Electromagnetic nut transport gun

Abstract

We provide an electromagnetic nut transport gun. [Solution] An electromagnetic nut transport gun is provided, comprising a material receiving sheet assembly 1 with an electromagnetic coil provided inside a joint assembly 2, a push rod assembly 3 connected to the rear end of the joint assembly 2 and including a push rod 302, and a cylinder 4 connected to the rear end of the push rod assembly 3, the piston of the cylinder 4 being connected to the push rod 302. By attracting nuts with an electromagnet, the permanent magnetization phenomenon of the push rod 302 is resolved, improving the angular accuracy and speed of nut transport.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automation, and particularly to an electromagnetic nut transfer gun.

Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of industrial technology, automation has gradually replaced manual work, significantly improving production efficiency, reducing costs, and the nut gun, as an automated tool for transporting nuts, plays an important role in improving the manual placement of nuts.

[0003] Conventional nut transfer guns mainly rely on inertia when pushed by a cylinder, using a single electromagnetic coil to push the nut to a predetermined position. Due to the magnitude of air pressure, welding materials, and the permanent magnetization of the push rod, the nut may not fall to the predetermined position. Therefore, the present invention proposes an electromagnetic nut transfer gun to at least partially solve the problems that may exist in the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, embodiments of the present invention provide an electromagnetic nut transfer gun that overcomes or at least partially solves the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, the electromagnetic nut transfer gun according to embodiments of the present invention includes a material receiving sheet assembly with a joint assembly connected to the rear end and a stopper provided at the front end, wherein an electromagnetic coil is provided inside the joint assembly, and a push rod assembly connected to the rear end of the joint assembly and including a push rod protection sleeve and a push rod provided inside the push rod protection sleeve. The rear end cylinder of the pushrod assembly is connected, and the piston of the cylinder is connected to the pushrod so that the tip of the pushrod can reach the outside of the material receiving sheet assembly. During the extension and retraction process, the push rod passes through the magnetic field formed by the first coil and the second coil.

[0006] Preferably, the electromagnetic coil includes a first coil and a second coil arranged in parallel, and the diameter of the tip of the push rod is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the nut to be conveyed.

[0007] Preferably, a wear-resistant copper sleeve is further provided inside the joint assembly between the electromagnetic coil and the material receiving sheet assembly.

[0008] Preferably, a wire bundle box is provided outside the joint assembly, and the electrodes of the first coil and the second coil extend into the wire bundle box.

[0009] Preferably, a rotatable gun support seat is fitted onto the outer circumference of the push rod assembly.

[0010] Preferably, a material tube bracket is provided at a position between the push rod assembly and the cylinder.

[0011] Preferably, a cylinder buffer sleeve is further provided inside the push rod assembly at the connection point between the cylinder and the push rod assembly.

[0012] Preferably, a stopper is provided at the front end of the material receiving sheet assembly, and a return spring connected to the stopper is further provided at the position of the stopper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] A joint assembly is connected to the rear end of the material receiving sheet assembly, and an electromagnetic coil is provided inside the joint assembly. A push rod assembly, including a push rod protective sleeve and a push rod provided inside the push rod protective sleeve, is connected to the rear end of the joint assembly. A cylinder is connected to the rear end of the push rod assembly, and the piston of the cylinder is connected to the push rod so that the tip of the push rod can reach inside the material receiving sheet assembly. The cylinder pulls out the transport push rod and at the same time energizes the first electromagnetic coil to generate an electromagnetic force that attracts the nut, and after it reaches the predetermined position, the first electromagnetic coil is shut off and the second electromagnetic coil is activated to actively, accurately, and reliably transport the nut using a reverse magnetic field. This solves the problem that when transporting nuts with a conventional nut transport gun, the nut is pushed out of the nut transport gun using only the cylinder and push rod, and then pushed to the predetermined position by inertia, making it difficult for the nut to fall into the predetermined position. Furthermore, since a single magnetic coil type nut transport gun cannot be actively demagnetized, the push rod becomes permanently magnetized, and the phenomenon that the nut is pulled back in the case of a workpiece where magnetism repels is solved. Furthermore, it solves the problems of conveying angle and speed. Nuts can be accurately conveyed to a predetermined position (positioning pin) at angles of 0 to 90° or less than 0° (conventional nut conveying angles are only 35 to 70°). This is extremely important for the stable operation of nut spot welding robot workstations. When used in manual lines, it enables operation at extreme speeds, improving production efficiency. Since 1 to N magnetic switches can be added to the cylinder of the nut conveying gun, safe conveying is achieved, and damage to the push rod due to cylinder failure can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the electromagnetic nut transport gun according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electromagnetic nut transport gun according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention clearer and easier to understand, the present invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0016] Figures 1 and 2 show the structure of an embodiment of the electromagnetic nut transport gun according to the present invention, comprising a material receiving sheet assembly 1 to which a joint assembly 2 is connected at the rear end, the material receiving sheet assembly 1 having a first coil 203 and a second coil 204 arranged in parallel inside the joint assembly 2 which have opposite magnetic fields when energized, and a push rod assembly 3 connected to the rear end of the joint assembly 2 and including a push rod protective sleeve 301 and a push rod 302 provided inside the push rod protective sleeve 301, the cylinder 4 being connected to the rear end of the push rod assembly 3, the piston of the cylinder 4 being connected to the push rod 302 so that the tip of the push rod 302 can reach a target position to transport nuts outside the material receiving sheet assembly 1, and the push rod 302 passes through the magnetic field formed by the first coil 203 and the second coil 204 during the extension and retraction process. The nut transport gun described above has a function to attract metal nuts by combining a double electromagnetic coil. It attracts nuts by electromagnetic force and solves the problem that when transporting nuts with a conventional nut transport gun, the nut is pushed out of the nut transport gun using only a cylinder and push rod, and then pushed to a predetermined position by inertia, making it difficult for the nut to fall into the predetermined position. The nut transport gun is introduced with two electromagnetic coils that can generate magnetic fields opposite to each other. The two electromagnetic coils can be wound in opposite directions or wound in the same direction and connected in reverse to generate magnetic fields in opposite directions. Specifically, the first coil 203 and the second coil 204 are each connected to a control element relay and are controlled by a control element such as a relay. The control element includes, but is not limited to, a relay, and may be a photocoupler, MOSFET, transistor, or a combination of these elements integrated on a control board.

[0017] During operation, the transport gun controls the work sequence using an external device such as a PLC or other control unit. Specifically, when a nut falls into the material receiving sheet assembly 1, the push rod 302 is controlled to push out the nut, and at the same time, the first coil 203 is energized to hold the nut in place at the tip of the push rod 302. After the push rod 302 has released the nut from the material receiving sheet assembly 1, the first coil 203 is kept energized to continuously maintain the suction force, and the power to the first coil 203 is cut off until just before the push rod 302 releases the nut to a predetermined position. At this time, the second coil 204 is controlled to be energized, generating an opposite magnetic field on the push rod 302, which pushes the nut to a predetermined position by magnetic force and controls the push rod 302 to retract. In this process, since the magnetic field of the second coil 204 and the magnetic field generated by the first coil 203 are in opposite directions, the magnetic field generated by the second coil 204 not only accurately pushes the nut to the target position but also demagnetizes the push rod 302. The magnetization process is as follows: during pushing, the push rod 302 passes through the first coil 203, forming an electromagnet effect and becoming magnetized; and during retraction, it is further demagnetized by the opposite magnetic field of the second coil 204, preventing the push rod 302 from becoming magnetized due to long-term operation, which could affect the pushing of the nut or cause it to age. By using electromagnetic force to attract metal nuts, the conventional nut transport gun overcomes the shortcomings of pushing nuts out by cylinder 4 alone and transporting them using inertia. This significantly improves the accuracy of transporting nuts to their designated positions and clearly addresses the problem of conventional nut transport guns where nuts often fail to fall into their designated positions.

[0018] The combination of the above-described dual electromagnetic coil and push rod solves the problem that conventional single-push rod push-outs, which rely on inertia, are susceptible to external forces or unstable factors. For example, if the air source pressure of the cylinder is unstable or leaking, or if there is a malfunction in the cylinder itself or its accessories causing changes in the push speed or force, the force and / or speed of the single push rod (or push rod) when pushing out the nut becomes unstable, preventing the nut from falling accurately to the predetermined position. Furthermore, in the case of a single push rod or a combination thereof with a single magnetic structure, if the inertia of the nut is utilized, the transport is limited to relatively flat operating scenes. For example, if the output port of the transport gun is facing downwards or has a large downward angle, the nut may fall due to gravity after entering the material receiving sheet assembly 1. In this invention, the nut remains attracted even after being output from the material receiving sheet assembly 1, and just before reaching the target position, the direction of the magnetic field switches, and the nut is pushed to the target position by the action of the magnetic force in the opposite direction, unaffected by the orientation of the device and unaffected by the push force and speed of the cylinder. By preventing the nut from falling precisely into place due to insufficient or unstable pressure when supplying air to the cylinder, and by demagnetizing the push rod 302 after each operation, the service life of the push rod 302 can be significantly extended.

[0019] Furthermore, this invention can also be applied to electromagnetic nuts, and is applicable to nuts that can be attracted by a magnetic field, such as nuts made of iron-based materials or silicon steel materials, but not to nuts made of materials that cannot be attracted by a magnetic field, such as aluminum nuts. The synergistic effect of the opposite-phase magnetic field force of the double electromagnet and the pushing force of the cylinder 4 solves the problem in conventional nut guns where the nut is passively attracted by a single electromagnet (whether permanent magnet or electromagnet type), making it impossible to accurately control the nut's fall time with inertia and a single or permanent electromagnet. In addition, the double electromagnetic coil acts directly on the metal nut, generating a controllable electromagnetic attractive force, and when the nut is fed out by the push rod, the conversion of the magnetic attractive force actively attracts and guides the nut during extrusion, solving problems such as inertia, lack of demagnetization, and premature detachment. Not only does it ensure that the nut maintains the correct posture after falling, but it also actively absorbs and guides the nut during extrusion, solving the problem of displacement or detachment due to instability of inertia. The synergistic effect of the electromagnetic force and the pushing force of the cylinder 4 allows the magnetic field to switch to a reverse magnetic field when the push rod 302 reaches a predetermined position, pushing out the nut and enabling precise control of the tip of the push rod 302.

[0020] Furthermore, the metal nut, as a metal component, can fall into the material receiving sheet assembly 1 and, when positioned within the energized electromagnetic coil, can form part of an electromagnet. In the case of a single electromagnet, the push rod 302 and the nut are located within the coil, and together they form the magnetic core of the same electromagnet. In this application, however, two coils arranged in parallel are used, and the push rod 302 and the nut are located within different coils. Also, since the push rod 302 has an integrated structure, this is equivalent to the existence of two electromagnets. It should be noted that in this application, "opposite magnetic field" refers to the opposite magnetic field direction, not the opposite magnetic poles. For example, if the south poles or north poles of two magnets are placed facing each other, the directions of the magnetic fields of the two magnets will be opposite, but the same magnetic poles will still face each other. The operating principles of the relays, transistors, and other elements, as well as the operation control of other elements, all belong to existing technologies and will not be explained in detail here.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present application, an electromagnetic coil and a wear-resistant copper sleeve 202 are provided inside the joint assembly 2. The hollow wear-resistant copper sleeve is located on one side of the material receiving sheet assembly 1. The electromagnetic coil includes a first coil 203 and a second coil 204 provided in parallel. The first coil 203 and the second coil 204 are electromagnetic coils of the same specification. The push rod 302 is at least manufactured with a material having a low coercive force at its tip, and the diameter of its tip is not more than the inner diameter of the nut to be conveyed. Therefore, the nut can be fitted to the tip position of the push rod 302, and the nut can be pushed out more stably. For example, soft iron has a high magnetic permeability and is suitable as a magnetic core material. A material with a low coercive force can be demagnetized immediately when the external magnetic field is removed. A material with a low coercive force is a soft magnetic material, specifically, a soft magnetic material with a coercive force of 300 kA / m or less. Examples of soft magnetic materials include pure iron, low-carbon steel, and silicon steel.

[0022] Furthermore, inside the joint assembly 2, the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202 is located between the electromagnetic coil and the material receiving sheet assembly 1. On the one hand, the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202 can reduce the wear caused by friction between the electromagnetic coil and the material receiving sheet assembly, and extend the service life of the device. On the other hand, it can optimize the electromagnetic conduction path, improve the adsorption and extrusion effect of the nut by electromagnetic force, and help the nut reach a predetermined position more accurately.

[0023] Copper cannot block magnetic force, but can weaken the influence of a magnetic field. When the electromagnetic coil operates, a magnetic field still exists at the position of the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202. When the push rod 302 passes through the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202, the free electrons in the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202 are subjected to a force, and an electric current is formed. The electric current generates a magnetic field opposite to the original magnetic field. That is, when the push rod 302 pushes out the nut, the two magnetic fields generated by the wear-resistant copper sleeve 202 and the coil cancel each other out, weakening the magnetic field of the coil, and it is possible to avoid the over-strong magnetic field affecting the extrusion of the nut.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present application, a wire bundling box 201 is further provided outside the joint assembly 2, and the electrodes of the first coil 203 and the second coil 204 extend into the wire bundling box 201. The wire bundling box 201 facilitates the centralized management and wiring of the electrodes of the first coil 203 and the second coil 204, prevents short circuits or signal instability caused by external interference, reduces the complexity of device maintenance, and ensures the stability and accuracy of the nut conveying process.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present application, a rotatable support seat 5 for the gun is fitted on the outer periphery of the push rod assembly 3 and can be used for mounting and fixing the electromagnetic nut conveying gun. The rotatable support seat 5 for the gun enables the adjustment of the direction of the electromagnetic nut conveying gun in the axial direction, and particularly enables the adjustment of the material receiving sheet assembly 1 to an appropriate position for material receiving and material supply. It becomes easy to adjust the material receiving sheet assembly 1 to an appropriate position for material receiving and material supply, and it becomes possible to dynamically adjust the material receiving direction according to the working conditions, improving the adaptability of the device to various operating scenes and improving the installation efficiency in a complex space environment.

[0026] Furthermore, a material tube bracket 6 is provided between the push rod assembly 3 and the cylinder 4. The material tube bracket 6 supports the push rod assembly 3 and the cylinder 4, and the material tube bracket is rotatably adjustable. The material tube bracket 6 distributes stress between the push rod and the cylinder through a stable and adjustable connection, reduces displacement due to vibration, and improves stability during long-term operation.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, a cylinder buffer sleeve 401 is further provided inside the push rod assembly 3 at the connection point between the cylinder 4 and the push rod assembly 3. Between the push rod assembly 3 and the cylinder 4, a push rod buffer sleeve 303 is provided, which is located inside the push rod assembly 3 and fitted onto the push rod 302. The cylinder buffer sleeve 401 and the push rod buffer sleeve 303 absorb the instantaneous impact force associated with the reciprocating motion of the piston of the cylinder 4 and the push rod 302, reducing mechanical fatigue wear and ensuring consistent accuracy when pushing at high frequency.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, a stopper 101 is provided at the front end of the material receiving sheet assembly 1, and a return spring (not shown) connected to the stopper 101 is further provided at the position of the stopper 101. The electromagnetic coil solves the problem of the nut bouncing up due to impact force, and the stopper 101 prevents the nut from reversing or shifting position. The stopper 101 works in cooperation with the material receiving sheet assembly 1 to limit the reversal or shifting of the nut, thereby preventing the nut from reversing or shifting position within the material receiving sheet, and further ensuring that the nut is accurately transported to the target position. By connecting the return spring to the stopper 101, the stopper 101 can quickly return after the nut has been transported, maintaining the stability of the internal structure of the device, ensuring the continuity of the nut transport process, avoiding the impact of a malfunction of the stopper 101 on the nut transport trajectory, and helping the nut to fall accurately to the predetermined position. In addition, secondary displacement or intrusion of foreign matter due to delayed closing of the stopper body after the nut has been transported can be avoided, improving the reliability of single operations.

[0029] A beneficial effect of this invention is that, simultaneously with the extension of the transport push rod by the cylinder 4, the first electromagnetic coil 203 is energized to generate an electromagnetic force that attracts the nut, and after it reaches the predetermined position, the first electromagnetic coil 203 is shut off, activating the second electromagnetic coil 204, which actively, accurately, and reliably transports the nut using a reverse magnetic field. This solves the problem that when transporting nuts with conventional nut transport guns, the nut is pushed out of the nut transport gun using only the cylinder and push rod, and then pushed to the predetermined position by inertia, making it difficult for the nut to fall to the predetermined position. Furthermore, since single-magnetic coil type nut transport guns cannot be actively demagnetized, the push rod becomes permanently magnetized, solving the phenomenon that the nut is pulled back in the case of a workpiece where the magnetism repels. In addition, it solves the problems of transport angle and speed. The nut can be accurately transported to the predetermined position (positioning pin) at an angle of 0 to 90° or less than 0° (conventional nut transport angles are only 35 to 70°). This is extremely important for the stable operation of a nut spot welding robot workstation. Furthermore, when used in a manual line, it enables operation at extreme speeds, improving production efficiency. Since 1 to N magnetic switches can be added to the cylinder 4 of the nut conveying gun, safe conveying is achieved, and damage to the push rod due to cylinder 4 failure can be prevented.

[0030] Each example in this specification is described step by step, and in each example, the differences from other examples are explained in detail. Parts that are the same or similar between the examples can be adequately referenced from one another.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have already been described, but those skilled in the art will be able to make further changes and modifications to these embodiments after understanding the basic creative concepts. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed to encompass all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the preferred embodiments and embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] In this specification, relational terms such as "First" and "Second," etc., are merely used to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply that such an actual relationship or order exists between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "includes," "incorporates," or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so a process, method, article, or terminal device that includes a set of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or further elements specific to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "...includes" does not preclude the presence of other identical elements within the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes that element.

[0033] The electromagnetic nut transport gun according to the present invention has been described in detail above. This specification has illustrated the principles and embodiments of the present invention with specific examples, but the above examples are merely intended to aid in understanding the method and core concept of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will know that there are modifications to both the specific embodiments and the scope of application based on the concept of the present invention. In summary, the contents of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Material receiving sheet assembly 2 Joint Assembly 3. Pushrod Assembly 4 cylinders 5. Support base for guns 6. Material Tube Bracket 101 Stopper 201 Cable Bundle Box 202 Wear-resistant copper sleeve 203 First coil 204 Second coil 301 Push Rod Protection Sleeve 302 Pushrod 303 Pushrod Buffer Sleeve 401 Cylinder Buffer Sleeve

Claims

1. A material receiving sheet assembly having a joint assembly connected to its rear end, wherein the joint assembly contains a material receiving sheet assembly in which a first coil and a second coil having opposite magnetic fields when energized are arranged in parallel, The push rod assembly includes a push rod protective sleeve and a push rod provided inside the push rod protective sleeve, connected to the rear end of the joint assembly, An electromagnetic nut conveying gun characterized in that a cylinder is connected to the rear end of the push rod assembly, the piston of the cylinder is connected to the push rod such that the tip of the push rod can reach outside the material receiving sheet assembly, and the push rod passes through a magnetic field formed by a first coil and a second coil during its extension and retraction process.

2. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coil and the second coil are electromagnetic coils of the same specifications, and the push rod is manufactured from a material having a coercivity of 0 to 300 KA / M at least at its tip, and the diameter of its tip is less than or equal to the inner diameter of the nut to be conveyed.

3. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 2, further comprising a wear-resistant copper sleeve between the electromagnetic coil and the material receiving sheet assembly inside the joint assembly.

4. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 2, characterized in that a wire bundle box is further provided outside the joint assembly, and the electrodes of the first coil and the second coil extend into the wire bundle box.

5. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotatable gun support seat is fitted onto the outer circumference of the push rod assembly.

6. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 1, characterized in that a material tube bracket is provided at a position between the push rod assembly and the cylinder.

7. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 6, further characterized in that a cylinder buffer sleeve is provided inside the push rod assembly at the connection point between the cylinder and the push rod assembly.

8. The electromagnetic nut conveying gun according to claim 1, characterized in that a stopper is provided at the front end of the material receiving sheet assembly, and a return spring connected to the stopper is further provided at the position of the stopper.

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