A device for endorsing screwed assemblies, includes a screw gun intended to be handled by an operator, and computer equipment connected to the screw gun, the screw gun being equipped with measurement sensors sending information representative of the torque applied by the screw gun and an angle of rotation applied by the screw gun, the computer equipment storing, in a memory, reference data relating to a screwed assembly to be produced, the computer equipment being configured to compare information representative of the angle and the torque measured during the assembly with the reference data, and to provide a notification as to the conformity of the measurements of the angle and the torque in relation to the reference data.

An automatic test device (10) for testing automatic screwdrivers (12) in a robotic station (10) for tightening elements (18) of an object (17) handled in the station comprises a frame (20) suitable for being inserted in a station in place of an object handled in the station; a plurality of screwdriver test heads (21) arranged on the frame (20); a control unit (24) connected to the test head (21) in order to control operation of the test heads (21) and detect tightening parameters of screwdrivers applied to the test heads (21) by the robotic station.

A plant with at least one robotic station (10), a transport line (15) and an automatic test device (10) is also described. Finally, a method for testing automatic screwdrivers in robotic stations is described.

A quality determination device includes an acquisition unit for acquiring a drive current during tapping, from a motor provided in a machine tool that performs tapping, and a determination unit for determining acceptance or rejection of a screw hole formed by the tapping, based on the drive current, an electric power of the motor obtained from the drive current, or a torque of the motor obtained from the drive current.

A control device adapted to control a robot including a robot arm provided with a force detector includes a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control the robot, wherein the processor is configured to: operate the robot arm to move a screw gauge which is disposed on a tip side of the force detector of the robot arm, used for an inspection of a screw hole, and provided with an external thread, to make the external thread have contact with the screw hole; then detect force applied to the screw gauge using the force detector to perform force control in a direction perpendicular to a direction of an axis of the screw hole based on detection information of the force detector; and operate the robot arm to move the screw gauge based on the force control.

To provide an automatic screw inspection system allowing screw inspection of a workpiece to be conducted more efficiently. An automatic screw inspection system comprises: a robot to which a screw inspection device is attached, the screw inspection device including a holder unit attached in a removable manner and holding an inspection gauge used for inspection of a female screw hole in a workpiece as an inspection target; a gauge storage storing a plurality of the holder units for inspection of the female screw hole conforming to a plurality of standards; a table on which the workpiece is to be placed; and a controller that controls the drive of the robot. The controller comprises: a holder unit attachment/storage control unit that controls the drive of the robot and the screw inspection device so as to select the holder unit conforming to a standard for the female screw hole from the gauge storage and attach the selected holder unit automatically to the screw inspection device; and an inspection implementation control unit that controls the drive of the robot and the screw inspection device so as to make the screw inspection device inspect the female screw hole in the workpiece.

Methods and devices are provided for detecting connecting elements, in particular friction drilling screws, in mechanical joining and forming processes in which an error event in the process was identified. The method includes moving a carrier component for the connecting element toward a workpiece to determine a contact point of the connecting element on the workpiece. This feeding step is carried out as a next method step after the error event is detected and ascertains whether the contact point is detected within a predefined permissible tolerance in order to determine whether the connecting element is still located in a feed head.

A quality determination device includes an acquisition unit for acquiring a drive current during tapping, from a motor provided in a machine tool that performs tapping, and a determination unit for determining acceptance or rejection of a screw hole formed by the tapping, based on the drive current, an electric power of the motor obtained from the drive current, or a torque of the motor obtained from the drive current.

To provide an automatic screw inspection system allowing screw inspection of a workpiece to be conducted more efficiently. An automatic screw inspection system comprises: a robot to which a screw inspection device is attached, the screw inspection device including a holder unit attached in a removable manner and holding an inspection gauge used for inspection of a female screw hole in a workpiece as an inspection target; a gauge storage storing a plurality of the holder units for inspection of the female screw hole conforming to a plurality of standards; a table on which the workpiece is to be placed; and a controller that controls the drive of the robot. The controller comprises: a holder unit attachment/storage control unit that controls the drive of the robot and the screw inspection device so as to select the holder unit conforming to a standard for the female screw hole from the gauge storage and attach the selected holder unit automatically to the screw inspection device; and an inspection implementation control unit that controls the drive of the robot and the screw inspection device so as to make the screw inspection device inspect the female screw hole in the workpiece.

A control device adapted to control a robot including a robot arm provided with a force detector includes a processor that is configured to execute computer-executable instructions so as to control the robot, wherein the processor is configured to: operate the robot arm to move a screw gauge which is disposed on a tip side of the force detector of the robot arm, used for an inspection of a screw hole, and provided with an external thread, to make the external thread have contact with the screw hole; then detect force applied to the screw gauge using the force detector to perform force control in a direction perpendicular to a direction of an axis of the screw hole based on detection information of the force detector; and operate the robot arm to move the screw gauge based on the force control.

Provided is a manufacturing method for a compound screw having a first thread groove and a second thread groove with a different lead angle or lead direction from the first thread groove, wherein at least a portion of the first thread groove is formed by feeding a threading tool that acts on a workpiece a first feed amount toward the workpiece, the workpiece being a rotating object to be machined. Additionally, at least a portion of the second thread groove is formed by feeding the threading tool that acts on the workpiece a second feed amount that differs from the first feed amount. With these steps, a compound thread portion is formed in the workpiece. As a result, it is possible to mass produce a compound screw having two thread structures of differing lead angles and/or lead directions with a high level of quality.