Pre-Separating Device, Joining Device, and Method for Operating a Joining Device

Abstract

A pre-separating device includes a channel which has a feed opening and an outlet opening and through which joining elements can be conveyed. A first channel-blocking element has a first actuating device and a second channel-blocking element has a second actuating device. Each of the first channel-blocking element and the second channel-blocking element is movable between a blocking position and a passage position. The second channel-blocking element is disposed downstream of the first channel-blocking element in a conveying direction of the joining elements. A first compressed-air supply opening leads into the channel upstream of the first channel-blocking element in the conveying direction and a second compressed-air supply opening leads into the channel between the first channel-blocking element and the second channel-blocking element.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A pre-separating device for installation in an element feed system, via which joining elements can be conveyed from a separating device to a joining-element holder on a joining head by compressed air, the pre-separating device comprising: a channel which has a feed opening and an outlet opening and through which the joining elements can be conveyed; a first channel-blocking element having a first actuating device; a second channel-blocking element having a second actuating device; wherein each of the first channel-blocking element and the second channel-blocking element is movable between a blocking position and a passage position; wherein the second channel-blocking element is disposed downstream of the first channel-blocking element in a conveying direction of the joining elements; a first compressed-air supply opening which leads into the channel upstream of the first channel-blocking element in the conveying direction; and a second compressed-air supply opening which leads into the channel between the first channel-blocking element and the second channel-blocking element in the conveying direction.

13. The pre-separating device according to claim 12, wherein the first actuating device comprises a single-action pneumatic cylinder for moving the first channel-blocking element into the blocking position.

14. The pre-separating device according to claim 12, wherein the second actuating device comprises a double-action pneumatic cylinder for moving the second channel-blocking element into both the blocking position and the passage position.

15. The pre-separating device according to claim 12, further comprising: a first compressed-air line via which the first actuating device, the second actuating device, and the second compressed-air supply opening can be jointly loaded with compressed air; wherein the first actuating device is configured to move the first channel-blocking element into the blocking position; wherein the second actuating device is configured to move the second channel-blocking element into the passage position when the first compressed-air line is loaded with compressed air.

16. The pre-separating device according to claim 15, further comprising: a second compressed-air line via which the second actuating device and the first compressed-air supply opening can be jointly loaded with compressed air; wherein the second actuating device is configured to move the second channel-blocking element into the blocking position when the second compressed-air line is loaded with compressed air.

17. A joining device (100), comprising: a multiaxis industrial robot; a mobile joining head with a joining tool which is disposed on the multiaxis industrial robot; an element feed system via which joining elements can be transported from a sorting device to the mobile joining head by compressed air; and a control device for actuating the joining tool and controlling the element feed system; wherein the element feed system includes the pre-separating device according to claim 12 which is disposed stationarily relative to the joining head.

18. The joining device according to claim 17, wherein the joining device is a bolt welding device.

19. The joining device according to claim 17, wherein the control device is configured to generate a first signal via which a joining element is moved from the sorting device towards the tool head by compressed air and wherein the first compressed-air line is loaded with compressed air.

20. The joining device according to claim 19, wherein the first signal is also used to put the joining head into a loading state or the first signal indicates that the joining head is in a loading state.

21. The joining device according to claim 19, wherein the joining head is configured as a bolt welding head with a loading pin, wherein the first signal is also used to arrange a retraction of the loading pin, and wherein the control device is configured to generate a second signal via which the second compressed-air line is loaded with compressed air and the loading pin is extended.

22. A method for operating the joining device according to claim 17, comprising the steps of: joining elements are supplied separately and positionally correctly to the joining head by compressed air, wherein each joining element is transported: via a first compressed-air stream into a first waiting position in front of the first channel-blocking element; via a second compressed-air stream from the first waiting position into a second waiting position in front of the second channel-blocking element; and via a third compressed-air stream from the second waiting position to the joining head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary pre-separating device;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary joining device with integrated pre-separating device; and

[0025] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the pre-separating device from FIG. 1 in various operating positions in order to explain the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The pre-separating device 1 has a channel 10 through which joining elements 2 can be conveyed by means of compressed air. The joining elements 2 pass through the channel 10 in the conveying direction from a feed opening 11 to an outlet opening 12, passing by a first compressed-air supply opening 13, a first channel-blocking element 20, a second compressed-air supply opening 14 and a second channel-blocking element 30. The distance between the first and second channel-blocking elements 20, 30 is selected such that at least one joining element 2, and particularly preferably precisely one joining element 2, can be received in the channel portion lying between the channel-blocking elements 20, 30. The first and second channel-blocking elements 20, 30 respectively comprise a first actuating device 22 or second actuating device 32, by means of which they can be moved between a blocking position and a passage position. For example, the first actuating device 22 is designed with a single-action pneumatic cylinder. Using compressed air, the first channel-blocking element 20 can be moved into the blocking position. On discharge of the compressed air, the first channel-blocking element 20 returns to the passage position. The second actuating device 32 is configured for example with a double-action pneumatic cylinder, and can be moved by means of compressed air into the blocking position and into the passage position. The pre-separating device 1 also has a first compressed-air line 40 via which the first actuating device 20, the second actuating device 30 and the second compressed-air supply opening 14 can be jointly loaded with compressed air. If the first compressed-air line 40 is loaded with compressed air, the first channel-blocking element 20 travels into the blocking position, the second channel-blocking element 30 travels into the passage position, and compressed air is blown into the channel via the second compressed-air supply opening 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the pre-separating device 1 has a second compressed-air line 50 via which the second actuating device 32 and the first compressed-air supply device 13 can be jointly loaded with compressed air. If the second compressed-air line 50 is loaded with compressed air, the second channel-blocking element 30 travels into the blocking position and compressed air is blown into the channel 10 via the first compressed-air supply opening 13, shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] The pre-separating device 1 is preferably integrated in an automated joining device 100, see FIG. 2. The joining device has a mobile joining head 110 with joining tool which is attached to a multiaxis industrial robot 112 and can be positioned thereby. For the joining process, the joining head 110 is moved to the respective joining points, where a joining element 2 is joined to a component (not shown) by means of the joining tool. To feed the joining elements 2 up to the joining tool, the joining device 100 furthermore comprises an element feed system 120 via which the joining elements 2, separated in a sorting device 122, can be transported positionally correctly by means of compressed air up to a discharge opening at the joining head 110. The sorting device 122 is usually arranged physically spaced from the industrial robot 112 and is preferably arranged stationarily. The joining elements are conducted to the joining head 110 from the sorting device 122 through a compressed-air conveying channel 124, e.g., in the form of a hose or similar. The pre-separating device 1 is integrated in the element feed system 120 such that the joining elements 2 coming from the sorting device 122 enter the pre-separating device 1 at the feed opening 11 from the compressed-air conveying channel 124, and leave this device at the outlet opening 12, from where they travel further through the compressed-air conveying channel 124 up to the discharge opening at the joining head 112. The pre-separating device 1 is arranged stationarily relative to the joining head 112, e.g., screwed thereto. Furthermore, the joining device 100 has a control device 130 which is configured to actuate the joining head 112 with the joining tool and the element feed system 120, and in some cases to actuate the industrial robot 112.

[0028] The function of the pre-separating device 1 and the joining device 100 is explained in the figures using the example of a bolt welding process and a bolt welding device. Also however, other joining elements may be used such as, for example, balls, weld nuts etc., and/or another joining process with another joining device, e.g., a riveting process with automated riveting device.

[0029] A joining element 2 is conveyed from the sorting device 122 through the compressed-air conveying channel 124 by means of compressed air. At the same time, the compressed air is conducted through the first compressed-air line 40, whereby the first channel-blocking element 20 travels into the blocking position, see FIG. 1. The weld bolt (or the joining element) 2 coming from the sorting device 122 is stopped at the channel-blocking element 20 and remains in a first waiting position in the channel 10.

[0030] In the next step, see FIG. 3, the compressed-air supply via the first compressed-air line 40 is stopped, whereby the first channel-blocking element 20 is moved back into the passage position. Also, compressed air is conducted via the second compressed-air line 50, whereby the second channel-blocking element 30 travels into the blocking position, and the compressed air is conducted into the channel 10 via the first compressed-air supply opening 13 and pushes the welding bolt 2, present in the first waiting position (FIG. 1), up to the second channel-blocking element 30. The welding bolt 2 is now in a second waiting position between the first and the second channel-blocking elements.

[0031] In the next step, the compressed-air supply via the second compressed-air line 50 is stopped, and as already described for FIG. 1, a further weld bolt 2A (or joining element) is pushed from the sorting device 122 into the pre-separating device 1, while the first compressed-air line 40 is loaded with compressed air. The newly supplied weld bolt 2A stops at the first channel-blocking element 20. Via the compressed air in the first compressed-air line 40, the second channel-blocking element 30 is moved into the passage position, and via the second compressed-air supply opening, the compressed air is conducted into the channel 10 so that the weld bolt 2 is pushed out of the second waiting position in the pre-separating device 1 and conveyed on to the joining head 112.

[0032] Particularly preferably, the common control device 130 is used to control both the pressurization of the compressed-air lines 40 and 50, and also the feed of a joining element 2 from the sorting device 122 towards the pre-separating device.

[0033] In the exemplary joining device shown in FIG. 2, the control device is configured such that the feed of a joining element from the sorting device 122 into the pre-separating device 1 is actuated simultaneously with a pressurization of the first compressed-air line 40 and a retraction of the loading pin of the bolt welding head, e.g., by a common first signal. Furthermore, the control device is configured such that the pressurization of the second compressed-air line 50 and an extension of the loading pin of the bolt welding head are actuated simultaneously, e.g., by a common second signal.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0034] 1 Pre-separating device [0035] 2,2A Joining elements [0036] 10 Channel [0037] 11 Feed opening [0038] 12 Outlet opening [0039] 13, 14 Compressed-air supply opening [0040] 20, 30 Channel-blocking element [0041] 22, 32 Actuating device [0042] 40, 50 Compressed-air line [0043] 100 Joining device [0044] 110 Joining head [0045] 112 Industrial robot [0046] 120 Element feed system [0047] 122 Sorting device [0048] 124 Compressed-air conveying channel [0049] 130 Control device