supporting the marking body 28 is provided at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction of the first arm 23 of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the marking body clamping portion 27 of the embodiment is a resin member that is approximately L-shaped in side view and clamps the marking body 28 on the side that faces the tubular portion 14 when assembled to the housing 11, and is disposed in a direction that protrudes from the first arm 23 toward the tubular portion 14.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the marking body 28 is fitted into a recess formed at the tip of the marking body clamping portion 27 and is clamped with the stamping surface 29 that contacts the marking object T exposed. The marking body 28 clamped by the marking body clamping portion 27 is positioned facing the notch 142 of the tubular portion 14 and is displaced in the direction of the central axis of rotation of the housing 11 by the swinging action of the marking member 20, so that it can contact the marking object T inside the tubular portion 14. The stamping surface 29 includes a stamping surface 291 that contacts the vertical surface of the marking object T and a stamping surface 292 that contacts the horizontal surface of the marking object T so as to conform to the uneven shape of the surface of the marking object T, and can be in close contact with the marking object T. Note that the marking body 28 in this embodiment is positioned so that each stamping surface 291 is parallel to the central axis of the bolt 30. This allows each stamp surface 291 to come into contact with the marking object T from almost directly beside it.

[0025] 5, the marking device 10 of the embodiment includes a positioning ball plunger 15. The ball plunger 15 of the embodiment includes a spherical positioning ball 16 and a spring 17 that biases the positioning ball 16. The positioning ball 16, like the pressing ball 26, engages with the ball receiving hole 143 of the cylindrical portion 14 and is held so as to be slidable inward and outward directions of the cylindrical portion 14.

[0026] (Marking method using marking device 10) Next, a marking method using the marking device 10 will be described. Here, as shown in Fig. 12, an example will be described in which marking is performed on a bolt 30, a nut 40, a washer 50, and a plate-like member 60 such as a steel plate. In this embodiment, the bolt 30 is a high-strength bolt, and the nut 40 is a hexagonal nut that can be screwed onto the bolt 30.

[0027] 6 and 7, the marking device 10 is attached so as to cover the bolt 30 and nut 40 in the state in which the primary tightening has been performed. At this time, in order to reliably mark the mark M on the plate-like member 60 as well, the marking device 10 is pushed in until its bottom surface comes into contact with the plate-like member 60.

[0028] When the marking device 10 is attached to the bolt 30, the positioning balls 16, 16 and the pressing ball 26 come into contact with the flat surface 41 on the side of the nut 40, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the elastic force of the spring 17 and the arm spring 25 inside the ball plunger 15 fixes the positioning balls 16, 16 and the pressing ball 26 in a state where they press against the flat surface 41 of the nut 40, thereby stably attaching the marking device 10. This makes it possible to provide a marking device 10 that is less likely to fall off even when the bolt 30 is fastened facing downward or sideways. Note that at this time, the marking member 20 is in a neutral state, and as shown in Figure 9, the marking body 28 is not in contact with the bolt 30, the nut 40, the washer 50, or the plate-like member 60.

[0029] Next, the housing 11 is grasped by hand and rotated. In the example shown in this specification, the housing 11 is rotated clockwise, but it may also be rotated counterclockwise. As the housing 11 rotates, the positioning balls 16, 16 and the pressing ball 26 that have been in contact with the flat portion 41 slide along the side surfaces of the nut 40 and approach the corner 42. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the pressing ball 26 reaches the apex of the corner 42, it is pushed outward by the corner 42 and displaced radially outward. As a result, the second arm 24 that is in contact with the pressing ball 26 is pressed outward.

[0030] When the second arm 24 is pressed outward, the arm spring 25 on the first arm 23 side is compressed, and the first arm 23 moves in a direction approaching the tubular portion 14. Accordingly, the marking body 28 also moves in the direction of the central axis of rotation of the housing 11. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 , the pressing ball 26 is positioned such that the angle α formed between the imaginary line CL1 connecting the center of the bolt 30 and the center of the pressing ball 26 and the imaginary line CL2 connecting the center of the bolt 30 and the marking body 28 is approximately 60 degrees in a plan view. Therefore, when the pressing ball 26 comes to a position where it contacts the vertex of a corner 42, the marking body 28 also comes to a position where it contacts the vertex of the adjacent corner 42. These configurations work together to press the stamping surface 29 against the corner 42, allowing the mark M to be applied to the corner 42.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3 , the marking member 20 of this embodiment is formed so that the central axis of the bearing hole 21 is slightly inclined relative to the stamping surface 291 extending in the vertical direction in the figure. In the example of FIG. 3 , this inclination is approximately 9.5°. The shaft 22 inserted into such a bearing hole 21 is assembled to the housing 11 so that its upper side is inclined toward the cylindrical portion 14. With the upper portion of the shaft 22 inclined inward, when the marking body 28 is displaced in the direction of the central axis of rotation of the housing 11, the stamping surface 292 extending in the horizontal direction in the figure comes into slight contact with the top surfaces of the nut 40, the top surface of the washer 50, and the surface of the plate-like member 60 from above, thereby ensuring the mark M. This allows the marking body 28 to apply the mark M without rubbing against the top surfaces of the bolt 30, the nut 40, and the plate-like member 60, thereby minimizing wear on the marking body 28.

[0032] With this configuration, the stamping surface 291 comes into contact with the marking object M from almost directly beside it, and marking can be performed with a slight displacement of the marking body 28, making it possible to apply a linear mark M with a clear outline that is less likely to blur even with rough operation. Note that the mark M is not limited to a continuous linear shape, and may be a dotted line.

[0033] Furthermore, by repeating the above-described procedure, it is possible to mark multiple marks M consecutively, as shown in Figure 14. In the present invention, multiple marks M can be made by simply rotating the marking device 10 attached to the bolt 30 without pulling it out, so it is possible to provide a marking device 10 that is easy to use.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described above by taking the embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be embodied in various forms. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Marking device 11. Housing 12 Lid 13 Fixed Frame 14 Cylinder 16 Positioning ball 17 Spring 20 Marking material 23 First Arm 24 Second Arm 25 Arm spring 26 Pressing Ball 27 Marking body clamping part 28 Marking body 30 volts 40 nuts 41 Plane section 42 Corner 50 washers 60 Plate-shaped member

Claims

1. A marking device that applies a mark to a marking object including a prismatic object, A housing is placed over the prismatic body and is rotatable relative to the prismatic body. a marking body for applying a mark to an object to be marked; a stamping mechanism for displacing the marking body; The stamping mechanism is a marking device in which the housing attached to the prismatic object is rotated relative to the prismatic object, causing the marking body to displace in the direction of the central axis of rotation and come into contact with the object to be marked.

2. The stamping mechanism includes: a marking member having a seesaw structure in which the marking body is connected to one arm; a movable body that is displaceable radially outward in response to a rotational operation of the housing, 2. The marking device according to claim 1, wherein the other arm of the marking member is pressed outward by radially outward displacement of the movable body.

3. the housing includes a cylindrical portion that accommodates the prismatic object therein, the movable body is a sphere that is engaged with and held in a ball receiving hole formed in the cylindrical portion, 3. The marking device according to claim 2, wherein the marking body is disposed at a position facing a slit-shaped notch formed in the cylindrical portion.

4. 4. The marking device according to claim 3, wherein the marking member has an axis serving as a center of swing, the axis being inclined so that an upper side of the axis approaches the central axis of rotation of the housing.

5. 5. The marking device according to claim 2, wherein the rectangular column-shaped object is a hexagonal nut, and the movable body is displaced along the side surface of the hexagonal nut.

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