DE20121924U1 - Connecting element feed device for press punch head has flap displaced from conveying path by connecting element for providing sensor function - Google Patents

Abstract

The feed device uses a feed element (22) moved along a conveying path (11) for supplying a connecting element (V) to a punch head, provided with a flap (15) exhibiting a feed surface (20), retained in the conveying path by a passive force and displaced from the conveying path by a connecting element (V) supplied to the latter, for providing a sensor function.

Description

Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg· ··· I II,, JJ .· Page

2 Description

3 Device for feeding a connecting element to a processing

4 power unit.

6 The invention relates to a device for feeding a connecting element

7 to a processing unit.

9 Fasteners such as punch, rivet or press-in nuts are often used in

10 a processing machine, in particular in a press, with a tool

11 pieces, e.g. with a sheet metal. The punching nut punches itself during

12 During the joining process, the press itself makes a hole in the sheet metal, while the

13 Rivet or press-in nut is inserted into an opening already present in the sheet metal.

14. The nuts are first tightened before being fed to the press.

15 individually and according to their timing to a press as processing

16 unit or attached to the press. Such presses are used especially in mass production, for example in

&igr;» automotive industry, with a fast process cycle and a

19 uninterrupted, reliable operation is of particular importance.

21 A device for transferring fasteners to setting heads in a

22 press is known from DE 198 23 040 A1. The connecting elements

23 are transported by a sorting and conveying device via a guide

24 hose realized guide fed to a tool lower part of the press. From

25 From this, the connecting elements are transferred via a transfer device

26 to the upper part of the tool and from there via a distribution station

27 further distributed. The transfer of a connecting element between tool

28 The lower and upper parts of the tool can only be made at the bottom dead center of the press.

29 follow. The performance of the press, i.e. the achievable cycle rate, is thus severely limited.

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Patent Attorneys Tergau & Pohl, Nuremberg* ;··. · &idigr;&idigr;·· I '. _m " Page

&igr; From EP 0 758 285 B1 a device is known in which a connecting

2 dung element by shooting it through a hose into a loading position in

3 of a conveyor line. From the loading position, the

4 binding element by means of a feed element further into the conveyor line

5, whereby several

6 fasteners up to a setting head. This device is intended to

7 high number of strokes per unit of time in a press thereby enabling

&bgr; that for reloading the fasteners, e.g. nuts, a sufficient

9 is available for a long time. For this purpose, the feed element is normally

10 times in a non-effective position, a so-called normal position,

11 completely outside the conveyor line. This means that the feed element is

12 only for reloading a connecting element into the conveyor line.

13 moves and pushes the aligned connecting elements towards the press.

14 To operate the feed element, this has a pneumatically operated

15 cylinder, the piston rod of which is inserted via a bolt into a slotted hole in a

16 Feed swing arm engages, which can be swivelled through a slot into the conveyor line.

17 bar. If a connecting element is positioned unfavourably in the conveyor line, there is a risk of blocking the feed arm when trying to move it into

19 to swivel the conveyor line. Furthermore, there is the disadvantage that in front of the

20 pneumatic insertion of a connecting element the feed swing

21 can be removed from the conveyor line by actuating the pneumatic cylinder

22 must.

24 The invention is based on the object of specifying a device which

2s binding elements reliable and with high cycle rate of a processing unit,

26 in particular a setting head of a press.

28 This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the

29 claim 1. Here, a feed element includes a conveyor belt

30 movable flap with a feed surface, on which a

31 force acts, which pushes the flap into the conveyor line. The flap is secured by a

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&igr; Connecting element fed to the conveyor line against the permanent force

2 can be folded or moved out of the conveyor line.

4 This design has the advantage that the flap can be opened in a so-called open

5 fen position, which is their normal position, extends into the conveyor line.

6 Feed surface is simultaneously a backstop for at least one after the

7 flap in the direction of a processing unit, for example a punching head &bgr; of a press, in the conveyor line lying connecting element is formed. A

9 separate backstop, which in the known feeding device with normal

10 Position of a feed arm outside the conveyor line is necessary,

11 is therefore not necessary. Likewise, an active movement of the flap back from

12 of the conveyor line, for example after several connecting elements have been fed

13 to the processing unit, not required. The flap is opened by the example

14 The connecting element, which is introduced into the device by air pressure via a feed hose, is displaced at least so far out of the conveying path into a so-called 16 closed position that a passage of the connecting element

&igr;? is possible, whereby immediately after the passage of the connecting element the

18 The flap automatically returns to the open position. Blocking the flap

is excluded.

21 According to a preferred embodiment, a passive actuating element is attached to the flap.

22 element, in particular a spring element, which moves the flap in

23 towards its open position. Instead of the spring element, for example,

24 A weighted lever or the weight of the flap itself

25 can be used. The flap can also be supplied with compressed air directly or indirectly

26. To ensure that the flap is not damaged when changing between its open and closed position,

27 position when hitting the respective end position and/or a

28 To avoid flap fluttering, at least one damping element can be provided.

29 can be seen.

31 Advantageously, the flap is designed in such a way that it has a

32 of the conveyor line has an inclined ramp. This is used when introducing,

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1 especially when pneumatically inserting a connecting element into

2 the device is pushed away, for example, sideways, i.e. transversely to the conveyor line.

3 The inclined ramp is limited in the conveying direction by the feed surface

4 and acts as an inclined plane, which is slightly deviated from the

5 conveyor section. The ramp is rising in the conveying direction.

6 gend, i.e. the free cross-section of the conveyor line tapers in the conveying direction,

7 whereby the flap can be held on any side of the conveyor line.

9 Preferably, the flap including the ramp is pivotable about an axis of rotation which is

10 the area of the flap opposite the thrust surface, i.e. opposite

11 of the conveying direction, outside the conveying path, can be swivelled.

12 way, the flap is particularly easy to operate. A flap with a particularly

13 ring dimensions and thus particularly low mass is alternatively

14 can be realized that the flap is designed like a pin or a plate

15 and forms a right angle with the conveyor line. On the other hand,

16 This flap preferably covers only a small part of the transverse

17 section of the conveyor line, which is however sufficient to reach the connecting

18 ing element so that it can be conveyed to the processing machine

19. At the same time, this small, transversely arranged, for example

20 pin-shaped flap as a backstop. 21

22 To position the flap with the forward facing position in the conveying direction

23 Push surface in a simple way to push the connecting element forward

24, according to a preferred embodiment, a parallel to the conveyor line

25 sliding carriage is provided on which the flap can be moved, for example

26 se rotatable or movable transversely to the conveying direction. The carriage

27 is preferably directly by a lifting element, for example a pneumatic

28 lifting cylinders, operated. The direct drive of the carriage ensures a high

29 acceleration in the conveying direction and thus a high cycle rate of the device

30 reachable.

·

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Patent Attorneys TergauÄ Pohl, Nurembergö· J*·. ,; ; ;·· &iacgr;&Igr; .' Page

&igr; A connecting element resting on the feed surface is actuated

2 ation of the lifting element to the processing machine. Accordingly

3 several connecting elements arranged directly one behind the other

4 are simultaneously conveyed towards the processing machine. By returning

5 movement of the carriage, space is freed up for new connecting elements. &bgr; The movement of the carriage and the timing of the processing

7 machine with the particularly pneumatically operated introduction of new

8 binding elements are synchronized into the device. In particular, the

9 Return movement of the carriage against the conveying direction to the insertion

10 new connecting elements in the device and the feed movement of the

11 slides are adapted to the working cycles of the processing machine.

13 If a connecting element is inserted into the device, this can

14 for example, at connecting points already in the conveyor line

15 elements. To at least reduce this effect, according to a

16 In a preferred further development, an actively or passively acting stop element is provided in the conveying channel in the conveying direction behind the flap, which brakes or stops the connecting element. The stop element is, for example, a magnet.

20 According to an advantageous embodiment, a sensor is integrated in the flap or

21 is connected to it, which detects the passage of a connecting element.

22 The sensor is connected via a control unit to the processing machine and/or

23 of the pneumatic parts feed, for example, and thus plays a

24 a central role in the synchronization of the device with the connected

25 closed machines. The sensor is therefore a crucial element for the

26 Control of the entire process. In conjunction with a control unit,

27 the number of nuts lined up in front of the setting head is known at any time.

28 Supply of the setting head with nuts is guaranteed and operational disruptions in the

29 Partial feeds are detected early. This is a significant advantage for the

30 operational reliability is that the sensor detects the connecting element almost directly, so that the passage of the connecting element is the triggering signal for the sensor. This results in a particularly high level of process reliability.

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&igr; given that the flap and thus the sensor are exclusively passively controlled by a

2 conveyed connecting element is actuated or triggered. A

3 "empty" operation of the flap, without conveying a connecting element is

4 excluded. By a contactless and indirect actuation of the sensor, which is preferably designed as a proximity switch, for example, a

6 non-conductive or non-magnetic connecting element can be detected.

7 This ensures that when the feed element is actuated,

8 essentially a connecting element is conveyed to the processing unit.

10 An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to a drawing

11 explains in more detail. Here,

13 Fig. 1 schematically shows a press with a punching head as a processing unit and

14 like a parts feeder, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a device for feeding a connecting element to the processing unit.

18 Corresponding parts are identified in both figures by the same reference numerals.

19 chen.

21 Fig. 1 shows a processing machine, a press 1 with a setting head 2 as

22 processing unit. The press 1 has a tool upper part 3 and a tool

23 tool base 4, to which a device for feeding (not shown)

24 fasteners, e.g. punch or rivet nuts with round or rectangular

25 basic form, a feed device 5 is connected. The feed device

26 direction 5 leads the connecting elements to the particularly as setting module

27 formed setting head 2 via a variable connection module 6. The connection

28 The training module 6 is made up of individual, modular sections, so that

29 different lengths can be easily adjusted in order to use the feed device 5 in different processing machines in a simple

31 rather than the feed device 5. The feed device 5 comprises a conveyor

32 ke 11 (see Fig. 2), which extends in the connection module 6 to the punching head 2. In the

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&igr; drive, the connecting elements in this conveyor or collection section are

2 indirectly arranged in a defined orientation and are clocked by

3 the feed device 5 is advanced to the punching head 2. The connecting elements

4 elements are pneumatically fed into the feed device 5 in the conveying direction R from

5 a feeding device 7 via a hose 8, which has a shape

6 of the connecting elements and at one of the

7 Feed device 5 connected to upstream connection or catch module 5A

8 is closed. The feeding device 7, which for example is a vibration conveyor

9, and the press 1 are further connected via a signal line 9 and a

10 punch head control line 10. The feed device 7 is connected to

11 a control unit 7A is assigned a control unit 7B, which is used to control the

12 operating processes and in particular the synchronization between feeder 7,

13 feed device 5 and timing of the press 1. In the embodiment,

14 the control unit 7B is part of the feeding device 7.

16 In Fig. 2 the essential functional parts of the feed unit are shown.

17 device 5. A number of connecting elements V pass through

18 and the conveying section 11, which is connected to the hose 8 (shown not connected in Fig. 2 ig), in conveying direction R. Parallel to the conveying direction

20 device R, a slide 14 is movable between two stops 12,13, with which

21 a flap 15 is connected in such a way that it can be inserted through a slot 16 into the conveyor

22 of the section 11. In the embodiment, the flap 15 is

23 The rotary axis 17 is rotatably connected to the carriage 14. Alternatively, it can be

24 for example also transverse to the carriage 14 and to the conveying direction R linearly displaceable.

25 bar. The flap 15 is controlled by a spring acting as a passive actuator.

26 the element 18 is held in the open position shown. Here, the

27 Flap 15 on the one hand a ramp 19, on the other hand, in conveying direction R, a

28 Feed surface 20, which can also be degenerated as an edge, for example.

30 During operation, the connecting elements V are individually connected via the hose 8

31 and are, after passing the flap 15, transported in the conveyor line

32 11 in front of the setting head 2. The conveyor line 11 is therefore divided

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&igr; into a section designed as a feed line for individual connecting elements

2 in front of the flap 15 and into a feed or collecting section

3 Section after flap 15, in which the connecting elements are lined up

4 to the setting head 2.

6 The carriage 14 with the flap 15 is supported by a lifting element 21, for example

7 a pneumatically operated lifting cylinder, movable. Due to the direct

&bgr; mechanical connection of the linearly movable carriage 14 with the equally

9 linear movement of the lifting element 21 is a fast and

10 also allows precise adjustment of the slide 14. The lifting element 21 is

11 together with the slide 14 and the flap 15 form part of a feed

12 elements 22.

14 If a connecting element V conveyed by compressed air in the conveying direction R passes

is the flap 15, the spring 10 is compressed, whereby the flap 15 is in

16 closed position, in which it is at least largely excluded from the funding

17 section 11 and is aligned approximately parallel to the slide 14. The

18 Slide 14 is not moved. The pneumatically operated reloading of a

19 connecting element V into the feed device 5 is clock-controlled

20 in each case in periods in which the feed device 5 has no connection

21 element V in the direction of the punching head 2.

23 When the flap 15 is displaced from the conveyor line 11, i.e. when the

24 from the open position of the flap 15 to its closed position, the

25 Connecting element V the ramp 19 so that the flap 15 rotates around the

26 axis 17 rotates towards the stationary carriage 14. At the same time

27 by a sensor 23 connected to the flap 15 a signal

28 is triggered. The sensor 23 is designed as a proximity switch, which

29 Movement of the flap 15 from the open to the closed position a disturbance

30 ßel 24, which rests on the flap 15 and is centrically in the coil spring

31 formed spring 18. Additional sensors can be used to provide information

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&igr; mation about the position of the slide 14 and thus of the lifting element 21 to

2, provided at the stops 12,13.

&agr; Immediately after the connecting element V, driven by compressed air,

5 has passed the ramp 19 of the flap 15, the spring 18 activates the

6 Flap 15 back into its open position shown, in which the feed surface

7 before 20 is located within the conveyor section 11. This open position of the flap 15 &bgr; is its normal position. The feed surface 20 engages the connecting element

9 ment V and pushes it further in the direction of the punching head 2. After successful

10 tem feed, the carriage 14, driven by the lifting element 21, moves in the direction

11 of the stop 12 against the conveying direction R. In this way,

12 Space for the inclusion of a new connecting element V in the feed

13 device 5 is released. The flap 15 in the conveying section in the conveying direction R

14 11 lying connecting elements V are enclosed in this part of the conveyor section 11, since the flap 15 also acts as a backstop.

&igr;? In order to prevent a connecting element V from springing back during pneumatic

18 To avoid mechanical insertion into the feed device 5, as in the

is embodiment shown - an additional stop element 25 is provided

20, which engages in the conveying section 11 after the flap 15 in the conveying direction R.

21 The stop element 25 which stops the connecting element V or at least

22 brakes, is passively acting, e.g. as a spring or spring-operated element or as

23 Magnetic holder, or actively acting, e.g. as a pneumatically operated holding element,

24. In addition, in the conveyor section 11 after the flap 15

2s and/or in the press 1, in particular in the punching head 2, additional sensors which

26 the presence, state of movement and/or location of one or more

27 other connecting elements V and with the control of the feed unit

28 direction 5 are linked.

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List of reference symbols

1 Press, processing machine 2 Punching head, processing unit 3 Tool upper part 4 Tool base 5 Feed device 5A Catch module 6 Connection module 7 Feeder 7A Control unit 7B Control unit 8th Hose 9 Signal line 10 Punch head control cable 11 Conveyor line 12 attack 13 attack 14 Sleds 15 flap 16 slot 17 Rotation axis 18 Spring element 19 ramp 20 Feed area 21 Lifting element 22 Feed element 23 sensor 24 Pestle 25 Stop element R
V Conveying direction
Connecting element &bull;&bull;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; φφ ·· · *
&bull; ·φ »&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; φ
&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; φφφ φ F:\TEXT E\AN\01848DE-G.ddtT 1etzffe*&%icheri?rfti?25. June 200V * * "

&bull; φφφ &phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; · ·

φφ φφφ φφ &phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; · ··

Claims (9)

1. Device for feeding a connecting element (V) to a processing unit ( 2 ), in particular for feeding nuts to a setting head ( 2 ) of a press, wherein a conveyor line ( 11 ) for receiving at least one connecting element (V) and a feed element ( 22 ) for advancing the connecting element (V) in a conveying direction (R) to the processing unit ( 2 ) are provided, characterized in that the feed element ( 22 ) has a flap ( 15 ) which can be moved into the conveyor line ( 11 ) and has a feed surface ( 20 ), which is held in the conveyor line ( 11 ) by a passively acting force and which can be moved out of the conveyor line ( 11 ) by a connecting element (V) fed to the conveyor line ( 11 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a passively acting actuating element ( 18 ), in particular a spring element, is provided to generate the force pressing the flap ( 15 ) into the conveyor section ( 11 ). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flap ( 15 ) has a ramp ( 19 ) rising in the conveying direction (R), which is limited at the end by the feed surface ( 20 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flap ( 15 ) is held pivotably on a rotation axis ( 17 ) on its side opposite the feed surface ( 20 ) outside the conveyor section ( 11 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flap ( 15 ) is mounted on a carriage ( 14 ) movable parallel to the conveyor line ( 11 ). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the carriage ( 14 ) is displaceable by a lifting element ( 21 ). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuation of the feed element ( 22 ) is synchronized with the processing unit ( 2 ). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a stop element ( 25 ) which is arranged in or on the conveyor section ( 11 ) downstream of the flap ( 15 ) in the conveying direction. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a sensor ( 23 ) operatively connected to the flap ( 15 ) for detecting the position and/or movement of the flap ( 15 ).