VACUUM ARRANGEMENT FOR A TIGHTENING TOOL

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a power screw driver comprising a housing. The housing encloses a motor and a bit drive spindle at a front end for driving a bit. The power screw driver is at the front end connectable to a vacuum adapter having screw pick-up functionality by which a screw to be mounted is brought into engagement with the bit. The power screw driver further comprises an in the housing integrated vacuum sensor arranged to sense the sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum adapter.

Claims

1. A power screw driver comprising a housing enclosing, a motor, and a bit drive spindle, where the bit drive spindle is located at a front end of the housing and configured for driving a bit, wherein the front end is configured for connection to a vacuum adapter having screw pick-up functionality configured for facilitating engagement of a screw to be mounted is brought into engagement with the driving bit, wherein the power screw driver further comprises a vacuum sensor integrated in the housing, wherein the vacuum sensor is configured to sense a sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum adapter.

2. The power screw driver according to claim 1, wherein the power screw driver further comprises a vacuum connection for connection to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, the vacuum connection being connected to a vacuum channel arranged to provide sub-atmospheric pressure to the vacuum adapter.

3. The power screw driver according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum sensor is arranged to sense a sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum channel and thus arranged to sense a sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum adapter via the vacuum channel.

4. The power screw driver according to claim 1, wherein the power screw driver further comprises a vacuum sensor channel connectable to the vacuum adapter and wherein the vacuum sensor is arranged to sense a sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum adapter via the vacuum sensor channel.

5. The power screw driver according to claim 1, further comprising a processor and a memory containing instructions executable by said processor, wherein the processor is operative to determine a screw pick up status based on a sensed sub-atmospheric pressure from the vacuum sensor.

6. The power screw driver according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further operative to provide an output signal based on the determined screw pick up status.

7. The power screw driver according to claim 5, wherein the screw pick up status is an indication as to whether the vacuum adapter has picked up a screw.

8. The power screw driver according to claim 5, wherein the screw pick up status is an indication that the screw is wrongly positioned on the vacuum adapter.

9. The power screw driver according to claim 1, wherein the power screw driver is a handheld power screw driver for tightening of small screws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be described in the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawing, on which

[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a power screw driver according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a power screw driver according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0015] All figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a power screw driver 10 according to the present disclosure. The power screw driver 10 comprising a housing 11, the housing 11 encloses a motor 12, a bit drive spindle 15 at a front end, for driving a bit 17. The power screw driver is at the front end connectable to a vacuum adapter 16 having screw pick-up functionality by which a screw to be mounted is brought into engagement with the bit 17. The power screw driver 10 according to the present disclosure further comprises an in the housing integrated vacuum sensor 18 arranged to sense the sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum adapter 16.

[0017] As mentioned above, one advantage with an integrated vacuum sensor 18 is that integration of the power screw driver 10 in a production environment becomes easier. This since no external vacuum sensor needs to be added and configured in the system in which the power screw driver 10 is used. Another advantage in exemplary embodiments is that the power screw driver 10 can be operative to determine screw pick up status by itself based on the sensed vacuum pressure from the vacuum sensor 18. For example, notify extremal device that a screw has been picked up by the vacuum adapter 16 and that the power screw drive 10 is ready for the next step of the tightening process. Typically, that a robot or operator moves the power screw driver 10 from a position where screws are picked up to the position where the screw is tightened.

[0018] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, vacuum is provided to the vacuum adapter 16 via a hose connected directly to the vacuum adapter 16. In one exemplary embodiment a vacuum sensor channel 20 is provide between the vacuum adapter and the vacuum sensor 18. The vacuum sensor channel 20 fluidly connects the vacuum adapter 16 with the vacuum sensor 18 so that the vacuum sensor 18 can sense the vacuum in the vacuum adapter 16.

[0019] The disclosure is however not limited to the embodiments where vacuum is provided via a hose directly to the vacuum adapter 16. Vacuum to the vacuum adapter 16 can also be provided via a vacuum channel in the tool as will be described in relation to FIG. 2.

[0020] Turning now to FIG. 2, which illustrates an embodiment where the power screw driver 10 further comprises a vacuum connection 19 for connection to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure. The vacuum connection 19 is connected to a vacuum channel 21 arranged provide sub-atmospheric pressure to the vacuum adapter 16. In this embodiment the vacuum sensor 18 can be arranged to the sense the vacuum in the vacuum channel 21 and thus arranged to sense the vacuum in the vacuum adapter 16 via the vacuum channel 21. In another exemplary embodiment the power screw driver 10 can also comprises a vacuum sensor channel 20 connectable to the vacuum adapter 16. The vacuum sensor channel 20 then connects to vacuum sensor 18 to the vacuum adapter 16. In this embodiment the power screw driver 10 can thus comprise both the vacuum channel 21 and the vacuum sensor channel 20 21 arranged provide sub-atmospheric pressure to the vacuum adapter 16.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power screw driver 10 further comprises a processer 13 and a memory 14 containing instructions executable by the processor 13. In one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum sensor 18 is connected to the processor 13. In one exemplary embodiment the power screw driver 10 is operative to determine screw pick up status based on the sensed vacuum from the vacuum sensor 18.

[0022] Typically, the vacuum in the vacuum adapter 16 increases when the vacuum adapter 16 has picked up a screw. Thus, the power screw driver 10 can determine a screw pick up status based on the sensed vacuum from the vacuum sensor 18. And if for instance the vacuum increased but does not reach a preset level the power screw driver 10 can determine that a screw has been picked up but that the screw is wrongly positioned on the vacuum adapter 16.

[0023] In one exemplary embodiment the screw pick up status is an indication if the screw is wrongly positioned on the vacuum adapter 16. In yet another exemplary embodiment the screw pick up status is an indication if the vacuum adapter 16 has picked up a screw.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment the power screw driver 10 further comprises a signal output arrangement 20 connected to the processor 13. The signal output arrangement 20 can according to one exemplary embodiment be an electrical connection for connecting the power screw driver 10 via a wire to an external device. In another exemplary embodiment the signal output arrangement 20 is a wireless transceiver for wirelessly connect the power screw driver 10 to external devices.

[0025] In exemplary embodiments the power screw driver 10 is further operative to provide an output signal information based on the determined screw pick up status. In exemplary embodiments the power screw driver 10 is further operative to provide an output signal information via the signal output arrangement 20 based on the determined screw pick up status. Thus, in exemplary embodiments the power screw driver 10 is operative to provide an output signal information indicating that the screw is wrongly positioned on the vacuum adapter 16 via the signal output arrangement 20. In yet another exemplary embodiment the power screw driver 10 is operative to provide an output signal information indicating that the vacuum adapter 16 has picked up a screw.

[0026] According to one aspect of the disclosure the processor 13 comprises one or several of:

[0027] a status module adapted to determine a screw pick up status based on the sensed vacuum from the vacuum sensor 18.

[0028] The status module is implemented in hardware or in software or in a combination thereof. The status module is according to one aspect implemented as a computer program stored in the memory 14 which run on the processor 13.

[0029] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. The skilled person understands that many modifications, variations and alterations are conceivable within the scope as defined in the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, form 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 measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.