Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~~~~1~
The present invention relates to feeding and
orientation systems and more particularly, relates to
improvements in feeding and orientation systems for small
articles characterized by having a stem portion and a head
portion, examples of which are rivets, nails, screws, etc.
The automated feeding of relatively small
components such as rivets, electronic components, nails,
screws, is well known in the art and many machines exist for
the feeding of such components (which normally are packaged
in bulk) to a machine which will then be able to take the
individual component and utilize it in the manner for which
it is intended. Thus, for example, in the electronic
industry, automated feeders are utilized to feed the
components to pick and place machines which take an
individual component and place it on the circuit board in the
desired position. Similarly, systems are know~~for taking
articles such as rivets and feeding them to an automated
riveting apparatus.
Generally, such systems for feeding individual
components function well and in one common arrangement, the
components are fed to a vibratory bowl system which consists
of a bowl and associated vibrator. The bowl is vibrated by
suitable means and components then advance along a track
at the periphery of the bowl to an output location.
Components which are not properly oriented are usually
automatically rejected by a mechanical sorting means as they
proceed along the track.
In the case of objects which have a stem and
associated head such as rivets and screws, the systems have a
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high degree of reliability as long as the stem has a length
which is sufficiently greater than the diameter of the head
portion. However, when the length of the stem approximates
or is less than the diameter of the head, problems occur in
properly aligning the components. This problem is compounded
when a machine is obligated to select from a number of
different sources of like components. A particular example
is in the case of rivets wherein the riveting of an article
may require different size rivets at different locations. In
such an instance, usually a different vibratory bowl is
required for each size rivet and one then has a problem of
feeding the different rivets to a common point where the
riveting apparatus may take the desired rivet.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
an automated feed and orientation system which overcomes the
above disadvantages and which can feed components having a
stem and a head portion wherein the stem length approximates
the head diameter.
In one aspect of the present invention, in a system
for feeding components having a stem and a head at one end
thereof, there is provided the improvement of an orientation
section, the orientation section comprising a base member
having a trough formed therein, the trough having a cross
sectional configuration defined by a pair of opposed side
walls, the distance between said side walls being larger than
the diameter of the head of the component to be fed, means
for vibrating the base member, the trough having at least one
step formed therein.
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20~~~~~
In greater detail, the present improvement can be
incorporated into many different component feed arrangements.
It can be used as a dedicated system for one size of
component or alternatively, may be utilized in conjunction
with the feeding of many different types of components.
As previously mentioned, the improvement of the
present invention can be utilized with different types of
components, all of which are characterized as having a head
and stem arrangement. For ease of explanation, the
description will refer to rivets, although as will be
appreciated in the art, adaptation of the system to such
other components may easily be accomplished.
The improvement may form a portion of an overall
system which can be placed in line in such a system.
Alternatively, with the provision of a suitable inlet feed to
the present invention, it may be utilized as a stand alone
feeding and orientation arrangement. For present purposes,
it will be described as having suitable means for heating to
the inlet or entry of the orientation portion.
As mentioned, the inlet to the orientation section
can be any desired, although in one conventional type of
arrangement, a plurality of vibratory bowls are provided from
which the desired size rivet or other component may be
selected. This component will then be delivered to the feed
system of the present invention. The means of delivering the
same may vary from a simple slide to the use of compressed
air or the like.
The orientation section will include a base member
having a longitudinally extending trough into which the rivet
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is placed. The trough may have several different cross
sectional configurations. Thus, it may have a somewhat
V-shaped configuration or alternatively, may be in curved
arcuate configuration. For ease of explanation, the present
description will refer to the trough as being defined by a
pair of opposed side walls. As aforementioned, a the trough
may have a V-shaped configuration or some arcuate form. It
will be understood that the side walls will merge at the
bottom of the trough and wherein reference is made to the
distance between the side walls, this will refer to the
spacing at the upper portion of the trough. Normally, the
distance between the side walls is adapted to be slightly
greater than the diameter of the head portion of the rivet.
The trough thus forms the path or track which the
rivet will follow and as such, may be slightly inclined
downwardly although this is not required. Formed within the
trough is at least one "step" wherein the trough has a
sharply downwardly extending step formed therein.
Preferably, at least a pair of such steps are provided.
Means are also provided for vibrating the base
member containing the trough and to this end, many suitable
means may be employed. Linear vibrators are well known in
the art and there are many suitable devices commercially
available. The vibration may either be accomplished directly
or transferred indirectly from other systems which also
undergo a vibratory operation.
The purpose of the step or steps formed in the
trough is to align the rivet in the correct direction either
with the head leading or trailing. It does not matter which
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of the foregoing orientations is achieved; one of them will
suffice for delivery at the output of the trough.
The above arrangement prevents the rivet from being
in a sidewards orientation and allows proper delivery of the
rivet at the output.
At the output of the trough, the rivet is delivered
to a transfer arrangement to a system which can then utilize
the rivet. This transfer will be dependant on the particular
requirement, but a typical system would use a pair of guide
rails such that the rivet will fall and be oriented such that
the main body portion extends downwardly and the head portion
rests on a pair of guide rails.
Having thus generally described the invention,
reference will be made to the accompanying drawings
illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which;
Figure 1 is a top elevational view of a rivet
feeding and orientation system;
Figure 2 is a side sectional view taken along the
lines 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the
lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 3
illustrating a modified version thereof;
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the
lines 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 4a is a view similar to Figure 4
illustrating operation of a rejection sub-system;
Figure 5 is a detailed view of the step portion of
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the trough; and
Figure 5a is a view similar to Figure 5 showing
alignment of the rivets.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by
reference characters thereto, there is shown in Figure 1 an
automated rivet delivery system which comprises a component
selection and feed system generally designated by reference
numeral 10; a transfer duct 12, a vibratory orientation
device 14, and a slide section 16.
Component selection and feed system 10 may be
selected from any number of known types of systems and
arrangements. Thus, system 10 may include, for example, a
single feed system typically formed of a vibratory bowl or
alternatively, may include a plurality of vibratory bowls
having discharge means associated therewith, and which
discharge means feed to transfer duct 12.
From transfer duct 12 the individual rivets are fed
to vibratory orientation device 14. Vibratory orientation
device 14 includes, as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 5, a
base member 18 having a trough 20 formed therein. A
housing 22 surrounds base 18 and adjacent the portion where
rivets 30 are transferred to the vibratory orientation
device 14 there is provided a deflector member 24.
Typically, transfer is accomplished by means of compressed
air and there are provided a plurality of outlets 29 in
deflector 24 and side wall of housing 22 to permit exit of
the air.
~~~9~~~
As will be seen in Figure 3, groove or trough 20
has a semi cylindrical configuration with a pair of side
walls 26 and 28. In the embodiment of Figure 3a, side
walls 26 and 28 have a greater height and are spaced apart
such that the width of trough 20 is substantially greater.
Also, in Figure 3a, the walls form a more or less V-shaped
configuration. It suffices to say that any number of
different configurations may be utilized in the practice of
the present invention.
Each rivet, as may be seen from, has a stem
portion 32 and a head portion 34. As shown in Figures 2, 3,
3a, 5 and 5a, the rivet when it originally enters groove or
trough 20 can assume any orientation which is merely a
product of chance.
As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 5a, base portion 18
and trough 20 which is formed therein have three sections;
a first section being designated by reference numeral 36, a
second section 38 and a third section 40. Separating first
and second sections 36 and 38 respectively, is a first step
42 while separating second section 38 and third section 40 is
a second step 44. Thus, as may be seen in detail in
Figures 5 and 5a, the steps comprise an area wherein the
general plane of the trough 20 drops to a lower plane which
is substantially parallel to the previous plane. Although
two such steps are shown in the illustrated embodiment, it
will be understood that one may utilize a single step and/or
a multitude of such steps.
Vibratory means are used to apply or impart a
vibration to base 18. Any number of such linear vibrators
_ g _
are well known in the art and are used such as in the
vibratory bowl itself.
It has surprisingly been found that by forming
steps in trough 20, in conjunction with the use of vibration,
the rivets will tend to orient themselves in a longitudinal
direction. With a member wherein the stem is substantially
longer than the diameter of the head, the longitudinal
orientation is very easy to achieve. However, with those
rivets which have a stem length which approximates the
diameter of the head (in other words, a substantially square
configuration), it has traditionally been a problem since
they will often go down a groove sideways and stay in that
orientation. However, with the practice of the present
invention, it has been found that the step configuration
formed within the groove provides the proper longitudinal
orientation to the rivets.
Thus, referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that
the rivets in the proper longitudinal orientation will, as
shown in dotted line, continue in such orientation after
passing by the step. Referring to Figure 5a, a rivet 30
which is oriented in a general transverse direction to the
longitudinal length of drop 20 will, after passing over the
step, tend to reorient itself in the proper longitudinal
direction.
Following orientation of the rivets, they then
enter a slide section which consists of a pair of rails 46
and 48. Rails 46 and 48 may be adjustable (or alternatively
only one may be adjustable) in order to provide for different
size rivets. Following placement on rails 46 and 48 which
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define a track, the rivets slide down to the end thereof
where they are presented to a conventional riveting
apparatus.
As shown in Figures 4 and 4a, rivets 30, when delivered
to slide section 16, align themselves such that stem 32 fits
between rails 46 and 48 while head 34 rides on the top. To
assist in the movement of rivets 30 along rails 46 and 48,
vibration may also be utilized.
Rails 46 and 48, as above mentioned, may be
adjustable and suitable means may be provided for adjusting
the same. Thus, one or both of rails 46 and 48 may be
mounted on a suitable shaft which is rotatably driven as
shown in outline by a gear arrangement 50 and 52 for rails 46
and 48 respectively.
As shown in Figures 4 and 4a, a rejection system
for improperly oriented rivets may be provided. This
rejection system may comprise a tube 54 connected to a source
of pressurized air. As shown in Figure 4, when a rivet is
properly aligned, the pressurized air will not act on the
rivet. As shown in Figure 4a, an improperly aligned rivet
will be sent to a rejection outlet 54 which, as shown in
Figure 1, may be connected back to the feeding system. The
air may or may not operate all the time; in one embodiment,
there may be a sensor to detect when a rivet is not properly
aligned and the air is only operative at that point in time.
It will be understood that the above described
embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that
changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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