Parts supply device and parts supply method

Abstract

To reduce the working time when resistance welding parts to a workpiece. [Solution] The parts supply device 2,100 includes an actuator 30 that advances the rod so that parts N and B sent from the chute 3 are attached to the rod 10 at the mounting position Pb, and so that the parts reach the welding position Pd located between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4. The actuator performs a first forward movement M1 in which the rod is advanced to an intermediate position Pc, which is between the mounting position and the welding position, and stopped at the intermediate position in order to attach the parts sent from the chute to the rod at the mounting position, and a second forward movement M3 in which the rod is advanced from the intermediate position to the welding position in order to supply the parts to the welding position after the rod has been placed at the intermediate position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a component supply device and a component supply method.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, a component supply device supplies components between a lower electrode and an upper electrode in a resistance welder. The resistance welder resistance-welds the components to a workpiece. The component supply device includes a rod that supplies a component having a through-hole by advancing and extends back and forth, a piston coupled to the rod, a cylinder that houses the rod and the piston, a lid that closes the cylinder in front of the piston and through which the rod extending forward from the piston passes, an actuator that moves the piston and the rod back and forth, and a seal mechanism provided on the rod. The piston, the cylinder, and the lid define a gas chamber. The rod includes a gas outlet provided on the outer periphery of the front end portion of the rod inserted into the through-hole of the component through which gas blows out, a gas inlet provided behind the gas outlet and into which gas is introduced from the gas chamber, and a gas passage extending back and forth inside the rod through which gas passes from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. The seal mechanism includes a cylindrical bush disposed in the gas chamber and hung on the rod, and a biasing member that biases the bush forward away from the gas inlet. The bush contacts the lid by following the forward movement of the rod. The bush closes the gas inlet by moving relatively backward with respect to the rod against the biasing force of the biasing member on the bush from the biasing member by the backward pressing force on the bush from the lid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of parts supply device, the rod is positioned at a mounting position or a retraction position further back for mounting parts sent from the chute onto the rod. After the workpiece is positioned at the welding position between the lower and upper electrodes of the resistance welding machine, the rod is advanced from the mounting or retraction position to the welding position. The rod starts from the mounting or retraction position, mounts parts as it passes the mounting position, and supplies the parts to the welding position.

[0005] Because the distance from the mounting or retraction position to the welding position is long, if the rod is advanced from the mounting or retraction position to the welding position after the workpiece has been positioned at the welding position, the working time for resistance welding the part to the workpiece will be extended.

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to reduce the working time when resistance welding parts to a workpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The parts supply device according to this disclosure includes an actuator that advances the rod so as to mount a part sent from a chute onto the rod at a mounting position and to bring the part to a welding position located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode of a resistance welding machine. The actuator performs a first forward movement, which advances the rod to an intermediate position located between the mounting position and the welding position and stops it there, in order to mount the part sent from the chute onto the rod at the mounting position; and a second forward movement, which advances the rod from the intermediate position to the welding position in order to supply the part to the welding position, after the rod has been placed at the intermediate position until the workpiece is positioned at the welding position.

[0008] A parts supply method according to the present disclosure is a parts supply method for attaching a parts sent from a chute to a rod at a mounting position and for advancing the rod so that the parts reach a welding position located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, and includes: a first advancement step of advancing the rod to an intermediate position located between the mounting position and the welding position and stopping it at the intermediate position in order to attach the parts sent from the chute to the rod at the mounting position; and a second advancement step of advancing the rod from the intermediate position to the welding position in order to supply the parts to the welding position, after the rod has been placed at the welding position of the workpiece.

[0009] The rod is held at an intermediate position between the mounting position and the welding position until the workpiece is positioned at the welding location. The distance between the intermediate position and the welding position is shorter than the distance between the mounting position and the welding position. By holding the rod at the intermediate position, the rod can be quickly brought to the welding position and the nut can be quickly supplied to the welding position. This reduces the working time when resistance welding the part to the workpiece. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this disclosure, the working time required for resistance welding a part to a workpiece can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a resistance welding system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a nut according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a nut supply device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view of the nut supply device as seen from the side when the rod according to the first embodiment is in the retracted position. [Figure 5]Figure 5 is a front view of the nut supply device as seen from the side when the rod according to the first embodiment is in the mounting position. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a front view of the nut supply device as seen from the side when the rod according to the first embodiment is in the welding position. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the first forward step and the waiting step in the nut supply method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the second forward step and the retraction step in the nut supply method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows a front view of the bolt supply device according to the second embodiment, viewed from the side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description of preferred embodiments is illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure, its applications or uses in any way.

[0013] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described.

[0014] (Resistance welding system) Figure 1 shows a resistance welding system 1. The resistance welding system 1 comprises a nut supply device 2 as a component supply device, a chute 3, and a resistance welding machine 4. The nut supply device 2 is an example of a component supply device. The nut supply device 2 supplies nuts N between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4. The resistance welding machine 4 resistance welds the nuts N to the workpiece W.

[0015] In the following explanation, the left-right direction in Figure 1 will be referred to as the front-back direction, the up-down direction in Figure 1 as the up-down direction, and the vertical direction of the paper in Figure 1 as the left-right direction. The left side of Figure 1 will be the front, and the right side of Figure 1 will be the back. The top of Figure 1 will be the top, and the bottom of Figure 1 will be the bottom. The front of the paper in Figure 1 will be the left side, and the back of the paper in Figure 1 will be the right side.

[0016] (Nut) Figure 2 shows the nut N as a component in a perspective view. The nut N is an example of a component. The nut N is a square welding nut. The nut N has a main body portion N1 and four protrusions N3. The main body portion N1 has a predetermined thickness t. The main body portion N1 is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The front surface N1a and the back surface N1b of the main body portion N1 are parallel to each other and substantially square-shaped. The four protrusions N3 are provided at the four corners of the back surface N1b of the main body portion N1. The protrusions N3 protrude from the back surface N1b.

[0017] The overall thickness T of the nut N is the sum of the thickness t of only the main body portion N1 and the protruding dimension of the protrusions N3. The nut N has a threaded hole N2 as a through hole. The threaded hole N2 passes through the center of the main body portion N1. Incidentally, the main body portion N1 of the nut N has four side surfaces N1c. The side surfaces N1c connect the front surface N1a and the back surface N1b of the main body portion N1. In the main body portion N1 of the nut N, the distance between two opposing side surfaces N1c is defined as the two-plane width dimension s. The diagonal distance between the corners of the main body portion N1 of the nut N is defined as the diagonal dimension e.

[0018] Although detailed description is omitted, a nut sorting device as a component sorting device is provided upstream of the nut supply device 2 and the shooter 3 in the flow direction of the nut N. In this nut sorting device, based on the difference between the two-plane width dimension s and the diagonal dimension e, the nut N is aligned in a predetermined rotational posture, and based on the thickness t of only the main body portion N1 and the overall thickness T, only the nut N with the front and back in a predetermined orientation is sorted and passed through.

[0019] (Nut supply device) Figure 3 shows the nut supply device 2 in a perspective view. Figures 4 to 6 show the front view of the nut supply device 2 as seen from the left side. Figure 4 shows the state when the rod is in the retracted position Pa. Figure 5 shows the state when the rod is in the mounted position Pb. Figure 6 shows the state when the rod is in the welding position Pd. Incidentally, since Figures 4 to 6 are merely conceptual diagrams, there are parts where the shape and dimensions do not match those of Figure 3.

[0020] The nut supply device 2 comprises a rod 10, a cylinder 20, an actuator 30, and a nut holder 40 as a part holder. The nut supply device 2 receives nuts N sent from the chute 3 and supplies the nuts N between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4.

[0021] The rod 10 is formed in a rod shape. The axial direction along which the axis of the rod 10 extends is oblique, so that it goes downwards as it goes forward (see Figure 1).

[0022] The outer diameter of the front end 11 of the rod 10 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rear end 12 of the rod 10, which is located behind the front end 11. A stepped surface 13 is formed between the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the rod 10. The stepped surface 13 faces forward. The outer diameter of the front end 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the screw hole N2 of the nut N. The outer diameter of the rear end 12 is larger than the inner diameter of the screw hole N2 of the nut N. The front end 11 of the rod 10 is inserted through the screw hole N2 of the nut N. The nut N is placed on the front end 11 of the rod 10 and pressed against the stepped surface 13 of the rod 10.

[0023] An air passage, which serves as a gas passage, is provided inside the rod 10, extending in the front and rear directions. An inlet 14 is provided at the rear part 12 of the rod 10. An outlet 15 is provided at the front end 11 of the rod 10. The outlet 15 faces the stepped surface 13, angled toward the outer circumference and rearward.

[0024] The cylinder 20 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape with its front end closed. The axis of the cylinder 20 extends in the front-rear direction. The cylinder 20 houses the rod 10. The rod 10 extends through the front end of the cylinder 20. A piping hole 21 is provided in the rear peripheral wall of the cylinder 20, to which a pipe communicating with an air supply source (not shown) is connected. The air supply source is, for example, an air pump. A cylindrical bush 22 is positioned at the front end inside the cylinder 20. The rod 10 moves axially back and forth so as to slide along the inner circumference of the bush 22.

[0025] The actuator 30 is a known electric actuator. The actuator 30 is driven by electric power. The actuator 30 is, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid, a ball screw mechanism, a linear motor, a servo motor, a stepping motor, or a rack gear motor. The actuator 30 is positioned behind the cylinder 20. The actuator 30 has an electric mechanism 31, a drive rod 32, and a controller 33 as a control unit.

[0026] The electric motor 31 has a cylindrical housing. The axis of the electric motor 31 (housing) extends in the front-to-back direction. The electric motor 31 is connected to the rear end of the cylinder 20. It can also be said that the electric motor 31 covers the rear end opening of the cylinder 20. The electric motor 31 is connected to an external power supply.

[0027] The drive rod 32 extends in the front and rear directions. The drive rod 32 protrudes forward from the front end surface of the housing of the electric mechanism 31. The drive rod 32 is housed inside the cylinder 20. The drive rod 32 is inserted into the cylinder 20 through the rear end opening of the cylinder 20. The drive rod 32 moves back and forth by the electrical action of the electric mechanism 31. The front end of the drive rod 32 is connected to the rear end of the rod 10 via a connecting member 23.

[0028] The controller 33 is configured, for example, by a computer. The controller 33 may have one or more electrical circuits or processing circuits, including one or more general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPUs (Central Processing Units), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to perform various processes. The controller 33 may also be a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The controller 33 is connected to the electric mechanism 31 by wire or wirelessly. The controller 33 controls the electric mechanism 31. The controller 33 may be connected to the resistance welding machine 4 by wire or wirelessly. The controller 33 may be integrated with the electric mechanism 31 or the resistance welding machine 4. The controller 33 may be connected to and control an air supply source (e.g., an air pump).

[0029] The actuator 30 moves the rod 10 (connected to the drive rod 32) back and forth, as controlled by the controller 33 which controls the electric mechanism 31.

[0030] The nut receiver 40 is positioned in front of the cylinder 20. A nut receiver chamber 41 is formed inside the nut receiver 40. A stopper 42 is provided at the bottom of the nut receiver chamber 41.

[0031] A chute 3 is connected to the upper part of the nut receiver 40. The chute 3 extends vertically. In the flow direction of the nuts N, the upstream end of the chute 3 is connected to a nut sorting device (not shown), and the downstream end of the chute 3 is connected to the nut receiver 40. The downstream end of the chute 3 is in communication with the nut receiving chamber 41. The nut sorting device aligns the front and back sides of the nuts N in a specific orientation and sends the nuts N to the chute 3. In the chute 3, the nuts N are sent with their front and back sides aligned in the same orientation (in this example, the back surface N1b with the protrusion N3 faces forward).

[0032] The nuts N sent from the chute 3 to the nut receiver 40 are received by a stopper 42 at the bottom of the nut receiver chamber 41. A portion of the front of the nut receiver 40 is open. The nut receiver chamber 41 is open to the front. A door 43 that can be opened and closed may be provided at the front opening of the nut receiver chamber 41.

[0033] As described above, the actuator 30 moves the rod 10 back and forth. As shown in Figure 4, when the rod 10 retracts to the retraction position Pa, which is behind the nut receiving chamber 41, the nut N sent from the chute 3 to the nut receiving chamber 41 is received by the stopper 42 at the bottom of the nut receiving chamber 41. The nut N is received by the stopper 42 with its back surface N1b facing forward. The retraction position Pa is behind the mounting position Pb, which will be described later. In this example, the retraction position Pa is behind the nut receiving chamber 41.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, when the rod 10 moves forward and reaches the mounting position Pb, specifically the nut receiving chamber 41, the front end 11 of the rod 10 passes through the screw hole N2 of the nut N, and the nut N is placed on the front end 11 of the rod 10. The nut N is pressed against the stepped surface 13 located between the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the rod 10. The mounting position Pb is the position where the nut N, sent from the chute 3, is mounted on the rod 10. In this example, the mounting position Pb is in the nut receiving chamber 41.

[0035] At this time, the air supplied from the air supply source into the cylinder 20 via the piping and the piping hole 21 is introduced into the inlet 14 at the rear part 12 of the rod 10, flows from rear to front through the air passage inside the rod 10, and is blown out from the outlet 15 on the outer circumference of the front end 11 of the rod 10, hitting the (forward-facing) back surface N1b of the nut N (see arrow in Figure 5). As a result, the nut N is pressed against the stepped surface 13. The nut N is held in place by the rod 10.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6, the rod 10 reaches the welding position Pd, which is located between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 in the resistance welding machine 4. The rod 10 supplies the nut N to the welding position Pd. When the rod 10 reaches the welding position Pd, the inlet 14 of the rod 10 is positioned on the inner circumference side of the bush 22 in the cylinder 20 and closed, so that the air blowing out from the outlet 15 of the rod 10 stops. The welding position Pd is the position where resistance welding between the nut N and the workpiece W is performed. The welding position Pd is located between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the next nut N, which has been sent (introduced) from the chute 3 to the nut receiving chamber 41, rests on the upper surface of the outer circumferential surface of the rear portion 12 of the rod 10. As shown in Figure 4, when the rod 10 retracts again to the retracted position Pa behind the nut receiving chamber 41, the next nut N sent from the chute 3 to the nut receiving chamber 41 is received by the stopper 42 at the bottom of the nut receiving chamber 41. This process is repeated thereafter.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the actuator 30 retracts the rod 10 to a retraction position Pa, which is behind the mounting position Pb, so that the nut N sent from the chute 3 is introduced into the nut receiving chamber 41. As shown in Figure 5, the actuator 30 advances the rod 10 so that the nut N sent from the chute 3 is mounted on the rod 10 at the mounting position Pb. As shown in Figure 6, the actuator 30 advances the rod 10 so that the nut N reaches the welding position Pd, which is between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4.

[0039] (Resistance welding machine) The resistance welding machine 4 will be described with reference to Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the resistance welding machine 4 is equipped with a lower electrode 50 and an upper electrode 60.

[0040] The upper surface of the lower electrode 50 and the lower surface of the upper electrode 60 face each other vertically. The lower electrode 50 is fixed in place. A movable guide pin may protrude from the upper surface of the lower electrode 50. The upper electrode 60 is movable. The upper electrode 60 moves up and down by the operation of the welding machine actuator 61. The welding machine actuator 61 may be an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator. The lower electrode 50 may be movable. The upper electrode 60 may be fixed.

[0041] (Nut supply method) The nut supply method as a component supply method will be explained with reference to Figures 7 and 8. The nut supply method is one example of a component supply method. In Figures 7 and 8, the nut supply device 2 and the resistance welding machine 4 are shown in a simplified manner. For convenience, the retraction position Pa, mounting position Pb, intermediate position Pc, and welding position Pd are shown as the positions of the stepped surface 13 of the rod 10.

[0042] The nut supply method includes a first forward step S1, a waiting step S2, a second forward step S3, and a retraction step S4. Figure 7 shows the first two steps, and Figure 8 shows the latter two steps. The nut supply method is performed by a nut supply device 2. The nut supply method uses the rod 10 of the nut supply device 2.

[0043] First, the first forward movement process S1 is performed. In the first forward movement process S1, the actuator 30 performs the first forward movement M1. In the first forward movement process S1, as the first forward movement M1, the rod 10 is advanced from the retracted position Pa to the intermediate position Pc.

[0044] The intermediate position Pc is located midway between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd. The distance between the intermediate position Pc and the welding position Pd is shorter than the distance between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd (and of course, shorter than the distance between the retraction position Pa and the welding position Pd).

[0045] The intermediate position Pc may be located midway between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd, or it may be located closer to the mounting position Pb than the midway point, or it may be located closer to the welding position Pd than the midway point.

[0046] In the first forward movement process S1 (first forward movement M1), the actuator 30 moves the rod 10 forward from the retraction position Pa, through the mounting position Pb, to the intermediate position Pc, and stops it at the intermediate position Pc, in order to attach the nut N sent from the chute 3 to the rod 10 at the mounting position Pb.

[0047] As the rod 10, having departed from the retraction position Pa, passes the mounting position Pb, as shown in Figure 5, the front end 11 of the rod 10 passes through the screw hole N2 of the nut N, and the nut N is attached to the rod 10 by being hooked onto the front end 11 of the rod 10. At this time, air is blown out from the outlet 15 of the front end 11 of the rod 10. The nut N is pressed against the stepped surface 13 located between the front end 11 and the rear end 12 of the rod 10. In the first forward movement step S1, the upper electrode 60 is positioned upward, and the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 are open.

[0048] The waiting process S2 is performed after the first forward process S1. The waiting process S2 is performed between the first forward process S1 and the second forward process S3. In the waiting process S2, the actuator 30 performs a waiting operation M2. The actuator 30 performs the waiting operation M2 between the first forward operation M1 and the second forward operation M3. In the waiting process S2 (waiting operation M2), the actuator 30 waits with the rod 10 still at the intermediate position Pc in order to wait for the workpiece W to be placed at the welding position Pd.

[0049] In the standby process S2, the upper electrode 60 remains positioned upward, and the lower electrode 50 and upper electrode 60 remain open. In the standby process S2, the workpiece W is placed at the welding position Pd. In this example, in the standby process S2, the workpiece W is placed on the upper surface of the lower electrode 50 by the operator's manual labor or by a robot.

[0050] In this example, a plate-shaped workpiece W with a hole is used as an illustration. The projection of the lower electrode 50 penetrates the hole in the workpiece W. Note that the workpiece W is not limited to a plate shape and may be any shape. For example, the workpiece W may be block-shaped, rod-shaped, cylindrical, etc. The workpiece W may not have a hole.

[0051] In the waiting process S2, while the rod 10 is waiting at its intermediate position Pc, the nut N is held in place at the front end 11 of the rod 10 by the air blown out from the outlet 15 of the rod 10.

[0052] The second forward step S3 is performed after the waiting step S2. In the second forward step S3, the actuator 30 performs the second forward movement M3. The actuator 30 performs the second forward movement M3 after the waiting movement M2. In the second forward step S3 (second forward movement M3), the actuator 30 waits the rod 10 at the intermediate position Pc until the workpiece W is placed at the welding position Pd in ​​the waiting step S2 (waiting movement M2), and then advances the rod 10 from the intermediate position Pc to the welding position Pd in ​​order to supply the nut N to the welding position Pd.

[0053] In the second forward movement step S3, the rod 10 is advanced from the intermediate position Pc to the welding position Pd so that the rod 10 is positioned at the welding position Pd. When the rod 10 reaches the welding position Pd, air is no longer blown out from the outlet 15 at the front end 11 of the rod 10 (see Figure 6). The rod 10 releases its grip on the nut N. The nut N falls off the front end 11 of the rod 10.

[0054] In the second forward step S3, the upper electrode 60 remains positioned upward, and the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 remain open.

[0055] In this example, in the second forward step S3, the nut N is placed on the upper surface of the workpiece W with its back surface N1b, which has the projection N3, facing downwards. The projection N3 on the back surface N1b of the nut N contacts the upper surface of the workpiece W.

[0056] The second forward step S3 (second forward operation M3) may be performed after the work of positioning the workpiece W at the welding position Pd has been completely finished, or it may be performed after the work of positioning the workpiece W at the welding position Pd has been started but before the work of positioning the workpiece W at the welding position Pd has been completely finished.

[0057] The retraction process S4 is performed after the second forward process S3. In the retraction process S4, the actuator 30 performs a retraction operation M4. The actuator 30 performs the retraction operation M4 after the second forward operation M3. In the retraction process S4 (retraction operation M4), the actuator 30 retracts the rod 10 to the retraction position Pa so that the nut N sent from the chute 3 is introduced into the nut receiving chamber 41 (see Figure 4).

[0058] In the retraction process S4, the rod 10 may be kept in standby position Pa. The supply of air from the air supply source may be stopped when the rod 10 is retracted and when the rod 10 is in standby position Pa. The specific operations in the retraction process S4 can be set arbitrarily.

[0059] In the pull-in process S4, resistance welding is performed by the resistance welding machine 4. The upper electrode 60 descends downward, and the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 are closed together. At the welding position Pd, the workpiece W and the nut N are sandwiched between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 and pressed together. Current is passed between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60, and current flows. As a result, the workpiece W and the nut N are resistance welded to each other.

[0060] After the retraction process S4 (retraction operation M4), the first forward process S1 (first forward operation M1) is performed again.

[0061] (Effects and Benefits) In the conventional nut supply device, the rod 10 is kept in a waiting position Pa behind the mounting position Pb for attaching the nut N sent from the chute 3 to the rod 10. After the workpiece W is positioned at the welding position Pd between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4, the rod 10 is advanced from the retraction position Pa to the welding position Pd via the mounting position Pb. In the conventional nut supply device, the rod 10 starts from the retraction position Pa, attaches the nut N as it passes the mounting position Pb, and supplies the nut N to the welding position Pd.

[0062] In conventional nut supply devices, the distance from the retraction position Pa to the welding position Pd is long. Therefore, if the rod 10 is advanced from the retraction position Pa via the mounting position Pb to the welding position Pd after the workpiece W has been placed at the welding position Pd, the working time for resistance welding the nut N to the workpiece W becomes long.

[0063] Therefore, in the nut supply device 2 according to this embodiment, the rod 10 is kept waiting at an intermediate position Pc, which is located between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd, in order to wait for the workpiece W to be placed at the welding position Pd. The distance between the intermediate position Pc and the welding position Pd is shorter than the distance between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd (and of course, shorter than the distance between the retraction position Pa and the welding position Pd). By keeping the rod 10 waiting at the intermediate position Pc, the rod 10 can reach the welding position Pd more quickly and the nuts N can be supplied to the welding position Pd more quickly compared to when the rod 10 is kept waiting at the retraction position Pa. This reduces the working time required for resistance welding the nuts N to the workpiece W.

[0064] <Second Embodiment> A second embodiment will now be described. In the following description, components similar to those in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions will be omitted. Figure 9 is a front view of the bolt supply device 100 as a parts supply device, viewed from the left side. The bolt supply device 100 is an example of a parts supply device. The bolt supply device 100 performs a bolt supply method as a parts supply method. The bolt supply method is an example of a parts supply method.

[0065] In the bolt supply device 100, a holder 101 is fixed to the front end of the rod 10. The holder 101 is provided with a stopper 102 for receiving a bolt B as a component. The bolt B is an example of a component. The bolt supply device 100 receives the bolt B, which is fed from the chute 3, at the mounting position Pb using the stopper 102 of the holder 101 at the front end of the rod 10. In the bolt supply device 100, at the mounting position Pb, the bolt B, which is fed from the chute 3, is mounted on the rod 10 via the holder 101. A projection may be provided on the front or back surface of the head of the bolt B.

[0066] In the bolt supply device 100, the actuator 30 moves the rod 10 forward so that the bolt B sent from the chute 3 is attached to the rod 10 at the mounting position Pb, and the bolt B reaches the welding position Pd, which is located between the lower electrode 50 and the upper electrode 60 of the resistance welding machine 4. The actuator 30 performs a first forward movement M1 (first forward movement S1). In the first forward movement M1 (first forward movement S1), the actuator 30 moves the rod 10 forward to an intermediate position Pc (located between the mounting position Pb and the welding position Pd) and stops it at the intermediate position Pc in order to attach the bolt B sent from the chute 3 to the rod 10 at the mounting position Pb. The actuator 30 performs a second forward movement M3 (second forward movement S3). In the second forward movement M3 (second forward process S3), the actuator 30 waits at the intermediate position Pc until the workpiece W is positioned at the welding position Pd, and then advances the rod 10 from the intermediate position Pc to the welding position Pd in ​​order to supply the bolt B to the welding position Pd.

[0067] The bolt supply device 100 according to the second embodiment provides the same effects as the nut supply device 2 according to the first embodiment.

[0068] <Other Embodiments> In the first embodiment, the projection N3 on the back surface N1b of the nut N contacted the upper surface of the workpiece W, but this is not limited to this. For example, the projection N3 on the back surface N1b of the nut N may contact the lower surface of the workpiece W. In this case, the arrangement of the front and back surfaces of the nut N in the chute 3 and nut receiving chamber 41 should be reversed from that in the first embodiment. Also, when placing the workpiece W at the welding position Pd, it is preferable for the worker or robot to grip the workpiece W to create a gap between the workpiece W and the lower electrode 50. Then, the nut N should be placed on the lower electrode 50 such that the surface N1a of the nut N contacts the upper surface of the lower electrode 50, that is, so that the projection N3 on the back surface N1b of the nut N faces upward toward the lower surface of the workpiece W.

[0069] The component may be a crimp nut or a crimp bolt. Furthermore, the component may be something other than nut N and bolt B. The component may be, for example, a washer, sleeve, rivet, etc. The component does not have to have a protrusion.

[0070] The actuator 30 is not an electric actuator; for example, it could be a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator.

[0071] There may be multiple intermediate positions Pc. For example, the rod 10 may advance in steps between multiple intermediate positions Pc.

[0072] Instead of having the upper electrode 60 wait at the maximum retraction position (the highest position) by the welding machine actuator 61 while the workpiece W is positioned at the welding position Pd, the resistance welding machine 4 may have the upper electrode 60 lowered below the maximum retraction position and brought closer to the lower electrode 50, and wait at an intermediate position on the welding machine side.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the nut N is held on the rod 10 by the blowing of air from the outlet 15 of the rod 10, and the bolt B is held on the rod 10 by the holder 101. However, the means of holding the parts on the rod 10 are not limited to these. For example, the parts may be held on the rod 10 by magnetic force. Alternatively, the parts may be held on the rod 10 by negative pressure (vacuum). Of course, there may be other methods as well.

[0074] Although this disclosure has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, this description is not limiting, and various modifications, substitutions, or combinations are, of course, possible. [Industrial applicability]

[0075] This disclosure is extremely useful and highly industrially applicable, as it can be applied to parts supply devices and parts supply methods. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] N Nut (Part) B Bolt (part) Double job Pa entry point Pb mounting position PC intermediate position Pd welding position S1 1st forward step M1 1st forward movement S3 2nd forward process M3 2nd forward movement 2. Nut supply device (parts supply device) 3 Shooters 4. Resistance welding machine 10 rods 30 Actuators 50 Lower electrode 60 Upper electrode 100-volt supply device (parts supply device)

Claims

1. The system includes an actuator that attaches a component sent from a chute to a rod at the mounting position, and advances the rod so that the component reaches the welding position located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode of a resistance welding machine. The actuator is In order to mount the component sent from the chute onto the rod at the mounting position, a first forward movement is performed to advance the rod to an intermediate position located between the mounting position and the welding position and stop it at the intermediate position. A second forward movement is performed to advance the rod from the intermediate position to the welding position in order to supply the part to the welding position, after the rod has been held at the intermediate position until the workpiece is positioned at the welding position. Execute Parts supply device.

2. A component supply method comprising attaching a component sent from a chute to a rod at a mounting position, and advancing the rod so that the component reaches a welding position located between the lower electrode and the upper electrode of a resistance welding machine, A first forward step involves moving the rod forward to an intermediate position between the mounting position and the welding position and stopping it there, in order to mount the part sent from the chute onto the rod at the mounting position. A second forward step involves holding the rod at the intermediate position until the workpiece is positioned at the welding position, and then advancing the rod from the intermediate position to the welding position in order to supply the part to the welding position, include, Parts supply method.

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