Apparatus for rotationally orienting a pin, and a method therefor

Abstract

An apparatus (1) and a method for rotationally orienting a pin (2), the pin (2) having a longitudinal axis (L) and a slot-shaped recess (22a) being formed in an envelope surface of the pin (2) at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin (2), the apparatus (1) comprising; a first and a second side (10a, 10b) each comprising one or more guiding surfaces allowing a plurality of pins to be arranged side by side in a row sandwiched therebetween, a cam (30) having a cam surface (31) intended to interact with the recess (22a), wherein the cam surface (31) extends along the first direction (D1), is along at least a portion thereof provided at a first distance (h31) from the first side (10a) and at a second distance from the second side (10b), and faces the second side (10b), wherein, along an entrance portion (32) of the cam surface (31), the first distance (h31) increases and the second distance decreases as seen along the travel direction (TD) of the pins (2) whereby the pin (2) is allowed to travel past the entrance portion (32) of the cam (30) when the respective pin (2) is rotationally oriented such that the slot-shaped recess (22a) receives the cam (30) and remaining portions of the pin (2) at the first longitudinal position of the pin (2) passes between the cam surface (31) and the second side (10b).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR ROTATIONALLY ORIENTING A PIN, AND A METHOD THEREFOR

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for rotationally orienting a pin.

[0004] The invention also relates to a method for rotationally orienting a pin.

[0005] Technical background

[0006] Assembling two or more objects into one piece, for instance furniture, has historically required tools such as drills, screwdrivers, hammers, and wrenches.

[0007] Recently, different assembly methods not requiring tools has been developed and many types of furniture in a household can be assembled without tools or at least with a minimum of tools.

[0008] In WO 2023 / 143756A1 A there is disclosed a mechanical connection arrangement, which is especially suitable for interconnecting panels at a corner edge of e.g., a furniture product. The mechanical connection arrangement comprises one or more rod-shaped elements at an edge surface of a first panel and corresponding insertion recesses along an edge of a major surface of a second panel. The rod-shaped elements and the corresponding recesses are angled relative to the surfaces such that the panels are brought together when the first panel is moved along the edge of the second panel. In order to keep the panels in the brought together position, the first panel is also provided with a locking pin which is resilient, and which is received in a recess of the first panel such that a head portion of the locking pin is present above the edge surface of the first panel. The locking pin is configured to be received in a recess in the second panel when the locking pin and the recess in the second panel is in register.

[0009] In WO 2023 / 191694A1 there is disclosed different designs of such a locking pin. There is also disclosed how such a locking pin may be released to allow disassembly of the panels. The locking pin is provided with a through- going hole provided with a sloping internal surface and the first panel is provided with a hole extending from an edge surface into the recess in which the locking pin is received. By inserting a tool through the hole such that it interacts with the internal sloping surface, it is possible to push the locking pin into the recess in the first panel such that the head portion no longer is inserted into the recess in the second panel and thereby the first and second panels may be disassembled again. In order for the tool to be able to be inserted into the through-going hole of the locking pin, the locking pin must be in a rotational position such that the through-going hole is in register with the hole of the first panel.

[0010] Thus, in some cases it may be beneficial or even required to have a pin, such as a locking pin, being rotationally oriented in a specific way to utilize the full potential of the pin. However, regular locking pin inserters does not account for rotational orientation of the pin and to manually rotate each pin into the desired rotational position before inserting the pins is a laborious and tedious task.

[0011] Thus, there is a need for improvement when it comes to providing a desired rotational orientation as a preparation before the insertion of pins that require a specific rotational orientation of the recess.

[0012] Summary of invention

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution for rotationally orienting pins in an efficient and robust manner.

[0014] This object has been achieved by the following aspects of the present invention.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for rotationally orienting a pin, the pin having a longitudinal axis and a slot-shaped recess being formed in an envelope surface of the pin at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin, the apparatus comprising; a first side comprising one or more guiding surfaces and a second side comprising one or more guiding surfaces, the first and second sides being arranged at a distance from each other and having a respective extension along a first direction allowing a plurality of pins to be arranged side by side in a row in said first direction sandwiched between said one or more guiding surfaces of the first side and said one or more guiding surfaces of the second side, the pins being intended to travel from an inlet position to an outlet position in a travel direction extending along the first direction, a cam having a cam surface which is intended to interact with the recess of the pin, wherein the cam surface has an extension along the first direction, is along at least a portion thereof provided at a distance from the first side and at a distance from the second side, and faces the second side, wherein, along an entrance portion of the cam surface, the distance between the cam surface and the first side increases and the distance between the cam surface and the second side decreases as seen along the travel direction of the pins whereby the pin is allowed to travel past the entrance portion of the cam when the respective pin is rotationally oriented such that the slot-shaped recess receives the cam and remaining portions of the pin at the first longitudinal position of the pin passes between the cam surface and the second side.

[0016] It may be noted that the pin may be of the same type as the pin disclosed in WO 2023 / 143756A1 A. However, the pin may have a different physical appearance and may be of a different type that the pin disclosed in WO 2023 / 143756A1 A as long as the pin has a longitudinal axis, and a slotshaped recess formed in an envelope surface of the pin. The recess should be located at a first longitudinal position and have an extension along a transverse direction of the pin.

[0017] The longitudinal axis of the pin refers to an axis extending between the top and the bottom of the pin which typically is and also preferably is the largest dimension of the pin. In a typical and also preferred embodiment, the envelope surface is shaped to fit in a cylindrical hole. However, even if the pin is configured to fit into a circular hole, the envelope surface of the pin does not necessarily need to be circular. The pin may e.g., have a cross-sectional shape being mostly circular with certain parts of the envelope surface being located inside of the geometrical circular shape.

[0018] By slot-shaped recess it is meant a recess that is extending into the pin such that there is formed a slot within the perimeter of the pin. The slotshaped recess is shaped such that in a cross-sectional view, with the longitudinal direction being normal to the plane of the cross-sectional view, it is possible to draw a geometrical chord inside the recess. The geometrical chord should preferably be located at a depth of at least half the diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the geometrical chord is located well past half the diameter. If the bottom of the recess as seen in said cross-sectional view extends as a straight line, the bottom will define said geometrical chord. If the bottom of the recess as seen in said cross-sectional view is concave, the recess will extend further into the body of the pin than the geometrical chord being possible to draw within said recess. If the bottom of the recess as seen in said cross-sectional view is slightly convex, the relevant geometrical chord will touch the peak of the convex shape, and the recess will on both sides of the peak extend further into the pin than the geometrical chord being possible to draw within said recess.

[0019] The recess may in a cross-sectional view, with the geometrical chord being normal to the cross-sectional view, have various different shapes such as a rectangular shape, U-shape, a triangular shape, or any other suitable shape.

[0020] The width and / or the depth of the recess may be uniform throughout the recess along the geometrical chord. The width extends along the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the width and / or the depth of the recess may differ throughout the recess along the geometrical chord.

[0021] The first and the second sides each have one or more guiding surfaces in order to guide the pin. The guiding surfaces may e.g., prevent the pin from tilting. The one or more guiding surfaces of the first side of the apparatus may be continuous guiding surfaces. The guiding surfaces of the first side of the apparatus may be discontinuous guiding surfaces such as being several surfaces at a distance between each other. The one or more guiding surfaces of the second side of the apparatus may be continuous guiding surfaces. The guiding surfaces of the second side of the apparatus may be discontinuous guiding surfaces such as being several surfaces at a distance between each other. The one or more respective guiding surfaces of the first side and the second side may be the same type of guiding surfaces or different types of guiding surfaces, such as being in the of the same or different material or shape. By the first and the second side being arranged at a distance between each other, the one or more guiding surfaces of respective sides will also be arranged at a distance between each other. Said one or more guiding surfaces of the first side and the second side may be curved. However, in a preferred embodiment, said one or more guiding surfaces of the first side and the second side are straight surfaces. In any case, said one or more guiding surfaces of the first and the second side may be parallel. The distance between the first side and the second side is preferably at least as big as an extension of a pin transverse the longitudinal axis, preferably all transverse extensions at the longitudinal position at any rotational orientation, and at least as big as the transverse extension of a pin at the intended rotational orientation. Preferably the distance between the first and second sides are larger than a distance defined by the extension of an actual or geometrical diameter of the pin in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the pin at the respective longitudinal position.

[0022] The first direction refers to a direction extending from the inlet position to the outlet position of the apparatus.

[0023] It may be noted that the cam may have any physical appearance as long as it forms a support or carrier for the cam surface. Preferably it is formed as a solid cam formed from a piece of sheet metal. However, it may be formed as a mesh network, a network of beam-like members, or the like, as long as there is formed a cam surface. Thus, it may be said that the cam may extend between the first side and the cam surface. Preferably, the cam extends along the first side and is in contact with the first side along the full extension of the cam in the first direction. Alternatively, the cam may be formed of a self-supporting arch-shaped member or any other suitable shape forming a carrier for the cam surface. An advantage of having a solid cam is that the cam itself may interact with the pin and assist in aligning the pin if the pin is tilting transverse the travel direction thus making the apparatus more robust.

[0024] It may be noted that it is also conceivable to have more than one cam such as two or three cams. The plurality of cams may be a plurality of cams positioned one after the other along the first direction and / or a plurality of cams positioned side by side in a direction transverse to the first direction. If there are a plurality of cams positioned side by side in a direction transverse to the first direction, the pin should preferably have a plurality of slot-shaped recess positioned at different longitudinal positions such that the respective recess may receive the respective slot-shaped recess. A cam surface may basically be any surface configured to mechanically interact with an object, e.g. a pin and influencing the objects movement.

[0025] The increasing distance at the entrance portion of the cam surface between the first side and the cam surface is preferably designed such that there is formed a smooth or gradual transition of said distance when moving from an initial portion of the entrance potion to an end portion of the entrance portion as seen along the first direction. In a preferred embodiment, the cam and cam surface may essentially be a wedge shape.

[0026] By the cam surface having an increasing distance to the first side when following the travel direction of the pins, the apparatus will ensure that the cam may be received in the recess of the pin independently of the initial rotation of the pin. Once the cam is received in the recess of the pin and the pin is moved along the entrance portion where the distance between the first side and the cam surface increases and the distance between the second side and the cam surface decreases the cam surface bias the pin to turn about its longitudinal axis and thus be oriented in a preferred rotationally orientation. By having the distance between the cam surface and the second side decreasing, as seen in the travel direction of the pins at the entrance portion of the cam surface, the pin is allowed to travel along the entrance portion of the cam only when the pin is rotated such that the recess receives the cam. Preferably, the distance between the cam surface and the one or more guiding surfaces of the first side is less than, more preferably only marginally less than, a depth of the slot-shaped recess. Preferably the distance between the cam surface and the one or more guiding surfaces of the second side is, at a position in the first direction where the distance is smallest, still greater than, preferably only marginally greater than, a thickness of the remaining pin at the longitudinal position of the slot-shaped recess of the pin.

[0027] The guiding surfaces may also assist in keeping the pin at a specific alignment by being a counter force when the slot-shaped recess of the pin tries to receive the cam such that when the pin starts to rotate about its longitudinal axis and the slot-shaped recess interacts with the cam surface the guiding surfaces may prevent the pin from tilting, such that the cam surface may force the pin to be rotated to a preferred rotational orientation. Further, the second side, and especially the one or more guiding surfaces of the second side, may prevent a movement of a pin from the first side towards the second side that could result in two pins stacking on top of each other in a direction transvers to the travel direction of the pins.

[0028] An advantage of having a the first side and the second side arranged at a distance from each other is that the first side and the second side may prevent a pin to move on top of another pin.

[0029] The apparatus may comprise a third side and a fourth side each having an extension in the first direction and an extension along the distance between the first and the second side, wherein the third side and the fourth sides may be positioned at a distance from each other, such that the pin is able travel along the travel direction and be guided by the third side and / or fourth side.

[0030] It may be noted that the distance between the third and fourth sides may be larger than the length of a pin in the same direction as the longitudinal axis thus allowing a pin to travel along the travel direction being oriented such that it travels transverse to the longitudinal axis of said pin. The extension of said third and fourth sides in the first direction may be large enough for a plurality of pins to travel side by side along the travel direction, oriented to travel transverse their longitudinal axis, between said third and fourth sides.

[0031] The third and fourth sides may be configured to control the position of the pin transverse to the travel direction, and thereby along the longitudinal direction of the pin, such that the slot-shaped recess of the pin is or becomes aligned with the cam.

[0032] It may be noted that the alignment of the slot-shaped recess and the cam may be assisted by the distance between the third and fourth sides. The distance between the third and fourth sides may be at least larger than, and preferably only marginally larger than, the longitudinal extension of the pin. An advantage of controlling the position of the pin transverse to the travel direction is that the alignment of the slot-shaped recess and the cam may be improved or facilitated which in turn will increase the robustness of the apparatus since less unnecessary movement is possible and thus the risk of a pin getting stuck is decreased. This may also be beneficial for those cases where the pin has a plurality of slot-shaped recesses arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction of the pin. It is especially beneficial for those cases where the different slot-shaped recesses have different rotational orientations such that it becomes important that the cam surface interacts with a specific one of the slot-shaped recesses.

[0033] The apparatus may comprise a pushing member configured to move a first pin in the travel direction thereby moving the row of pins, preferably moving the rows of pins sequentially, from the inlet position towards the outlet position.

[0034] It may be noted that the pushing member may be a continuous pushing member such that it pushes pins continuously. In a preferred embodiment, the pushing member may push a pin sequentially such as pushing a pin one step forward then retract to be able to push another pin. The pushing member may be activated automatically, manually or a combination thereof. The pushing member may be configured to push the pin a distance corresponding to a whole diameter of a pin. By configuring the apparatus to push a pin which thereby moving the row of pins the efficiency of the movement of the pins may be increased, thus the efficiency of rotationally orientate the pin is also increased. The apparatus may comprise a check valve mechanism adjacent the inlet position configured to allow the pin to move in the travel direction past the check valve mechanism and thereafter preventing the pin to move in a direction opposite the travel direction.

[0035] It may be noted that the check valve mechanism may be passive, such as e.g., a curtain, which allow the pin to move in the travel direction in response to actively being pushed through it and preventing the pin to move back unless an external force is applied in the backward direction. It is equally conceivable that the check valve may be actively activated, such as a blocking member moving between an open and closed position in synchronously with the pushing member. An advantage of having a check valve mechanism adjacent the inlet position is that the inlet position will be readily available after a pin have travelled along the travel direction and thus the efficiency of the apparatus may be increased. Moreover, the positioning of a new pin in the inlet position is not disturbed by the pins already moved away from the inlet position.

[0036] The apparatus may comprise an ejection member configured to eject the pin from the apparatus in an ejection direction at the outlet position.

[0037] The ejection member may be activated automatically, manually or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor arrangement detects whether a furniture part is correctly positioned to receive the pin and response thereto the ejection member is activated.

[0038] The apparatus may comprise a retractable rotational alignment member configured to interact with the pin via a second recess in the pin to prevent rotational movement of the pin about the longitudinal axis when the pin is positioned at the outlet position.

[0039] An advantage of having a retractable rotational alignment member is that it may secure that the pin has a preferred rotation when positioned at the outlet position which may increase the accuracy and efficiency of the apparatus. An advantage to have the retractable rotational alignment member being retractable is that the pin may be held in a preferred rotation at the outlet until it is to be ejected which will increase the accuracy and efficiency of the apparatus.

[0040] The cam surface may have a straight-line configuration along the first direction as seen in a viewing direction extending from the second side to the first side. An advantage by having a straight-line configuration is that the efficiency of the apparatus may be increased. The straight-line configuration reduces the risk of a pin getting stuck when travelling in the travel direction by decreasing the complexity of the travel path, i.e. the pin will be forced to travel in a straight line. Straight line is in this context a straight line along the travel direction such that a pin may travel in a straight line from the inlet position to the outlet position.

[0041] The cam may have a retaining portion located downstream the entrance portion, wherein the respective pin may be allowed to travel along the retaining portion when the respective pin has been rotationally oriented by the entrance portion such that the slot-shaped recess receives the retaining portion of the cam and remaining portions of the pin at the first longitudinal position of the pin passes between the cam and the second side, wherein the retaining portion preferably has an extension along the first direction such that a plurality of pins may form a row of rotationally oriented pins arranged side by side along said retaining portion of the cam.

[0042] The cam surface at the retaining portion preferably has a constant distance to the one or more guiding surfaces of the first side and the to the one or more guiding surfaces of the second side. The distance to the first side is at the retaining portion preferably larger than the distance between the cam surface and the one or more guiding surfaces of the first side at the entrance portion. The cam surface at the retaining portion of the cam may however have shifting distance to the first side. It is e.g., conceivable that the entrance portion is ever increasing as a wedge shape with a first inclination and the retaining portion is increasing with a second, small inclination, or is constant with a slight increase at the end to really finalise the orientation of the pin.

[0043] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for rotationally orienting a pin, the pin having a longitudinal axis and a slot-shaped recess being formed in an envelope surface of the pin at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin, the method comprising: moving a pin in a travel direction extending between an inlet position and an outlet position while the pin is located between a first side comprising one or more guiding surfaces and a second side comprising one or more guiding surfaces such that a cam having a cam surface, which has an extension along a first direction, is provided at a distance from the first side and at a distance from the second side, and faces the second side, interacts with the recess of the pin and rotationally orients the pin by the distance from the cam surface to the first side increasing and the distance from the cam surface to the second side decreasing as seen in the travel direction of the pins whereby the pin is allowed to travel along the cam when the slot-shaped recess receives the cam surface and remaining portions of the pin at the first longitudinal position of the pin passes between the cam surface and the second side.

[0044] The advantages associated with the different features have been discussed in detail above with reference to the apparatus, and that discussion is equally applicable to the method and the various features of the method. Also, the various preferred embodiments introduced and discussed with reference to the apparatus are equally applicable to the method. Correspondingly, additional advantages discussed with reference to the method are equally applicable to the apparatus.

[0045] The method may further comprise guiding the pin in a direction transverse to the travel direction by a third side and a fourth side each having an extension in the first direction and an extension along the distance between the first and the second side, such that the recess of the pin is aligned with the cam surface, wherein the third side and the fourth sides are positioned at a distance from each other, such that the pin is able travel along the travel direction and be guided by the third side and / or fourth side.

[0046] The method may further comprise pushing a first pin in the travel direction and thereby moving the row of pins, preferably moving the row of pins sequentially, from the inlet position towards the outlet position.

[0047] By pushing a first pin and thereby moving the row of pins an efficient movement of the pins where there are essentially no gaps between two different pins. An advantage of having the row of pins moving via pushing the first pin is that an efficient method to rotationally orienting pins may be achieved. Every pin in the row of pins may be rotationally oriented by first moving by and rotate about their longitudinal axis at the entrance portion of the cam. The row of pins may be preloaded such that they are provided as a row of pins with the recess receiving the cam. The movement of the pins may be continuously but preferably is sequential.

[0048] The method may further comprise moving the pin in the travel direction past a check valve mechanism being located adjacent the inlet position and allowing the pin to move in the travel direction past the check valve mechanism and thereafter preventing the pin to move in a direction opposite the travel direction.

[0049] The method may further comprise ejecting the pin from the apparatus at the outlet position by moving the pin in an ejection direction essentially extending along the longitudinal direction of the pin located at the outlet position.

[0050] The ejection member may be activated automatically, manually or a combination thereof. Ejecting the pin may result in the pin being inserted into a panel or similar to act as a locking pin. By ejecting the pin, the outlet position may afterwards be empty thus allowing a second pin to enter the outlet position. Preferably the second pin forms part of a row of pins, most preferably the second pin is the pin in the row being closest to the outlet position. The method may further comprise keeping the rotational orientation of the pin at the outlet position by a retractable rotational alignment member being received in a second recess of the pin.

[0051] The method may further comprise retracting the retractable rotational alignment member, such that the rotational alignment member is no longer received in the second recess of the pin, before the ejection member moving the pin in the ejection direction.

[0052] By retracting the rotational alignment member before ejecting the pin via the ejection member the pin is free to move in the direction of the ejection.

[0053] It may be noted that the use of first, second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. are mainly to be seen as labels facilitating reading and that it does not necessarily mean that there need to be all the intervening numbers of portions or items present. It may e.g., be noted that it is contemplated to have a design where there is a first, a second, a third and a fifth portion or item, with a fourth portion or item being omitted. However, to facilitate reading, we have consistently used the numbering first, second, third, fourth, etc., as labels, and in a sense based on an embodiment including all conceivable portions or items.

[0054] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a / an / the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. The invention may also in short be said to relate to an apparatus and a method for rotationally orienting a pin, the pin having a longitudinal axis and a slot-shaped recess being formed in an envelope surface of the pin at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin, the apparatus comprising; a first and a second side each comprising one or more guiding surfaces allowing a plurality of pins to be arranged side by side in a row sandwiched therebetween, a cam having a cam surface intended to interact with the recess, wherein the cam surface extends along the first direction, is along at least a portion thereof provided at a first distance from the first side and at a second distance from the second side, and faces the second side, wherein, along an entrance portion of the cam surface, the first distance increases and the second distance decreases as seen along the travel direction of the pins whereby the pin is allowed to travel past the entrance portion of the cam when the respective pin is rotationally oriented such that the slot-shaped recess receives the cam and remaining portions of the pin at the first longitudinal position of the pin passes between the cam surface and the second side.

[0055] Brief description of the drawings

[0056] The invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which shows a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0057] Figure 1 disclose a perspective view of the invention together with a hopper and a feeder.

[0058] Figure 2 disclose a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention loaded with a row of pins.

[0059] Figure 3 discloses a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0060] Figure 4 discloses a close-up view on the entrance portion of the cam.

[0061] Figure 5 discloses a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0062] Figure 6 discloses a method.

[0063] Detailed description

[0064] With reference to Fig. 1, an embodiment of the invention is shown together with a pin-feeding device comprising a feeder bowl 4, a feeder tube 3, and a hopper 5. The hopper 5 feeds the feeder bowl 4 with pins 2. The feeder bowl 4 vibrates and thus moving pins 2 towards the feeder tube 3. The feeder bowl 4 only allow pins 2 with a certain direction and rejects pins having the other direction. The pin with the preferred direction may enter the feeder tube 3 and are transported to the apparatus 1 for rotationally orienting a pin. It is to be understood that any regular means of feeding the apparatus 1 with a pin in a specific direction may be used. Direction of the pin 2 is in this context intended to refer to which end of the pin points in which direction. In the preferred embodiment, the pins 2 are directed such that they all have their respective end of the same kind pointing in the same direction. In the preferred embodiment they are transported one after the other with their respective longitudinal axis L more or less coinciding. Alternatively expressed, they are transported one after the other with the first end of a first pin facing the second end of a pin following directly after the first pin.

[0065] With reference to Fig. 2-5, an embodiment of the apparatus 1 is shown. The pins 2 intended to be received and oriented by the apparatus 1 each has a longitudinal axis L and a slot-shaped recess 22a being formed in an envelope surface of the pin 2 at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin 2.

[0066] The apparatus 1 comprises an inlet position 42. The pin 2 may be received at the inlet position 42. The pin 2 is provided oriented such that the longitudinal axis L of the pin is essentially orthogonal the travel direction. The apparatus comprises; a first side 10a comprising one or more guiding surfaces and a second side 10b comprising one or more guiding surfaces. The first and second sides are arranged at a distance h from each other and have a respective extension along a first direction D1 allowing a plurality of pins 2 to be arranged side by side in a row in said first direction D1 and sandwiched between said one or more guiding surfaces of the first side 10a and said one or more guiding surfaces of the second side 10b. The pins are intended to travel from an inlet position 42 to an outlet position 50 in a travel direction TD extending along the first direction D1 . The pin 2 is preferably in contact with one, or both of the one or more guiding surfaces of the first 10a or second sides 10b at the inlet position 42. The inlet position 42 is preferably big enough to receive one pin 2 at the time. The inlet position 42 may be big enough for two, or even more, e.g., three or four pins at the same time. The apparatus comprises a pushing member 44. The pushing member 44 may be actuated and push the pin 2 in the travel direction TD. The pin 2 is intended to remain in the initial direction such that the travel direction TD is essentially orthogonal the longitudinal axis of the pin 2. The pushing member 44 is configured to push a pin 2 at least a distance equal or larger than a diameter of the pin 2. The pin 2 may be pushed through a check valve mechanism 40. The pushing member 44 may be activated automatically, manually or a combination thereof. The pushing member 44 may e.g., be activated when a pin 2 is loaded at the inlet position 42. Typically, it would also check that there is at least one position in the apparatus 1 empty such that the row of pins 2 may be advanced. The pushing member 44 is preferably configured to push the pin in such a way that the longitudinal axis L is not shifted in relation to the travel direction TD. By activating the pushing member 44, the row of pins 2 positioned along the travel direction TD may also be pushed via the pin 2 at the inlet position 42. If the row of pins 2 is a complete row where all pins in the row abut one or two neighbouring pins, the complete row of pins will be advanced. In case there is a gap in the row of pins 2, the gap will typically be partly or fully closed for each new pin 2 being pushed into the apparatus 1 , until there is a complete row of pins 2. The check valve mechanism 40 is configured to prevent the pin 2 from moving back towards the inlet position 42. The check valve mechanism 40 is configured to not let the pin 2 move back to the inlet position 42 after having passed through the check valve mechanism 40, at least not without an external force being applied. The check valve mechanism 40 may be a passive valve mechanism, e.g., a curtain of resiliently bendable brush hairs, or a curtain of a resiliently pliable membrane-like member attached at one side and resiliently bending or moving away to let the pin 2 pass. The passive check valve mechanism 40 may also be any kind of member being resilient to allow the pin 2 to pass and / or being resiliently supported such that it moves away to allow the pin 2 to pass. In Fig. 2, the apparatus 1 is shown as being loaded with a row of pins 2 such that when the pushing member 44 moves a pin 2 from the inlet position 42 in the travel direction TD, the whole row of pins will, as an effect of moving the pin 2 in the inlet position, move in the travel direction TD. In the preferred embodiment, this will be a movement step by step, with each step being the result of one pin 2 being pushed through the check valve mechanism 40. The guiding surfaces of the first side 10a and the second side 10b guide the pin in such a way that the pin is preferably unable to move on top of another and thereby prevents two pins from being at the same position in the travel direction at the same time. The distance between the first side and the second side is somewhere between one and two times a diameter of the pin thus ensuring that two pins may not overlap at a certain point in the travel direction TD.

[0067] The apparatus 1 preferably also comprises a third side 12a and a fourth side 12b having an extension in the first direction D1 and an extension along the distance h between the first and the second sides 10a-b. The third fourth sides 12a-b are positioned at a distance from each other, preferably such that the pin 2 is able travel along the travel direction TD and be guided by the third side and / or fourth side 12a-b. The apparatus 1 comprises a cam 30 having a cam surface 31 . The third and fourth sides 12a, 12b may be configured to align the pin 2 in the apparatus 1 along the longitudinal axis L of the pin 2 such that the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin may receive the cam. The distance between the third and fourth sides 12a, 12b is preferably configured in such a way that the pin 2 is prevented from moving more than a certain distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis L such that it is secured or at least facilitated that the cam is received in the intended slotshaped recess 22a of the pin 2. In case of several cams 30, 30b and several slot-shaped recesses 22a-b, the third and fourth sides 12a-b may align a plurality of slot-shaped recesses 22a-b of the pin with a respective cam 30, 30b.

[0068] When a pin 2 travel along the travel direction TD it will start to interact with the entrance portion 32 of the cam 30. The pin 2 is free to be rotated about the longitudinal axis L such that the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 may receive the cam 30 by interacting with the cam surface 31 . When a pin 2 is interacting with the cam surface 31 at the entrance portion 32 the pin 2 will be forced to rotate to be able to continue moving in the travel direction TD. The first and the second side 10a-b prevents the pin 2 from moving atop another pin 2 in the row of pins 2. The check valve mechanism 40 prevent the row of pins to travel in a direction opposite the travel direction TD. The cam surface 31 has at the entrance portion 32 a distance h31 to the first side 10a which distance h31 increases along the travel direction TD. By being forced to move in the travel direction TD, the pin 2 will by interacting with the cam surface 31 at the entrance portion 32 start to rotate until the slot-shaped recess 22a receives the cam 30. A pin 2 moving in the travel direction TD may be guided by the first side 10a and / or the second side 10b and is at least prevented by the guiding surfaces of the first and second side 10a-b from tilting too much and thereby there will be provided a row of pins 2 with close to parallel longitudinal axes of the pins. The third side 12a and the fourth side 12b are configured to assist with alignment of the pin2 such that the slotshaped recess 22a of the pin 2 may be in a position where it is possible for the slot-shaped recess to receive the cam 30. If the pin 22a is not at a preferred rotational alignment, such that the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 is not rotationally aligned to receive the cam, the cam surface 31 will interact with the pin 2 such that it rotates to a preferred rotational alignment where the slot-shaped recess 22a is rotationally aligned with the cam 30 and the slot-shaped recess 22a is able to receive the cam 30. The entrance portion 32 of the cam is in an embodiment essentially wedge shaped. The increasing height h31 of the cam 30 may be linearly increasing. It may deviate slightly from a linear increase, such as slightly concave or slightly convex increase. It may also be a combination thereof such that the increase e.g., is small at the beginning, greater at a mid-portion, and small at the end of the entrance portion 32. A wedge shape minimizes the risk of a pin getting stuck and further ease a rotation of the pin. The increasing distance between the cam surface and the first side 10a at the entrance portion may rotationally align the slot-shaped recess of the pin to receive the cam.

[0069] The cam 30 preferably further comprises a retaining portion downstream of the entrance portion 32. The retaining portion 34 of the cam 30 is configured to form a portion of the cam 30 which continuously extends into the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 while the pin 2 slides along the retaining portion 34 after the pin 2 initially is rotated at the entrance portion 32. The retaining portion 34 has an extension along the first direction D1 such that a plurality of pins 2 may form a row of rotationally oriented pins 2 arranged side by side along said retaining portion 34, preferably at least three pins 2. The cam surface 31 at the retaining portion 34 of the cam is configured to ensure that a pin 2 that travel along the travel direction TD will remain at the preferred rotational orientation. If the pin 2 starts to rotate during movement, the cam surface 31 is configured to interact with the slot-shaped recess 22a and the pin 2 will, by being moved along the travel direction TD and interacting with the cam surface 31 and being prevented by guiding surfaces of the second side 10b from moving away from the cam 30, rotate back to the preferred rotational alignment. The pin 2 may also interact with the first side 10a while interacting with the cam surface 31 such that the pin 2 is not only prevented from moving away from the cam 30 but also prevented from tilting such that the longitudinal axis of the pin 2 would lose its intended orientation. If the pin 2 would tilt too much, the interaction between the slotshaped recess 22a and the cam 30 might cause the pin 2 to get stuck; similarly, to how a drawer may get stuck when being moved out of alignment with its guiding surfaces. Thus, the retaining portion 34 of the cam 30 is configured to maintain the rotational orientation gained from rotating the pin at the entrance portion 32. Thereby, a pin 2 may be received at the outlet position 50 at the intended rotational orientation. The outlet position 50 may have an extension such that no more than one pin 2 may occupy the outlet position 50 at any given time. There may e.g., be a sensor at the outlet position 50 for checking if and communication to a control system when a pin 2 occupies the outlet position 50 and / or when the ejection member 54 is ejecting a pin 2 from the outlet position 50.

[0070] At the outlet position 50 a retractable rotational alignment member 52 is configured to be received in a second recess 24 of the pin 2 once the pin 2 reaches the outlet position 50. In practice, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is preferably at stand still and the row of pins 2 are moved such that the retractable rotational alignment member 52 becomes received in the second recess of the pin 2 The retractable rotational alignment member 54 is configured to keep the rotational alignment of the pin. It may in this context be noted that the cam 30 preferably does not extend into the outlet position 50 since its interaction with the recess 22a would prevent the pin 2 from being ejected along its longitudinal axis L. The retractable rotational alignment member 52 essentially extends along the travel direction TD in a direction opposite the travel direction TD such that it becomes inserted into the second recess 24 of the forwardmost pin 2 when the row of pins 2 is moved along the travel direction TD.

[0071] The retractable rotational alignment member 52 is retractable along the travel direction such that it may be removed from the second recess 24 once again. In the preferred embodiment, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 remains inserted into the pin 2 until the pin 2 is ready to be ejected by the ejection member 54. In the preferred embodiment, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is retracted just before the ejection member 54 ejects the pin 2. The ejection member and the retractable rotational alignment member may alternatively work in tandem such that the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is partly or fully moved along in the direction of the longitudinal axis and it may be retracted simultaneously as the ejection member 54 is moved or even after the ejection member 54 has ejected the pin 2. In any case, the ejection member 54 may eject the pin 2, with the pin 2 having an intended rotational orientation, in a direction essentially transverse to the first direction D1 , and preferably along the longitudinal direction L of the pin 2. After completing the ejection step, the ejection member 54 may be configured to be retracted or in any way moved such that the outlet position 50 is not occupied by the ejection member 54. In the preferred embodiment, the ejection member 54 is movable in a direction which is transverse to the first direction D1 and which is parallel to the intended longitudinal direction L of the pins 2. In the preferred embodiment, the ejection member 54 has a resting position outside the guiding surfaces of one side, e.g., the first side 10a. In the preferred embodiment the ejection member 54 has a stroke length such that it can push the pin 2 out of the outlet position 52 and into a furniture part.

[0072] The ejection member 54 may be designed to push the pin 2 completely past the other side, i.e., the second side 10b, and / or the guiding surfaces of the other side, e.g., the second side 10b, of the apparatus 1 may be absent after the outlet position 52 as seen along the travel direction TD at least such that the pin 2 may be moved along the travel direction TD even though e.g., a head part of the pin 2 still extends through said other side. The invention may be operated and work in accordance with a method as described with reference to Fig 6.

[0073] The method will be disclosed as steps or actions by which a specific pin 2 is moved through the apparatus. However, it may be noted that it does not need to be separate steps but may be actions following each other in a continuous process. Some of the actions may be overlapping in time and / or space. It should also be noted that several of the actions are typically performed simultaneously albeit for different pins 2. In step S1 , a pin is received at the inlet position 42. The pin 2 is positioned such that the slotshaped recess is at a location along the longitudinal axis L to be able to receive the cam 30. In step S2, the pushing member 44 pushes the pin 2 in the travel direction TD. In step S3, the pin 2 is moving through the check valve mechanism 40. Actions S2 and S3 are typically performed as a single stroke of the pushing member 44. When a row of pins 2 is provided, the pin pushed by the pushing member 44 pushes the rest of the row of pins 2 downstream in the travel direction TD. When the pin 2 has been pushed through the check valve mechanism 40 and the pushing member 44 is returned back again, the inlet position 42 is empty and the check valve mechanism 40 prevents the pin 2 from returning to the inlet position 42. There is at least one position available for a new pin 2 at the inlet position 42 after the pin 2 has been moved through the check valve mechanism 40 in the travel direction TD. The inlet position 42 may be large enough for several pins. In step S4, the pin 2 is interacting with the cam surface 31 at the entrance portion 32 of the cam 30. This movement is typically provided by an upstream pin 2 being pushed by the pushing member 44 such that the whole row of pins 2 is moved in the travel direction TD. Alternatively, or complementary thereto, the pushing member 44 may be designed to push the pin 2 along e.g., an initial part of the entrance portion 32 of the cam 30. In step S5, the pin 2 is rotationally oriented such that the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 receives the cam 30 by interacting with the cam surface 31. If the pin 2 is already rotated such that the slot-shaped recess 22a can receive the cam 30, the pin 2 is not further rotated. In step S6, the pin 2 is moving along in the travel direction TD with the slot-shaped recess 22a receiving the cam 30. The cam surface 31 prevents the pin 2 from rotating by interacting with the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 such that when the pin 2 has a tendency to start rotating, the pin 2 will start pivoting about the contact between the slot-shaped recess 22a and the cam surface 31 and due to the presence of the first side 10, the pin 2 will be prevented from rotating further and will in fact be rotated back to the preferred rotational alignment. In step S7, when the pin is arriving at the outlet position 50, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is in its non-retracted position and becomes received in the second recess 24 of the pin 2 by the pin 2 moving in the travel direction. The retractable rotational alignment member 52 prevents the pin 2 from rotating out of the intended rotational position at the outlet position 50. The retractable rotational alignment member 52 is preferably positioned relative to the cam 30 along the travel direction TD such that the retractable rotational alignment member 52 starts to be received into the second recess 24 as, or shortly thereafter, the leading parts of the pin 2 starts to lose contact with the cam 30. In any case, the pin 2 is leaving the cam 30 such that the cam 30 is not received in the slot-shaped recess 22a of the pin 2 when the pin 2 is at the outlet position 50. In step S8, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is retracted and in step S9 the ejection member 54 is ejecting the pin. Alternatively, the retractable rotational alignment member 52 and the ejection member 54 may work in tandem such that the retractable rotational alignment member 52 is moving in the same direction as the ejection member 54. It may e.g., be retracted from the second recess 24 while being moved in the ejection direction together with the ejection member 54. i.e. S8 and S9 are performed simultaneously. The ejection of a pin 2 may be used to insert the pin 2 into a panel, such as a furniture panel. In this context it may be noted that the apparatus 1 may be provided with sensors detecting the presence or absence of pins 2 at one or more critical positions. The apparatus may e.g., have one sensor detecting whether there is a pin 2 located at the inlet position 42. The apparatus 1 may e.g., have a sensor detecting whether there is a pin 2 located at the outlet position 50. The apparatus 1 may e.g., have a sensor detecting whether there is a panel, such as a furniture panel, correctly positioned to receive a pin 2 ejected from the outlet position 52 and into a hole or recess in the panel. The apparatus may further include sensors detecting the position of e.g., the pushing member 44, the retractable rotational alignment member 52, and / or the ejection member 54. Alternatively, movement of the pushing member 44, the retractable rotational alignment member 52, and / or the ejection member 54 may simply be triggered and the actual position may be assumed based on the triggered movement. The pushing member 44, the retractable rotational alignment member 52, and / or the ejection member 54 may e.g., be moved by linear servo motors or linear pneumatical pistons.

[0074] It is contemplated that there are numerous modifications of the embodiments described herein, which are still within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0075] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Apparatus (1 ) for rotationally orienting a pin (2), the pin (2) having a longitudinal axis (L) and a slot-shaped recess (22a) being formed in an envelope surface of the pin at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin (2), the apparatus (1 ) comprising; a first side (10a) comprising one or more guiding surfaces and a second side (10b) comprising one or more guiding surfaces, the first and second sides being arranged at a distance (h) from each other and having a respective extension along a first direction (D1 ) allowing a plurality of pins to be arranged side by side in a row in said first direction (D1 ) sandwiched between said one or more guiding surfaces of the first side (10a) and said one or more guiding surfaces of the second side (10b), the pins being intended to travel from an inlet position (42) to an outlet position (50) in a travel direction (TD) extending along the first direction (D1 ), a cam (30) having a cam surface (31 ) which is intended to interact with the recess (22a) of the pin (2), wherein the cam surface (31 ) has an extension along the first direction (D1 ), is along at least a portion thereof provided at a distance (h31 ) from the first side (10a) and at a distance from the second side (10b), and faces the second side (10b), wherein, along an entrance portion (32) of the cam surface (31 ), the distance (h31 ) between the cam surface (31 ) and the first side (10a) increases and the distance between the cam surface (31 ) and the second side (10b) decreases as seen along the travel direction (TD) of the pins whereby the pin (2) is allowed to travel past the entrance portion (32) of the cam (30) when the respective pin (2) is rotationally oriented such that the slotshaped recess (22a) receives the cam (30) and remaining portions of the pin (2) at the first longitudinal position of the pin passes between the cam surface (31 ) and the second side (10b).

2. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a third side (12a) and a fourth side (12b) each having an extension in the first direction (D1 ) and an extension along the distance (h) between the first and the second side (10a, 10b), wherein the third side (12a) and the fourth sides (12b) are positioned at a distance from each other, such that the pin (2) is able travelalong the travel direction (TD) and be guided by the third side (12a) and / or fourth side (12b).

3. The apparatus (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the third (12a) and fourth (12b) sides are configured to control the position of the pin (2) transverse to the travel direction (TD) such that the slot-shaped recess (22a) of the pin (2) is aligned with the cam (30).

4. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pushing member (44) configured to move a first pin (2) in the travel direction (TD) thereby moving the row of pins, preferably moving the rows of pins sequentially, from the inlet position (42) towards the outlet position (50).

5. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a check valve mechanism (40) adjacent the inlet position (42) configured to allow the pin (2) to move in the travel direction (TD) past the check valve mechanism (40) and thereafter preventing the pin (2) to move in a direction opposite the travel direction (TD).

6. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an ejection member (54) configured to eject the pin (2) from the apparatus (1 ) in an ejection direction at the outlet position (50).

7. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a retractable rotational alignment member (52) configured to interact with the pin (2) via a second recess (24) in the pin (2) to prevent rotational movement of the pin (2) about the longitudinal axis (L) when the pin (2) is positioned at the outlet position (50).

8. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam surface (31 ) has a straight-line configuration along the first direction (D1) as seen in a viewing direction extending from the second side (10b) to the first side (10a).

9. The apparatus (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cam (30) has a retaining portion (34) located downstream theentrance portion (32), wherein the respective pin (2) is allowed to travel along the retaining portion (34) when the respective pin (2) has been rotationally oriented by the entrance portion (32) such that the slot-shaped recess (22a) receives the retaining portion (34) of the cam (30) and remaining portions of the pin (2) at the first longitudinal position of the pin (2) passes between the cam (30) and the second side (10b), wherein the retaining portion (34) preferably has an extension along the first direction (D1) such that a plurality of pins may form a row of rotationally oriented pins arranged side by side along said retaining portion (34) of the cam (30).

10. Method for rotationally orienting a pin (2), the pin (2) having a longitudinal axis (L) and a slot-shaped recess (22a) being formed in an envelope surface of the pin (2) at a first longitudinal position and having an extension along a transverse direction of the pin (2), the method comprising: moving a pin (2) in a travel direction extending between an inlet position (42) and an outlet position (50) while the pin (2) is located between a first side (10a) comprising one or more guiding surfaces and a second side (10b) comprising one or more guiding surfaces such that a cam (30) having a cam surface (31), which has an extension along a first direction (D1), is provided at a distance (h31) from the first side (10a) and at a distance from the second side (10b), and faces the second side (10b), interacts with the recess (22a) of the pin (2) and rotationally orients the pin (2) at an entrance portion (32) of the cam surface (31) by the distance (h31) from the cam surface (31) to the first side (10a) increasing and the distance from the cam surface (31) to the second side (10b) decreasing as seen in the travel direction (TD) of the pins whereby the pin (2) is allowed to travel along the cam (30) when the slot-shaped recess (22a) receives the cam (30) and remaining portions of the pin (2) at the first longitudinal position of the pin (2) passing between the cam surface (31) and the second side (10b).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises guiding the pin (2) in a direction transverse to the travel direction (TD) by a third side (12a) and a fourth side (12b) having an extension in the first direction (D1) and an extension along the distance between the first and the second side (10a, 10b), such that the recess (22a) of the pin (2) is aligned with the cam surface (31), wherein the third side (12a) and the fourth sides (12b) are positioned at a distance from each other, such that the pin (2) isable to travel along the travel direction (TD) and be guided by the third side (12a) and / or fourth side (12b).

12. The method according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises pushing a first pin (2) in the travel direction (TD) and thereby moving the row of pins, preferably moving the row of pins sequentially, from the inlet position (42) towards the outlet position (50).13.The method according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the method further comprises moving the pin (2) in the travel direction (TD) past a check valve mechanism (40) being located adjacent the inlet position (42) and allowing the pin (2) to move in the travel direction (TD) past the check valve mechanism (40) and thereafter preventing the pin (2) to move in a direction opposite the travel direction (TD).

14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the method further comprises ejecting the pin (2) from the apparatus (1 ) at the outlet position (50) by moving the pin (2) in an ejection direction essentially extending along the longitudinal direction (L) of the pin located at the outlet position (50).

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-14, wherein the method further comprises keeping the rotational orientation of the pin (2) at the outlet position (50) by a retractable rotational alignment member (52) being received in a second recess (24) of the pin (2).

16. The method according to claim 14 and 15, wherein the method further comprises retracting the retractable rotational alignment member (52), such that the rotational alignment member (52) is no longer received in the second recess (24) of the pin, before the ejection member (54) moving the pin (2) in the ejection direction.17.The method according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein the method is performed by the apparatus (1 ) according to any one of claims 1-9.

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