Feed hose for feeding connecting elements to a processing unit

Abstract

In order to ensure a reliable automated feed of connecting elements to a processing unit, an apparatus, in particular an industrial robot, is provided. The apparatus has a hose pack, in which a feed hose for connecting elements is contained as a supply line. In order to ensure reliable operation and kink protection of the feed hose, the latter is formed from an inner hose which is embedded in a over-molded hose jacket. This measure permits the integration of the feed hose into the hose pack without problems. In addition, the risk of the feed hose kinking is kept small.

Claims

1. A feed hose for feeding connecting elements, the feed hose comprising: an inner hose permanently embedded in, and extending continuously through, a hose casing made from an elastic plastic from one end of said hose casing to an opposite end thereof when the feed hose is in use for feeding connecting elements, said inner hose having an interior cross section corresponding to a cross-sectional contour of the connecting elements, for a gliding guidance of the connecting elements, and wherein said inner hose and said hose casing are unconstrained relative to one another and disposed to move freely relative to one another; and wherein said hose casing is an extruded part extruded onto said inner hose substantially over an entire length thereof from the one end to the opposite end of said hose casing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner hose is made from a relatively harder material than said hose casing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inner hose is made of a polyamide.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hose casing is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises a separating layer disposed between said hose casing and said inner hose.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said separating layer is a bandaging layer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner hose projects beyond the hose casing at an end thereof, and a projecting end section of said inner hose thus forms a plug-in coupling element for a connection to a processing unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inner hose has a polygonal interior cross-section.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said inner hose has a T-shaped interior cross section.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said inner hose has a Shore A hardness of about 70 to 80 and said outer hose has a Shore A hardness of about 40 to 50.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows a 6-axis industrial robot having a hose pack which is guided in a length compensation unit, a feed hose for connecting elements being located in said hose pack;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a magnified illustration of the region identified in FIG. 1 by the circle A;

(3) FIGS. 3A-3D show a first variant of an embodiment of the feed hose, FIG. 3A being a cross section according to line A-A of the side view as in FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C being a perspective illustration having a stripped end piece, and FIG. 3D being a magnified illustration of the end piece with a rivet located therein; and

(4) FIGS. 4A-4B show a second variant of the feed hose in a cross-sectional view (FIG. 4A) and in a side view (FIG. 4B).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) In the figures, parts with the same operational effect are provided with the same reference signs.

(6) A multi-axis, in particular a 6-axis industrial robot is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1 as an apparatus for the automated feed of connecting elements. The design and operation of such industrial robots 2 are known in principle. The industrial robot 2 comprises a robot arm 4 which is rotatably mounted about what is referred to as an axis-3, a flange 16 for the mounting of a processing unit/robotic hand (which is not shown in more detail here) being located at the end of said robot arm 4. A length compensation unit 6 having a return spring 8 is located in the region of the axis-3 on the upper side of the robot arm 4. Two such length compensation units 6, each for one hose pack 10, are provided in the exemplary embodiment. The hose packs 10 are each run in a suitable manner toward the processing unit.

(7) The hose pack comprises a protective casing 12 which is formed, for example, as a corrugated tube or as an otherwise flexible plastic tube. A plurality of supply lines are laid within the protective casing, of which only two feed hoses 14 are illustrated per hose pack 10 in the exemplary embodiment.

(8) In the exemplary embodiment, the hose packs 10 in each case fully run through the length compensation unit 6 and are surrounded within the length compensation units 6 by a coil spring, which bears on the one hand on the hose casing 12 and on the other hand on the length compensation unit 6, and which exerts a restoring force on the hose pack 10. In principle, it is also possible for the protective casing 12 to end within the length compensation unit 6 and for the individual supply lines to run individually, for example laterally, out from the length compensation unit 6.

(9) As is evident in particular in the magnified illustration shown in FIG. 2, a holding element 18 is fastened to the end of the flange 16, specifically on the surface on the end face of the coupling point toward the processing unit. At its free end, the holding element 18 has a clamping element 20, which is formed as a bracket and in which the feed hose 14 in each case is clamped individually for the purpose of strain relief. To this end, suitable inserts are provided within the clamping element 20 in the exemplary embodiment.

(10) As is already evident in FIG. 2 and subsequently better evident in FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4A and 4B, the feed hose 14 is formed by an external hose casing 22 and an internal inner hose 24. According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B, a separating layer 26 or separation is additionally provided in an alternative embodiment between the hose casing 22 and the inner hose 24. Said separating layer is in particular formed by an intermediate layer made, for example, from a (polyester) non-woven material.

(11) The hose casing 22 is preferably molded onto the inner hose 24 by means of an extrusion process, such that said inner hose 24 is embedded inside the material of the hose casing 22.

(12) The materials of the hose casing 22 and the inner hose 24 are expediently different, in particular in terms of their hardness. The inner hose 24 is generally distinguished by a high hardness and stiffness, and is typically made of polyamide. The inner hose 24 usually has a Shore A hardness in the range of 70 to 80. It is suited as a sliding guidance for connecting elements. By way of example, a rivet is illustrated in FIG. 3D as a connecting element.

(13) In contrast thereto, the hose casing 22 consists of a material of considerably lower hardness and in particular improved elasticity. The hose casing 22 preferably consists of a polyurethane. Its hardness lies preferably in the range of 40 to 50 Shore A. Alternatively, both the inner hose 24 and the hose casing 22 consist of polyurethane, but of different degrees of hardness. Particularly for this case, the separation formed as separating layer 26, in particular as a full bandaging of a non-woven material, is provided between the two components 22, 24.

(14) In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3A to 3D, the inner hose 24 has an overall T-shaped profile and is thus to this extent adapted to the geometry of the connecting element (rivet 28). Adapted interior cross section generally means that the connecting elements may be delivered, for example, by means of compressed air through the feed hose 14 even over large lengths of several 10 meters within the inner hose 24 in a predefined default position and default orientation. As can be seen in particular in the illustration of FIG. 3D, the connecting element in this case bears with its head on the lateral flanks of the T-shaped cross section of the inner hose 24.

(15) In contrast to the inner hose 24, the hose casing 22 generally has a circular cross-sectional shape which is independent of the geometry of the inner hose 24.

(16) In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B, a variant of an embodiment having a circular inner hose 24 is illustrated. Here, the separating layer 26 formed by non-woven material is additionally evident.

(17) Generally, the hose casing 22 is unconnected by integral bonding with the inner hose 24 and is thus easily removable from said inner hose 24. As may be gathered in particular from FIG. 2, this is exploited for the purpose of relieving the end of the feed hose of the hose casing 22 in order to thereby form a free end section of the inner hose 24, which serves as a plug-in coupling element 30 and is plugged into a corresponding coupling element on the processing unit.