GB2111213A - Method and apparatus for sorting screws - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for sorting screws Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2111213A GB2111213A GB08204688A GB8204688A GB2111213A GB 2111213 A GB2111213 A GB 2111213A GB 08204688 A GB08204688 A GB 08204688A GB 8204688 A GB8204688 A GB 8204688A GB 2111213 A GB2111213 A GB 2111213A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- screws
- turntable
- screw
- sorting
- gauge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 16
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/04—Sorting according to size
- B07C5/08—Sorting according to size measured electrically or electronically
- B07C5/083—Mechanically moved sensing devices, the movement of which influences the electric contact members
Landscapes
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the automatic sorting of screws on the basis of different depths and/or shapes of the internal force application surfaces by light-optical, mechanical or electrical scanning of the insertion depth of a gauge pin in the screw head recess, divergences from the desired measured depth value range being used for controlling the sorting process on the basis of satisfactory parts and unsatisfactory or foreign parts. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Method and apparatus for the automatic sorting of screws
The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for the automatic sorting of screws with heads with internal force application surfaces in the form of slots, cross-slots, hexagon slots, etc.
formed therein having different depths or geometrical shapes and/or dimensions for the engagement of screwing tools such as screw drivers and the like, in which a feed belt supplies the screws in individually sequenced manner to a turntable with peripherally formed screw supporting receptacles, followed by feeding to an optical, mechanical and/or electrical inspection device and at the end of the inspection process sorting takes place by separating the good parts from the bad or foreign parts by means of ejectors.
Numerous constructions are known of sorting machines for the sorting of foreign or bad parts in connection with the production of fixing or fastening means, particularly screws such as wood screws, sheet metal screws, etc. One construction operates with an optical system enabling screws with different shank diameters and lengths, as well as head heights and diameters to be separated. Rail-like feed belts introduce the screws to be sorted into a turntable peripherally provided with supporting receptacles for the screws. The screws are passed through an optical sorting channel by this turntable, where the screw shaft or head is projected with an appropriate magnification onto a screen and photoelectric cells inspect the same for different head heights or shank lengths or head or shank diameters.Satisfactory parts detected by the light-optical system are transferred by means of ejectors from the turntable into a collecting container, whereas the remaining parts continue to rotate as foreign parts, waste or other sizes and are then ejected by an ejector into a further container.
In the known sorting mechanisms, the screws are sorted on the basis of different shaft diameters and lengths or head diameters and heights.
However, it is disadvantageous that the known sorting means do not make it possible to separate the screws on the basis of different depths and/or shapes of the internal force application surfaces in screw heads.
The problem of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus permitting an automatic sorting of screws on the basis of different depths and/or different shapes of the internal force application surfaces in the screw heads.
The invention therefore supposes a method wherein the depth and/or shape of the recess in the screw heads forming the internal force application surface is determined light-optically, mechanically and/or electrically, the measured depth value obtained is compared with a predetermined, desired measured depth value range and the divergence of the measured depth value from the desired measured depth values is used for controlling the sorting of the screws having the desired measured depth values from those differing from the desired measured depth values.
In addition, the invention provides for the solution of the said problem an apparatus, wherein above the turntable in the apparatus machine frame a further supporting disk rotating synchronously with the turntable is provided having a number of gauge pins corresponding to the number of screw supporting receptacles on the turntable circumference and positioned above said receptacles, whereby the said gauge pins have e.g. conically tapering end portions or end portions with different geometrical shapes held in the supporting disk perpendicularly, longitudinally displaceably and in a raised position over the screw supporting receptacles of the turntable by means of return springs, above the circular path of the raised path of the raised gauge pins is provided a control element for pressing the pins into the recess forming the internal force application surface of the screw head and the control plane thereof is located below the plane formed by the raised gauge pins, and a lightoptical device is provided for scanning the insertion depth of the gauge pins in the screw head recesses, together with a device for projecting the gauge pin inserted in the screw head recess and a predetermined desired gauge pin insertion depth measured value in the form of a light beam or a reference line formed by the turntable onto a screen, or a mechanical or electrical pin insertion depth scanning device is provided with a measured comparative value and control device for the ejectors.
Such a method and such an apparatus permit the automatic sorting of screws with different depths and/or shapes of the internal force application surfaces in their heads. Sorting takes place by scanning the different depths and/or shapes of said internal force application surfaces in the screw heads by means of a light-optical system with which the screw head and the inserted gauge pin is projected, after being magnified several times, onto a screen.
Photoelectric cells are used to scan the differing insertion depths of the gauge pin in the internal force application surface of a screw head. On the basis of this optical scanning and comparison
measurements, the sorting of the good parts from the unsatisfactory or foreign parts or waste is controlled. The scanning of the different insertion depths of the gauge pins in the internal force application surfaces of the screw heads takes place by means of a photoelectric cell located on the screen in such a way that divergences from a
predetermined orientation line is used as a control signal for the sorting out of a foreign part, which
e.g. does not have the intended internal force application surface depth in the screw head.Apart from a light-optical determination of the insertion depth of the gauge pin in the screw head internal force application surface, it is also possible to use
correspondingly constructed mechanical or mechanical/electrical or electrical (contactless) devices permitting a scanning of the insertion depth of the gauge pin for comparison measurements.
The sorting device constructed according to the invention makes it possible to check screws with internal force application surfaces formed in their heads on the basis of the desired engagement depths for the screw drivers and the like and to sort out unsatisfactory parts. The apparatus according to the invention leads to a considerable improvement to known sorting means which, by means of an optical system, make it possible to separate parts having different shank diameters and lengths, as well as head diameter and heights and in addition the range of use is considerably increased.
The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to non-limitative embodiments and the attached drawings, wherein show:
Fig. 1 the sorting apparatus in a plan view of the supporting disk carrying the gauge pins.
Fig. 2 the sorting apparatus in a plan view with the supporting disk removed.
Fig. 3 the supporting disk with the gauge pins with the underlying turntable carrying the screws to be inspected in a side view.
Fig. 4 the engagement of a gauge pin in an e.g.
slot-like internal force application surface of a countersunk screw in side view.
The apparatus 100 according to the invention for the automatic sorting of screws with heads with internal force application surfaces formed therein in the form of slots, cross-slots, hexagon slots, etc. with different depths and/or shapes for the engagement of screwing tools, such as screw drivers and the like comprises a machine frame 10 (Fig. 3) in which is provided a turntable 11 rotated by a drive mechanism 13 (Fig. 1) about a vertical axis 11 b, said turntable carrying on its circumference 11 a, a plurality of screw supporting receptacles 14 in the form of recesses or the like (Fig. 2).
Into the peripheral area of said screw supporting receptacles 14 issues the discharge end of a feed belt 12 for the articles to be sorted, e.g. screws, whose screw heads 11 Oa are provided with in each case one internal force application surface 115, which can be constructed in the form of a slot, cross-slot, hexagon slot, etc.
Fig. 4 shows a countersunk screw, whose head is provided with a slot-like internal force application surface. The screws with internal force application surfaces in their heads can be replaced for sorting purposes by threaded pins if the latter are also provided with internal force application surfaces.
The feed belt 12 for the screws or the like to be sorted is constructed in per se known manner and can e.g. be in the form of a rail. As indicated at 1 Sa in Fig. 4, the sorting basis can be constituted by a centricity divergence of the internal force application surfaces with respect to the axis in the case of screws or the like.
Above turntable 11 is provided a supporting disk 21, which rotates about the vertical rotation axis 11 b with turntable 11. The supporting disk 21 has a somewhat larger diameter than turntable 11. Adjacent to its circumference, the supporting disk 21 is provided with a number of openings 22 corresponding to the number of screw supporting receptacles 14 in turntable 11 and in said openings 22 are held in a vertical and longitudinally displaceable manner gauge pins 24.
The gauge pins 24 are so arranged in supporting disk 21 that the ends of said pins facing turntable 11 come to rest above the receptacles 14 in turntable 11 and consequently above the screws 110 located in receptacles 14. The ends 24a of gauge pins 24 facing turntable 11 are constructed so as to taper conically downwards or are given some other shape. In addition, each gauge pin 24 is connected to a return spring 25, whereof one end is supported on the surface of supporting disk 21 and whose other end is limited by a reinforcement 24b at the upper end of the gauge pin passed at both sides through the openings 22 in disk 21. Return springs 25 hold the gauge pins 24 in the raised position, as indicated at A and B in
Fig. 3.
Above the circular path of gauge pin 24 is provided in the sorting apparatus frame a control element 30, which controls the insertion or introduction of gauge pin 24 into the screw head recess forming the internal force application surface. The control element has a resiliently mounted abutting surface 31 for the individual gauge pins constructed as a cam path and said surface passes into a control portion 31 a located in plane SE positioned below the plane ME formed by the raised gauge pin 24 (Fig. 3). As a result of this construction of control element 30, the individual gauge pins running onto the control element are fed via surface 31 to the actual control portion 31 a and are forced down by the latter in the direction of arrow X.As a result, the conical or otherwise constructed end portion 24a of gauge pin 24 engages into the cavity 11 5 of head 11 Oa of screw 110 which forms the internal force application surface.
On further rotating turntable 11 with supporting disk 21, the gauge pin is returned from the forced-in position indicated at C in Fig. 3 after leaving control element 30 by means of return spring 25, so that it again assumes the raised position A or B. Control element 30 is constructed as a disk cam and has a corresponding guidance base so that each gauge pin 24, when the latter is moved into position C by means of disk 21, is forced into the cavity of the head of the screw being inspected. After leaving the control element, each gauge pin 24 is automatically returned to the raised position.
In Fig. 3, 40 is a light-optical device for scanning the insertion depth of gauge pin 24 in the screw head recesses. This gauge pin insertion depth scanning device projects the screw head with the gauge pin 24 inserted into its internal force application surface onto a screen 41 after magnification. On said screen 41, a photoelectric cell and preferably a double photoelectric cell is arranged in such a way that the divergence from a predetermined measuring line projected onto the screw is determined in the form of a luminous row and is passed on to a control device 42. As can be gathered from Fig. 4, a mark M at the end of each gauge pin 24 is projected onto the screen in the form of a measuring line ML and turntable 11 is projected onto the screen as a second orientation line and can be used as a comparative measuring line.In the case of different depths of the internal force application surfaces in the screw heads of the screws to be tested, there are also different insertion depths of the gauge pins 24 in the screw head slots or the like. If e.g. the depth and/or shape of the internal force application surface of the screw head differs from the predetermined normal depth and/or shape, then there is a change in the spacing between measuring line M and measuring line ML1 fixed by the turntable 11, so that on the basis of the different spacings of the two measuring lines comparison measurements with respect to the desired value are made.Thus, divergences with respect to the photoelectric cells scanning the measuring lines on the screen are transferred to the measured comparison value and control device 42, which is operatively connected to ejectors 43 and 44 in such a way that good or satisfactory parts, i.e. screws with desired depths of their internal force application surfaces in the screw head are ejected from turntable 11 via ejector 43 into a first container not shown in the drawing. However, all those screws in which the depth of the internal force application surface in the head differs from the desired depth are further rotated with the turntable into the vicinity of the second ejector 44, where they are ejected from the screw supporting receptacle 14 into a second not shown container.
In place of a light-optical control of the sorting process, it is also possible to use mechanical, mechanical/electrical or electrical (contactless) control devices constructed in per se known manner. However, it is important that divergences in the insertion depth of the gauge pins 24 in the slot-like cross-slot-like or otherwise constructed internal force application surfaces in the screw heads are detected and used for control purposes.
The apparatus according to the invention operates as follows. The screws supplied by means of feed belt 12 to turntable 11 are received by the screw supporting receptacles 14 in said turntable. The latter feeds the screws to the lightoptical gauge pin insertion depth scanning device 40. In the vicinity of the latter, end 24a of gauge pin 24 located above the screw to be inspected is inserted into the screw head slot by means of control element 30. The insertion depth of pin 24 in the slot is determined on the basis of comparative measurements by means of lightoptical systems, followed by evaluation and the values obtained are used for control purposes. The satisfactory parts are then sorted from the unsatisfactory or foreign parts by means of a corresponding measured comparison value and control device 42.
The invention is not limited to the above
described embodiment represented in the
drawing. The scope of the invention also covers
different arrangements and constructions of gauge
pin 24, as well as the use of differently
constructed gauge pin insertion depth scanning
devices.
Control element 30 with the gauge pin abutting
and depressing surface 31 and a control portion
31 a of Fig. 3 is resiliently mounted. According to
another embodiment, this function is reversed. In this case, spring 25 does not raise gauge pin 24
and instead presses it onto test part 110 in the
measuring area. By means of a fixed lifting cam,
the gauge pin is lifted into the recesses 14 in front
of the insertion area 1 2a for test parts 110 and
counter to spring tension and after a
corresponding partial rotation of turntable 11 is
released again and as a result in each case one
gauge pin 24 drops by spring tension into the
cavity of the screw head below it. In the
measuring area, the position of one gauge pin
edge is scanned light-optically,
electromechanically or electrically (contactless)
and compared with an initial position.
Claims (5)
1. A method for the automatic sorting of screws
with heads with internal force application surfaces
in the form of slots, cross-slots, hexagon slots, etc.
formed therein having different depths or
geometrical shapes and/or dimensions for the
engagement of screwing tools such as screw
drivers and the like, in which a feed belt supplies the screws in individually sequenced manner to a turntable with peripherally formed screw supporting receptacles, followed by feeding to an optical, mechanical and/or electrical inspection device and at the end of the inspection process sorting takes place by separating the good parts from the bad or foreign parts by means of ejectors, wherein the depth and/or shape of the recess in the screw heads forming the internal force application surface is determined light-optically, mechanically and/or electrically, the measured depth value obtained is compared with a predetermined, desired measured depth value range and the divergence of the measured depth value from the desired measured depth values is used for controlling the sorting of the screws having the desired measured depth values from those differing from the desired measured depth values.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the in each case determined measured depth value, together with the predetermined desired measured depth value is displayed on a screen in the form of two shadow or light beams when the latter are scanned by photoelectric cells, the measured value difference then being used for controlling the sorting of screws having the desired measured depth values from those screws which do not have such values.
3. An apparatus for performing the method according to claims 1 and 2 for the automatic sorting of screws with heads with internal force application surfaces in the form of slots, crossslots. hexagon slots, etc. formed therein having different depths or geometrical shapes and/or dimensions for the engagement of screwing tools such as screw drivers and the like, in which a feed belt supplies the screws in individually sequenced manner to a turntable with peripherally formed screw supporting receptacles, followed by feeding to an optical, mechanical and/or electrical inspection device and at the end of the inspection process sorting takes place by separating the good parts from the bad or foreign parts by means of ejectors, wherein above the turntable in the apparatus machine frame a further supporting disk rotating synchronously with the turntable is provided having a number of gauge pins corresponding to the number of screw supporting receptacles on the turntable circumference and positioned above said receptacles, whereby the said gauge pins have e.g. conically tapering end portions or end portions with different geometrical shapes held in the supporting disk perpendicularly, longitudinally displaceably and in a raised position over the screw supporting receptacles of the turntable by means of return springs, above the circular path of the raised path of the raised gauge pins is provided a control element for pressing the pins into the recess forming the internal force application surface of the screw head and the control plane thereof is located below the plane formed by the raised gauge pins, and a lightoptical device is provided for scanning the insertion depth of the gauge pins in the screw head recesses, together with a device for projecting the gauge pin inserted in the screw head recess and a predetermined desired gauge pin insertion depth measured value in the form of a light beam or a reference line formed by the turntable onto a screen, or a mechanical or electrical pin insertion depth scanning device is provided with a measured comparative value and control device for the ejectors.
4. A method for the automatic sorting of screws substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. Apparatus for the sorting of screws substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE8135792 | 1981-12-09 | ||
| DE19823200075 DE3200075C2 (en) | 1982-01-05 | 1982-01-05 | Method and device for the automatic sorting of screws with heads |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2111213A true GB2111213A (en) | 1983-06-29 |
Family
ID=25798756
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08204688A Withdrawn GB2111213A (en) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-02-17 | Method and apparatus for sorting screws |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2111213A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2175396A (en) * | 1985-05-22 | 1986-11-26 | Filler Protection Developments | Apparatus for examining objects |
| EP0280857A3 (en) * | 1987-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Sorting device |
| WO2005063415A1 (en) * | 2003-12-30 | 2005-07-14 | Zen Voce Manufacturing Pte Ltd | Fastener inspection system |
| ITMI20090698A1 (en) * | 2009-04-24 | 2010-10-25 | Regg Inspection S R L | INSPECTION DEVICE FOR HEADS OF SCREWS AND THE LIKE |
| CN102221557A (en) * | 2011-03-31 | 2011-10-19 | 南京航空航天大学 | Automatic detecting device and detection method for quality of lamp holder based on machine vision |
| CN103736668A (en) * | 2013-11-21 | 2014-04-23 | 江苏太平洋液压机械制造有限公司 | Online-use bolt go-no go gauge |
| CN106705853A (en) * | 2017-03-07 | 2017-05-24 | 江苏雷利电机股份有限公司 | Imaging device for sorting machine |
-
1982
- 1982-02-17 GB GB08204688A patent/GB2111213A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2175396A (en) * | 1985-05-22 | 1986-11-26 | Filler Protection Developments | Apparatus for examining objects |
| GB2175396B (en) * | 1985-05-22 | 1989-06-28 | Filler Protection Developments | Apparatus for examining objects |
| EP0280857A3 (en) * | 1987-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Sorting device |
| WO2005063415A1 (en) * | 2003-12-30 | 2005-07-14 | Zen Voce Manufacturing Pte Ltd | Fastener inspection system |
| ITMI20090698A1 (en) * | 2009-04-24 | 2010-10-25 | Regg Inspection S R L | INSPECTION DEVICE FOR HEADS OF SCREWS AND THE LIKE |
| CN102221557A (en) * | 2011-03-31 | 2011-10-19 | 南京航空航天大学 | Automatic detecting device and detection method for quality of lamp holder based on machine vision |
| CN102221557B (en) * | 2011-03-31 | 2013-05-08 | 南京航空航天大学 | Automatic detecting device and detection method for quality of lamp holder based on machine vision |
| CN103736668A (en) * | 2013-11-21 | 2014-04-23 | 江苏太平洋液压机械制造有限公司 | Online-use bolt go-no go gauge |
| CN103736668B (en) * | 2013-11-21 | 2016-03-30 | 江苏太平洋液压机械制造有限公司 | A kind of bolt go-no go gauge that can use online |
| CN106705853A (en) * | 2017-03-07 | 2017-05-24 | 江苏雷利电机股份有限公司 | Imaging device for sorting machine |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |